Breaking the Word

Then the disciples asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He said in reply, "Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. (Mt 17:10-13)

"Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?". The Prophet Malachi declared that God would send Elijah the Prophet to prepare the people before the great and terrible day of the Lord. (4: 5). We know well that Elijah had purified the people on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 19). He directed the people to believe in one true God. Later he was taken up to heaven. So it was believed that he would come back again.

Prophet Malachi’s prophecy was that this prophet would return to prepare the way of the Lord. Similar idea is found in the book of Sirach (48: 10) where the author speaks the work of Elijah as the work of restoring the tribes of Jacob. Using the texts like this the scribes had developed that prophet Elijah should come again to restore the people.

John the Baptist had come and did the very same work which the people expected Elijah to do and which the scribes were waiting to be completed. When John had come and preached the disciples and the people did not see in him the prophecy of Malachi. They expected a prophet would bring thunderbolts and destruction and so on. John came totally in a different form and speech. God’s timetable and God’s working is not controlled by man’s reasoning and understanding.

"To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, 'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance, we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said, 'He is possessed by a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said, 'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is vindicated by her works." (Mt 11:16-19)

Jesus seems to be disappointed with this generation. He has worked his way through Galilee. He has preached to the people and he has worked his miracles. Matthew has already spoken about Jesus and his ministry in six chapters (from chapter 4 to chapter 11). This generation has seen the works of Jesus and yet they have not believed in him.

This generation is like children. Children play games. In the games they expect one another to support and help and join in the games. If children do not join in the games or play with them or play their roles then the game is no carried on further. One has to call for the game and others have to join in to complete the game. Through this example Jesus is talking about the non cooperation.

But when he speaks about John the Baptist and himself he speaks about the misunderstanding. Misunderstanding comes because the people give importance to the external signs and read the internal dispositions. Rather the people read in the human way. There is always an another way. That is man is a mystery. This element of mystery is not revealed in external signs and we cannot interpret it easily.