John Trapp on Matthew 17:10

Verse 10. Why then say the Scribes, &c.] Christ had answered them this question once afore: but they were unsatisfied by any thing he could say, because strongly possest with the conceit of an earthly Kingdom. But the occasion of the question might be this: Our Saviour had forbidden them to tell any man the vision: Hence they might thus debate it. Forasmuch, as Elias must first come (so the Scribes teach, and they have a text for it, Mal. 4. 5) and now he is come, as we have seen in the Mount, why [illegible: 1 word] thou Lord, forbid us to tell it abroad, sith this might be an effectuall argument with the Jews, to move them to acknowledge thee for the true Messias? To this our Saviour answereth.