From Malachi 1-4
It is to the faults of the current generation that Malachi devotes most of his rebuke. The most grievous sins of all the people is the evil of the priests themselves, who have been false to their priestly duties. What are you prepared to offer to the LORD? Your best or your leftovers?
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
In the beginning of Malachi the LORD confesses his love for Israel despite Israel’s protests to the contrary. Israel was chosen by the LORD to be his people and treated as such.
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.
But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ 7 By offering polluted food upon my altar.
But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the LORD’s table may be despised. (Mal 1.6-7)
In today’s passage the LORD has a few things to say to the priests of Israel. They maligned the LORD before the people.
‘The LORD of hosts’. The expression is repeated eleven times in this chapter and the next (1:6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14; 2:2, 4, 7, 8).
The LORD is over all nations and demands respect.
‘But you say’, ‘but you say’, ‘but you say’. The expression is repeated three times (Mal 1.6,7,13) in our passage. The priests are arguing with the LORD. They deny they have done anything wrong.
The LORD helpfully continues explaining what they have done wrong.
8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. 9 And 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. (Mal 1.8-9)
They should have offered the unblemished firstborn of the flock. Not second rate, lame and sickly animals. What they give to the LORD in sacrifice reflects on how they view the LORD.
What are you prepared to offer to the LORD? Your best or your leftovers?
The LORD asks them how their governor would feel if he received such poor gifts. Would he value them highly or find them insulting? If he would reject their gifts, why would the LORD treat them any differently?
10 Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on 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. 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. 12 But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. (Mal 1.10-12)
The LORD refuses their offerings. He wishes they would not offer them up.
Despite their lukewarm worship, the LORD promises to glorify his name among the nations. A future people will give him pure offerings.
13 But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, 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. 14 Cursed 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 will be feared among the nations. (Mal 1.13-14)
The LORD repeats the main issue. They are giving him second-rate offerings and hoarding the best for themselves. This gives a poor example to the nations around them. If Israel doesn’t respect the LORD, why should the other nations?
The offerings we give to the King should show to all the nations he is worthy to be feared.
2 “And now, O priests, this command is for you. 2 If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor 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. (Mal 2.1-2)
The LORD turns to judgment on the priests for their false worship. This will continue into chapter two.
Story of Israel
“The adoration of Yahweh by the nations in the latter days is a common prophetic theme (Isa 2:1–4; 19:18–23; 25:6–9; 66:18–23; Zeph 2:11; Zech 8:20–23). Whereas in 1:5 the reference to the nations serves as a motivation to respond to Yahweh, here the future worship by other peoples is a rebuke of Israel’s present practices. The mention of pure worship in the future also anticipates warnings to consider the impending consequences of improper worship and its purification in that “day” (3:1–4).” (R., M.D.C., 2003. Malachi. In J. D. G. Dunn & J. W. Rogerson, eds. Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, p. 732.)
Story of Jesus
In the gospel, Jesus warns not all the people who appear to be serving him are actually known by him.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Mt 7.21-23)
Perhaps part of Jesus’ rebuke concerns the lackluster motivations for their ministry. They offered the LORD second best because their heart was elsewhere.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Mt 6.21)
What do your offerings to the LORD say about how you feel about him?
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2016. All Rights Reserved.
