Matthew Poole and continuators on Mark 9:13

13 But I say unto you, that Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

Christ had been telling his Disciples that he should suffer. The Jews had a Prophecy, not only that the Messias should come, but that he should be cut off, Dan. 9.26. but not for himself. Only this hindred, the certainty of their persuasion, that Christ was he, because Elias was not yet come, whom they did expect, Mal. 4.5. for they expected the coming of Elias in Person, when as the Prophecy was to be understood of one in the Spirit, and Power of Elias, as the Angel expounded it, Lu. 1.17. They also expected that Elias when he came, should make a great change in their World, and bring all things again into order, but still their Eye was upon a secular Change, and a restoring of them to that Liberty of their Country, which they formerly enjoyed, where as the Prophecy, Mal. 4.6. is expounded by the Angel, Lu. 1.16, 17. And many of the Children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God—to turn the Hearts of the Fathers unto the Children, and the disobedient to the Wisdom of the just, to make ready a People prepared for the Lord. The Disciples being Iews, were under the prejudices of these Notions about Elias so commonly received by the Doctors of their Church, and the Generality of their People. To this our Saviour Answers, The thing was true, Elias (that is one in the Spirit and Power of Elias) was according to the Prophecy of Malachy to come, before the Messias, but they had over-lookt him, for indeed this E[illegible: 1 letter]ias was come, Matth. 11.14. and by his Preaching the Doctrine of Repentance, for the Remission of Sins, had indeavoured to restore all things, that is, to make a great change in the Hearts, and lives of the Jews, but they had put him to death, he further telleth them, That Iohn had told them of the Son of Man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. He did indeed tell them so, when Iohn 1.29. he pointed to him passing by, and said, Behold the Lamb of God who taketh away [or taketh up, or beareth] the Sins of the World. So that this was no just prejudice to their believing, that he was the true Messiah.