What Is the Difference Between Matthew 11:14 and 17:11-12?
1) Direct Answer
Matthew 11:14 identifies John the Baptist as the “Elijah” for that hour to forerun the Lord’s first coming. Matthew 17:11–12 shows both truths: Elijah “shall first come, and restore all things” (future), and “Elijah is come already” (present then, in John), whom they rejected.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Matthew 11:14: “If you will receive it, this is Elijah which was to come.” That’s Jesus unveiling John’s role to those with ears to hear (v.15).
- Luke 1:17 says John came “in the spirit and power of Elijah… to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,” matching the first part of Malachi 4:5–6 and also Malachi 3:1, the messenger before the Lord’s face.
- Matthew 17:11: “Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things”—that looks ahead to a work of restoration. Then 17:12: “But I say unto you, that Elijah is come already,” and the disciples understood He spoke of John (v.13). So Jesus points to a present fulfillment in John and a still-future restoration.
- John 1:21 shows John was not literally Elijah the Tishbite; he bore the anointing and ministry pattern.
- Acts 3:21 speaks of the “times of restitution of all things,” which matches “restore all things” in Matthew 17:11, pointing to the end-time phase before the Lord’s return.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- John prepared a people and pointed to the Lamb (John 1:29). He did not “restore all things.” Therefore, Matthew 17:11 cannot be exhausted by John. It promises a future Elijah-work of restoration.
- So Matthew 11:14 = John identified as Elijah for the first coming. Matthew 17:11–12 = both the recognition of John already come and the prophecy of an Elijah ministry yet to come to restore all things before Christ’s appearing.
4) Reinforcing Statement
Now notice, Jesus said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” You see, the same God who sent Elijah’s spirit to forerun the first coming has promised a restoring work before the second. That’s the mystery held in those two passages.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever
62-0718 §86
If you can't get up now, just tell somebody next to you. Raise your hand. We'll pack you up here. We'll see that you get up here. Somebody say nine in Spanish. How do you say it (nine) in Spanish? Nuevo, 9. Number 9. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Number 9? Sorry. I'm sorry, sister. Number 9. Number 10, 11. Come right down here, sister. Prayer card 11. Is the lady standing up there 11? 12, 13, 13, 14, 14? I didn't see it, I don't believe. 14? 15? Prayer card 15, would you raise your hand. Prayer card 15? How many we got?...
Presuming
62-0117 §138
But do you know when the Hebrews, the 6th chapter... "The rain come upon the earth oft to prepare it, dress it for which it's for. But thorns and thistles is nigh unto rejecting, whose end is to be burned." How did they know the difference? The same Spirit, the same life, the same water that fell upon the wheat fell upon the thorns, too. And the thorns, and the briars, and the weeds were just as happy and refreshed with the same rain. And people can sit in the church, friends, and receive the same kind of experienc...
Hear ye Him
56-1215 §7
Now, in the book of the 17th chapter of Saint Matthew we read this just for a way of Scripture reading to get a little context to base our thoughts. And quickly, we are watching the clock there, and I want the prayer line started by nine or before, so you can get out and go to church tomorrow and serve the Lord. ... After six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment ......
Church Ages, part 10: The Laodicean Church Age
60-1211E §36
Now, Jesus said, Matthew 17:10, speaking of this... All the Jews are looking for that coming Elijah. Now watch what Jesus said about it. Matthew 17:10. We'll begin at the 9th verse, Matthew 17:9: And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell no man the... ["Tell the vision to no man, see. Don't tell this. You know it, but keep it to yourself."] Tell no man the vision, until the Son of man be risen ... from the dead. [Don't tell it.] And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then said the...
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever
58-0312 §57
Look, it might... Some of you look at your neighbor's card. It might be... All right. You have your hand up, lady? Is yours H number 4? All right. Right here. Watch your numbers when they're called, because somebody might be deaf and dumb, can't speak or hear. Somebody might be so crippled they can't stand up. Just watch the card for people. Look... All right. Number, what was that, 4? 5, who has 5? All right, sister. Number 6? All right. Number 7? Prayer card number 7? Is it you, lady? 8? 9? Come right here, lady....