Malachi 3 - Introduction
_OF THE MESSENGER, MAJESTY, AND GRACE OF CHRIST. OF THE REBELLION, SACRILEGE, AND INFIDELITY OF THE PEOPLE. THE PROMISE OF BLESSING TO THEM THAT FEAR GOD._ _Before Christ about 400._... [ Continue Reading ]
_OF THE MESSENGER, MAJESTY, AND GRACE OF CHRIST. OF THE REBELLION, SACRILEGE, AND INFIDELITY OF THE PEOPLE. THE PROMISE OF BLESSING TO THEM THAT FEAR GOD._ _Before Christ about 400._... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I WILL SEND MY MESSENGER, &C.— Here is a description of two persons whom God promises to send to the Jews. The one God calls _my angel_ or _messenger,_ whose errand is said to be to prepare the way before me; meaning, that he should be a _prophet_ of note, (for so the Hebrew word מלאךֶ _mala... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHO MAY ABIDE THE DAY, &C.— Though the Jews promised themselves great felicity from the coming of the Messiah, yet he was to be considered by them in the character of a severe and just judge: for, however they delighted themselves with the hopes of his coming, the prophet declares that it should... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL PURIFY THE SONS OF LEVI— Not _all of them;_ for the similitude is taken from gold and silver; which being purified, there remains some dross behind. So it happened after the ministration of the Lord Jesus Christ; _a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith,_ Acts 6:7. Of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL BE A SWIFT WITNESS AGAINST THE SORCERERS— God tells them, that he will hasten the day of his vengeance, and that it shall come speedily upon those whose sins are become epidemical; and if they refuse to repent on the preaching of the Gospel, he will proceed to destroy the nation utterly.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I AM THE LORD, I CHANGE NOT— "Because I am the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever, and am true to the promises given to your fathers, therefore you still continue a people, and are not consumed as your iniquities deserve." See Lowth and Calmet.... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL A MAN ROB GOD— "Pretend what you will to the reverence and fear of God, if you take away what is consecrated, according to the law of Moses, to the service of God and his temple, you do no better than _rob God_ himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ARE CURSED WITH A CURSE— _Ye have been under a curse through want, because,_ &c. Houbigant.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DEVOURER— _The moth._ Houbigant. Any of those insects are meant which consume and destroy the corn.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THEY THAT FEARED THE LORD— Houbigant remarks, that by the word _jewels_ in Malachi 3:17 are meant those who feared God, and embraced the faith of the Gospel. This, says he, is principally to be understood of those Jerusalem Christians who retreated to Pella, when the destruction of Jerusalem dr... [ Continue Reading ]