MALACHI
(Answers)
CHAPTER 1
- a. They were not offering
their best to God. They used blemished animals for the sacrifices and did
not regard the Lord's table with respect. b. When
we do not give our best through our talent, skill, and effort against sin
and in service to God we dishonor God.
- God's name is to be highly
regarded with much honor. They were not honoring Him by their contemptible
sacrifices.
CHAPTER 2
- a. The priests were the
messenger for God. b. Knowledge of God and the law should be in him for
the people.
- They had departed from the
law and had caused people to fall into sin.
- They had married foreign
women and accepted their gods. They also fell to the sin of divorcing
their wives.
- They said God was not just because
the wicked were blessed and went unpunished in the sight of God. This ignorance
and unbelief wearied God.
CHAPTER 3
- John the Baptist was the
messenger.
- Jesus was the Lord or king or
ruler whom they waited on to save them from their enemies.
- The priests corrupted the
sacrifices by the blemished offerings and they held back for their own use
many of the offerings.
- Those who fear the Lord and
knew He would be just against the evil doers in due time.
CHAPTER 4
- Through the gospels we learn
that it was John the Baptist who came in the spirit of Elijah. (Matt.
11:14).
- That day is the time at the
end when God will judge all people. The spirit of Elijah returned to
prepare the people for salvation. John the Baptist came to prepare the way
for the messenger of the new covenant - Jesus.