The Prophet Malachi

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(Matthew 11:7–19; Luke 7:24–35)

Behold, I send my angel, and he will prepare the way before my face. And presently the Sovereign, whom you seek, and the angel of testimony, whom you desire, will arrive at his temple. Behold, he approaches, says the Lord of hosts.(a)

(b)

And who will be able to consider the day of his advent, and who will stand firm in order to see him? For he is like a refining fire, and like the fuller’s herb.(c)

And he will sit refining and cleansing the silver, and he will purge the sons of Levi, and he will gather them like gold and like silver, and they will offer sacrifices to the Lord in justice.

And the sacrifice of Judah and of Jerusalem will please the Lord, just as in the days of past generations, and as in the ancient years.

And I will approach you in judgment, and I will be a swift witness against evil-doers, and adulterers, and perjurers, and those who cheat the hired hand in his wages, the widows and the orphans, and who oppress the traveler, and who have not feared me, says the Lord of hosts.(d)

Robbing God

For I am the Lord, and I do not change. And you, the sons of Jacob, have not been consumed.

For, from the days of your fathers, you have withdrawn from my ordinances and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. And you have said, “In what way, shall we return?”

If a man will afflict God, then you greatly afflict me. And you have said, “In what way, do we afflict you?” In tithes and in first-fruits.(e)

And you have been cursed with privation, and you greatly afflict me, even your entire people.

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, and let there be food in my house. And test me about this, says the Lord, as to whether I will not open to you the floodgates of heaven, and pour out to you a blessing, all the way to abundance.

And I will rebuke for your sakes the devourer, and he will not corrupt the fruit of your land. Neither will the vine in the field be barren, says the Lord of hosts.

And all nations will call you blessed. For you will be a desirable land, says the Lord of hosts.

The Book of Remembrance

Your words have gathered strength over me, says the Lord.

And you have said, “What have we spoken against you?” You have said, “He labors in vain who serves God,” and, “What advantage is it that we have kept his precepts, and that we have walked sorrowfully in the sight of the Lord of hosts?”

Now, therefore, we call the arrogant blessed, as if those who work impiety have been built up, and as if they have tempted God and been saved.

Then those who fear the Lord spoke, each one with his neighbor. And the Lord paid attention and heeded. And a book of remembrance was written in his sight, for those who fear the Lord and for those who consider his name.

And they will be my special possession, says the Lord of hosts, on the day that I act. And I will spare them, just as a man spares his son who serves him.

And you shall be converted, and you will see the difference between the just and the impious, and between those who serve God and those who do not serve him.

Fußnoten

(a)3:1 The word ‘angelum’ could also be translated as ‘messenger.’ The messenger is John the Baptist, who is like an angel in that he has never committed any personal sins. The word ‘Dominator’ is not the same as the word ‘Dominus.’ The former means ‘Sovereign’ or ‘Master,’ whereas the latter means ‘Lord.’ The verb ‘veniet’ is usually translated as ‘will come,’ but this expression is overused in Bible translations. There are other possible accurate translations of this word, such as ‘will arrive’ or ‘will approach’ that may better fit a particular context. The ‘angelus testamenti’ is John the Baptist, who gives testimony that Jesus is the true Christ.(Conte)

(b)3:1 My angel:Viz., John the Baptist, the messenger of God, and forerunner of Christ.(Challoner)

(d)3:5 The word ‘maleficis’ is sometimes translated as sorcerers, but it literally means ‘evil-doers.’ The word ‘calumniantur’ usually refers to making false accusations, but in this context it refers to those who misrepresent the wages or moneys due to a worker, widow, or orphan.(Conte)

(e)3:8 The word ‘configimus’ can mean ‘to affix with nails’ or ‘to pierce through’ with something. The meaning is close to that of crucifixion. Also, ‘configitis’ is made more intense in meaning, by the prefix ‘con,’ than ‘affliget.’(Conte)

(Matthew 11:7–19; Luke 7:24–35)

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me! The Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple. Behold, the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, is coming!” says the LORD of Armies.

“But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like launderers’ soap;

and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer to the LORD offerings in righteousness.

Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the LORD as in the days of old and as in ancient years.

I will come near to you to judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against the perjurers, and against those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and who deprive the foreigner of justice, and don’t fear me,” says the LORD of Armies.

Robbing God

“For I, the LORD, don’t change; therefore you, sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

From the days of your fathers you have turned away from my ordinances and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Armies. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’

Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In tithes and offerings.

You are cursed with the curse; for you rob me, even this whole nation.

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this,” says the LORD of Armies, “if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there will not be enough room for.

I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast its fruit before its time in the field,” says the LORD of Armies.

“All nations shall call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the LORD of Armies.

The Book of Remembrance

“Your words have been harsh against me,” says the LORD. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against you?’

You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God,’ and ‘What profit is it that we have followed his instructions and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of Armies?

Now we call the proud happy; yes, those who work wickedness are built up; yes, they tempt God, and escape.’

Then those who feared the LORD spoke one with another; and the LORD listened and heard, and a book of memory was written before him for those who feared the LORD and who honored his name.

They shall be mine,” says the LORD of Armies, “my own possession in the day that I make. I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.

Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn’t serve him.