Malachi 1

Malachi 1:1: “The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.”
Commentary: God speaks to the people of Israel through the prophet Malachi, revealing His will for them.

Malachi 1:2: “I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us?”
Commentary: Despite their lack of faith, the LORD still proclaims his love for Israel. He is asking them to recall how He has expressed his love.
“Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,”
Commentary: God’s love for Jacob is a reminder of His grace and mercy. Even though Esau was his brother, God chose to bless Jacob.

Malachi 1:3: “And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.”
Commentary: God’s hatred for Esau was a sign of His justice and discipline. He destroyed Esau’s land and possessions, leaving it to the wild animals.

Malachi 1:4: “Whereas 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: God’s judgment against Edom was a sign of His power and authority. He declared that Edom would never prosper, but will instead be known as a place of wickedness.

Malachi 1:5: “And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.”
Commentary: God’s presence, power, and glory will be seen and acknowledged by all, even beyond the borders of Israel.

Malachi 1:6: “A 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?”
Commentary: God questions why His people fail to recognize and honor Him as their Father and Master.

Malachi 1:7: “Saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?”
Commentary: God calls out the priests who have dishonored Him and His name, despite their attempts to deny it.

Malachi 1:8: “Ye 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: The priests are offering unacceptable sacrifices to God, yet still denying that they are disrespecting Him.

Malachi 1:9: “And 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: God questions why His people would offer Him substandard offerings that they would never present to their own leaders.

Malachi 1:10: “Who 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: God is displeased with the offerings of His people and He refuses to accept them.

Malachi 1:11: “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.”
Commentary: God’s name will be glorified among the Gentiles, and they will offer Him pure and acceptable offerings.

Malachi 1:12: “But 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: The people have dishonored and disrespected God by declaring His offerings to be unacceptable.

Malachi 1:13: “Ye 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.”
Commentary: God is displeased with the offerings of His people, and He refuses to accept them.

Malachi 1:14: “But 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: God condemns those who offer Him dishonorable sacrifices, as He is a great King and His name is to be feared by all.