# Malachi 04 📖: The Sun of Righteousness Rises [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Malachi Overview]] | [[Malachi 03]] | [[Matthew 01]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) (Jewish Scriptures combine chapter three and four.) [[#Verse 01.]] (3:19) “For indeed the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant evildoers will be chaff. The coming day will burn them up,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “It will not leave them even a root or branch.  [^1][[#Verse 02.]] But for you who respect my name, the sun of vindication will rise with healing wings, and you will skip about like calves released from the stall.  [[#Verse 01.]] (3:19) “For indeed the day is coming, burning like a furnace, and all the arrogant evildoers will be chaff. The coming day will burn them up,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “It will not leave them even a root or branch. [[#Verse 02.]] But for you who respect my name, the sun of vindication will rise with healing wings, and you will skip about like calves released from the stall. [[#Verse 03.]] You will trample on the wicked, for they will be like ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I am preparing,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. ### Restoration through the Lord [[#Verse 04.]] “Remember the law of my servant Moses, to whom at Horeb I gave rules and regulations for all Israel to obey.  [[#Verse 05.]] Look, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord arrives.  [[#Verse 06.]] He will encourage fathers and their children to return to me, so that I will not come and strike the earth with judgment.” ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. - The Jewish Scriptures combine chapter three and four. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. - “Sun of vindication”- other translations say “sun of righteousness.” - “healing in His wings”- many scholars look at other iconography of the time and see this metaphor connected to the “sun.” This would create the mental picture of the rays of the sun bringing warmth and healing to everything it touches. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. In the Hebrew Bible, Malachi 4 is part of chapter 3 (3:19-24). 2. Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament in Christian Bibles, while the Hebrew Bible ends with Chronicles. 3. When Malachi is read in synagogues, 4:5 is often repeated after 4:6 so the reading does not end on the word "curse." 4. "Healing in its wings" (4:2) may reflect the ancient image of the sun pictured with wings. 5. Calves released from the stall (4:2) leap and jump for joy, a picture of freedom. 6. Horeb (4:4) is another name for Mount Sinai. 7. Moses and Elijah, both named in 4:4-5, appeared with Jesus at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:3). 8. Jesus said John the Baptist was the Elijah who was to come (Matthew 11:14; 17:10-13). 9. The angel told Zechariah that John would go in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17). 10. At the Passover Seder, many Jewish families set out a cup for Elijah, reflecting hope in his coming. ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the Sun of Righteousness who rises with healing (4:2). Zechariah called Him the sunrise from on high (Luke 1:78-79), and John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare His way (4:5-6; Luke 1:17). ## 🔎 Key Observations / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. The same day brings burning judgment for the arrogant and healing for those who fear God (4:1-2). How can one day mean such different things to different people? 2. God tells His people to remember the law of Moses (4:4). Why is remembering God's Word essential while we wait for His promises? 3. Elijah would turn the hearts of fathers to their children and children to their fathers (4:6). Why do you think family restoration is part of God's plan? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 1: The day is coming, burning like a furnace, when the arrogant will be like straw. - 📖 verse 2: For those who fear God's name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. - 📖 verse 4: Remember the law of Moses that God gave at Horeb. - 📖 verses 5-6: God will send Elijah before the great day of the Lord to turn the hearts of fathers and children to each other. ## 🔗 Related Passages - 🔗 [[Luke 01#Verse 76.|Luke 1:76-79]] - The sunrise from on high (also Isaiah 60:1-3). - 🔗 [[Luke 01#Verse 17.|Luke 1:17]] - John goes in the spirit and power of Elijah. - 🔗 [[Matthew 17#Verse 10.|Matthew 17:10-13]] - Elijah has already come (also Matthew 11:14). - 🔗 [[2 Kings 02#Verse 11.|2 Kings 2:11]] - Elijah is taken up (also 1 Kings 18; Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 4:10). - 🔗 [[2 Peter 03#Verse 07.|2 Peter 3:7]] - The day of judgment (also Joel 2:31; Romans 16:20). ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[Malachi 04- SOAP|Those Who Follow Find Joy]] ## 📂 Internal Notes [[Advent- Malachi 4.2-4 Promise Keeper (2025)]] [[Series_TheWay_Part5-Live.To.Give]] [[Series_BuiltDifferent_5-Live to Give]] [^1]: [[Advent- Malachi 4.2-4 Promise Keeper (2025)]]