Matthew 17:12

λέγω δὲ : Jesus finds the prophecy as to the advent of Elias fulfilled in John the Baptist, so still further reducing the significance of the late vision. The contrast between the mechanical literalism of the scribes and the free spiritual interpretation of Jesus comes out here. Our Lord expected no literal coming of Elijah, such as the Patristic interpreters (Hilary, Chrys., Theophy., Euthy., etc.) supposed Him to refer to in Matthew 17:11. The Baptist was all the Elijah He looked for. οὐκ ἐπέγνωσαν : they did not recognise him as Elijah, especially those who professionally taught that Elijah must come, the scribes. ἀλλʼ ἐποίησαν ἐν αὐτῷ, etc. Far from recognising in him Elijah, and complying with his summons to repentance, they murdered him in resentment of the earnestness of his efforts towards a moral ἀποκατάστασις (Herod, as representing the Zeitgeist.). ἐν αὐτῷ : literally, in him, not classical, but similar construction found in Genesis 40:14, and elsewhere (Sept [104]). οὕτως : Jesus reads His own fate in the Baptist's. How thoroughly He understood His time, and how free He was from illusions!

[104] Septuagint.