Malachi 3 KJV: The Messenger of the Covenant and the Tithe
Malachi 3 documents the promise of a 'messenger' who will prepare the way for the Lord’s sudden arrival at His Temple. It introduces the metaphor of the 'Refiner's Fire' and 'Fuller's Soap' to describe how God will purify His people from their social and spiritual sins. The chapter contains the famous challenge to 'prove' God by bringing the full tithe into the storehouse to see if He will not open the windows of heaven.
v1-6: The Messenger and the Refiner's Fire
v7-12: The Robbery of God and the Promise of the Windows of Heaven
v13-18: The Complaint of the People and the Book of Remembrance
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
Learn the difference between 'serving God for profit' and 'trusting God for provision' through the practice of radical generosity. Begin your study with malachi 3 summary.
The 'Book of Remembrance' is a beautiful image of God documenting the conversations and thoughts of those who 'feared the Lord' during a time of general apostasy. The 'Word Secret' is Segullah, meaning 'peculiar treasure' or 'special jewel,' which is how God describes those who stay faithful. Discover the riches with malachi 3 commentary, containing expert led word study (original greek/hebrew) and passage level analysis.
Unlock the hidden malachi 3 1 meaning and summary by exploring context, analyzing original greek and hebrew words, and studying cross references of each verse.
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