Matthew 11:14 (ASV)

Passage

And if ye are willing to receive [it,] this is Elijah, that is to come.

Nearby Context

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and men of violence take it by force.

Matthew 11:13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

Matthew 11:14 And if ye are willing to receive [it,] this is Elijah, that is to come.

Matthew 11:15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 11:16 But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the marketplaces, who call unto their fellows

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "willing", "receive", "elijah", and "come". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "willing" and "receive", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "For all the prophets and the law..." into verse 15's "He that hath ears to hear let...", so "willing" and "receive" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "willing" and "receive" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.