# Malachi 01 š: God's Love and Blemished Offerings
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#š Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#š Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#š§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#āļø Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#š Key Observations / š Life Application]]
> [[#š¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#āļø Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#š Related Passages]]
> [[#š Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#š Internal Notes]]
## š Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### Introduction and Godās Election of Israel
[[#Verse 01.]]Ā This is an oracle,Ā theĀ Lordās message to Israel through Malachi:
[[#Verse 02.]]Ā āI have shown love to you,ā says theĀ Lord, but you say, āHow have you shown love to us?ā āEsau was Jacobās brother,ā theĀ LordĀ explains, āyet I chose JacobĀ
[[#Verse 03.]]Ā and rejected Esau.Ā I turned EsauāsĀ mountains into a deserted wastelandĀ and gave his territoryĀ to the wild jackals.ā
[[#Verse 04.]]Ā EdomĀ says, āThough we are devastated, we will once again build the ruined places.ā So theĀ LordĀ of Heavenās ArmiesĀ responds, āThey indeed may build, but I will overthrow. They will be known asĀ the land of evil, the people with whom theĀ LordĀ is permanently displeased.Ā
[[#Verse 05.]]Ā Your eyes will see it, and then you will say, āMay theĀ LordĀ be magnifiedĀ even beyond the border of Israel!āā
### The Sacrilege of Priestly Service
[[#Verse 06.]]Ā āA son naturally honors his father and a slave respectsĀ his master. If I am yourĀ father, where is my honor? If I am your master, where is my respect? TheĀ LordĀ of Heavenās Armies asks you this, you priests who make light of my name! But you reply, āHow have we made light of your name?āĀ
[[#Verse 07.]]Ā You are offering improper sacrifices on my altar, yet you ask, āHow have we offended you?ā By treating the tableĀ of theĀ LordĀ as if it is of no importance.Ā
[[#Verse 08.]]Ā For when you offer blind animals as a sacrifice, is that not wrong? And when you offer the lame and sick,Ā is that not wrong as well? Indeed, try offering themĀ to your governor! Will he be pleased with youĀ or show you favor?ā asks theĀ LordĀ of Heavenās Armies.Ā
[[#Verse 09.]]Ā āBut now plead for Godās favorĀ that he might be gracious to us.āĀ āWith this kind of offering in your hands, how can he be pleased with you?ā asks theĀ LordĀ of Heavenās Armies.
[[#Verse 10.]]Ā āI wish that one of you would close the temple doors,Ā so that you no longer would light useless fires on my altar. I am not pleased with you,ā says theĀ LordĀ of Heavenās Armies, āand I will no longer accept an offering from you.Ā
[[#Verse 11.]]Ā For from the east to the west my name will be great among the nations. Incense and pure offerings will be offered in my name everywhere, for my name will be great among the nations,āĀ says theĀ LordĀ of Heavenās Armies.Ā
[[#Verse 12.]]Ā āBut you are profaning it by saying that the table of the Lord is common and its offeringsĀ despicable.Ā
[[#Verse 13.]] You also say, āHow tiresome it is.ā You turn up your nose at it,ā says theĀ LordĀ of Heavenās Armies, āand instead bring what is stolen, lame, or sick. You bring these things for an offering! Should I accept this from you?āĀ asks theĀ Lord.Ā
[[#Verse 14.]]Ā āThere will be harsh condemnation for the hypocrite who has a valuable male animal in his flock but vows and sacrifices something inferior to the Lord. For I am a great king,āĀ says theĀ LordĀ of Heavenās Armies, āand my name is awesome among the nations.ā
## š Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
## š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Malachi's name means "my messenger," a word that appears again in 3:1.
2. Malachi was written after the exile, likely in the 400s BC, around the time of Ezra and Nehemiah.
3. The book is organized as a series of disputes: God makes a statement, the people object, and God answers.
4. "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated" (1:2-3) speaks of God's covenant choice, and Paul quotes it in Romans 9:13.
5. Edom, descended from Esau, had been devastated and its land left in ruins (1:3-4).
6. The law required that sacrifices be without defect (Leviticus 22:20-22; Deuteronomy 15:21).
7. The word for "governor" in 1:8 was used for officials of the Persian Empire.
8. God wishes someone would shut the temple doors to stop the worthless offerings (1:10).
9. "From the rising of the sun to its setting" (1:11) is also found in Psalm 113:3.
10. The priests said, "How tiresome!" and sniffed at the altar (1:13).
## š§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## āļø Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the proof of the love Israel questioned (1:2). God showed His love by sending His Son (1 John 4:9-10), the spotless Lamb who is the perfect offering (1 Peter 1:19).
## š Key Observations / š Life Application
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š¬ Discussion Questions
1. The people answered God's love with, "How have You loved us?" (1:2). Why do we sometimes doubt God's love during hard seasons?
2. God asks, "If I am a father, where is My honor?" (1:6). How do we show honor to God in practical ways?
3. The priests offered blind, lame, and sick animals (1:8). What does it look like to give God our leftovers instead of our best?
## āļø Key Verses to Remember
- š verse 2: The Lord says, "I have loved you," but the people ask how He has loved them.
- š verse 6: A son honors his father; if God is our Father, where is the honor due Him?
- š verse 8: Offering blind, lame, and sick animals is wrong; try offering them to your governor.
- š verse 11: God's name will be great among the nations, from the rising of the sun to its setting.
- š verse 14: God is a great King, and His name is feared among the nations.
## š Related Passages
- š [[Romans 09#Verse 13.|Romans 9:13]] - Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated (Genesis 25:23).
- š [[Deuteronomy 07#Verse 07.|Deuteronomy 7:7-8]] - God set His love on Israel because He loved them.
- š [[Leviticus 22#Verse 20.|Leviticus 22:20-22]] - Offerings must be without defect (also Deuteronomy 15:21; Romans 12:1).
- š [[Psalm 113#Verse 03.|Psalm 113:3]] - From the rising of the sun to its setting (also Isaiah 45:6; Psalm 47:2).
- š [[John 04#Verse 21.|John 4:21-23]] - True worshipers in every place (also Revelation 5:8).
## š Devotional Reflection
š SOAP: [[Malachi 01- SOAP|Do You Realize How Loved You Are?]]
## š Internal Notes