Christian
Churches of God
No. F039
Commentary on Malachi
(Edition 2.0 20141108-20230730)
Chapters
1-4
Christian
Churches of God
E-mail: secretary@ccg.org
(Copyright © 2014, 2023 Wade Cox)
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Commentary
on Malachi
Introduction
This text of
Malachi is the last text of the OT Canon.
Its style also throws light on the finishing of the book of Zechariah.
Matthew 23:35
states that Zechariah was killed between the temple and the altar. He was
untimely killed by the priests, stopping his work.
Matthew 23:33-35
33You serpents, you brood of vipers,
how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34therefore I send
you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify,
and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35that
upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of
innocent Abel to the blood of Zechari'ah the son of Barachi'ah, whom you
murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. (RSV)
Christ is talking to the priests and this is a
very significant point. It shows that Zechariah was killed in an untimely
manner. Zechariah 1:7 shows that it was Zechari'ah the son of Berechi'ah, son
of Iddo, the prophet. (See Josephus, Wars of the Jews, 4.5.4 for
explanation, also Bullinger’s footnotes.) This is mentioned as it gives rise to
a problem in Malachi and Zechariah.
We have one Zechariah killed allegedly 800 years previously. Zechariah
the Prophet was killed 400 years previously and then 34 years after this a
third Zechariah, the son of Baruch which is a very serious problem. Remember
also that Isaiah was sawn in half by these people. These people have no respect
for God’s prophets. ‘These people’ are whoever is in charge
of the religious or church system in the mainstream of the society. The church that we see
and we respect is not the mainstream church and these papists are supported by
the Jesuits who murder at will.
In the last chapters of Zechariah there is a slight change in style and
what is assumed is that Malachi took over duties and began to write and to
finish off the last few chapters of Zechariah’s work and then closed the Canon
with his book, which then became the last book of the Canon written. It was on
the death of Alexander the Great which was concurrent at 323 BCE. Ezra the
scribe died at the same time. The Sedum Olam Rabbah makes the point that they
were contemporaneous in their deaths. Then they compiled the Old Testament
Canon from the time of this death in 323 BCE. The books were listed and
published and sent out by 321 BCE.
Malachi is one of the six undated of the twelve so called Minor
Prophets. His book shows that the Temple worship with its sacrifices was fully
restored but the ceremonial formalism and the hypocrisy which culminated in the
days of our Lord’s ministry was seen actively at work at the time of Malachi.
No sooner were the restraining influences of Ezra and Nehemiah removed than the
corruption began and war went on apace as evidenced by
Malachi 1:7-8 and 3:8 etc.
Bullinger is in error here. When Ezra died, it was not a matter of
Malachi then watching the deterioration; Ezra was dying when the deterioration
was in effect and Malachi was making observation before Ezra died because the
Canon was closed and Malachi’s work, if it was not written before the death of
Ezra, would not have been included and accepted as one of the Twelve Prophets.
It was understood to be the last prophecy from Malachi and Ezra until John the
Baptist. There were some prophets operating in the church but none of them
received direction from the Lord in relation to any other matter for recording.
There were prophets in the Temple who knew that Christ was going to be born and
knew the very day that he was going to be presented at the Temple and were
waiting to see him presented by Joseph and Mariam before the High Priest and
the Temple Priesthood. One had had his life spared so that he could be present
to witness the Messiah as God gave him permission. So
prophecy did not stop but the written testaments of the Bible did.
The style of the last few chapters of Zechariah is the same style as Malachi
and differs from the former chapters and it is thought that Malachi finished
the book for Zechariah, when Zechariah was killed between the Temple and the
altar. Zechariah was a major prophet and his work is
of major importance, yet the priests thought nothing of killing him, as they
thought nothing of killing Isaiah. They were frightened of Samuel and also of Elijah but they would kill them “at the drop of the hat.”
One of the problems we have is that Bullinger’s chronology is wrong. We
are looking at 323 BCE as the death of Ezra and the birth of the Messiah is in
ca. 6 BCE, a period of about 317 years. They are saying that this restoration
in the year of Artaxerxes was 400 years and that is not correct. Bullinger’s
chronology is not correct and we need to be aware of
that fact. The time sequence and the rule of the kings are much better
understood now than at the time Bullinger was writing. In the last 130 years we
have grown in knowledge immensely. For instance, he places Ezra’s last date as
1 Nisan 403 BCE, when the Temple was rebuilt in 419 BCE and Nehemiah was sent
back in the 7th week of years which is 49 years after 419. Ezra died
in 323 BCE, not 403. So these dates that you will find
in the Companion Bible are wrong.
Malachi Chs.
1-4 (RSV)
1The oracle of the word of the LORD
to Israel by Mal'achi. 2"I have loved you," says the LORD.
But you say, "How hast thou loved us?" "Is not Esau Jacob's
brother?" says the LORD. "Yet I have loved Jacob 3but I
have hated Esau; I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to
jackals of the desert." 4If Edom says, "We are shattered
but we will rebuild the ruins," the LORD of hosts says, "They may
build, but I will tear down, till they are called the wicked country, the
people with whom the LORD is angry for ever." 5Your
own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, "Great is the LORD, beyond the
border of Israel!" 6"A son honors his father, and a
servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a
master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise
my name. You say, `How have we despised thy name?' 7By offering
polluted food upon my altar. And you say, `How have we polluted it?' By
thinking that the LORD's table may be despised. 8When you offer blind
animals in sacrifice, is that no evil? And when you offer those that are lame
or sick, is that no evil? Present that to your governor; will he be pleased
with you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. 9And now entreat
the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand,
will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts. 10Oh, that
there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle
fire upon my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts,
and I will not accept an offering from your hand. 11For from the rising of the sun
to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense
is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the
LORD of hosts. 12But you profane it when you say that the LORD's
table is polluted, and the food for it may be despised. 13`What a
weariness this is,' you say, and you sniff at me, says the LORD of hosts. You
bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as
your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. 14Cursed
be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to
the Lord what is blemished; for I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and
my name is feared among the nations. (RSV)
Intent of Chapter 1
This is where the Church of God got to by the end of the Armstrongite
period. Nobody would do anything for nothing. This is one of the reasons that
CCG does not have a paid ministry, because this text in Malachi shows where it
had got to and what Christ was condemning and the system that was rotten and
nobody worked for the love of God. It was a business. God scattered them as He
scattered the Temple. He sent them Christ when he was over 30 years of age. He
became Priest at the Jubilee of 27 CE and from 28 CE he began his mission and the church was started. It continued
on for 40 Jubilees and is in the final phase of the last jubilee now,
the 120th Jubilee.
In 1987 Joseph Tkatch stated throughout his tour through USA, and around
the world, that we were at Revelation chapter 11, verses 1 and 2, and that God
had commenced the measuring of the Temple of God. 1987 was the beginning of the
last 40 years of this Jubilee and the beginning of parole or judgment until
2027. It was the third year of the sacred calendar.
This first chapter of Malachi carries through in prophecy from 27 CE,
through Christ’s death, Pentecost, the 40 years to the destruction of the
Temple in Jerusalem and its complete dispersion which began from 70 CE. The
church came into the same problem in the last 40 years and that began ‘this
generation,’ the term that Christ uses in the Gospel saying that ‘this
generation’ will not pass away until the Messiah comes and destroys the nations
of the earth and brings them into captivity under the vials of the wrath of
God. “This generation” referred to by Christ began in 1987.
vv. 11-14 The whole
development of the church and the Pharisees, the development of the Sadducees
in the Temple system and their collapse occurred with the Messiah. After the
death of Christ the Sadducees and the factions in the
Temple began to increase and become more and more corrupt. In the same way the
church became more and more corrupt. The act of stopping the full
Passover/Unleavened bread continuing for the full seven day
period from 1965 is indicative of this. By 1967 it was no where kept by the Church
of God. This was part of the problem of taking away of the sacrifices and the
proper worship of God. It follows on from what happened at the time of Christ
and what happened after the death of Ezra through to Christ where it became
worse and then the 40 years for repentance allocated from the death of Christ
to 70 CE gave the entire priesthood their judgment at the end of the Temple Period.
The measurement is now concerned with the Churches of God and their
priesthood has been judged now.
1"And now, O priests, this
command is for you. 2If you will not listen, if you will not lay it
to heart to give glory to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the
curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; indeed
I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. 3Behold,
I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung upon your faces, the dung of your
offerings, and I will put you out of my presence. 3Behold, I will rebuke
your offspring, and spread dung upon your faces, the dung of your offerings,
and I will put you out of my presence. 4So shall you know that I have sent this command
to you, that my covenant with Levi may hold, says the LORD of hosts. 5My
covenant with him was a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him,
that he might fear; and he feared me, he stood in awe of my name. 6True
instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked
with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. 7For
the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and men should seek instruction
from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8But you have turned aside from
the way; you have caused many to stumble by your instruction; you have
corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts, 9and so I
make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you have not
kept my ways but have shown partiality in your instruction." 10Have we not all one father? Has
not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the
covenant of our fathers? 11Judah
has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in
Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD, which he loves,
and has married the daughter of a foreign god. 12May the LORD cut
off from the tents of Jacob, for the man who does this, any to witness or answer,
or to bring an offering to the LORD of hosts! 13And this again you
do. You cover the LORD's altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he
no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor at your hand. 14You ask, "Why does he
not?" Because the LORD was witness to the covenant between you and the
wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your
companion and your wife by covenant. 15Has not the one God made and
sustained for us the spirit of life? And what does he desire? Godly offspring. So take heed to yourselves, and let none be faithless to the
wife of his youth. 16"For I hate divorce, says the LORD the God
of Israel, and covering one's garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So take heed to yourselves and do not be faithless." 17You
have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say, "How have we wearied him?" By saying, "Every one who does evil is good in the sight of the
LORD, and he delights in them." Or by asking, "Where is the God of
justice?"
Intent
of Chapter 2
vv. 1-2 This text is directed at the priesthood and the fact
that their feasts have been so totally corrupted. Armstrong and the Church of
God introduced the Hillel Calendar which came out as the Jewish calendar in 358
CE. It did not exist until then but the postponements
were introduced by deceit from the fall of the Temple. So not only was Judah
prophesied here in Malachi to corrupt the feasts and to make them contemptible
but also the Church of God in the last days under Armstrong became an apostate
system using the same corrupt calendar as Judah had done. The end of the Sardis
system under Herbert Armstrong was the most corrupt ever to hold office in the Church
of God. The theology was corrupt, the calendar was corrupt, the administration
was corrupt and the brethren were rendered to the
hooves.
Note that verse 3 in the KJV
reads:
3Behold, I will corrupt
your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts;
and one shall take you away with it.
v. 3 We see that one of
the feasts will remove these priests. In the first instance it was the feast of
the Passover in 30 CE that took the priesthood away on Christ’s death. He had
already ordained the 70 and the authority had been
passed from the priesthood to the church. When the Holy Spirit came at that
Pentecost of 30 CE in power and strength, the entire structure of the
priesthood of Israel or Judah was removed and destroyed over the forty years.
vv. 4-7 This is the
responsibility of the priesthood and right up to the closing of the Old
Testament Canon Malachi was saying that this is their responsibility. The texts
tell us that it was passed to the church by the Messiah. We are the messengers
of the Lord of Hosts. They don’t get it. We have been given the responsibility
in the last days for taking the mysteries of God and explaining the coming of
the Messiah and the Witnesses and dealing with those problems. The priesthood, both of the church and the Temple, departed out of the way.
v. 8 That antinomianism
is the biggest single problem in the Christian religion in the 21st
century. The whole of the Christian structure is antinomian
and they have stumbled at the law. The Jews themselves have perverted the law
with the Talmud.
vv. 9-11 If we don’t
believe that the churches in the 21st century are married to a
strange god and are in fact the daughters of a strange god then we haven’t got
our eyes open.
v. 12 So everybody who
does will be cut off, even those who make offerings at the Temple.
vv. 13-17 In other words,
why has God not dealt with these things? Chapter two is directly concerned with
the priesthood, the assemblies, the conduct of the priesthood and the people,
their attitudes, their respect of persons and their
failure in their families. That can be seen in our society now as to how the
social structure is simply being destroyed.
The Coming Messenger
“Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 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 fullers’ soap; 3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the Lord. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. 5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
Do Not Rob God
6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How are we robbing thee?’ In your tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me; the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. 11 I will rebuke the devourer[a] for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.
13 “Your words have been stout against me, says the Lord. Yet you say, ‘How have we spoken against thee?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the good of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? 15 Henceforth we deem the arrogant blessed; evildoers not only prosper but when they put God to the test they escape.’”
The Reward of the Faithful
16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another; the Lord heeded and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and thought on his name. 17 “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
Intent of Chapter 3
v. 1 This is quoted in
Matthew 11:10, Mark 1:2 and Luke 1:76 and 7:27. Bullinger claims that it was
not directed to our generation; it was to the Lord’s generation in his day. ‘My
messenger’ is literally seen as John the Baptist.
Matthew 11:10 This is he of whom it is written,
`Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before
thee.' (RSV)
This is
Christ speaking from verse 7:
7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to
the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to
behold? A reed shaken by the wind?
8Why then did you go out? To see a
man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear
soft raiment are in kings' houses. 9Why then did you go out? To see
a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. (RSV)
So Christ said that it was John the Baptist that
was this messenger sent to prepare the way for the Lord. There is however
another prophet and voice sent for that purpose in the last days and he is not
from the Tribe of Levi but is from the composite of the last days of Ephraim
and Dan as foretold by Jeremiah (Jer. 4:15) (see the paper Warning of the Last
Days (No. 044)). Then we will see the Witnesses, one of whom is Elijah
as foretold.
Continuing from Malachi 3:2:
vv. 2-6 So the whole
purpose of the Lord is maintained and Jacob is not
consumed because there is a purpose conceived by God which established Jacob as
the seed and as the source of the law and the prophecy. That is also contained
in the references in the Koran, in the Surah: “Those who set the ranks” which
deals with the prophecy of the establishment through Moses and Aaron down to
Christ. The authority of the Scriptures is established in the priesthood
through Moses and Aaron, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob down
to Christ and that is the sequence of the establishment of the law.
Other people have tried to get members to the church by saying the law
is corrupt and done away. It has been decided to do away with the requirement
to tithe in order to get more people but that does not
work.
These whole sequences of the failure to obey the laws of God are
resulting in people leaving the Churches of God in significant numbers. People
either want to be part of the body of Christ doing the work of God or they do
not. If they don’t they need to leave.
In the end there will be two people, Enoch and
Elijah, working at the Temple. We will be assisting by baptizing those who do
repent in the last days. The work will then go to Christ who will build up the
church right throughout the nations.
Verse 17 in the KJV says: And they shall be mine,
saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare
them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
These jewels are a peculiar treasure, an acquired property, i.e. one’s
own. So the end result of the work of God will be a
church of people who will be a peculiar treasure to God, specifically the sons
of God.
The Great Day of the Lord
“For behold, the day comes, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go forth leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts. 4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. 5 “Behold, I will send you Eli′jah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.”
Intent of Chapter 4
v. 1 This is the last days
being spoken of. This is when the two Witnesses are sent in preparation for the
Messiah and they will stand before the god of the
whole world.
vv. 2-6 The sequence is in two parts. It’s the law of Moses which was given at
Horeb for all Israel with the statutes and judgments that are to be kept. Then
Elijah will be sent to reinforce those statutes and judgments before the great
and terrible day of the Lord.
From verse 5 Bullinger
notes: Elijah the prophet. Called thus, only here, and in 2Chonicles 21:12.
Elsewhere, always "Elijah the Tishbite", to indicate his own person;
but here "Elijah the prophet "because had Israel received Messiah,
John the Baptist would have been reckoned as Elijah (see notes on Mat. 17:9-13,
Mk. 9:11-13): and, at His last supper, the wine, representing His blood, would
have been (as it will yet be) reckoned as "the blood of the (New)
Covenant", as foretold in Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-13; 10:15-17;
12:24).
This day of the
Lord as we all know is the final days which we are waiting on and that day of
the Lord has notes on Isaiah 2:12,17; 13:6f. The Lord is referred to as Jehovah
which is Christ acting as the High Priest in the Temple of God.
Malachi is a
prophetic work that goes forward to the coming of Messiah and tells us
specifically the name of the prophet that is being sent in the last days. It
finished the Old Testament Covenant showing what is to happen and showing the
two elements of the covenant which are: the law and the statutes and that
Elijah will come as the messenger of the covenant and the law and that that
will be established in the last days.
What will happen
is that most of these church groups will be destroyed and there will be a
reaction amongst the people in Israel and their foolishness in their behaviour
will be stamped out. We will once again be prepared and brought into a proper
nation and a proper group under those who are fortunate enough to be in the
First Resurrection of the dead.
This is what we
are working for and this is what we hope to achieve.
We will be in either the First or the Second Resurrection. We work as though we
qualify for the First but if we come to the Second, then that is the judgment
of God. We must do what we can.
The sign of the
return to God is tithing and return to the whole system;
tithing properly and keeping the laws of God. Many do not want to understand
the Old Testament or its relationship to the Gospels, the so-called “New Covenant”
of Christ, which is merely a reiteration of the covenant he gave Moses at
Sinai. Christ was the elohim, the Angel of the Presence, that gave the covenant
to Moses and we must never forget that.
Bullinger’s Notes on Chs.
1-4 (for KJV)
Chapter 1
Verse 1
burden. See note on Isaiah 13:1; and compare Zechariah 9:1; Zechariah 12:1, &c.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
to. Not "concerning".
Malachi. Hebrew = My messenger, relating to the
five messengers in this book: see App-10. Malachi himself (Malachi 1:1); (2) the true Priest (Malachi 2:7); (3) John the Baptist (Malachi 3:1 -); (4) the Messiah Himself (Malachi 3:1-3); (5) Elijah (Malachi 4:5). This last prophecy introduces the great
fulfilment of Jehovah"s prophecy by Moses, the
first prophet to Israel, in Deuteronomy 18:15-19. Compare Acts 3:18-26; Acts 7:37.
I have loved Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 7:8; Deuteronomy 10:15; Deuteronomy 33:3).
saith = hath said. Quoted in Romans 9:13, Esau Jacob"s. Put
by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for their
posterities. Quoted in Romans 9:13,
saith the LORD = [is] Jehovah"s
oracle.
dragons = jackals. Compare Isaiah 13:22; Isaiah 34:13. Jeremiah 9:11; Jeremiah 10:22; Jeremiah 49:33; Jeremiah 51:37.
impoverished: or, beaten down.
the LORD of hosts. This expression occurs twenty four times in this prophecy, and gives its character
to the whole, as in Zechariah.
A son, &c. Ref to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:12), App-92. Note the Figure of speech Anacoenosis (App-6).
An appeal to opponents as having a common interest. Compare Isaiah 5:4. Luke 11:19. Acts 4:19. 1 Corinthians 4:21; 1 Corinthians 10:15; 1 Corinthians 11:13, 1 Corinthians 11:14, Galatians 1:4, Galatians 1:21.
master. The Hebrew accents place the chief pause
here, where the statement ends on which the appeal is based.
if then, &c. These two appeals are marked off
by minor accents
My name: which is again marked off for special
emphasis. (1) The argument is based on natural reverence; (2) the breach is
shown in the case of Israel (Isaiah 41:8. Hosea 11:1); (3) the conclusion being that the priests were
guilty cause.
Ye offer, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 15:21).
offer = bring nigh.
Hebrew. nagash. App-43.
if ye offer the blind, &c. Reference to
Pentateuch (Leviticus 22:22. Deuteronomy 15:21). App-92.
and sick, is it not = and sick [saying], it is
not evil.
I pray you, &c. Figure of speech Irony.
App-6.
GOD. Hebrew. El.
regard = accept.
you. Emph. i.e. you
[priests].
offering = a gift offering. Hebrew. minchah. App-43.
it = Me. "Me" was the reading
in the primitive text; but the Sopherim state they
altered othi (Me) to otho (him, or it) out of a (mistaken) sense of
reverence. See App-33. Compare Malachi 3:9; and Ezekiel 13:19.
table: i.e. the altar.
the LORD = Jehovah (App-4.). But this is one of
134 places which the Sopherim say they altered Jehovah
to "Adonai".
Behold Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6
and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton (App-6).
snuffed =
puffed. "Snuffed" is an archaism for "sniffed" -
complained by snivelling: i.e. pooh-poohed.
it = My altar. See note on Malachi 1:12.
should I accept, &c. Reference to Pentateuch
(Leviticus 22:20). App-92.
Verse 1
this commandment. As to reformation.
Verse 2
If ye will not hear. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:14. Deuteronomy 28:15). App-92.
the LORD of hosts. See note on Malachi 1:4.
send a curse = send the curse. Reference to
Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:20). App-92.
curse your blessings. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:2).
Verse 3
corrupt = rebuke; as in Malachi 3:11. Psalms 106:9. Isaiah 17:13. Hebrew gaar. Occurs
fourteen times. Always rendered rebuke" except here, and Jeremiah 29:27 ("reproved").
dung = refuse; always sacrificial. Occurs seven
times.
feasts. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of
Adjunct), App-6, for the sacrifices offered at the feasts.
it: i.e. the refuse.
My covenant was with him. Reference to Pentateuch
(Numbers 25:10-13. Deuteronomy 33:8, Deuteronomy 33:9, Deuteronomy 33:10). App-92.
I gave them, &c.: I gave
this "life" and "peace" to him [Levi] as an
awe-inspiring, reverend characteristic; because he
stood in awe of Me. There seems to be a distinct reference to Phineas (see the
references above). But there seems to be a distinct reference to Levi also (Exodus 32:26-29), in the first place, at any rate.
Hebrew. mora = that which makes awe felt.
was afraid before = abased himself.
Verse 7
the priest"s
lips, &c. This was the first duty of the priests,
and was more important than their ceremonial duties. Reference to
Pentateuch (Leviticus 10:11. Deuteronomy 17:11; Deuteronomy 33:10). App-92.
they: i.e. the People; according to Deuteronomy 17:9-11.
Verse 9
People = peoples: i.e. the tribes.
according as = because, or, in so far as.
been partial = had respect of persons.
Compare James 2:4.
Verse 10
Have we not all. created us? = [Ye say] Have we
not, &c. as in Malachi 2:14 Figure of speech Paroemia.
See John 8:33, John 39:41 &c.
GOD. Hebrew. El.
treacherously: or,
faithlessly. Used of faithlessness to the marriage bond.
Verse 11
strange = foreign: i.e. a woman temple-worshipper
of a foreign god.
Verse 12
man. Hebrew. "ish. App-14.
the master and the
scholar = wakener and answerer. Referring to the Temple watchers (Psalms 134:1).
tabernacles = tents.
offereth =
bringeth near. Hebrew. nagash, as
in Malachi 1:7, Malachi 1:8, Malachi 1:11; Malachi 3:3. App-43.
offering = a meal-offering. Hebrew. minchah. App-43.
Verse 14
Wherefore? Supply the Ellipsis: "Wherefore
[doth He not accept it]? "
companion = consort, or mate.
Modern critics pronounce this as being "a
difficult and certainly corrupt passage"; but it is only elliptical.
make one? = make [of twain] one flesh? Ref to
Pentateuch (Genesis 2:24). App-92.
Yet had He, &c. And therefore
could have made more than one wife for Adam.
And wherefore one? And what [did] that one
[Abraham] who [was] seeking a seed of (or from) God? Hebrew. zera" (as in Genesis 21:12; see note there). The logical Ellipsis"
must be further supplied: "Was Abraham faithless to Sarah and did he
ill-treat her when he took an additional wife? How much more ought ye to be
faithful to your wives? "
one. Refers to Abraham. See Isaiah 51:2. Ezekiel 33:24. Supply the verb "do", as
in Ecclesiastes 2:12, and as in Judges 18:8, from Malachi 2:18.
For, &c. = For [as] hating putting away, hath
Jehovah, Israel"s God, spoken; and [as hating
him that] hath carried violence concealed in his clothing, hath Jehovah Sabaioth spoken, therefore, &c.
God = Heb. Elohim. App-4.
putting away = divorce. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 24:1).
with his garment. Compare Pas. 73:6; Psalms 109:18, Psalms 109:29, Proverbs 28:13, Isaiah 30:1.
Every one, &c.
Some codices read "All who do wrong are", &c.
Chapter 3
Verse 1
Behold, I will send, &c. = Behold Me sending,
&c. Quoted in Matthew 11:10. Mark 1:2. Luke 1:76; Luke 7:27. Not to that then present generation, but to
the "generation" of our Lord"s
day. See note on Matthew 11:18. This is the answer to the question "Where?
"in Malachi 2:17.
My messenger. John the Baptist (Matthew 3:3; Matthew 3:11, Matthew 3:10. Mark 1:2, Mark 1:3. Luke 1:76; Luke 3:4; Luke 7:26, Luke 7:27, John 1:23). Compare Matthew 22:2, Matthew 22:3. Isaiah 40:3-5.
prepare. By removing obstacles from the way.
Compare Isaiah 40:3; Isaiah 62:10.
the Lord. Hebrew. ha-Adon. App-4.
This refers to Messiah. Ref to Pentateuch (Exodus 23:20, Exodus 33:14, Exodus 33:16). App-92.
suddenly = unexpectedly.
the Lord of hosts. See note on Malachi 1:4.
Verse 2
abide = endure
soap = lye; as in Job 9:30, i.e. water mixed with the ashes of certain plants
containing alkali. Compare Mark 9:3.
Verse 3
He shall purify. Judgment begins at the house of
God. See 1 Peter 4:17.
offer = bring near.
offering = a gift offering. Hebrew. minchah. Not the same word as in Malachi 3:8.
Verse 4
Then. When Jehovah shall have sent His messenger
(Messiah), and He is accepted.
Verse 5
the sorcerers. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:18. Deuteronomy 18:10).
adulterers. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:14. Leviticus 20:10).
oppress, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:21. Deuteronomy 24:14) App-92.
fear = revere.
Verse 6
For I change not. Reference to Pent (Numbers 23:19) App-92. Not in Himself, nor in His purpose, to
change His dealings on the conditions stated.
Verse 7
ordinances = statutes. Hebrew, hok. Referring to particular
ritual observances. Not the same word as in Malachi 3:14.
Verse 8
rob = defraud. A rare word. Occurs only here,
in Malachi 3:8, Malachi 3:9; and Proverbs 22:23.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.
tithes. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 27:30-33. Numbers 18:21-32. Deuteronomy 12:17, &c.; Malachi 14:22-29). App-92.
offerings = heave
offerings. Literally, in the tithe and the heave offering. Hebrew. trumah. App-43. Not the same word as in
verses: Malachi 3:3, Malachi 3:4, Malachi 3:10, Malachi 1:11, Malachi 1:13; Malachi 2:12, Malachi 2:13.
Verse 9
are cursed with a curse. The primitive text
read, "ye have cursed Me with a curse". The Sopherlm say (App-33) that they altered the
letter, (Mem = M) into; (Nun = N), thus making it passive instead of active,
and detaching it from the rest of the sentence. This was done to avoid a
supposed irreverence.
Verse 10
all = the whole; implying that a part had been
withheld.
meat prey: i.e. animals for sacrifice. Not put by
Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6, for food; but
put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species), App-6, for
sacrificial animals.
open you the windows, &c. Reference to
Pentateuch (Genesis 7:11; Genesis 8:2). App-92.
Verse 11
the devourer = the eater: i.e. the locust.
Compare Joel 1:4. Amos 4:9.
for your sakes = for you (the Dative of
Reference),
Verse 14
ordiance =
charge. Hebrew. mizvah. Not the same word
as in Malachi 3:7. Referring to general religious duties.
walked mournfully before = gone off mournfully
from the presence of Jehovah of hosts.
Verse 15
are set up = prosper, or
are successful. Lit are built up. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of
Subject), App-6, for being prospered. Compare Job 22:23. Jeremiah 12:16.
yea = yea, [they, proud ones]. Marking a climax.
tempt = have tempted. Same
as "prove" in Malachi 3:10; but here in a bad sense, as though to challenge
or to put to the proof.
Verse 16
Then: i.e. when Malachi had spoken thus unto
them, at a time of such apostasy, show us what is possible and practicable in
these like days and "perilous times" which are closing this
present Dispensation.
one to another. Each one with his friend.
hearkened, and heard. As He heard the groaning of
Israel (Exodus 2:23, Exodus 2:24); Moses, without words (Exodus 14:15); and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2:4); Hannah, without words (1 Samuel 1:13); Jeremiah, his breathing (Lamentations 3:55, Lamentations 3:56); Jonah, when dying (Jonah 2:2); the disciples, their thoughts (Luke 24:15, Luke 24:38).
and a book of remembrance. Some codices, with
Syriac, read "a record was written in a book of remembrance".
remembrance. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 28:29. Numbers 10:10, the same word). App-92.
thought. Precious comfort for those now who
cannot speak. We can walk with God (like Enoch, in the darkest days), and think
of Him with these God-reverers now, in these similar
days.
Verse 17
I make up, &c = I am preparing.
My jewels = A peculiar treasure.
Chapter 4
Verse 1
all that do. Hebrew = every one who doeth. But some eighty codices, with
four early printed editions, Targum, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate,
read "all who work. "
the LORD of hosts. See note on Malachi 1:4.
leave. A Homonym. See notes on Genesis 39:6. Exodus 23:5.
Verse 2
fear = revere. See the
Structure "Y" and "Y", p. 1300.
Sun. Here the word "Sun" is
feminine, as in Genesis 15:17. Jeremiah 15:9. Nahum 3:17, &c.; and is connected with
"rightousness" (which is also feminine),
which Messiah, the righteous One, alone can bring.
of. In this case "of "would be the
Genitive of Apposition. See App-17.
wings = beams, or rays.
ye. The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version
omits this "ye".
grow up = leap for joy, or frisk.
Verse 3
the wicked = lawless ones. Hebrew rasha ". App-44.
I shall do this = that I am preparing; as
in Malachi 3:17.
Verse 4
the law of Moses. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 20:3, &c.) App-92.
Moses My servant. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 12:7; see note there). App-92.
which I commanded, &c. Reference to
Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 1:6; Deuteronomy 4:10). App-92.
statutes and judgments. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:1. See note there). App-92.
Verse 5
Elijah the prophet. Called thus, only here, and
in 2 Chronicles 21:12. Elsewhere, always "Elijah the
Tishbite", to indicate his own person; but here "Elijah the prophet
"because had Israel received Messiah, John the Baptist would have been
reckoned as Elijah (see notes on Matthew 17:9-13, Mark 9:11-13): and, at His last supper, the wine, representing
His blood, would have been (as it will yet be) reckoned as "the blood of
the (New) Covenant", as foretold in Jeremiah 31:31-34. Hebrews 8:8-13; Hebrews 10:15-17; Hebrews 12:24).
day of the LORD. See note on Isaiah 2:12, Isaiah 2:17; Isaiah 13:6, &c.
the
LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
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