Malachi
The short book of Malachi completes the twelve books of the Minor Prophets, and chronologically, he is most likely the latest of them. The prophecy is nowhere dated, but the subject matter—predominantly about the priesthood, but also about marriage and tithing—fix the book to the reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah, thus to about 450-430 bc. Malachi means "my messenger," and after that, we know nothing about this prophet, not even if he was a priest. Jewish tradition claims that he was a member of the Great Synagogue, and the Targum of Jonathan asserts without further proof that Malachi was Ezra writing anonymously.
Most of Malachi's prophecy is a stern rebuke of the priesthood and the Jews for failing to honor God and follow His commands. Instead of revering God by conscientiously following His instructions, the priests were irresponsible in their duties to the point of profaning the altar with defiled offerings and considering their sacrificial duties to be wearying. God responds by promising to send a curse on these corrupt priests for causing the people to "stumble at the law" (Malachi 2:8-9).
Malachi then turns to the people, whose own practices were no better. They were treacherous toward each other, and in no place was this more evident than in their marriages with "the daughter[s] of a foreign god" (Malachi 2:11). The men of Judah were divorcing their Jewish wives to marry women who worshipped idols. God tells them "that He hates divorce" (Malachi 2:16) and that they should be careful not to break their vows because "the Messenger of the covenant . . . is coming" (Malachi 3:1) to refine them and purge them of sin. Now is the time to repent.
The prophet then reminds them that failure to tithe is tantamount to robbing God (Malachi 3:8). However, if they would once again give Him His portion, He would bless them. The people respond by complaining that they see no profit in following God, since the wicked seem to prosper. The third chapter ends with God's response, a prophecy that those who fear Him are His special treasure, to whom He will give true discernment (Malachi 3:16-18).
The final chapter is a short prophecy about the Day of the Lord. It promises to be a time of annihilation for "all who do wickedly" (Malachi 4:1), but those who fear God will see the return of "the Sun of Righteousness" (verse 2), who will bring healing, blessing, and exaltation. Malachi closes with an exhortation to remember God's law (verse 4) and to look for "Elijah the prophet," who will turn the hearts of both fathers and children (verses 5-6). In just a few words, this exhortation provides a link between the Old and New Testaments.
The short book of Malachi completes the twelve books of the Minor Prophets, and chronologically, he is most likely the latest of them. The prophecy is nowhere dated, but the subject matter—predominantly about the priesthood, but also about marriage and tithing—fix the book to the reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah, thus to about 450-430 bc. Malachi means "my messenger," and after that, we know nothing about this prophet, not even if he was a priest. Jewish tradition claims that he was a member of the Great Synagogue, and the Targum of Jonathan asserts without further proof that Malachi was Ezra writing anonymously.
Most of Malachi's prophecy is a stern rebuke of the priesthood and the Jews for failing to honor God and follow His commands. Instead of revering God by conscientiously following His instructions, the priests were irresponsible in their duties to the point of profaning the altar with defiled offerings and considering their sacrificial duties to be wearying. God responds by promising to send a curse on these corrupt priests for causing the people to "stumble at the law" (Malachi 2:8-9).
Malachi then turns to the people, whose own practices were no better. They were treacherous toward each other, and in no place was this more evident than in their marriages with "the daughter[s] of a foreign god" (Malachi 2:11). The men of Judah were divorcing their Jewish wives to marry women who worshipped idols. God tells them "that He hates divorce" (Malachi 2:16) and that they should be careful not to break their vows because "the Messenger of the covenant . . . is coming" (Malachi 3:1) to refine them and purge them of sin. Now is the time to repent.
The prophet then reminds them that failure to tithe is tantamount to robbing God (Malachi 3:8). However, if they would once again give Him His portion, He would bless them. The people respond by complaining that they see no profit in following God, since the wicked seem to prosper. The third chapter ends with God's response, a prophecy that those who fear Him are His special treasure, to whom He will give true discernment (Malachi 3:16-18).
The final chapter is a short prophecy about the Day of the Lord. It promises to be a time of annihilation for "all who do wickedly" (Malachi 4:1), but those who fear God will see the return of "the Sun of Righteousness" (verse 2), who will bring healing, blessing, and exaltation. Malachi closes with an exhortation to remember God's law (verse 4) and to look for "Elijah the prophet," who will turn the hearts of both fathers and children (verses 5-6). In just a few words, this exhortation provides a link between the Old and New Testaments.
Malachi
The short book of Malachi completes the twelve books of the Minor Prophets, and chronologically, he is most likely the latest of them. The prophecy is nowhere dated, but the subject matter—predominantly about the priesthood, but also about marriage and tithing—fix the book to the reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah, thus to about 450-430 bc. Malachi means "my messenger," and after that, we know nothing about this prophet, not even if he was a priest. Jewish tradition claims that he was a member of the Great Synagogue, and the Targum of Jonathan asserts without further proof that Malachi was Ezra writing anonymously.
Most of Malachi's prophecy is a stern rebuke of the priesthood and the Jews for failing to honor God and follow His commands. Instead of revering God by conscientiously following His instructions, the priests were irresponsible in their duties to the point of profaning the altar with defiled offerings and considering their sacrificial duties to be wearying. God responds by promising to send a curse on these corrupt priests for causing the people to "stumble at the law" (Malachi 2:8-9).
Malachi then turns to the people, whose own practices were no better. They were treacherous toward each other, and in no place was this more evident than in their marriages with "the daughter[s] of a foreign god" (Malachi 2:11). The men of Judah were divorcing their Jewish wives to marry women who worshipped idols. God tells them "that He hates divorce" (Malachi 2:16) and that they should be careful not to break their vows because "the Messenger of the covenant . . . is coming" (Malachi 3:1) to refine them and purge them of sin. Now is the time to repent.
The prophet then reminds them that failure to tithe is tantamount to robbing God (Malachi 3:8). However, if they would once again give Him His portion, He would bless them. The people respond by complaining that they see no profit in following God, since the wicked seem to prosper. The third chapter ends with God's response, a prophecy that those who fear Him are His special treasure, to whom He will give true discernment (Malachi 3:16-18).
The final chapter is a short prophecy about the Day of the Lord. It promises to be a time of annihilation for "all who do wickedly" (Malachi 4:1), but those who fear God will see the return of "the Sun of Righteousness" (verse 2), who will bring healing, blessing, and exaltation. Malachi closes with an exhortation to remember God's law (verse 4) and to look for "Elijah the prophet," who will turn the hearts of both fathers and children (verses 5-6). In just a few words, this exhortation provides a link between the Old and New Testaments.
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