Malachi
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Malachi 1
Malachi 1
1The burden of the word of Jehovah to Israel by Malachi.
1The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
Commentary · verse 1
2I have loved you, saith Jehovah. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith Jehovah: yet I loved Jacob;
2I 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,
Commentary · verse 2
God said "I have loved you" to Israel. This verse was the foundation for this entire chapter. The Doctrine in this chapter was referenced in one of the most misunderstood chapters in the New Testament: Romans 9. In fact, the deceptive interpretation of this Doctrine is currently used to justify Calvinism: the belief that God can initiate His Will against the will of individuals, that people lack "free will." We will set this straight within this chapter...
3but Esau I hated, and made his mountains a desolation, and gave his heritage to the jackals of the wilderness.
3And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
Commentary · verse 3
The first step is to recall the definition of hate from Genesis 29:30: "to love less." Second, recall that the definition of love from Luke 6:35 is "to give without expecting in return from the one to whom you gave." These two verses ("yet I loved Jacob; but Esau I hated") stated that God gave more to Jacob than He did to Esau. Basically, God had two sons. He gave more to one than the other.
4Whereas Edom saith, We are beaten down, but we will return and build the waste places; thus saith Jehovah of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and men shall call them The border of wickedness, and The people against whom Jehovah hath indignation for ever.
4Whereas 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.
Commentary · verse 4
Esau's (Edom) response to getting less was to work harder in their own strength: "...but we will return and build..." God's response was that He would punish Esau even more. Basically, God's son that was loved less chose to respond to God by turning inward, to focusing on themselves even more. God wanted them to focus on Him so He would prevent them from making progress away from God, which was love because it would be for Edom's benefit.
5And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, Jehovah be magnified beyond the border of Israel.
5And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.
Commentary · verse 5
Jacob (Israel) ought to have exalted the Lord in response to the love they experienced from Him and because of the understanding they got from watching Edom get punished for turning away from God.
6A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master: if then I am a father, where is mine honor? and if I am a master, where is my fear? saith Jehovah of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
6A 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?
Commentary · verse 6
Israel did not love God in response to His love. Basically, without the example of the son who was loved, people could have said to God, "Being tough on Esau didn't work. Maybe you should have blessed him." However, these first six verses of the Book of Malachi showed that it did not matter if God encouraged or hindered Jacob and Esau (respectively), both chose to turn away from God. Everything in this chapter proved that people have free will to respond to God and that if we choose to turn away from God, God will punish us for our benefit...because God is love.
7Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar. And ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of Jehovah is contemptible.
7Ye 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.
Commentary · verse 7
Actually, Israel offered polluted (defiled, blemished) bread to God. Israel's response to being blessed, to God choosing to love Jacob, was to desecrate God's altar.
8And when ye offer the blind for sacrifice, it is no evil! and when ye offer the lame and sick, it is no evil! Present it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee? or will he accept thy person? saith Jehovah of hosts.
8And 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.
Commentary · verse 8
God told them to give these offerings to their governor to show them that even their human ruler would not be pleased with these offerings. When people state that "Jacob I loved" meant that God made Jacob righteous against Jacob's will, they have to ignore the context of that verse. We have seen that Jacob was not righteous despite God loving him. How could Jacob have continued to sin if God made Jacob righteous against their will?
9And now, I pray you, entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he accept any of your persons? saith Jehovah of hosts.
9And 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.
Commentary · verse 9
A call to choose to return to God. God could not make Israel repent against Israel's will.
10Oh that there were one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle fire on mine altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, saith Jehovah of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
10Who 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.
Commentary · verse 10
God said that he would not accept an offering from Jacob without their first repenting. Basically, God dealt with two "sons" differently. Both responded by justifying themselves and God would punish both in order to help them make progress back to God, which was love.
11For 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 Gentiles, saith Jehovah of hosts.
12But ye profane it, in that ye say, The table of Jehovah is polluted, and the fruit thereof, even its food, is contemptible.
11For 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.
12But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.
Commentary · verses 11-12
God's Name would be great among the Gentiles because His people chose to reject God. God could justly reach out to people that were not His people.
13Ye say also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith Jehovah of hosts; and ye have brought that which was taken by violence, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye bring the offering: should I accept this at your hand? saith Jehovah.
14But cursed be the deceiver, who hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a blemished thing; for I am a great King, saith Jehovah of hosts, and my name is terrible among the Gentiles.
13Ye 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.
14But 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.
Commentary · verses 13-14
Summary: Esau was "hated" (loved less) than Jacob. Both responded poorly, which justified God. There was nothing God could have done to cause Esau and Jacob to be righteous and focus on Him because He tried both methods, and both chose to focus on themselves. God's loving response was to punish both of them. All of the calamity that came upon Esau and Israel was in response to how each of them chose to live. Also, both of their responses justified God's decision to turn His focus to people outside of His people: Gentiles.
Doctrines on this passage
The Word of God to Israel through Malachi after the captivity.