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Why does the Gospel of Matthew identify St. John the Baptist with Elijah?

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Geertgen tot Sint Jans: John the Baptist in the Wilderness — St. John the Baptist *John the Baptist in the Wilderness*, oil on panel by Geertgen tot Sint Jans, 15th century; in the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin.

The Gospel According to Matthew identifies St. John the Baptist as a new or returning Elijah to establish him as the herald of the kingdom of God.1

By framing John the Baptist in this role, the author of Matthew emphasizes his function as a prophetic forerunner who prepares the way for the coming of the Messiah. This identification serves to connect the ministry of John with the powerful prophetic tradition of Elijah, who was a central figure in saving the religion of Yahweh and upholding moral law in ancient Israel.12

While other Gospels treat the relationship between John and Jesus differently—such as Mark, which presents John as one who had to "come first to restore all things," or Luke, which focuses on John as the inaugurator of the fulfillment of prophecy—Matthew’s specific use of the Elijah imagery underscores the theological importance of John’s mission in the context of God's imminent judgment.31