Malachi Lesson #05

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Malachi Lesson #02

January 11, 2010

RETURN TO THE LIST OF LESSONS

MALACHI 2:17-3:6
Lesson #05
INTRODUCTION OF THE TWO MESSENGERS

• Memory Verse: Mal 3:6

• Read Mal 2:17
  • The closing verse of chapter 2 relates more directly to chapter 3.

 

• “…Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, that everyone that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, …Where is the God of judgment?”

 

• Miscommunication:
  • The people did not understand God or His laws. They twisted God’s words to mean something different.
    • The same thing is happening today. What God says is wrong is twisted to be good in God’s sight. For example, such practices as abortion, pre-marital sex, same sex marriage, homosexuality, etc. are all currently debated as legitimate lifestyles even for Christians.

 

• “Everyone that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord.”

 

It is also a modern cry to excuse sin and make it appear legitimate.
• God’s laws and principles are clear in His word. Any miscommunication is on the part of a people who do not want to hear the truth, for once they hear the truth, they are responsible for it.
• Miscommunication is a means of hiding sin or justifying sin.

 

• “Where is the God of judgment?”

 

• This is a frequent criticism of God. “If God disapproved, He would strike me dead on the spot.”
  • In reality His delayed judgment does not mean deterred judgment.
  • Delayed judgment indicates God’s extension of grace and mercy.
    • In this age of Grace, God’s longsuffering mercy serves the purpose of giving man an opportunity to repent and to come to know Jesus Christ as his savior.
  • Delayed judgment corresponds with the Biblical principle of sowing and reaping. When a seed is planted, it takes time to bear fruit. When sin is committed, it takes time for that sin to bear its consequences of death.
• Read Mal 3:1-6 Prophecy of two new messengers

• We have already seen in this book that Levi, the first High Priest, was God’s messenger that would set the pattern of the Old Testament priesthood to teach God’s truth and life.
• In this chapter we find two more witnesses. The first is a prophecy pointing to a messenger that would prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah.
  • Of course we know from the New Testament that this prophecy was fulfilled in John the Baptist.
• The identity of the first messenger in this chapter is John the Baptist. How do we know this is John the Baptist?
  • Read Mat 3:1-3
  • Read Isa 40:3
    • Malachi’s prophecy of John the Baptist was not new to Israel for Isaiah had told them of one that would prepare the way.
  • Read Joh 1:19-23
    • John the Baptist agreed that he was the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies in Isaiah and Malachi, but he denied that he was literally Elijah come back to life. Therefore, he was one like Elijah.
  • Read Mat 11:10-14
    • Jesus confirms the identity of the messenger that prepares the way as John the Baptist, with the qualifying statement, “And if ye will receive it, this is Elias…” (Mat 11:14)
      • If the Jews had received John the Baptist’s message and believed in Jesus Christ at the first coming of Christ, John the Baptist would have fulfilled completely all aspects of the prophecy. Because they did not receive Him, parts of the prophecy remain unfulfilled which we will see in Malachi 4.
• Why was it important to identify with accuracy this messenger who prepares the way?
  • If the Jews knew with accuracy the identity of this messenger, they would listen more intently to the words of John the Baptist, and they would know with accuracy the next messenger that would come after him, the identity of the Messiah.
• Why was the ministry of John the Baptist necessary?
  • The Jews were totally unprepared for the coming of the Messiah.
  • Remember that after the book of Malachi God did not speak to His people for 400 years. The people were so spiritually asleep that they did not know when God would speak to them again or if God would ever speak again. God had to wake up the people before they could see, spiritually speaking.
  • Isaiah 40:3 tells us that this messenger will “make straight in the desert a highway for our God”.
    • It was the practice to prepare the way for a king’s arrival by clearing all the rocks from the road and filling in the holes to make sure the king would have a smooth ride.
    • The ministry of John the Baptist was to clear away the spiritual stumbling blocks by calling people to repentance first.
• The identity of the second messenger in this chapter is the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
  • He is called the “messenger of the covenant.” (Mal 3:1)
    • It is by this title that we know His identity.
      • Read Heb 12:24
    • To what covenant does this refer?
      • There is a difference of opinion as to which covenant is meant.
        • Read Lev 26:9-13
          • This passage speaks of a covenant that God made with Israel after they came out of Egypt. It was the Angel of the Lord that brought them out of Egypt. This covenant will be fulfilled in the millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ.
        • However many feel that the passage in Malachi refers to the new covenant.
          • Malachi was living in the epoch of the Law of Moses. The people discovered that they could not keep the Law of Moses as God commanded.
          • Jesus Christ, the Messiah would bring a new covenant for the new age of grace. That covenant is sealed by the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross.
          • The new covenant was first prophesied in Jer 31:31-34 and explained in Heb 8.
            • Read Heb 8:6,10-13.
  • Characteristics of the ministry of the second messenger:
    • He “shall suddenly come to his temple.” (1)
      • Jesus Christ suddenly appeared in the temple several times during His first coming:
        • –at his dedication.as a baby(Luk 2:21-38)
        • –when he was 12 years old.(Luk 2:41-42)
        • –when he cleansed the temple (Joh 2:14-16) (Mat 21:12-13)
      • However the word “suddenly” in the Bible is usually linked to judgment. The Messiah will not judge until His second coming when He will enter the temple and cleanse it and the priesthood of all the man-made rules and regulations of an outward religion. He will replace the old system with a true worship of God.

 

• “But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth?…”

 

(2)
• Both the first coming and the second coming are in view in these prophecies in Mal 3. However many details refer only to the second coming of Christ.
• The answer to the prophet’s two questions is that no unrighteous person will survive the second coming of Christ.
  • He will come in the midst of the battle of Armageddon to judge and destroy the attacking antichrist, his armies, and all living unbelievers that accepted the mark of the antichrist in their bodies. (Rev 19:11-21)
  • He will come to resurrect the tribulation martyrs and the Old Testament believers who will stand and reign with Him for 1000 years on earth. (Rev 20:4 Dan 12:1-2).
  • He will come to judge the nations, to divide them into sheep and goat nations based on their treatment of the Jews. (Mat 25:32-46)
  • He will purify his people, the Jews.

 

• “…he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap.”(

 

2)
• The Jews that receive and acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Messiah at the second coming will receive forgiveness for their sins. (Zec 12:10-11; 13:1)
• The words “refiner’s fire” and “fullers’ soap” are very descriptive.
  • Refiner’s fire is a very hot fire used to purify gold and silver and cause all impurities to rise to the surface so that it can be removed. When the liquid metal becomes smooth like a mirror, the refiner can see his own face reflected in the purity of the metal.
  • The fullers’soap refers to a very harsh soap (lye and bleach) used to scrub cloth on a hard surface so as to purify it until it glistened white in preparation for receiving the colored dye.
    • The priests’ robes would remain white. Christ’s coming will cleanse the priesthood so that they will be able to offer pure sacrifices in the millennium.
• Christ will purify the sons of Levi to establish a renewed priesthood for the millennial kingdom.
  • The priests will again prepare animal sacrifices in a new millennial temple as a memorial of Christ’s sacrifice.(3-4)
• God’s answer to the question, “Where is the God of judgment?” (2:17)
  • God reassures them that He will judge all the sins of Israel. In verse 5 some types of sinners are mentioned.
    • =1= Sorcerers
      • Those people involved in all types of witchcraft. These sins were prohibited by God and required a death penalty.(Exo 22:18 Lev 20:27 Deu 18:9-14 Act 8:9)
    • =2= Adulterers
      • Adultery was condemned in the ten commandments.
    • =3= False witnesses
      • Perjury was condemned in a court of law (Exo20:7 Lev19:12 Deu19:16-20)
    • =4= Oppressive employers – usury
      • Such dishonest business practices were condemned by God. (Lev 19:13 Deu 24:15)
    • =5= Those who take advantage of widows, orphans, and strangers.
      • Taking advantage of people who are weak and cannot defend themselves.(Exo 22:22-24 Lev 19:10 Deu 24:19-22 Zec 7:10)
  • Read2Pet 3:4
    • Christ’s coming and his judgment will occur at their appropriate times for all people.

 

• “For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.”

 

(6)
• God’s standards have not changed, nor will they change. He will prove faithful to the end.
• The phrase, “son’s of Jacob”, refers to God’s name for rebellious Israel. Like their ancestor Jacob, they lived in rebellion against God. However God would not totally destroy them even though that is what they deserved. Instead God chose to extend mercy and fulfill all His promises to Israel.
• God is a God of judgment and a God of grace.
  • Usually man thinks of God in one capacity or the other with the limited concept that these two aspects are mutually exclusive. However, our God is both a God of judgment because He carries out His perfect justice, and a God of grace because He demonstrates His supreme love.
  • Because God manifests both judgment and grace in perfect balance, there is none like Him.

HOMEWORK
MALACHI 3:7-18
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of Mal 2:17-3:6
  • Do you have a balanced perspective of God?
    • Does the fear of God, His judgment, and chastisement, keep you from falling into sin?
    • Does God’s love encourage you to obedience as a means of demonstrating your love for God?

 

• Preparation for Mal 3:7-18
• Read Mal 3:7-18
  • In this New Testament age of grace where we are not under the Law of Moses in regards to tithing, how do New Testament believers rob God?

Memory Verse: Mal 3:18