Mat 17:11-13 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 11. Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things , He did not mean by this that Elijah was yet to come for he directly tells them that he had come ; but he meant to affirm that it was a true doctrine which the scribes taught, that Elijah would appear before the coming of the Messiah. To restore , means to put into the former situation. See . Hence it means, to heal, to correct, to put in proper order . Here it means that Elijah would put things in a proper state; be the instrument of reforming the people; of restoring them, in some measure, to proper notions about the Messiah, and preparing them for his coming. Before the coming of John, their views were erroneous, their expectations worldly, and their conduct exceedingly depraved. He corrected many of their notions about the Messiah, and was the instrument of an extensive reformation; and thus restored them, in some degree, to correct notions of their own economy and of the Messiah, and to a preparation for his advent.

Matthew 17:11-13

Verse 11. Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things, He did not mean by this that Elijah was yet to come for he directly tells them that he had come; but he meant to affirm that it was a true doctrine which the scribes taught, that Elijah would appear before the coming of the Messiah. To restore, means to put into the former situation. See Mt 12:13. Hence it means, to heal, to correct, to put in proper order. Here it means that Elijah would put things in a proper state; be the instrument of reforming the people; of restoring them, in some measure, to proper notions about the Messiah, and preparing them for his coming. Before the coming of John, their views were erroneous, their expectations worldly, and their conduct exceedingly depraved. He corrected many of their notions about the Messiah, Mt 3:1 and was the instrument of an extensive reformation; and thus restored them, in some degree, to correct notions of their own economy and of the Messiah, and to a preparation for his advent. Verse 12. Elias is come. That is, John the Baptist has come, in the spirit and power of Elias. See Lk 1:17.

They have done whatsoever they listed. The word list is an old English word, signifying to choose, to desire, to be inclined. See Jn 3:8. It means here, that they had done to John as they pleased; i.e., they had put him to death, Mt 14:10.

Mark adds, Mk 9:12, that Jesus told them that it was written of the Son of man that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. This was written of him particularly in the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah. To be set at nought, is to be esteemed as worthless, or as nothing; to be cast out and despised. No prophecy was ever more strikingly fulfilled. See Lk 23:11.

(o) "suffer of them" Mt 16:21 Verse 13. Mt 17:10