Bible Commentaries

God continued to love His people -- Malachi 1:1-5 : The Jews had become disobedient in their sacrifices and in their living. Malachi pictured the fact that God continued to love them even in their rebellion. All that we know about Malachi is that he is God's prophet. His message is a very strong message of repentance. Malachi is the practical prophet writing about daily things like sacrificial worship, the work of the priests, marriage and divorce, tithing, and the coming of the Redeemer. Many of the things in Malachi correspond to the events described by Nehemiah. Malachi likely added to the work started by Nehemiah. Malachi used questions and answers as a great way of teaching God's message. This was a heavy message because it was described as "The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi." (Malachi 1:1) Malachi reminded the people that God continued to love the Jews in spite of their rebellion. God's love for the Jewish nation was pictured by the prophet. He chose this people to be the nation through whom the Messiah would be born. The proof of God's love for the Jews was seen in that they were His chosen nation. God rejected Esau and the nations that descended from him and chose Jacob and his descendants. Descendants of Esau could be saved but they were not the chosen nation through which the Messiah came. God gave the Jews His Law, the Temple, priests, prophets, His care and finally the Messiah. The Jews were under God's care but the Edomites experienced His wrath.

Polluted sacrifices were rejected -- Malachi 1:6-8 : Worship should be a time of genuine praise and thanksgiving to God. Israel sacrificed to God, not because of His need but because of their need. Psalms 50:12 says, "If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof." Sadly, the Jews did not take their worship seriously. They brought less than their best to God. They brought polluted bread and animals that were blind, lame or sick as their sacrifices. When they brought God these inferior gifts they were saying that they placed very little value on Him. The attitude of the Jews in worship showed both selfishness and indifference. Their so called worship was disrespectful to God. God said, "And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts." (Malachi 1:8) The priests were directly responsible for the people being able to despise the name of God in such a disgraceful way. The priest did this and yet said, "Wherein have we despised thy name?" (Malachi 1:6) The animal sacrifices had to do with atonement for sin and a less than perfect animal would not do. Even their governor would not accept their worthless sacrifices. The attitudes and actions of the people were contemptible to God.

Seek the Lord and obey Him -- Malachi 1:9-11 : It was vain for the Jews to seek or claim God's mercy when they were offering such inferior service to Him. This worthless worship was brought about by their own greed. The Jews were so greedy and so selfish that they would not even close a door without expecting to be rewarded for it. Gentiles would do better in keeping the New Covenant than the Jews did under Judaism. When the gospel was preached the sacrifice of Jesus reached all nations, including Gentiles. It is in vain to seek God's mercy while continuing in rebellion against His will. Malachi knew that the hope for the Jews was to repent and to ask God for forgiveness. (Malachi 1:9) The people were guilty and urgently needed to pray for forgiveness. It would be better to shut the door of the Temple and not allow any sacrifice than to offer worthless sacrifices to God. It would be better not to light a fire than to burn inferior sacrifices to the Almighty. True worship must be according to God commandments and it must come from our heart.

A change of attitude is necessary -- Malachi 1:12-14 : The Jews were profaning the service of God. They were treating God's worship as a common, everyday activity. God never asked more of a person than they were able to do. These Jews had fit animals for sacrifice and yet they refused to give God their best. Their attitude toward God was so bad that it was about to lead to their destruction. The priest said, "There is nothing special about the Lord's altar, and these sacrifices are worthless." The Jews were disgusted with God's requirements saying they were weariness and they snuffed at God or made vulgar signs at Him. They so disregard God that they brought stolen animals to offer to Him. God said, "Instead of offering the acceptable animals you have promised, you bring me those that are unhealthy. I will punish you for this, because I am the great King, the LORD All-Powerful, and I am worshipped by nations everywhere." God will not accept false worship. Observe, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24)