Malachi 2:17
Summary for Mal 2:17-3:5: 2:17–3:5 a Malachi’s fourth message concerns the disparity between God’s justice and human justice (2:17 b). If the book of Malachi were a courtroom drama, the fourth message would be the formal indictment against Judah. Malachi indicts dutiful but heartless religiosity (see 3:14 c) that acts contrary to God’s justice; he appeals for honesty and genuine social concern. 2:17 d Malachi’s audience had wearied God by questioning his justice. Malachi 3:1-5
3:1 e my messenger (Hebrew mal’aki): This is a wordplay on Malachi’s name. The messenger may be either an angel or a human being functioning as a divine courier. Jesus identified John the Baptist by pointing to this passage (see Matt 11:10 f; Mark 1:2 g; Luke 7:27 h).• Malachi’s audience probably would have understood the messenger of the covenant to be a divine being (cp. Exod 23:20-23 i). The Christian church has understood Jesus Christ to be the messenger of the new covenant.
3:2 j blazing fire: The dross of the people’s wickedness must be burned away by the fires of divine testing and chastisement (Isa 1:25 k; Jer 6:29 l; Ezek 22:22 m).
• strong soap: An alkaline detergent was made from plants (see Jer 2:22 n). The blazing fire and strong soap signify the testing (by smelting) and cleansing (by laundering) that would restore Israel’s faithfulness to its covenant with the Lord.
3:5 o The words eager to witness suggest a legal proceeding in which God is both prosecuting attorney (accuser) and key witness (provider of evidence) against postexilic Judah.
• Sorcerers practiced witchcraft, black magic, or fortune-telling for personal gain.
• The coming day of God’s judgment would either purify the sinful Judeans (3:3 p) or destroy them (4:1-2 q).
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