Malachi 2 - Introduction

Unacceptable Teaching and Living

Malachi Two

Many seem to think that God's commandments are for someone else. God wanted the priests to specifically understand that His commandments were for them. These men were to both obey and teach the commandments of the Lord. God promised that a curse would be sent upon the disobedient. A failure to take heed to the word of God always ends in disaster. Worthless sacrifices and sinful hearts never lead to life and peace. Levi (not the man Levi but the faithful Levite priests) was a wonderful example to the Jews and to all men. In Malachi 2:6 we read, "The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity." When preachers turn from God's truth, either in their teaching or in their lives they, "cause many to stumble at the law" of God.

Serious charges were raised by Malachi against both the priest and the people. They had shown partiality in dealing with the law. "Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law." (Malachi 2:9) It was a disgusting and horrible thing for these religious leaders to try to be ministers without God's presence or power. Scores of people today disregard God's holy institute, the church. Disregard for God's way has caused many to say that one church is as good as another. Sadly some are awake and aware to the fact that their teaching is false and their life is corrupt. Yet, they do not come back to God.

Jewish men had broken their covenant with God and with the wives of their youth. The wives of these Jews covered God's altars with their tears because they had been put away by their husbands. These men were corrupt. They caused the tears and grief of the wives to come up before God instead of true sacrifices. These men divorced their wives to marry the daughters of idol worshippers. God hates divorce, especially this divorce that could potentially destroy the Jewish nation through whom the Messiah was to come. These Jews wearied God with their words without proper actions. These lying people said that God loved them and was pleased with them when there was only talk in their lives and no spiritual action. They claimed to be godly but there was no daily righteousness.