Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 11:14

14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias which was for to come.

God had told the Iews, Mal. 4, 5, 6. that he would send them Flijah the Prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall turn the Hearts of the Fathers to the Children, and the Hearts of the Children to the Fathers, lest (saith he) I come and smite the Earth with a Curse. This Prophecy related to Iohn the Baptist, as our Saviour here teacheth us, so Luk. 1.17. it is confirmed by the Angel to Zachariah, and Mar. 9.11. From which last Text it appeareth, that the Scribes had a Tradition, that Elias should come before the Messiah. Their mistake was that they looked for an Elias, to come in Person, when as God meant no more (as the Angel expoundeth it, Luk. 1.17.) than one in the Spirit, and Power of Elias, as bold and free a Preacher, who should no more fear the Face of Men, in the discharge of his Duty, than Elias did (saith our Saviour) if you will believe, this Iohn was that Elias ▪ Prophecied of by Malachy.