Jesus Spoke of John the Baptist - Matthew 17:13

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus', “disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.”, and in chapter seventeen and verse thirteen of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus' disciples, “understood that he spoke unto them of John the Baptist” where we read:

Then the disciples understood that he spoke unto them of John the Baptist.

The verse reads, “Then the disciples understood that he spoke unto them ...”. Matthew began with the word, “then” or “at that time and moment” “the disciples” or “Jesus' students, pupils and attendants” “understood” which means “perceived, considered and comprehended” “that he spoke” or “that Jesus declared, uttered and proclaimed” “unto them” or “to the disciples”. Matthew shared how Jesus' disciples “perceived” of whom Jesus was speaking.

The verse continues, “... of John the Baptist.” Matthew added the words, “of John” or “pertaining to John whose name means Jehovah is a gracious giver” “the Baptist” which refers to “a baptizer or one who administers the rite of baptism”. Matthew shared how the disciples knew Jesus was speaking about “John the Baptist” as He referred to “Elijah”.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how “John the Baptist” fulfilled the prophesy concerning “Elijah” arriving before the Messiah. “Elijah” and “John the Baptist” had many things in common including living in the wilderness alone, crying out warnings to people and more, and “John the Baptist” suffered at the hands of the religious leaders. God loves people, and He employed “Elijah” and “John the Baptist” to be forerunners of His Son Jesus' coming. All these things were fulfilled because God desired that people would yield their lives to Jesus, receive His salvation and live eternally with Him.

Next time Matthew shares how, “a certain man” came to Jesus “kneeling down to him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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