Mal 3:1-5 | TNotes | STEP | 3:1 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 ; Mark 1:2 ; Luke 7:27 ). • Malachi’s audience probably would have understood the messenger of the covenant to be a divine being (cp. Exod 23:20-23 ). The Christian church has understood Jesus Christ to be the messenger of the new covenant.

a3:1►

bMatt 11:10►

cMark 1:2►

dLuke 7:27►

eExod 23:20-23►

f3:2►

gIsa 1:25►

hJer 6:29►

iEzek 22:22►

jJer 2:22►

k3:5►

l3:3►

m4:1-2►

‏ Malachi 3:1-5

3:1 ^a 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 ^b; Mark 1:2 ^c; Luke 7:27 ^d).

• Malachi’s audience probably would have understood the messenger of the covenant to be a divine being (cp. Exod 23:20-23 ^e). The Christian church has understood Jesus Christ to be the messenger of the new covenant.
3:2 ^f blazing fire: The dross of the people’s wickedness must be burned away by the fires of divine testing and chastisement (Isa 1:25 ^g; Jer 6:29 ^h; Ezek 22:22 ⁱ).

• strong soap: An alkaline detergent was made from plants (see Jer 2:22 ^j). 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 ^k 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 ^l) or destroy them (4:1-2 ^m).