I — The Messiah. My messenger — John the Baptist. The Lord — The Messiah. Whom ye seek — Whom ye, who truly fear God, long and wait for. Suddenly come — After the coming of his fore — runner. To his temple — That which was the second temple at Jerusalem, lately built by Zerubbabel and Joshua. The me... [ Continue Reading ]
Abide — Who shall be able to stand under the weight of those crosses which in that day, will fall on all sorts of men? The day — This day was from his preaching, 'till the utter destruction of Jerusalem, about seventy years after the birth of Christ. A refiner's fire — Some are like metals, which no... [ Continue Reading ]
He shall fit — As resolved to attend his work and finish it. He shall purify — The effect of this fiery trial, shall be the thorough cleansing of the persons that are to pass through it. Sons of Levi — Either the Jewish Levites, or all Christians, who are made priests unto God. In righteousness — Th... [ Continue Reading ]
The offerings — The services and duties of the whole Christian church. Pleasant — Well pleasing to him.... [ Continue Reading ]
I will come near — You have spoken as if you thought I was far off, but you shall see I am near. To you — O Jews, not those very persons Malachi preached to, but those who were living when the Messiah came.... [ Continue Reading ]
I change not — I have an unchangeable hatred to sin: and my long suffering also changeth not, therefore you are not consumed in your sins. Not consumed — God is the same in his wisdom to order the rewards of good and bad in the fittest season, therefore neither the one nor the other are consumed, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
From mine ordinances — Which either directed my worship, or your dealings one with another.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cursed with a curse — Are greatly cursed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Bring ye — Make a punctual and full payment of all tithes; about this did Nehemiah contend with the rulers, and made them comply, and then all Judah obeyed and did the like, Nehemiah 13:10. To the store — house — This was one or more large rooms, built on purpose for this use. That there may be meat... [ Continue Reading ]
The devourer — All kind of devourers, the locusts, the canker — worm, and the caterpillar, which though they are in incredible multitudes, yet a rebuke from God will check them all at once, as if they were but one. For your sakes — For your good. Your vine — Your vine shall carry their fruit 'till t... [ Continue Reading ]
All nations — All that are about you. A delightsome land — The revival of religion in a land, will make it delight — some, both to God, and to all good men.... [ Continue Reading ]
And now — You say, we see before our eyes, that the proud contemners of God and his law, are the flourishing ones. Delivered — Escape all punishment.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then — When contempt of God was grown so high. That feared the Lord — Those that were truly religious. Spake often — Conversed together the more frequently. And a book — All this is spoken after the manner of men. For them — On their behalf.... [ Continue Reading ]
Make up my jewels — This shall be fully made good in the last great day, and in heaven to eternal ages. I will spare them — In the mean time they shall be spared, pitied, preserved, and loved.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye — Ye contemners of God and religion, return to your reason, forced by the convincing power of God's judgments. Discern — Clearly see the happiness of the righteous, and your own misery, who perish in your wickedness.... [ Continue Reading ]