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Intermediate Sunday School Lesson 105 : The prophecy concerning Elijah

Text: Matthew 17
7 April 2024

INTERMEDIATE SUNDAY SCHOOL 7 April 2024
STUDIES IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Text: Matthew 17

Subject: “The prophecy concerning Elijah”

INTRODUCTION

10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.
12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.”
13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

Matthew 17:10-13

1. There was much misunderstanding concerning the coming of the Messiah

2. One difficulty involved the promise that Elijah would be sent before the appearance of the Messiah

3. This text is found in Malachi 4

4 “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant,
Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel,
With the statutes and judgments.

5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.

6 And he will turn
The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

Malachi 4:4-6

1. The Ministry of Elijah the prophet

a) He was raised up by God in the days of the wicked King Ahab
b) Elijah stood up to:
i) Resist the evil king
ii) Rebuke the wicked deeds he and his wife perpetrated
iii) Call Israel to Return to the LORD (1 Kings 17ff)

2. The Prophecy of the prophet Elijah coming to Israel (Malachi 4)

a) God promised to send Elijah the prophet
b) He would turn the hearts of many to the LORD
c) Many were expecting the physical return of Elijah
d) Since there was no one like the original Elijah, the scribes did not believe in the Lord Jesus as the Messiah

THE EXPLANATION FROM THE LORD JESUS

1. He believed in this prophecy too

a) Elijah would have to come
b) He would cause many to be restored to God

2. The fulfilment of this prophecy

a) John the Baptiser was the Elijah in spirit
b) He bore similar characteristics:
i) His clothing was like that of Elijah
ii) His message called upon people to repent
iii) He proclaimed the coming of the Messiah
iv) Many came to him in repentance
v) They were duly baptised

THE SUFFERING OF THE LORD JESUS

1. This was first stated Matthew 16

2. It was mentioned again Matthew 17

3. The Disciples were still not able to fully comprehend the Ministry of the Messiah

a) He had come to save mankind from sin and its penalty
b) But first, He had to suffer on behalf of sinful mankind
c) This aspect of the Suffering Messiah needed to be fully appreciated!

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To know the Scriptures better

2. To appreciate the Saviour and His suffering for us

3. To learn how we may love the Lord in a deeper way