The Strand Study Bible

MALACHI

Author: Malachi Theme: Israel’s Insincere Devotion Book’s Main Character: The priests and remnant of Israel

About the Author: Malachi, whose name means “messenger of Jehovah ,” was a prophet to the Jewish remnant, in Jerusalem, approximately 425 BC. He began his ministry approximately 111 years after the Babylonian captivity ended, in 536 BC (Ezra 1:1- 3). Malachi was a contemporary of Ezra and Nehemiah. About the Book: Malachi was called upon by God to rebuke the priests, who were supposed to be representing Christ and His work. He was also called upon to rebuke the people of God, who robbed God (spiritually) by not giving Him the tithe. Malachi warned the remnant of certain chastisement if they did not repent (Mal 2:1-2). Malachi also prophesied of John the Baptist’s ministry, the First and Second Comings of Christ, and of Elijah’s return before the Great Tribulation. Helpful Background: Approximately thirty-three years after Ezra returned to Jerusalem (458 BC) and nineteen years after Nehemiah rebuilt the walls (444 BC), Malachi, the final messenger of the Old Testament, preached his message of rebuke. It appears that Ezra and Nehemiah’s efforts to revive the nation were short lived, as the remnant in Jerusalem had, once again, fallen into religious formalism. Notes of Interest: 1. Malachi is quoted in the NT 5 times (Mt 11:10 & Mk 1:2 & Lk 1:17 & 7:27 & Rom 9:13). 2. Prophecies are referred to 19 times in Malachi . 3. Prophecies concerning CHRIST are referred to 13 of those 19 times. 4. There are no inset maps used in the book of Malachi . Outline of Malachi : 1. The Sins of the Priests and People (Mal 1,2) 2. The Prophesy of John the Baptist’s Ministry and of Christ’s First and Second Comings (Mal 3) 3. The Prophesy of Elijah’s return before the Great Tribulation (Mal 4) Malachi 1 The LORD’S love for Israel Date Written - c. 425 BC/AM 3575 1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by 1 Malachi. 1. Note - Malachi’s is referred to 1 time in the NT (Mk 1:2). 2. Gen 25:23-26 3. Quoted in the NT - Rom 9:13 (See - Isa 43:4) The LORD rebukes the priests 6 A son 6 honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a fa- ther, where is mine honour? and if I be a 7 MASTER , where is my fear? saith the 8 LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine 9 altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

4. Jere 49:7-22 & Ezk 25:12-14 & 35:1-15 & Obad 1 5. Fulfilled - Edom does not exist as a nation to this day! 6. Exo 20:12 7. “ Awdone ” Note - In this case Awdone is referring to God the Father - Gen 19:18 . 8. Isa 9:7 & 44:6 & 47:4 & 54:5 & Mal 3:1 & Psa 24:10 9. Exo 27:1 10. Lev 22:17-25 & Deut 15-21 & Mal 3:8 11. or, “Nehemiah” – Neh 5:14

2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? 2 Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet 3 I loved Jacob, 3 3 And I hated Esau, 4 and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. 4 Whereas Edom saith, We are impov- erished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD OF HOSTS , They shall build, 5 but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border ofwickedness, and,Thepeopleagainstwhom the LORD hath indignation for ever. P 5 And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the bor- der of Israel.

8 And if ye 10 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 11 gover- nor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. 9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.

10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither 1:1 The phrase “ by Malachi ” means that Malachi is speaking for the LORD here. This is why the “words” of the LORD OF HOSTS are not in blue within the book of Malachi. Malachi’s name means “messenger of Jehovah .” 1:2 Every member of God’s family ought to know how much God loves them and has sacrificed to save them (1:2-5, Rom 8:38-39 and Eph 1:4 a ). You can take God’s Word on it now or you can see it for yourself one day in the future, but see it you will ( And your eyes shall see - vs 5). Serving God must not be based on how much you love God but on how much God loves you ( Mt 20:1 , I Cor 3:13 b , II Cor 5:14 and Rev 2:4 ). 1:3 God did not “hate” Esau (the people of Edom). His choice for choosing Jacob (Israel) over Esau (Edom) was made on the basis of His sovereign purpose, not the inherent worth of the two men. 1:6 Every messenger of God ( O priest , God-called minister - vs 2:7) ought to know what his threefold duty is: (1) To present the salvation of God clearly (1:6-14); (2) To present what God thinks, not what we think (2:1-10); and (3) To present God with a unified home (2:11-17) 1446