the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Commentaries
Box's Commentaries on Selected Books of the Bible Box on Selected Books
God's Love for Israel; Rebuke of Priests.Chapter 2
Corruption of Priests; Broken Covenant.Chapter 3
Promise of a Coming Messenger; Call to Repentance.Chapter 4
The Coming Day of the Lord; Promise of Elijah.
- Malachi
by Charles Box
Giving God The Honor Due Unto Him
Malachi One
It is observed from Malachi one that this is a message from the Lord. Malachi is identified as a prophet of God. This is the last book in our Old Testament. A period of four hundred years passed between Malachi and Matthew, the first New Testament book. This little book contains a warning from God encouraging the Jews to turn back to Him. It is of note to observe that the Old Testament ends with a call for repentance and the New Testament begins with the cry of John the Baptist calling men to repentance. We read, "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." ( Mat_3:1-2 ) The Jews of Malachi's day needed to repent because a son honors his father and a servant honors his master but the Jews did not honor God. ( Mal_1:6 ) The plea of Malachi was that the people would return to God.
Malachi's message was especially directed to the priests. They were offering polluted and defiled animals in sacrifice. God had commanded, "And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God." ( Deu_15:21 ) However, even though the people had turned from God He still loved them and wanted them to return to Him. Let us learn that God is never pleased when we do not obey His commands. The principle is always true; God blesses obedience, but chastises disobedience.
