The word “Behold” calls special attention to the truth which follows. In Malachi 2:7, the people asked, “Where is the God of judgment?” God is sending His messenger to prepare the way for the Lord, that is the Messiah, to suddenly appear among them.
Elements of this prophecy are quoted in the following New Testament passages in reference to John the Baptist and Jesus: Matthew 3:3; 11:10; Mark 1:2-3; Luke 1:76; 3:4; 7:26-27; and John 1:23. These New Testament passages also contain elements of Isaiah’s 40:3-5 prophecy. Here’s a two quotes from that prophecy: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’”
“Hengstenberg thinks, ‘messenger’ includes the long line of prophets headed by Elijah. Elijah’s name is mentioned in Malachi 4:5 as a representative name of all prophets, and summed up in John, the greatest of the prophets according to Jesus in Matthew 11:9-11. John’s prophetic ministry focuses on heralding Messiah’s arrival. John preached repentance and faith. The wilderness in which he preached symbolized the barren state of the Jews at that time.” [JFBC]
The Lord comes to the temple as “HIS temple” establishing His divine lordship over it, as contrasted with others who are but “servants in” it. [JFBC]
“In whom you delight.” There were those who sang Messiah’s praises as He rode the foal of a donkey towards the temple. They placed articles of clothing and palm branches in His path. Many sang, including children, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.” Those who were up to no good were not delighted to see Him. In Matthew 21:11-12, Jesus expelled the money-changers from the temple. He called the temple His Father’s house. He said it was a house of prayer for all nations and not a den of thieves.
Jesus is the Messenger of the covenant that God made with Abraham, in which the Gentiles are ultimately included. See Galatians 4:16-17 for more details. Jesus is the messenger of the old covenant, as well as of the new. [JFBC]
“But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderers’ soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver. He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.” Malachi 3:2-3
The Messiah came not to flatter but to fire up truth among them. His teaching helped them to discern the difference between what is holy in God’s sight and what is profane, between what is clean and what is defiled, between what is godly and what is ungodly. A refiner’s fire purges out that which is of no worth from that which is very valuable. A launderer’s soap removes that which is unwanted on a garment.
Jesus Christ came to purify the sons of Levi, that is the priesthood. He purged them so that they offered to the Lord a harvest of righteousness. In fact, of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Levites mentioned in the Gospels, only Zechariah, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus served Jesus. Jesus appointed new priests from those who believed in Him, learned from Him and followed Him. Some had been fishermen and one had been a tax collector. Earthly pedigree and approval by so-called managers of religion was no longer the criteria for usefulness to the Lord. A personal relationship with Messiah is what matters now.
“Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the Lord, as in the days of old, as in former years. And I will come near you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners, widows, and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien—because they do not fear Me, says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 3:4-5
The Messiah’s goal is to help the sons and daughters of Adam to glorify God... to offer pleasing offerings to the Lord as opposed to the detestable ones that the priests in Malachi’s day were offering to the Lord. In Malachi 1:13, the Lord addressed the issue of the priests offering stolen sheep, lame sheep and sick sheep to Him. And in Malachi 2:17, they challenged the Lord, saying, “Where is the God of judgment?” Here, the Lord promises them judgment and a “swift witness” against the long list of crimes that they have committed against Him. No one should ever gamble against the Lord’s promise to punish unforgiven sin. When a person does not repent of sin, God eventually deals with that person’s sin severely.
Sorcery includes consulting spirits of the dead, using magic charms, tarot cards, face-reading, Ouija Boards, incantations, curses, superstitious practices and horoscopes. It is looking to something other than God for guidance, affirmation and wealth. Adultery, lying, exploitation of wage earners, and exploitation of widows, orphans and foreigners are all outwards signs of an inward condition that is not right with God. If someone is abiding in Christ, Christ will lead them to produce better fruits than these... as Galatians 5:22-23 says, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
In Acts 8:20-23, Peter rebuked Simon the sorcerer for being poisoned with bitterness and bound by iniquity. In Acts 13:10, Paul rebuked Elymas the sorcerer for being full of deceit, fraud, being a son of the devil, an enemy of righteousness and for perverting the straight ways of the Lord. In the following passages, Jesus and His apostles warn us against following performers of signs and lying wonders: Matthew 24:24; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:13-14; 16:13-14; 9:21; 18:23; 21:8; 22:15. The Lord is going to purge them. They will not inherit God’s kingdom.
“For I am the Lord, I do not change. Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you said, ‘In what way shall we return?’” Malachi 3:6-7
The sons of Jacob were not consumed because God’s longsuffering and love for them. God was not turning a blind eye to the evil that they had done. He knows all the sins that were committed in secret. However, ridding them of sin is only to get them back to Himself. The real object of His affection is them. The Lord wants to be close with them.
“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field, says the Lord of hosts. And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land, says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 3:8-12
God asked Israel for a tithe, that is 10% of all their increase. The tithe is an offering back to God for all the blessings that He has given to us. God created and sustains all things. We would all die if He cut off just a few of His services like oxygen, gravity, water and warmth. In Israel, the tithe supported the temple, the sacrifices, and those who served in it, namely the Levites.
God opens the windows of heaven and pours out more blessings than people can contain when they tithe. He rebukes the devourer. He protects the crops.
After God helped me to start tithing, I noticed blessings. First, after tithing 10% to the Church, I wasted less. I became content with less material things. Sinful flesh is never satisfied no matter how much you feed it. God’s Spirit replaced bad coping mechanisms with healthy ones, such as asking God for help and trust in His promises. Spiritual blessings like love, joy and peace replaced unwanted self-indulgences. I enjoyed God more. I had an investment in Him. God replaced an inward looking, self-focus, with an outward looking interest and love for others.
Tithing is something God calls us to do because it is good for us. He teaches us to love Him and love others by it. Love for God and love for neighbor are the two great commandments. God doesn’t need our money, but He wants our love, both for Him and for people.
“Your words have been harsh against Me, says the Lord, yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’ You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God. What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, and that we have walked as mourners before the Lord of hosts? So now we call the proud blessed, for those who do wickedness are raised up. They even tempt God and go free.’” Malachi 3:13-15
The people in Malachi’s day needed to repent. To repent is to change one’s mind. They needed to change their attitude toward God. Instead of considering God-service as a chore and an obligation, they needed to see how blessed they were to have God in their lives. A godless society tends to be arrogant and violent. People cheat, lie, betray, and murder one another. Without God, Satan rules, and the devil is evil and cruel.
“Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them. So, a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His Name. ‘They shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him. Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.” Malachi 3:16-18
When the ungodly uttered blasphemies against God, the godly defended Him. God heard the words of His lovers. They spoke with great respect for Him. They meditated on His Name. He wrote these acts of love toward Him in a book. Like a father or mother wanting to keep tangible memories of loving moments with their child. God said these people are His jewels. Love for God does matter. God will preserve these vessels of honor. Like a father loves a son who serves him faithfully. God’s approval and affirmation will make it obvious to the naysayers that God is a God of justice. It is worthwhile to do what is right in His sight and serve Him.
Revelation 21:27 says, “There shall by no means enter it [the holy city] anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, that will leave them neither root nor branch. But to you who fear My Name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings. And you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this, says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 4:1-3
The Lord does deal with proud and wicked people. They trashed God. God shall trash them. God will leave no root of them behind. Love for God is a sign of knowing Him. They did not love God.
The coming of the Lord is bad news for those who hate Him, but good news for those who love Him. The healing in His wings indicates speed and ability to navigate toward those who have reverenced God’s Name. They will be healed and well fed at the marriage of the bride (the Church) and the Lamb (Christ). The wicked will be below their feet. Very far below!
“Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded 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 will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” Malachi 4:4-6
Remember! It is so vital that we don’t allow the soul sustaining truth of God’s Word to slip away from our minds. If we do, the enemy of our soul is happy to fill our minds with lies and evil contemplations.
According to the angel Gabriel in Luke 1:16-17, John the Baptist is the fulfillment of the Lord’s prophecy about sending Elijah the prophet before the coming of the Lord. We can learn from this kind of fulfilment of prophecy that sometimes God’s Word is fulfilled in a spiritual sense and not in a literal one. John the Baptist was not a reincarnation of Elijah. The Lord anointed John with a similar zeal for God’s glory as He gave to Elijah. John’s commission was to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest God strike the earth with a curse.
In Malachi 2:14-16, we learned that the priests were not treating the wives of their youth well. And if a husband doesn’t treat the mother of his children well, he usually mistreats his children also. Elijah’s goal was to address these issues to help them realize their need for a Redeemer and a Savior as well as a Lord. Only God would ever be great enough to change their hearts of stone into hearts that could love their spouses and children as He, God, loved them. Only God could help them stay on this course day after day for all the days of their lives.
[JFBC] = Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary
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