4:1 “For behold [word used four times to introduce divine proclamations (see also 2:3; 3:1; 4:5)], the day is coming [see Malachi 3:2], burning like a furnace [an oven as in Dan. 3:22]; and all the arrogant [see Malachi 3:15] and every evildoer [“impenitent sinners” (Benson Commentary); those who love sin] will be chaff [burns easily and quickly; see Matthew 6:30]; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze [fire associated with day of judgment (Ps. 50:3); fire is a symbol of God’s holiness; God is a described as a consuming fire in Deuteronomy 4:24],” says the LORD of hosts, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch [utterly destroyed and without the hope or potential to grow again].”
4:2“But for you [those who walk humbly with God] who fear My name [cf. Mal. 3:16] the sun [cf. Ps. 84:11; Isa. 60:19-20] of righteousness [Jesus is the Sun of Righteousness; Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12); see Luke 1:78] will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth [as one released from prison] and skip about like calves from the stall [the exuberance and joy of freedom].
4:3“And you will tread down the wicked, for they shall be ashes [evil has within it the seeds of its own destruction] under the soles of your feet [when the day of the Lord comes, the righteous will triumph over the wicked; see Psalm 1] on the day which I am preparing,” says the LORD of hosts.
4:4“Remember [includes the sentiment that one was to act of what was remembered] the law of Moses [live according to the demands of the law of Moses; the prophetic canon began with this exhortation (Joshua 1:7-8) and now ends with the same exhortation] My servant, even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel.
4:5 “Behold [this prophecy was fulfilled in the ministry of John the Baptist (Mark 9:11-13; Luke 1:17)], I am going to send you Elijah [was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:11-12)] the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.
4:6“And he will [notice Elijah’s mission…] restore [see 1 Kings 18:21,36-39] the hearts of the fathers [godly ancestors] to their children [Malachi’s contemporaries], and the hearts of the children to their fathers [Malachi wanted to see his own generation return to the faith of their forefathers], lest I come and smite the land with a curse [Heb. “cherem” refers to objects to be destroyed because of their unholy character; there is a terrible fate for those who persist in their rebellion against God].”
1:1 The oracle [prophecy] of the word of the LORD to [not against] Israel through Malachi [we know nothing about him other than he was a messenger; possibly a contemporary of Nehemiah (based on topics addressed in both books); ministered four centuries before Christ (possible date of 450 BC); name means “my messenger” or “my angel” — the Hebrew word is found only in Malachi 1:1 and 3:1].
1:2 “I have loved you,” [“That is, in a particular and extraordinary degree; not only as men, but above the rest of men, and above the other posterity, both of Abraham and Isaac.” (Benson Commentary)] says the LORD. But you say, “How hast Thou loved us?” [the people wanted proof of God’s love for them] “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob;
1:3 but I have hated [means a lesser degree of love or showing less regard or favor] Esau, and I have made his mountains [Mount Weir and region given to Esau (Deut. 2:5; Josh. 24:4)] a desolation [inhabitable; the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy in Joel 3:19; laid waste by Nebuchadnezzar (see prophecy in Jer. 49:17-22 and Ezek. 35)], and appointed his inheritance for the jackals [an animal that delights in desolate places] of the wilderness.
1:4 Though Edom [no cities in the region apart from Petra] says, “We have been beaten down, but we will return and build up [as Jerusalem was rebuilt by those who had returned from captivity] the ruins [such efforts would be in vain; the region was doomed to perpetual desolation]”; thus says the LORD of hosts, “They may build, but I will tear down [an indication that God was against them and thus they would not succeed]; and men will call them the wicked territory [or the border of wickedness as opposed to the border of Edom; an accursed land; they became a reproach], and the people toward whom the LORD is indignant forever.”
1:5 And your [Jacob] eyes will see this [the destruction of the Edomites] and you will say, “The LORD be magnified beyond the border of Israel [in contrast to border of wickedness or “the wicked territory” in v. 4]!” Sin of the Priests
1:6 “ ‘A son honors his father, and a servant his master [a generally accepted custom]. Then if I am a father [God is the Father of Israel (see Deut. 32:6,18)], where is My honor [to give weight or consideration to]? And if I am a master, where is My respect?’ says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests [the ones who should have been most concerned about God’s honor] who despise [to neglect or to care little about as opposed to blaspheme] My name [the sum of God’s revealed character; the character and reputation of God]. But you say, ‘How [they doubted that God’s claim against them was accurate] have we despised [felt contempt for] Thy name?’
1:7 “You are presenting defiled food [essentially food unfit to be offered; something diminished or less than what the law required; blemished sacrifices] upon My altar. But you [those who had offered defiled food] say, ‘How have we defiled [to show dishonor or a diminished value of the worship of God] Thee?’ In that you say, ‘The table of the LORD is to be despised [as expressed and evidenced by the offering of “defiled food”].
1:8 “But when you present the blind [cf. Lev. 22:17-25] for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you present the lame and sick [cf. Lev. 22:17-25], is it not evil? Why not offer it to your governor [even their own governor would not be pleased with their unacceptable sacrifices]? Would he be pleased with you [no, because such an offering would be regarded as an insult]? Or would he receive you kindly [no, absolutely not; if their offerings would be unfit for a man they would certainly be unfit for God]?” says the LORD of hosts.
1:9 “But now will you not entreat God’s favor, that He may be gracious to us? With such an offering [“defiled food” (v. 7); blemished animals] on your part [the priests had not led the people well because they had offered “defiled food” (v. 7) at the Lord’s altar], will He receive any of you [their actions precluded the Lord’s favor] kindly?” says the LORD of hosts.
1:10 “Oh that there were one among you [those (priests and Levites) who should be leading by a good example and promoting God’s service] who would shut the gates [doors to the inner court of the temple; because they had made a mockery of God’s service], that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar [to cease unworthy and useless sacrifices]! I am not pleased with you,” [if the Lord is displeased with us it does not matter who else is pleased with us] says the LORD of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering from you [“Better no sacrifices than vain ones (Isa 1:11-15).” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary); better for the temple to be closed than profaned].
1:11 “For from the rising of the sun, even to its setting, My name will be great among the nations [by Jews of the diaspora and those converted through their witness; among the Gentiles in NT], and in every place [not just one place like the Jewish temple] incense [“incense was considered by the Jews themselves as a figure or emblem of prayer and praise” (see Ps. 141:2; Luke 1:10)] is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure [as opposed to the defiled and impure offerings the people were guilty of offering on the altar]; for My name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD of hosts.
1:12 “But you [priests and consequently the people who followed their bad example] are profaning it [God’s name], in that you say [likely more by their example than their words], ‘The table [or the altar] of the Lord is defiled [not sacred or worthy of reverence], and as for its fruit, its food [perhaps a reference to the priests allotted portion] is to be despised [the priests allowed unworthy sacrifices and then complained that their allotted portion was bad].’
1:13 “You [the priests] also say, ‘My, how tiresome [to do things as God had prescribed; the priests and the people were weary with serving God; serving God becomes an intolerable burden when we serve Him without heart or faith] it [God’s service] is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it [to despise or treat with contempt],” says the LORD of hosts, “and you bring what was taken by robbery [a reference to that which was unfit to be offered], and what is lame or sick [unacceptable offerings]; so you bring the offering! Should I receive that [what is unfit and unworthy] from your hand?” says the LORD.
1:14 “But cursed be the swindler [deceiver; hypocrite] who has a male in his flock [a proper and acceptable sacrifice without blemish that could be offered as a burnt offering; see Leviticus 22:18-19], and vows [a deliberate promise to do the right thing; see the warning of Ecclesiastes 5:5] it, but [instead of doing the right thing, switches the acceptable sacrificial animal with a lesser and unacceptable one; says he will give God the best and then gives Him the worst] sacrifices a blemished animal [an improper sacrifice and one worth less] to the Lord, for I am a great King [thus worthy of our best],” says the LORD of hosts, “and My name is feared among the nations [including Gentiles when converted].”
Bible Teaching Notes 