MalachiMalachiThe Final MessageThe Final Message

© John Stevenson, 2010Maps by David P. Barrett, used by permissionMaps by David P. Barrett, used by permission

HaggaiHaggaiZechariahZechariahMalachiMalachi

Artaxerxes I

Haggai

Temple Completed

516 BC

Return under Ezra in the 4th Year of

Artaxerxes I

458 BC

Return under

Nehemiah

444 BC

Nehemiah returns to Persia for

a time

432 BC

KINGS OF PERSIA

Zechariah

Darius Hystaspes

Xerxes

Invasion of Greece

Esther

Darius II

PeloponnesianWars

Malachi?

Malachi 1:1Malachi 1:1 The oracle of the word of the

LORD to Israel through Malachi.

Malachi focuses Malachi focuses upon three upon three

creation creation ordinances:ordinances:

• Worship MandateWorship Mandate

• Marriage MandateMarriage Mandate

• Labor MandateLabor Mandate

““Genesis offers a Genesis offers a panoramic picture of panoramic picture of

creational order by setting creational order by setting forth the basic ordinances forth the basic ordinances

of Sabbath worship, of Sabbath worship, marriage, and labor. marriage, and labor.

Malachi concludes the Malachi concludes the final chapter of the old final chapter of the old covenant narrative by covenant narrative by

returning to these returning to these identical themes” (pg identical themes” (pg

319).319).

Malachi 1:2-3Malachi 1:2-3 “I have loved you,” says the

LORD. But you say, “How hast Thou

loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s

brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I

have loved Jacob; 3 but I have hated

Esau, and I have made his mountains a

desolation, and appointed his

inheritance for the jackals of the

wilderness.”

Malachi 1:4Malachi 1:4 Though Edom says, “We have

been beaten down, but we will return

and build up the ruins”; thus says the

LORD of hosts, “They may build, but I

will tear down; and men will call them

the wicked territory, and the people

toward whom the LORD is indignant

forever.”

Malachi 1:5Malachi 1:5 Your eyes will see this and you

will say, “The LORD be magnified

beyond the border of Israel!”

1:1 God: “I have God: “I have loved you.”loved you.”

People: People: “How have “How have you loved you loved

us?”us?”

God has God has blessed Israel blessed Israel above other above other

nationsnations

1:6

God: “If I am God: “If I am a father, a father,

where is my where is my honor?”honor?”

People: People: “How have “How have

we despised we despised your name?”your name?”

People have People have not offered not offered their best to their best to

GodGod

Malachi 1:6Malachi 1:6 “A son honors his father, and a

servant his master. Then if I am a

father, where is My honor? And if I am

a master, where is My respect?” says

the LORD of hosts to you, O priests

who despise My name. But you say,

“How have we despised Your name?”

Malachi 1:7Malachi 1:7 You are presenting defiled food

upon My altar. But you say, “How have

we defiled You?” In that you say, “The

table of the LORD is to be despised.”

Malachi 1:8Malachi 1:8“But when you present the blind

for sacrifice, is it not evil? And when

you present the lame and sick, is it not

evil? Why not offer it to your governor?

Would he be pleased with you? Or

would he receive you kindly?” says the

LORD of hosts.

Malachi 1:9Malachi 1:9“But now will you not entreat

God's favor, that He may be gracious

to us? With such an offering on your

part, will He receive any of you kindly?”

says the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 1:10Malachi 1:10“Oh that there were one among

you who would shut the gates, that you

might not uselessly kindle fire on My

altar! I am not pleased with you,” says

the LORD of hosts, “nor will I accept an

offering from you.”

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were

cold or hot. 16 So because you are lukewarm, and

neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth

(Revelation 3:15-16).

Malachi 1:11Malachi 1:11“For from the rising of the sun

even to its setting, My name will be

great among the nations, and in every

place incense is going to be offered to

My name, and a grain offering that is

pure; for My name will be great among

the nations,” says the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 1:12Malachi 1:12“But you are profaning it, in that

you say, ‘The table of the Lord is

defiled, and as for its fruit, its food is to

be despised.’”

Malachi 1:13Malachi 1:13“You also say, ‘My, how tiresome

it is!’ And you disdainfully sniff at it,”

says the LORD of hosts, “and you bring

what was taken by robbery and what is

lame or sick; so you bring the offering!

Should I receive that from your hand?”

says the LORD.

Malachi 1:14Malachi 1:14“But cursed be the swindler who

has a male in his flock and vows it, but

sacrifices a blemished animal to the

Lord, for I am a great King,” says the

LORD of hosts, “and My name is

feared among the nations.”

Malachi 2:1-9Malachi 2:1-9

Malachi 2:1-2Malachi 2:1-2“And now this commandment is

for you, O priests. 2 If you do not listen,

and if you do not take it to heart to give

honor to My name,” says the LORD of

hosts, “then I will send the curse upon

you and I will curse your blessings; and

indeed, I have cursed them already,

because you are not taking it to heart.”

Malachi detects Malachi detects among the priests a among the priests a pervasive attitude of pervasive attitude of playing at the things playing at the things of God rather than of God rather than

being shaped by and being shaped by and submissive to them submissive to them

(Pg 141).(Pg 141).

Malachi 2:3-4Malachi 2:3-4“Behold, I am going to rebuke your

offspring, and I will spread refuse on

your faces, the refuse of your feasts;

and you will be taken away with it. 4

Then you will know that I have sent this

commandment to you, that My

covenant may continue with Levi,” says

the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 2:5-6Malachi 2:5-6“My covenant with him was one of

life and peace, and I gave them to him

as an object of reverence; so he

revered Me and stood in awe of My

name. 6 True instruction was in his

mouth and unrighteousness was not

found on his lips; he walked with Me in

peace and uprightness, and he turned

many back from iniquity.”

Malachi 2:7Malachi 2:7“For the lips of a priest should

preserve knowledge, and men should

seek instruction from his mouth; for he

is the messenger of the LORD of

hosts.”

Malachi 2:8-9Malachi 2:8-9“But as for you, you have turned

aside from the way; you have caused

many to stumble by the instruction; you

have corrupted the covenant of Levi,”

says the LORD of hosts. 9 “So I also

have made you despised and abased

before all the people, just as you are

not keeping My ways but are showing

partiality in the instruction.”

1:1 God: “I have God: “I have loved you.”loved you.”

People: People: “How have “How have you loved you loved

us?”us?”

God has God has blessed Israel blessed Israel above other above other

nationsnations

1:6

God: “If I am God: “If I am a father, a father,

where is my where is my honor?”honor?”

People: People: “How have “How have

we despised we despised your name?”your name?”

People have People have not offered not offered their best to their best to

GodGod

2:10

People: “If we are People: “If we are brothers, why do we deal brothers, why do we deal

treacherously with one treacherously with one another?”another?”

People have People have defrauded in defrauded in the area of the area of

divorcedivorce

“ “So now let us make a covenant So now let us make a covenant

with our God to put away all the wives with our God to put away all the wives

and their children, according to the and their children, according to the

counsel of my lord and of those who counsel of my lord and of those who

tremble at the commandment of our tremble at the commandment of our

God; and let it be done according to the God; and let it be done according to the

law.” (Ezra 10:3).law.” (Ezra 10:3).

Only Jonathan the son of Only Jonathan the son of

Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of

Tikvah opposed this, with Tikvah opposed this, with

Meshullam and Shabbethai the Meshullam and Shabbethai the

Levite supporting them. (Ezra Levite supporting them. (Ezra

10:15).10:15).

Malachi 2:10Malachi 2:10 Do we not all have one father?

Has not one God created us? Why do

we deal treacherously each against his

brother so as to profane the covenant

of our fathers?

Malachi 2:11Malachi 2:11 Judah has dealt treacherously,

and an abomination has been

committed in Israel and in Jerusalem;

for Judah has profaned the sanctuary

of the LORD which He loves and has

married the daughter of a foreign god.

Malachi 2:12Malachi 2:12 As for the man who does this,

may the LORD cut off from the tents of

Jacob everyone who awakes and

answers, or who presents an offering to

the LORD of hosts.

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Deuteronomy 24:1 speaks of a Deuteronomy 24:1 speaks of a a certificate of a certificate of divorcedivorcettuyriK. ttuyriK. rp,serp,se

Malachi 2:13Malachi 2:13 This is another thing you do: you

cover the altar of the LORD with tears,

with weeping and with groaning,

because He no longer regards the

offering or accepts it with favor from

your hand.

Malachi 2:14Malachi 2:14 Yet you say, “For what reason?”

Because the LORD has been a witness

between you and the wife of your

youth, against whom you have dealt

treacherously, though she is your

companion and your wife by covenant.

Malachi 2:15Malachi 2:15But not one has done so who has

a remnant of the Spirit. And what did

that one do while he was seeking a

godly offspring? Take heed then to

your spirit, and let no one deal

treacherously against the wife of your

youth.

Malachi 2:16Malachi 2:16 “For I hate divorce,” says the

LORD, the God of Israel, “and him who

covers his garment with wrong,” says

the LORD of hosts. “So take heed to

your spirit, that you do not deal

treacherously.”

Yet I have loved Yet I have loved Jacob; but I have Jacob; but I have

hated Esau (1:2-3)hated Esau (1:2-3)

2:17

God: “You God: “You have have

wearied the wearied the Lord with Lord with

your words.”your words.”

People: People: “How have “How have we wearied we wearied

Him?”Him?”

People have People have asked for asked for

justice, but justice, but have not acted have not acted

justly.justly.

Malachi 2:17Malachi 2:17You have wearied the LORD with

your words. Yet you say, “How have

we wearied Him?” In that you say,

“Everyone who does evil is good in the

sight of the LORD, and He delights in

them,” or, “Where is the God of

justice?”

2:17

God: “You God: “You have have

wearied the wearied the Lord with Lord with

your words.”your words.”

People: People: “How have “How have we wearied we wearied

Him?”Him?”

People have People have asked for asked for

justice, but justice, but have not acted have not acted

justly.justly.

3:1 God’s promised coming messengerGod’s promised coming messenger

Malachi 3:1Malachi 3:1 “Behold, I am going to send My

messenger, and he will clear the way

before Me. And the Lord, whom you

seek, will suddenly come to His temple;

and the messenger of the covenant, in

whom you delight, behold, He is

coming,” says the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 3:2-3Malachi 3:2-3 But who can endure the day of

His coming? And who can stand when

He appears? For He is like a refiner’s

fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as

a smelter and purifier of silver, and He

will purify the sons of Levi and refine

them like gold and silver, so that they

may present to the LORD offerings in

righteousness.

Malachi 3:4Malachi 3:4 Then the offering of Judah and

Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD

as in the days of old and as in former

years.

Malachi 3:5Malachi 3:5 “Then I will draw near to you for

judgment; and I will be a swift witness

against the sorcerers and against the

adulterers and against those who

swear falsely, and against those who

oppress the wage earner in his wages,

the widow and the orphan, and those

who turn aside the alien and do not fear

Me,” says the LORD of hosts.

3:6

God: God: “Return to “Return to

Me and I will Me and I will return to return to

you.”you.”

People: People: “How shall “How shall we return?”we return?”

Bring the Bring the whole tithe into whole tithe into the storehousethe storehouse

Malachi 3:6-7Malachi 3:6-7 “For I, the LORD, do not change;

therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not

consumed. 7 From the days of your

fathers you have turned aside from My

statutes and have not kept them.

Return to Me, and I will return to you,”

says the LORD of hosts. “But you say,

‘How shall we return?’”

Malachi 3:8-9Malachi 3:8-9 Will a man rob God? Yet you are

robbing Me! But you say, “How have

we robbed You?” In tithes and

offerings. 9 You are cursed with a

curse, for you are robbing Me, the

whole nation of you!

Malachi 3:10Malachi 3:10“Bring the whole tithe into the

storehouse, so that there may be food

in My house, and test Me now in this,”

says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not

open for you the windows of heaven

and pour out for you a blessing until it

overflows.”

Money engenders Money engenders a love whose root a love whose root structure spreads structure spreads tendrils through a tendrils through a

heart and heart and disintegrates life disintegrates life

(Pg 149).(Pg 149).

A root of all sorts A root of all sorts of evil of evil

(1 Timothy 6:10)(1 Timothy 6:10)

The root of the The root of the righteous yields righteous yields fruit (Pro 12:12)fruit (Pro 12:12)

The root of the The root of the righteous yields righteous yields fruit (Pro 12:12)fruit (Pro 12:12)

……that you, being that you, being rooted and grounded rooted and grounded

in love, in love, 1818 may be may be able to comprehend able to comprehend

with all the saints with all the saints what is the breadth what is the breadth

and length and height and length and height and depth, and depth, 1919 and to and to

know the love of know the love of Christ (Ephesians Christ (Ephesians

3:17-19).3:17-19).

Malachi 3:11Malachi 3:11“Then I will rebuke the devourer

for you, so that it will not destroy the

fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in

the field cast its grapes,” says the

LORD of hosts.

Malachi 3:12Malachi 3:12“All the nations will call you

blessed, for you shall be a delightful

land,” says the LORD of hosts.

3:13

God: “Your God: “Your words have words have

been been arrogant arrogant

against Me.”against Me.”

People: People: “What have “What have we spoken we spoken

against against You?”You?”

They have They have taken the taken the

attitude it is attitude it is vain to serve vain to serve

the Lord.the Lord.

3:6

God: God: “Return to “Return to

Me and I will Me and I will return to return to

you.”you.”

People: People: “How shall “How shall we return?”we return?”

Bring the Bring the whole tithe into whole tithe into the storehousethe storehouse

Malachi 3:13Malachi 3:13“Your words have been arrogant

against Me,” says the LORD. “Yet you

say, ‘What have we spoken against

You?’”

Malachi 3:14-15Malachi 3:14-15You have said, “It is vain to serve

God; and what profit is it that we have

kept His charge, and that we have

walked in mourning before the LORD of

hosts? 15 So now we call the arrogant

blessed; not only are the doers of

wickedness built up but they also test

God and escape.”

3:13

God: “Your God: “Your words have words have

been been arrogant arrogant

against Me.”against Me.”

People: People: “What have “What have we spoken we spoken

against against You?”You?”

They have They have taken the taken the

attitude it is attitude it is vain to serve vain to serve

the Lord.the Lord.

3:16 Promise of coming judgment and Promise of coming judgment and restorationrestoration

3:6

God: God: “Return to “Return to

Me and I will Me and I will return to return to

you.”you.”

People: People: “How shall “How shall we return?”we return?”

Bring the Bring the whole tithe into whole tithe into the storehousethe storehouse

Malachi 3:16Malachi 3:16Then those who feared the LORD

spoke to one another, and the LORD

gave attention and heard it, and a book

of remembrance was written before

Him for those who fear the LORD and

who esteem His name.

Malachi 3:17-18Malachi 3:17-18“They will be Mine,” says the

LORD of hosts, “on the day that I

prepare My own possession, and I will

spare them as a man spares his own

son who serves him.” 18 So you will

again distinguish between the righteous

and the wicked, between one who

serves God and one who does not

serve Him.

Malachi 4:1Malachi 4:1“For behold, the day is coming,

burning like a furnace; and all the

arrogant and every evildoer will be

chaff; and the day that is coming will

set them ablaze,” says the LORD of

hosts, “so that it will leave them neither

root nor branch.”

Malachi 4:2Malachi 4:2 But for you who

fear My name the sun of

righteousness will rise

with healing in its wings;

and you will go forth and

skip about like calves

from the stall.

In His Wings...In His Wings...• 1 Samuel 24:4. David arose and cut off

the edge of Saul's robe secretly

• Deuteronomy 22:12. "You shall make yourself tassels on the four corners of your garment...

• Deuteronomy 22:30. “A man shall not take his father's wife so that he shall not uncover his father's skirt.”

In His Wings...In His Wings...• Ruth 3:9. And she answered, “I am Ruth

your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.”

Malachi 4:2Malachi 4:2 But for you who

fear My name the sun of

righteousness will rise

with healing in its wings;

and you will go forth and

skip about like calves

from the stall.

Malachi 4:3Malachi 4:3 “And you will tread down the

wicked, for they shall be ashes under

the soles of your feet on the day

which I am preparing,” says the LORD

of hosts.

Malachi 4:5-6Malachi 4:5-6Behold, I am going to send you

Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. 6 And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse.

As they were coming As they were coming down from the down from the

mountain, Jesus mountain, Jesus commanded them, commanded them,

saying, “Tell the saying, “Tell the vision to no one until vision to no one until the Son of Man has the Son of Man has

risen from the dead.” risen from the dead.” (Matthew 17:9).(Matthew 17:9).

And His disciples And His disciples asked Him, “Why asked Him, “Why

then do the scribes then do the scribes say that Elijah must say that Elijah must

come first?” come first?” (Matthew 17:10).(Matthew 17:10).

And He answered and said, And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; restore all things; 1212 but I but I

say to you that Elijah say to you that Elijah already came, and they did already came, and they did not recognize him, but did not recognize him, but did

to him whatever they to him whatever they wished. So also the Son of wished. So also the Son of

Man is going to suffer at Man is going to suffer at their hands.” (Matthew their hands.” (Matthew

17:11-12).17:11-12).

Then the disciples Then the disciples understood that He understood that He had spoken to them had spoken to them

about John the about John the Baptist. (Matthew Baptist. (Matthew

17:13).17:13).