John 1 - Why did the Jews send priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask John if he was Elijah? 2021

John 1:19
And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

John 1:20
And he confessed, and did not deny, and he confessed, "I am not the Christ."

John 1:21
And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" And he said^, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."

Why did the Jews send priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask John if he was Elijah? We are told that in the last days, Elohim would send Elijah.

Mal 4:4-6 “Remember the law of Moses My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel. 5“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. 6“And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.”

John did not realize that he was Elijah, but Yeshua said that he was Elijah who was to come.

Matt. 17:10-13 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; 12but I say to you, that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

John's father knew that he was to be Elijah that turns the hearts of the fathers back to the children and teaches righteousness.

Luke 1:15-17 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine or liquor; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, while yet in his mother’s womb. 16“And he will turn back many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. 17“And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous; so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Then they asked if he was the prophet spoken of in Deuteronomy 18:17-18.

Deut 18:17-18 “And the LORD said to me, ‘They have spoken well. 18‘I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

He said, "No."