Mark 9:10 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

With themselves,— To themselves. And they kept the matter secret; yet they questioned, or debated, &c. Heylin. Dr. Doddridge renders it, And they laid hold on that word, disputing among themselves, &c. See Matthew 9:25; Matthew 14:3. Mark 12:12 and Revelation 20:2. Sir David Dalrymple observes, that it should not be here, "what the rising of the dead should mean,"—for in those days that tenet was received; but "what this resurrection signified;"—what was meant bythis rising of the Son of man from the dead. Being much surprised at the sudden departure of Elias, and of their Master's ordering them to keep this transaction a secret, the disciples had no sooner finished their dispute about what the rising from the dead should mean, than, addressing themselves to Jesus, theyproposed this doubt, Mark 9:11. "Since Elias is so soon dismissed, and since thou hast ordered us to keep his appearance a secret, how come the scribes to teach on all occasions that Elias must appear, before the Messiah erects his kingdom?" Supposing that Elias was to have an active hand in modelling and settling the kingdom, they never doubted that he would have abode awhile on earth; and knowing that the scribes affirmed openly that Elias was to appear, they could see no reason for concealing the thing. That this is the connection of the disciples' question is plain from Matthew 17:9-10. Jesus not only acknowledged the necessity of Elias's coming before the Messiah according to Malachi's prediction; but he assured his disciples, that he was already come; and described the treatment that he had already met with from the nation in such a manner as to make them understand that he spake of John the Baptist, Mark 9:12-13 and Matthew 17:13. At the same time he told them, that though the Baptist's ministry was excellently calculated for producing all the effects ascribed to it by the prophets, they needed not be surprised to find, that it had not had all the success which might have been expected from it, and that the Baptist had met with much opposition and persecution, since both the person and preaching of the Messiah himself was to meet with the same treatment. Our Saviour, in the 12th verse, alludes to Malachi 4:6 where see the note. What is meant by the restoring of all things, is shewn by the angel, Luke 1:16-17 and that this was the true restoration of all things, to be accomplished by Elias, is evident from the LXX, who, in translating the original passage, make use of the word found here in the Evangelists, αποκαταστησει καρσιαν, Reducet Cor, He will restore the heart. Nevertheless, by the restoration of all things, the Jews seem to have understood the revival of the kingdom of David in their nation, to be accomplished by the assistance of Elias. Hence the Apostles' question to Jesus before his ascension into heaven, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore— αποκαθιστα νεις — the kingdom to Israel? Acts 1:6. Some render the 12th and 13th verses thus:—ver. 12. It is true, Elias is to come first, to rectify all things; and it is written, &c. Mark 9:13.—Elias is indeed come as it is written of him; and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, Dr. Heylin renders the 12th verse, He answered, it is true that Elias must first come, and set all things to right; and that he must suffer much, and be despised, as it is also written concerning the Son of man. See Wetstein.