Malachi Chapter 3
Memory verses for
this week: Mat 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he
unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's;
and unto God the things that are God's.
Introduction:
We
continue our study of Malachi this week. Last week in Chapter 2, we
saw more scripture where God was upset with the priests since they
were to be the messengers of God and be wholly given to God’s work.
The saved Christians today are priests to God due to what Christ did
for us there on Calvary. May we be found faithful and stay close to
God and be worthy of our calling.
1 Pet 2:9 But ye are
a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called
you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
I. The Mission of
John the Baptist and Coming of the Lord
Mal 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the
way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his
temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in:
behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
The word messenger is used two times in this verse. The
first reference is to John the Baptist. Jesus declared that John was
the one that the prophets wrote about.
Mat 11:7 And as they
departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What
went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
Mat 11:8 But what
went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they
that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
Mat 11:9 But what
went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than
a prophet.
Mat 11:10 For this
is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy
face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Mat 11:11 Verily I
say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a
greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the
kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Mark 1:1 The
beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
Mark 1:2 As it is
written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face,
which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Mark 1:3 The voice
of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make
his paths straight.
Luke 7:24 And when
the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the
people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to
see? A reed shaken with the wind?
Luke 7:25 But what
went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they
which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings'
courts.
Luke 7:26 But what
went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more
than a prophet.
Luke 7:27 This is
he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy
face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Luke 7:28 For I say
unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater
prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of
God is greater than he.
The messenger, being John, was sent by the Lord. His purpose
was to prepare the way before the Lord. The same message that he
preached is what every true new testament church proclaims today. We
tell sinners to repent and to come to Christ by faith in order to be
saved.
Mat 3:1 In those
days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Mat 3:2 And saying,
Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 3:3 For this is
he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one
crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his
paths straight.
Mat 3:4 And the same
John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his
loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
Mat 3:5 Then went
out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about
Jordan,
Mat 3:6 And were
baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Mat 3:7 But when he
saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said
unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from
the wrath to come?
Mat 3:8 Bring forth
therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Mat 3:9 And think
not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say
unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto
Abraham.
Mat 3:10 And now
also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree
which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the
fire.
The second messenger in verse 1 of our text was the
“Messenger of the covenant” who is Jesus Christ. The Jews were
seeking this messenger, and at that time, delighted in him. They
looked for Christ to come suddenly to His temple. However, when
Christ did come, as a Nazarene, he was not one in whom they delighted,
but he was despised, rejected, and ultimately crucified. And when
Christ came into the temple, he found it to be a house of merchandise.
John 2:13 And the
Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
John 2:14 And found
in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the
changers of money sitting:
John 2:15 And when
he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the
temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers'
money, and overthrew the tables;
John 2:16 And said
unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my
Father's house an house of merchandise.
Mal 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall
stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like
fullers' soap:
Mal 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and
he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver,
that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
Another coming is foretold here. When it happens, the unholy
will not be able to abide it nor stand in His presence. In that day,
Christ will sit as a refiner and purifier the Levitical family.
Christ himself will set apart for Himself the sons of Zadok as
mentioned in Ezekiel. On this day, those of the tribe of Levi will
own up to their guilt and judge themselves for their share of the sins
of the priesthood.
Ezek 48:11 It shall
be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which
have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel
went astray, as the Levites went astray.
Mal 3:4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant
unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
Mal 3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a
swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and
against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in
his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the
stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
During the thousand year millennial reign of Christ, the
offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant unto the Lord. The
offering will be an offering made in righteousness. The ungodly will
have God’s judgment poured out upon them. God himself will be a
witness against those who are ungodly. God names 8 types of sinners
in verse 8 that he will testify against.
Mal 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of
Jacob are not consumed.
The Jehovah God of the universe that we serve does not
change.
1. His plan of salvation is still the same as it always has
been. (Faith in Christ)
2. His attitude toward sin has not changed. (He is angry at
the wicked everyday)
3. His demand for faithfulness has not changed.
4. His Word has not changed. There are no need of new
versions of the bible. God spake what he meant and it was finished.
We have the complete and inerrant Word of God today.
Psa 119:89 LAMED.
For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Luke 21:33 Heaven
and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
God has used different methods to deal with man and in the
way he has communicated and spoke with them in the different
dispensations. He came directly to Adam and Eve and spoke to them in
the garden. In some instances in the Old Testament, God came and
spoke to some of the prophets of old. A little over 2,000 years ago,
God sent Christ to dwell among men.
Gal 4:4 But when the
fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman,
made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem
them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of
sons.
Today He speaks to us by the Holy Spirit.
Heb 1:1 God, who at
sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers
by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 Hath in
these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir
of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 1:3 Who being
the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and
upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself
purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
During the days of his personal ministry, Jesus did many
miracles that men might believe that He was the Son of God.
John 20:30 And many
other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which
are not written in this book:
John 20:31 But these
are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son
of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Today, God expects us to believe His written word as
mentioned there in Hebrews Chapter 1.
II. His People Have
Robbed Him
Mal 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from
mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will
return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall
we return?
Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say,
Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Adam Clarke in his Commentary on the Old Testament said this
about verse 7.
Gone away from mine ordinances—Never
acting according to their spirit and design.
Return unto me—There
is still space to repent.
Wherein shall we return?—Their
consciences were seared, and they knew not that they were sinners.
From the days of their fathers they had gone away from His
ordinances and had not kept them. He calls upon them to return unto
God. These are so cold and away from the Lord, they ask “Wherein
shall we return?” They attended the ceremonies, they had all the
outward forms of religion, and they saw no reason to search and try
their ways. Can this happen to us in this time of the Dispensation
of the church age, sometimes called the Dispensation of Grace. For
sure it can happen to us. When we think we are strong, that is when
we are weak.
1 Cor 10:11 Now all
these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written
for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1 Cor 10:12
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
God presses their sinfulness upon them more strongly by
asking in verse 8 “Will a man rob God?” They were so blind to their
sin that they did not know wherein they had robbed God. A true
Christian would most likely never consider robbing a bank or a store,
but we can easily rob God and never blink an eye. It comes down to
more than just the pocket book too. We should give time for God’s
Work, and be in the bible reading every day. I speak with shame that
I know I fail God here. We need to pray that God will draw us close
and we will put Him first in our lives. That is what He desires.
These in Malachi’s day had robbed God in both tithes and offerings.
Mal 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even
this whole nation.
Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there
may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD
of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you
out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
What a promise we have here in verse 10. If we give with a
right heart, God says he will open up the windows of heaven and pour
out a blessing that we won’t have room enough to receive it. Is this
a promise of riches? Perhaps, but I think it may relate to even
greater riches than money. The spiritual blessings, the watch care
God gives to us and our families, we don’t know what all that God does
for us. Like God did Job, his hand is very much about us with
protection and love.
Prov 3:9 Honour the
LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine
increase:
Prov 3:10 So shall
thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with
new wine.
Mal 3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he
shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine
cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
Mal 3:12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a
delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
Look at the promise that he gives when we put God first. He
says he will rebuke the devourer for your sakes. Who is the one that
is against the Christian? It is Satan, and he would destroy every one
of us if he could. But we have the promise of protection from God
when we honor Him with our lives. And they were told that all
nations would call them blessed. When God’s hand is on a nation, the
world takes notice. Israel has been blessed above all others, and I
think in America we can clearly see God’s blessings upon our nation.
This is probably due to being known as “One Nation Under God”, and for
the many missionaries we have sent to the foreign fields. But America
is falling away from God, and the judgment will come if our nation
does not repent and turn back to the ways of God.
Mal 3:13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD.
Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
Mal 3:14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is
it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully
before the LORD of hosts?
Mal 3:15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work
wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
The people have spoken strong words against God, and then
questioned what had they spoken. They claimed that it was in vain to
serve God and to keep his ordinances. They say no profit in doing so,
but rather saw more gain in the wicked than in the righteous. They
did not see things accurately. Even if the wicked prospers, it is
but for a short time. When you look at eternity, a few days of fun
are a high price to pay for an eternity of punishment. All of God’s
commandments are good and for our best.
Prov 3:33 The curse
of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the
habitation of the just.
Prov 3:34 Surely he
scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
Prov 4:14 Enter not
into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Prov 4:15 Avoid it,
pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Prov 4:16 For they
sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken
away, unless they cause some to fall.
Prov 4:17 For they
eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
Prov 4:18 But the
path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more
unto the perfect day.
Prov 4:19 The way of
the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Appearances sometimes
are misleading. You and I have no idea the fear the wicked face each
night as they try to sleep. God gives us peace and joy and
happiness. If you could bottle the contentment and peace that God
gives the Christian and sell it, you could become rich. But money
can’t buy what only God can give.
1 John 5:3 For this
is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his
commandments are not grievous.
1 John 5:4 For
whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the
victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:5 Who is he
that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son
of God?
III. The Faithful
Remnant
Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to
another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of
remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and
that thought upon his name.
Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that
day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth
his own son that serveth him.
Mal 3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous
and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him
not.
Among the people of God, there will always be a faithful
group of people who will stand in the gap and make up the hedge.
Those that are faithful are people who feared the Lord. It says they
spake words to one another and God wrote them down in a book of
remembrance. One day those words will be revealed when the books are
opened at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
In Ezekiel’s day, God looked for one who would make up the
hedge and stand in the gap, but could not find one. I am proud that
many today are willing to put their lives on the line for the cause of
Christ.
Ezek 22:30 And I
sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand
in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I
found none.
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Prov
4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth
more and more unto the perfect day.
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