MALACHI—NOTE ON MALACHI 2:2 Since the priests failed to guard the temple’s purity, the Lord threatens to punish them. Because they “despised” (Malachi 1:6) the Lord’s NAME, they will be DESPISED AND ABASED BEFORE ALL THE PEOPLE (Malachi 2:9). Because they “polluted” God (Malachi 1:7), he will pollut... [ Continue Reading ]
MALACHI—NOTE ON MALACHI 2:10 Third Dispute: Why Are the People Faithless in Marriage? Malachi now describes Israel’s infidelity, which dishonors God. Malachi condemns two marital offenses: intermarriage with unbelievers (v. Malachi 2:11; compare Nehemiah 13:29) and unjust divorce (Malachi 2:13). ⇐... [ Continue Reading ]
MALACHI—NOTE ON MALACHI 2:13 Israel was distressed because God refused to accept their offerings, as evidenced by his not blessing them. Malachi explains that God was acting as a witness against husbands who were unfaithful to their wives. Marriage is not just a contract, a two-way agreement between... [ Continue Reading ]
MALACHI—NOTE ON MALACHI 2:15 MAKE THEM ONE recalls Adam and Eve’s marriage (Genesis 2:24). The Lord intends marriage to produce GODLY OFFSPRING (literally, “a seed of God”). Describing a person as “a seed of God” shows that God is a “Father” to his people through redemption (Malachi 1:6; Malachi 2:1... [ Continue Reading ]
MALACHI—NOTE ON MALACHI 2:16 This verse is one of the most difficult OT passages to translate. The esv footnote includes the other most common translation. Despite the translation difficulty, this passage states clearly that the biblical standard for marriage comes from Genesis 2:23, which teaches t... [ Continue Reading ]
MALACHI—NOTE ON MALACHI 2:17 Fourth Dispute: Is God Unjust? Malachi accuses the people of wearying the Lord with their insulting complaints: “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD” and “Where is the God of justice?” Many of the people were distressed at the apparent failure of the... [ Continue Reading ]