The Book Of Malachi Chapter 1 Part 1 Substandard Worship Is Rejected By Jehovah

Please pray for the Spirit of God to guide me as I prepare to study through the gospel of Matthew with you.

As help for studying Matthew's gospel, I want to first study Malachi, the last Old Testament prophet.

Historically, there was a period 400 years of silence from God after Malachi was written.

We need to examine this in more detail because it will show us what happened during that time before Christ was born.

It will show us the origin of the main groups Jesus encountered in His ministry. 

This material from the "intertestamental" period comes from notes I took from our Pastor's Sunday school lesson titled "The Landscape Of Judaism."

I am sharing this material with you because many people in other nations cannot view the livestream since it is English only.

Since this post is translatable, I have hope that many of you will reap great benefits from our Pastor's  excellent teaching.

Historically, Malachi was written about 100 years after Ezra and Nehemiah.

Nehemiah concludes with both civil and religious revival in Judah and Jerusalem.

Things were set in their proper order and the remnant that returned was rejoicing in the goodness of God.

Yet, 100 years later Israel experienced spiritual lethargy and steep moral decline.

God's condemnation upon substandard worship.

Malachi 1:1  The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. 

This prophet is undoubtedly the last of the Jewish prophets. 

He lived after Zechariah and Haggai and the temple that was begun during their time, was complete in his (See Malachi 3:10).

The prophecy of this book begins with "The burden of the word of the Lord" which means it was of great weight and importance. 

What false prophets said was like worthless chaff but what Jehovah's prophet said was as treasured as the wheat (See Jeremiah 23:28). 

Malachi's prophecy contained a burden that spoke of impending judgment and a Messiah. 

Israel doubted Jehovah's love for them and were called out for their unbelief.

Malachi 1:2-5  I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, 3)  And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. 4)  Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever. 5)  And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel. 

Jehovah declared His love for Israel by pointing out that the people questioned His love for them.

God responded by reminding them that Esau was Jacob’s brother but Jacob showed greater love to the Israelites than to the Edomites.

God's love and faithfulness to Jacob's descendants was evident because He gave them greater privileges and a better inheritance than Esau.

Jehovah showed less love to Esau than to Jacob (See  Genesis 29:30-31). 

God gave Esau an inferior inheritance compared to Jacob. Later God laid waste the dwelling-place of the Edomites because of various sins.  

It helps to remember that Malachi is not speaking about the eternal state of either Jacob or Esau.

Rather, what is spoken concerns their earthly possessions and does not directly concern the two brothers at all, but their offspring.

Esau's offspring were called "Edom" or the "Edomites."

They were brought low by God's judgment for their transgressions but they saw the remnant of Jews return to the land of Judah. 

The Edomites hoped to rebuild and prosper but God made it clear that He would overthrown their efforts.

Israel would see the destruction of the Edomites, and their fruitless attempts to rebuild desolate places. 

Jehovah will always be magnified in all His mighty works.

Both priests and the people dishonored Jehovah and despised His name.

Malachi 1:6  A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 

Jehovah challenged the sinful ways of the priests whose function was to offer sacrifices, teach God's law to the people and lead worship.

Jehovah accused them of despising His glorious name but they replied "How have we despised thy name?"

Substandard offerings and sacrifices indicated a sinful attitude toward God.

Malachi 1:7-8d  Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.  8)  And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. 

Polluted bread refers to animals offered for sacrifice on the altar. 

God commanded that all animals for offerings or sacrifice must be without spot, without disease, defect or blemish (See Exodus 12:5; Leviticus 1:3; 22:19-25 and many more).

Yet, the people thought so little of God that they offered blind, lame and diseased animals that the priests willingly offered to God.

The prophet asked the priests if they would offer such substandard sacrifices to the governor of the land. 

It is a rhetorical question and the answer is "No, they would not think of insulting the governor in that manner."

Yet, they think nothing of disobeying God's clear command and insulting Him!

Jehovah would reject His people unless they repented of their grievous sin. 

Malachi 1:9-10  And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts. 10)  Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand. 

Malachi faithfully exhorted the people to repent of their evil ways regarding substandard sacrifices and offerings to Jehovah.

His judgment was becoming evident in that society and the LORD had no pleasure in the people's sinful acts. 

He calls them to repentance for profaning His holy name. So we may understand Malachi calls them to humble themselves for their sin, to cry mightily to God for pardon. 

From this we learn that there was not one sincere or honest priest among them. 

They were all selfish and worldly and so base that none of them would kindle a fire on the the altar unless he was paid for it.

Therefore, Jehovah would not accept an offering from them and this is a serious matter.

God will be glorified by the heathen when His people pollute His name. 

Malachi 1:11  For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts. 

This text looks forward to Messiah and total abolition of the Mosaic sacrifices. 

God's glorious establishment of a spiritual worship over the whole earth, is here foretold. 

The incense of praise, and the pure offering anticipates Jesus Christ the Lamb of God. 

Christ is the Lamb of God without spot, and through Him a holy, loving heart shall be present everywhere among the Gentiles (See John 1:1-18). 

The mockery of unbelieving Jews and their polluted offerings shall be rejected.

Substandard offerings violated God's clear commands.

Malachi 1:12-13  But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible. 13)  Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD. 

The Jews had desecrated God’s worship so it is not surprising that God should cast them off, and followed with His judgments.

"Ye have snuffed at it"  is a metaphor taken from cattle which do not like their fodder. 

They blow strongly through their nose upon it and after this they will not eat it.

They profaned and polluted the name of the Lord by despising it (See Malachi 1:6-7).

This is why their offerings were rejected because they viewed the LORD's table with contempt.

In their heart the priests felt that the sacrifices for Jehovah were time consuming and wearisome. 

They lost sight of the fact that God said He would cover their sins if they offered sacrifices according to His Word.

They offered animals that had been torn by predators or were sick or lame. 

There had never before been such abominable desecration of worship for Jehovah. 

That which was worthless and what could not be used by its owner, was brought to God’s altar, and offered for sacrifice!  

Thus, they forfeited many blessings from the hand of God. 

God the Great King will not overlook the sins of our hearts. 

Malachi 1:14  But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen. 

What they did shall not go unpunished. Here is the doom for those who do like these priests, for the sentence on them is a sentence on all such. 

The profane and careless worshippers sacrifice to the Lord a corrupt things when they have in their flock a male. 

They withheld their best for their own profit and gave God the worst of their flocks and herds.   

This was the sin of the people, but the priests agreed with them and accepted substandard offerings for Jehovah.

The doom passed upon them. They are cursed by God but they expect a blessing.  

The reason for their judgment is that God is also the Great King of heaven and earth who alone is sovereign in His rule and authority. 

It is a sad commentary that the heathen held more respect for their false gods, though idols, than the Jews had for the only True and Living God. 

There is plenty of application here for us today.

Are we fully engaged when we worship God or are our minds wandering or distracted?

Anything less than worshiping with our whole heart is polluting His table like the Jews did.

Are we a cheerful giver of our tithes and offerings, or do we give grudgingly?

God loves a cheerful giver who will freely offer tithes and offerings and anything less pollutes His Wonderful name. 

Do we separate ourselves from cultural corruption and depravity?

God has called us to live a separated life marked by pursuing holiness and anything less dishonors Him.

Listen to the words of Jesus about our whole being living for God's glory.

Matthew 22:36-40  Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37)  Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38)  This is the first and great commandment. 39)  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40)  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

May the words of our Lord Jesus Christ reset our affection and delight upon God and His wonderful things.

May we ask forgiveness from the Father if we have not loved and served Him with all our being.

Bob