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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Malachi 3:13-18

Among the people of the Jews at this time, though they all enjoyed the same privileges and advantages, there were men of very different characters (as ever were, and ever will be, in the world and in the church), like Jeremiah's figs, some very good and others very bad, some that plainly appeared to be the children of God and others that as plainly discovered themselves to be the children of the wicked one. There are tares and wheat in the same field, chaff and corn in the same floor; and here... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 3:13

Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord ,.... Hard and strong; they bore very hardly upon him, were exceeding impudent and insolent; murmuring at his providence; arraigning his justice and goodness; and despising his word, worship, and ordinances. Aben Ezra says, this is a prophecy concerning the time to come, that is, the times of the Messiah; and so it describes the Jews in his times. Yet ye say, what have we spoken so much against thee ? or "what have we spoken against... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 3:14

Ye have said, it is vain to serve God ,.... This they said in their hearts, if not with their lips, that it was a vain thing for a man to serve God; he got nothing by it; he had no reward for it; it fared no better with him than the wicked; nay, the wicked fared better than he; and therefore who would be a worshipper of God? see Job 21:15 . Abarbinel understands this also with respect to God, who is worshipped; to whom worship, say these men, is no ways profitable, nor does he regard it;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 3:13

Your words have been stout against me - He speaks here to open infidels and revilers. What have we spoken - They are ready either to deny the whole, or impudently to maintain and defend what they had spoken! read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 3:14

Ye have said, It is vain to serve God - They strove to destroy the Divine worship; they asserted that it was vanity; that, if they performed acts of worship, they should be nothing the better; and if they abstained, they should be nothing the worse. This was their teaching to the people. Walked mournfully - Even repentance they have declared to be useless. This was a high pitch of ungodliness; but see what follows; behold the general conclusions of these reprobates: - read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 3:13

Verse 13 Here again God expostulates with the Jews on account of their impious and wicked blasphemy in saying, that he disappointed his servants, and that he made no difference between good and evil, because he was kind to the unfaithful and the faithful indiscriminately, and also that he overlooked the obedience rendered to him. He says now that their words grew strong; by which he denotes their insolence, as though he had said, Vous avez gagné le plus haut; for חזק, chezak, is to be strong.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 3:14

Verse 14 He then gives the reason why he said, that their words grew strong against God, that is, that they daringly and furiously spoke evil of God; and the reason was, because they said, that God was worshipped in vain. They thought that they worshipped God perfectly; and this was their false principle; for hypocrites ever lay claim to complete holiness, and cannot bear to confess their own evils; even when their conscience goads them, they deceive themselves with vain flatteries, and always... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 3:13

Your words have been stout against me. Ye have spoken hard words of me (comp. Jud 1:15, where we read of "the hard speeches ( σκληρῶν ) which ungodly sinners have spoken against" God). Some specimens of these speeches are given in answer to the usual sceptical inquiry. They are of the same character as those in Malachi 2:17 , and imply that the course of this world is not directed by a moral Governor. What have we spoken so much ( together ) against thee! What have we said against... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 3:13-14

Religion delineated and depreciated. "Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord," etc. In these words we have religion delineated and depreciated. I. PRACTICAL RELIGION DELINEATED . Three expressions are here used to represent it. 1 . To serve God. "Ye have said, It is vain to serve God." There is a great difference between serving God and serving man. 2 . To keep God ' s ordinances. "We have kept his ordinance." This is only a branch of the service,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 3:13-18

§ 3. The impious murmuring of the people is contrasted with the conduct of those who fear God; and the reward of the pious is set forth. read more

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