Malachi 3, A Messenger Approaches

After chastising the priests of Judah for their apathy and greed, Malachi changes the topic, moving on to a future reckoning. In the previous chapter, the people have asked, "Where is the God of justice?" This chapter will provide an answer.

Malachi 3:1-4, A messenger comes

"See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.  

But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap.  He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness,  and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.  

A messenger is coming, one who will prepare the way for God to approach His temple. Is the first messenger different from the "messenger of the covenant"? The messenger of the covenant will come suddenly to his temple. He will purify the Levites so that God will then receiver righteous sacrifices. There are some warnings with this announcement -- this coming may not be the event that the priests are longing for!

Who appears in the second verse, as a "refiners fire"? In the New Testament, the first messenger is John the Baptist, preparing the way for Messiah Yeshuah/Jesus (Mark 1:1-11, John 1:6-18) and verse 1 is quoted by Jesus in Matthew 11:7-14. 

This messenger will be mentioned again at the end of the next chapter.

Malachi 3:5, Sorcerers, adulterers, perjurers

"So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty.  

As God approaches, He will speak out against evil in its many forms. Included in this is the evil of sorcery, adultery, perjury, fraud, oppression of the vulnerable widows, orphans and aliens. The people are to fear YHWH Adonai and act with righteousness.

Malachi 3: 6-8, Robbing God

"I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.  Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty. 

"But you ask, `How are we to return?'  

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "

But you ask, `How do we rob you?' 

"In tithes and offerings.  

Verses 6 to12 form a digression, to address the people's miserly approach to giving for the temple. YHWH does not change, although the people of Israel have gone away from Him.  They rob God by ignoring appropriate tithes and offerings.

Malachi 3:9-12, Floodgates of heaven

You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. 

Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit," says the LORD Almighty.  

"Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.  

In their weak and shallow offerings, the people of Israel rob God. But if they will give the whole tithe, wholeheartedly, they will receive blessing. The people are to move from being under a curse to righteousness that puts them under the promised blessings.

Malachi 3:13-15, Arrogant challengers of God

"You have said harsh things against me," says the LORD. 

"Yet you ask, `What have we said against you?'  

"You have said, `It is futile to serve God. What did we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty?  

But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly the evildoers prosper, and even those who challenge God escape.'" 

The harsh things people have said are (for example), "It is futile to serve God." In saying this, the leaders question the value of serving God and following the covenant. They allow the arrogant to succeed and prosper.

Malachi 3:16-18,  Scroll of remembrance

Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.  

"They will be mine," says the LORD Almighty, "in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.   

Here the people who commit to following YHWH will have their names written on a "scroll of remembrance." Their commitment will be remembered and they will be honored and set apart from the wicked. (In Exodus 32:32-33 we read of a book in which Moses and others are written. In Isaiah 49:15-16 God speaks of engraving the names of the people on the palms of His hands. In the New Testament, there is a book of life opened at the white throne judgment, Revelation 20:11-15.)

First published December 29, 2025; updated December 28, 2025