397 B.C. – 4 Chapters – 55 Verses
Of Malachi, personally, nothing is known; the name signifies “My Messenger” (ch. 3:1).
This last book of the Old Testament closes with a dark and sorrowful picture of the moral condition of the returned captives. As time wore on, the state of the remnant was marked by rapid decline, so that in the days of our prophet a remnant out of it had to be distinguished (ch. 3:16-18) from the mass which had grown corrupt and wicked. At the time of the prophecy, the people had been once more established in the land, although under Gentile sovereignty and permission; the temple had been rebuilt, a regular and genealogical priesthood, and the great body of Levitical sacrifice and feasts reinstituted, but the moral state of all, both priest and people was at the lowest possible ebb.
A Most Humbling Sight
The sight presented by the closing prophet of the Old Testament is a most humbling one. The spirit of zeal for the glory of God and of worship characterized the remnant at the commencement of their return to the city and land of their fathers: here the spirit of unconcern for Jehovah and His interests, of unbelief and scorning, stamp their features upon them at the close. Contempt for all that formerly distinguished them in their early history, is terribly demonstrated in offering to God sacrificial animals expressly prohibited by the Levitical law. What an answer to the grace of Jehovah in thus offering polluted bread, and the blind, lame, and sick, yea, the blemished animals in sacrifice. What a contrast is presented in chapter 1:11; if they are so utterly indifferent to the grace and glory of Jehovah, He knows how to vindicate His own blessed name, and within the compass of the prophetic word a richer, fuller exposition of the glorious future is not to be found than in those beautiful words: “For 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.” The earnest, lovely, and pleading expostulations of the Lord are received and answered in a high-handed reasoning spirit. Vision and prophecy were to be sealed up till the coming of John the Baptist, the immediate forerunner of Christ and greater prophet than all who had preceded him (Matt. 11:9-119But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:9‑11)). Elijah too is promised after Christianity and before the day of Jehovah — in the short interval lying between — who will wind up the prophetic testimony of our God. While John the Baptist was “The Messenger” (ch. 3:1), he was also to faith the Elias to come (Matt. 11:1414And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. (Matthew 11:14)); on the other hand, chapter 4 of our prophet distinctly declares that Elijah will come to prepare Israel for the day of the Lord; this coming, therefore, is yet future.
The opening words of the prophet are quoted by Paul in Romans 9:1313As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. (Romans 9:13); while the closing utterances are again and again referred to in the Gospels. Thus “the Scripture cannot be broken.” The Divine inspiration of the whole is attested — repeatedly attested by our Lord, the apostles, and writers of the New Testament. While the prophets and holy men of old spake the “Word of the Lord,” their testimony was not their own, but what they spoke and wrote in Jehovah’s name was in the power and inspiration of the Spirit of Christ, which was in them (1 Peter 1:10-1210Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 12Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. (1 Peter 1:10‑12)).
General Divisions
Chapter 1 — The moral insensibility of the people to God and His worship.
Chapter 2 — The sin and integrity of the ecclesiastical leaders of Judah.
Chapter 3 — Jehovah coming in grace, preceded by His messenger — John the Baptist, with the remnant distinguished.
Chapter 4 — Jehovah coming in judgment, preceded by His prophet Elijah.
Note
The coming of Jesus in grace was heralded by John the Baptist (ch. 3:1). The coming of the Lord in judgment is to be introduced by the ministry of Elijah the prophet (ch. 4:5).