The Book of Malachi
Introduction
The book of Malachi comes from some time in the fifth century B.C. after the temple in Jerusalem was rebuilt. The prophet's main concern is to call priests and people to renew their faithfulness to their covenant with God.
It is clear that there is laxity and corruption in the life and worship of God's people. Priests and people are cheating God by not giving him the offerings that are rightly due to him, and by not living according to his teaching.
But the Lord will come to judge and purify his people, sending ahead of him his messenger to prepare the way and to proclaim his covenant.
Israel's sins 1.1-2.16
God's judgment and his mercy 2.17-4.6
Chapter 1
[1]This is the message that the Lord gave Malachi to tell the people of Israel.
The Lord's Love for Israel
[2]The Lord says to his people, “I have always loved you.”But they reply, “How have you shown your love for us?”The Lord answers, “Esau and Jacob were brothers, but I have loved Jacob and his descendants,
[3]and have hated Esau and his descendants. I have devastated Esau's hill country and abandoned the land to jackals.”
[4]If Esau's descendants, the Edomites, say, “Our towns have been destroyed, but we will rebuild them,” then the Lord will reply, “Let them rebuild — I will tear them down again. People will call them ‘The evil country’ and ‘The nation with whom the Lord is angry for ever.’ ”
[5]The people of Israel are going to see this with their own eyes, and they will say, “The Lord is mighty even outside the land of Israel!”
The Lord Reprimands the Priests
[6]The Lord Almighty says to the priests, “A son honours his father, and a servant honours his master. I am your father — why don't you honour me? I am your master — why don't you respect me? You despise me, and yet you ask, ‘How have we despised you?’
[7]This is how — by offering worthless food on my altar. Then you ask, ‘How have we failed to respect you?’ I will tell you — by showing contempt for my altar.
[8]When you bring a blind or sick or lame animal to sacrifice to me, do you think there's nothing wrong with that? Try giving an animal like that to the governor! Would he be pleased with you or grant you any favours?”
[9]Now, you priests, try asking God to be good to us. He will not answer your prayer, and it will be your fault.
[10]The Lord Almighty says, “I wish one of you would close the temple doors so as to prevent you from lighting useless fires on my altar. I am not pleased with you; I will not accept the offerings you bring me.
[11]People from one end of the world to the other honour me. Everywhere they burn incense to me and offer acceptable sacrifices. All of them honour me!
[12]But you dishonour me when you say that my altar is worthless and when you offer on it food that you despise.
[13]You say, ‘How tired we are of all this!’ and you turn up your nose at me. As your offering to me you bring a stolen animal or one that is lame or sick. Do you think I will accept that from you?
[14]A curse on the cheat who sacrifices a worthless animal to me, when he has in his flock a good animal that he promised to give me! For I am a great king, and people of all nations fear me.”