Minor Prophets · Chapter 3 of 4

Malachi 3

The LORD promises to send his messenger to prepare the way, and the Lord will suddenly come to his temple like a refiner's fire, purifying the sons of Levi. He warns of judgment against oppressors and declares he does not change. He calls the people to return, rebukes them for robbing God in tithes, invites them to test his blessing, and records a book of remembrance for those who fear him.

What happens in Malachi 3

God announces that he will send his messenger to prepare the way before him, and then the Lord whom they seek, the messenger of the covenant, will suddenly come to his temple. But his coming brings testing: who can endure the day of his appearing, for he is like a refiner's fire and fullers' soap, sitting to purify the sons of Levi until their offerings are pure. God promises to draw near in judgment against sorcerers, adulterers, false swearers, and those who oppress workers, widows, orphans, and strangers, then affirms that because he does not change, the sons of Jacob are not consumed.

He calls them to return to him, and when they ask how, he charges them with robbing him in tithes and offerings. He invites them to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse and prove him, promising to open heaven's windows. Finally, when the faithful speak together in reverence, God hears and writes a book of remembrance, promising to spare them as his own jewels.

Malachi 3 in context

Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament, written after the exiles returned and rebuilt the temple, when early zeal had cooled into cynicism and half-hearted worship. Priests offered blemished sacrifices and the people questioned whether serving God was worth it.

Chapter 3 answers their complaints with a promise of the coming Lord and a call to return. The prophecy of a messenger preparing the way stands at the threshold of four centuries of silence before John the Baptist and Jesus.

Main themes of Malachi 3

Malachi 3 (KJV)

1Behold, 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. 2But 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: 3And 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. 4Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. 5And 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. 6For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 7Even 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? 8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10Bring 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. 11And 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. 12And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. 13Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? 14Ye 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? 15And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. 16Then 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. 17And 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. 18Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Verses to carry from Malachi 3

“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.”Malachi 3:1

“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”Malachi 3:6

“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.”Malachi 3:10

Reflection

Malachi meets people who had grown cynical, wondering whether serving God was worth it. Into that weariness God speaks two words: return, and prove me. The invitation still stands. If your faith has cooled into going through the motions, the refiner's fire is not meant to consume you but to cleanse you, and the unchanging God still says, return to me and I will return to you.

A prayer from Malachi 3