And they asked him, saying
Being put in mind of it, by seeing Elias on the mount, or else by what Christ had said concerning his resurrection, or both:
why say the Scribes,
the Vulgate Latin adds, "and Pharisees",
that Elias must first come?
before the Messiah comes, or before the setting up his kingdom in greater glory; (See Gill on Matthew 17:10).