Malachi 3

Resistance to the Lord through Self-deceit

2:17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” Because you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the Lord’s opinion,¹ and he delights in them,” or “Where is the God of justice?” 3:1 “I am about to send my messenger,² who will clear the way before me. Indeed, the Lord³ you are seeking will suddenly come to his temple, and the messenger⁴ of the covenant, whom you long for, is certainly coming,” says the Lord who rules over all.

3:2 Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can keep standing when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire,⁵ like a launderer’s soap. 3:3 He will act like a refiner and purifier of silver and will cleanse the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will offer the Lord a proper offering. 3:4 The offerings⁶ of Judah and Jerusalem⁷ will be pleasing to the Lord as in former times and years past.

3:5 “I⁸ will come to you in judgment. I will be quick to testify against those who practice divination, those who commit adultery, those who break promises,⁹ and those who exploit workers, widows, and orphans,¹⁰ who refuse to help¹¹ the immigrant¹² and in this way show they do not fear me,” says the Lord who rules over all.

Resistance to the Lord through Selfishness

3:6 “Since, I, the Lord, do not go back on my promises,¹³ you, sons of Jacob, have not perished. 3:7 From the days of your ancestors you have ignored¹⁴ my commandments¹⁵ and have not kept them! Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord who rules over all. “But you say, ‘How should we return?’ 3:8 Can a person rob¹⁶ God? You indeed are robbing me, but you say, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and contributions!¹⁷ 3:9 You are bound for judgment¹⁸ because you are robbing me – this whole nation is guilty.¹⁹

3:10 “Bring the entire tithe into the storehouse²⁰ so that there may be food in my temple. Test me in this matter,” says the Lord who rules over all, “to see if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until there is no room for it all. 3:11 Then I will stop the plague²¹ from ruining your crops,²² and the vine will not lose its fruit before harvest,” says the Lord who rules over all. 3:12 “All nations will call you happy, for you indeed will live in²³ a delightful land,” says the Lord who rules over all.

Resistance to the Lord through Self-sufficiency

3:13 “You have criticized me sharply,”²⁴ says the Lord, “but you ask, ‘How have we criticized you?’ 3:14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God. How have we been helped²⁵ by keeping his requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord who rules over all?²⁶ 3:15 So now we consider the arrogant to be happy; indeed, those who practice evil are successful.²⁷ In fact, those who challenge²⁸ God escape!’”

3:16 Then those who respected²⁹ the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord took notice.³⁰ A scroll³¹ was prepared before him in which were recorded the names of those who respected the Lord and honored his name. 3:17 “They will belong to me,” says the Lord who rules over all, “in the day when I prepare my own special property.³² I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 3:18 Then once more you will see that I make a distinction between³³ the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not.

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