Notes on Malachi
From the Original 1599 Geneva Bible Notes
Mal 1:1
1:1 The {a} burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
The Argument - This Prophet was one of the three who God raised up for the comfort of the Church after the captivity, and after him there was no one else until John the Baptist was sent, which was either a token of God's wrath, or an admonition that they should with more fervent desires look for the coming of the Messiah. He confirms the same doctrine, that the two former do: chiefly he reproves the priests for their covetousness, and because they served God after their own fantasies, and not according to the direction of his word. He also notes certain distinct sins, which were then among them, such as the marrying of idolatrous and many wives, murmurings against God, impatience, and things such as these. Nonetheless, for the comfort of the godly he declares that God would not forget his promise made to their fathers, but would send Christ his messenger, in whom the covenant would be accomplished, whose coming would be terrible to the wicked, and bring all consolation and joy to the godly.
(a) See Geneva "Isa 13:1"
Mal 1:2
1:2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, {b} Wherein hast thou loved us? [Was] not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
(b) Which declares their great ingratitude that did not acknowledge this love, which was so evident, in that he chose Abraham from out of all the world, and next chose Jacob the younger brother from whom they came, and left Esau the elder.
Mal 1:3
1:3 And I {c} hated Esau, {1} and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
(c) For besides this the signs of my hatred appeared even when he was made servant to his younger brother, being yet in his mother's belly, and also afterward in that he was put from his birthright. Yet even now before your eyes the signs of this are evident, in that his country lies waste, and he will never return to inhabit it.
(d) Whereas you my people, whom the enemy hated more than them, are by my grace and love towards you delivered; read Ro 9:13 .
Mal 1:6
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, {d} O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, {e} Wherein have we despised thy name?
(d) Besides the rest of the people he mainly condemns the priests, because they should have reproved others for their hypocrisy, and for not yielding to God, and should not have hardened them by their example to do greater evils.
(e) He notes their great hypocrisy, who would not see their faults, but most impudently covered them, and so were blind guides.
Mal 1:7
1:7 Ye offer {f} polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD [is] (g) contemptible.
(f) You receive all types of offerings for your own greediness, and do not examine whether they are according to my Law or not.
(g) Not that they said this, but by their doings they declared it.
Mal 1:8
1:8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, [is it] {h} 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.
(h) You make it no fault: and by this he condemns them that think it sufficient to serve God partly as he has commanded, and partly after man's fantasy, and so do not come to the pureness of religion, which he requires. And therefore in reproach he shows them that a mortal man would not be content to be served in such a way.
Mal 1:9
1:9 And now, I pray you, {i} beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard {k} your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.
(i) He derides the priests who deceived the people in saying that they prayed for them, and shows that they were the occasion that these evils came upon the people.
(k) Will God consider your office and state, seeing you are so covetous and wicked?
Mal 1:10
1:10 Who [is there] even among you {l} 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.
(l) Because the Levites who kept the doors did not test whether the sacrifices that came in were according to the Law, God wishes that they would rather shut the doors, than to receive such as were not perfect.
Mal 1:11
1:11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name [shall be] {m} 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.
(m) God shows that their ingratitude and neglect of his true service will be the cause of the calling of the Gentiles: and here the Prophet that was under the Law, used words that the people would understand, and by the altar and sacrifice he means the spiritual service of God, which should be under the Gospel, when an end would be made to all these legal ceremonies by Christ's sacrifice alone.
Mal 1:12
1:12 But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, {n} The table of the LORD [is] polluted; and the fruit thereof, [even] his meat, [is] contemptible.
(n) Both the priests and the people were infected with this error, that they did not regard what was offered: for they thought that God was as well content with the lean, as with the fat. But in the meantime they did not show the obedience to God which he required, and so committed impiety, and also showed their contempt of God, and covetousness.
Mal 1:13
1:13 Ye said also, Behold, what a {o} 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.
(o) The priests and people were both weary with serving God, and did not regard what manner of sacrifice and service they gave to God: for that which was least profitable, was thought good enough for the Lord.
Mal 1:14
1:14 But cursed [be] the deceiver, which hath in his flock {p} 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.
(p) That is, has ability to serve the Lord according to his word, and yet will serve him according to his covetous mind.
Mal 2:1
2:1 And now, O ye {a} priests, this commandment [is] for you.
(a) He speaks mainly to them, but under them he includes the people also.
Mal 2:2
2:2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart, to give glory {b} unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your {c} blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay [it] to heart.
(b) To serve me according to my word.
(c) That is, the abundance of God's benefits.
Mal 2:3
2:3 Behold, I will corrupt {d} your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, [even] the {e} dung of your solemn feasts; and [one] shall take you away with it.
(d) The seed you sow will come to no profit.
(e) You boast of your holiness, sacrifices, and feasts, but they will turn to your shame and be as vile as dung.
Mal 2:4
2:4 And ye shall know that I have {f} sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.
(f) The Priests objected against the Prophet that he could not remove them without speaking against the priesthood, and the office established by God by promise. But he shows that the office is nothing slandered, when these villains and dung are called by their own names.
Mal 2:5
2:5 My {g} covenant was with him of life and peace; and I {h} gave them to him [for] the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before {i} my name.
(g) He shows what were the two conditions of the covenant made with the tribe of Levi on God's part, that he would give them long life and felicity, and on their part, that they should faithfully serve him according to his word.
(h) I commanded Levi a certain law to serve me.
(i) He served me and set forth my glory with all humility and submission.
Mal 2:6
2:6 The law of {k} 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.
(k) He shows that the priests ought to have knowledge to instruct others in the word of the Lord.
Mal 2:7
2:7 For the priest's {l} lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he [is] the {m} messenger of the LORD of hosts.
(l) He is as the treasure house of God's word, and ought to give to everyone according to their need, and not to reserve it for himself.
(m) Showing that whoever does not declare God's will, is not his messenger, and priest.
Mal 2:10
2:10 Have we not all one {n} father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of {o} our fathers?
(n) The Prophet accuses the ingratitude of the Jews toward God and man: for seeing they were all born of one father Abraham, as God had elected them to be his holy people, they ought neither to offend God nor their brethren.
(o) By which they had bound themselves to God to be a holy people.
Mal 2:11
2:11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the {p} daughter of a strange god.
(p) They have united themselves in marriage with those that are of another religion.
Mal 2:12
2:12 The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that {q} offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.
Mal 2:13
2:13 And this have ye done again, {r} covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth [it] with good will at your hand.
(r) Yet cause the people to lament, because God does not regard their sacrifices, so that they seem to sacrifice in vain.
Mal 2:14
2:14 Yet ye say, {s} Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet [is] she thy {t} companion, and the wife of thy {u} covenant.
(s) This is another fault, of which he accuses them, that is, that they broke the laws of marriage.
(t) As the one half of yourself.
(u) She that was united to you by a solemn covenant, and by the invocation of God's name.
Mal 2:15
2:15 And did not {x} he make one? Yet had he the {y} residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly {z} seed. Therefore take heed to your {a} spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.
(x) Did not God make man and woman as one flesh and not many?
(y) By his power and strength he could have made many women for one man.
(z) Those who should be born in lawful and moderate marriage, in which is no excess of lusts.
(a) Contain yourselves within your bounds, and be sober in mind, and bridle your affections.
Mal 2:16
2:16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he {b} hateth putting away: for [one] covereth {c} violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.
(b) Not that he allows divorce, but of two faults he shows which is the less.
(c) He thinks it sufficient to keep his wife still, even though he takes others, and so as it were covers his fault.
Mal 2:17
2:17 Ye have {d} wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied [him]? When ye say, Every one that doeth {e} evil [is] good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where [is] the God of {f} judgment?
(d) You murmur against God, because he did not hear you as soon as you called.
(e) In thinking that God favoured the wicked, and had no respect for those that serve him.
(f) Thus they blasphemed God in condemning his power and justice, because he did not judge according to their imaginings.
Mal 3:1
3:1 Behold, I will send my {a} messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the {b} Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the {c} messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
(a) This is meant of John the Baptist, as Christ interprets it; Lu 7:27 .
(b) Meaning, the Messiah, as in Ps 40:17 Da 9:17,25 .
(c) That is, Christ, by whom the covenant was made and ratified, who is called the angel or messenger of the covenant, because he reconciles us to his Father, and is Lord or King, because he has the rule of his Church.
Mal 3:2
3:2 But who {d} 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:
(d) He shows that the hypocrites who wish so much for the Lord's coming will not remain when he draws near: for he will consume them, and purge his own and make them clean.
Mal 3:3
3:3 And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of {e} Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
(e) He begins at the priests, that they might be lights, and shine unto others.
Mal 3:6
3:6 For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob {f} are not consumed.
(f) They murmured against God, because they did not see his help which was ever present to defend them: and therefore he accuses them of ingratitude, and shows that in that they are not daily consumed, it is a sign that he still defends them, and so his mercy towards them never changes.
Mal 3:7
3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept [them]. {g} Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
Mal 3:8
3:8 Will a {h} man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In {i} tithes and offerings.
(h) There are none of the heathen so barbarous, that will defraud their gods of their honour, or deal deceitfully with them.
(i) By which the service of God should have been maintained, and the priests and the poor relieved.
Mal 3:10
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, {k} that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].
(k) Not having respect how much you need, but I will give you in all abundance, so that you will lack place to put my blessings in.
Mal 3:11
3:11 And I will rebuke the {l} 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.
(l) Meaning the caterpillar, and whatever destroys corn and fruits.
Mal 3:13
3:13 Your words have been stout {m} against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken [so much] against thee?
(m) The Prophet condemns them of double blasphemy against God: first, in that they said that God had no respect for those that served him, and next, that the wicked were more in his favour than the godly.
Mal 3:15
3:15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, [they that] tempt God are even {n} delivered.
(n) They are not only preferred to honour, but also delivered from dangers.
Mal 3:16
3:16 {o} Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a {p} book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
(o) After these admonitions of the Prophet, some were strongly touched, and encouraged others to fear God.
(p) Both because the thing was strange that some turned to God in that great and universal corruption, and also that this might be an example of God's mercies to all repentant sinners.
Mal 3:17
3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day {q} when I make up my jewels; and I will {r} spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
(q) When I will restore my Church according to my promise, they will be as my own proper goods.
(r) That is, forgive their sins, and govern them with my Spirit.
Mal 4:1
4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall {a} burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
(a) He prophesies of God's judgments against the wicked, who would not receive Christ, when God would send him for the restoration of his Church.
Mal 4:2
4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the {b} Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go {c} forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
(b) Meaning, Christ, who with his wings or beams of his grace would enlighten and comfort his Church; Eph 5:14 . And he is called the "Sun of righteousness", because in himself he has all perfection, and also the justice of the Father dwells in him: by which he regenerates us to righteousness, cleanses us from the filth of this world, and reforms us to the image of God.
(c) You will be set at liberty, and increase in the joy of the Spirit; 2Co 3:17 .
Mal 4:4
4:4 {d} Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, [with] the statutes and judgments.
(d) Because the time had come that the Jews would be destitute of Prophets until the time of Christ, because they should with more fervent minds desire his coming, the Prophet exhorts them to exercise themselves diligently in studying the Law of Moses in the meantime, by which they might continue in the true religion, and also be armed against all temptations.
Mal 4:5
4:5 Behold, I will send you {e} Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and {f} dreadful day of the LORD:
(e) This Christ interprets of John the Baptist, who both for his zeal, and restoring or religion, is aptly compared to Elijah; Mt 11:13,14 .
(f) Which as it is true for the wicked, so does it waken the godly, and call them to repentance.
Mal 4:6
4:6 And he shall {g} turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and {h} smite the earth with a curse.
(g) He shows in what John's office would consist: in the turning of men to God, and uniting the father and children in one voice of faith: so that the father will turn to the religion of his son who is converted to Christ, and the son will embrace the faith of the true fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
(h) The second point of his office was to give notice of God's judgment against those that would not receive Christ.
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