Twenty-five Similarities between Elijah and John the Baptist

When Sherry and I visited Israel, we stood by the Jordan River perhaps near the place where Jesus was baptized by his cousin John. Just as Jesus was a prophet “like unto” the Prophet Moses (Acts 3:22; 7:37), John was a prophet like the Prophet Elijah. John’s coming was predicted by another prophet, Malachi.

In fact, Malachi’s prophesy closes with a reference to both Moses and Elijah.

Malachi 4:4-6:
Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

God promised to send “Elijah the prophet” before the Lord’s day. This coming prophet’s purpose was to turn the heart of fathers to their children, and children to their fathers. This is what John the Baptist did before the coming of Christ. John’s father, Zacharias, also prophesied about his son.

Luke 1:16,17:
And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias [Elijah], to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

This clarifies Malachi’s prophesy. John was not literally Elijah reincarnated, but he had a powerful spirit like Elijah had during his ministry. It was Jesus Christ who openly declared that his cousin John was the “Elijah” promised by Malachi.

Matthew 17:11-13: 
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias [Elijah] truly shall first come, and restore all things.
But I say unto you, That Elias [Elijah] is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

Similarities Between Elijah and John the Baptist

Here are a few ways that the Prophet Elijah and John the Baptist were similar. Of course, the greatest similarity was their fearlessly declaring God’s goodness and their brash and bold stand against evil as they walked by the spirit of God within them. Enjoy looking up these scriptures and seeing their exciting similarities!

1. Anointed his successor (I Kings 19:16/Luke 3:21,22; Acts 10:38)
2. Arrived during spiritual darkness (I Kings 21:25/Luke 1:79)
3. Ate food provided by God (I Kings 17:6/Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6)
4. Called people back to God (I Kings 18:21/Matthew 3:2)
5. Public display with his successor (I Kings 19:19/Matthew 3:15)
6. Confronted idolatry (I Kings 18:21; 21:20/Luke 3:7-9)
7. Evil king’s wife wished to murder him (I Kings 19:2/Mark 6:19)
8. Like passions as others (James 5:17/Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:28)
9. Lived in the wilderness (I Kings 17:3/Matthew 3:1; Luke 1:80)
10. Man of prayer (James 5:17/Luke 5:33; 11:1)
11. Dwelt/ministered near the Jordan River (I Kings 17:5/Matthew 3:5; Luke 3:3)
12. Mocked devilish opponents (I Kings 18:27/Matthew 3:9)
13. Needed reassurance (I Kings 19:4/Matthew 11:3; Luke 7:19)
14. Only acting prophet when beginning his ministry (I Kings 18:22/Luke 1:78)
15. Physically strong (I Kings 18:46/Matthew 3:5; Luke 1:80)
16. A Prophet for the true God (II Chronicles 21:12; Malachi 4:5/Luke 1:76; 7:28)
17. Spoke to a remnant left who would respond (I Kings 19:18/Mark 1:5)
18. Restored the worship of Jehovah (I Kings 18:39/John 1:6,7)
19. Servant of the Lord (II Kings 10:10/Luke 1:76)
20. Spiritually powerful (II Kings 2:9,15/Matthew 11:11; Luke 1:15)
21. Turned hearts of children to fathers (Malachi 4:6/Luke 1:17 “disobedient to wisdom of the just”)
22. Turned the hearts of fathers to children (Malachi 4:6/Luke 1:17)
23. Withstood an evil king of Israel (I Kings 18:18/Luke 3:19)
24. Wore animal skin clothing (II Kings 1:8/Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6)
25. Wore a leather girdle (II Kings 1:8/Matthew 3:4; Mark 1:6)