Matthew 11:14 (WEB)

Passage

If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.

Nearby Context

Matthew 11:12 From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

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

Matthew 11:14 If you are willing to receive it, this is Elijah, who is to come.

Matthew 11:15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 11:16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their companions

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 who has 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.