And the disciples asked him is followed in the Greek text by the participle “saying,” which functions to introduce direct discourse. There is strong textual evidence for “his disciples” in place of the disciples, but the meaning is the same, and translators will have to restructure according to what is most natural in their own language; for example, “Then Jesus’ disciples asked him….”

The scribes were last mentioned in 16.21; the first mention of them is in 2.4.

The question concerning Elijah may have been prompted either by the appearance of Elijah on the mountain or else by the standard belief of the Jews that Elijah would prepare the way for the coming Messiah.

Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come? is open to misunderstanding, especially if read in light of Jesus’ mention of the raising of the Son of Man from death (verse 9). The question then means “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come before the Son of Man is raised from death?” This is, of course, not what the disciples meant by the question, though the rules of English grammar demand such a meaning. The problem arises because Matthew has left out information which was well known to him and to his readers. Such information is known as “shared information,” and it is generally omitted by a writer when he is certain that his readers will understand the background of his remarks. For readers who do not share this same background the question may more accurately be translated “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come before the Messiah comes?”

Come has sometimes been rendered “return.” The disciples were referring to Elijah coming back to be among the living on earth, and “come back to life,” “come back to be among us” or even “come back to earth” may be necessary.

For comment on Elijah, see 16.14.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .