Malachi 3:1-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Malachi 3:1-6

The first words of this chapter seem a direct answer to the profane atheistical demand of the scoffers of those days which closed the foregoing chapter: Where is the God of judgment? To which it is readily answered, ?Here he is; he is just at the door; the long-expected Messiah is ready to appear; and he says, For judgment have I come into this world, for that judgment which you have so impudently bid defiance to.? One of the rabbin says that the meaning of this is, That God will raise up a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 3:1

Behold, I will send my messenger ,.... These are the words of Christ, in answer to the question put in the last verse of the preceding chapter Malachi 2:17 , "Where is the God of judgment?" intimating that he would quickly appear, and previous to his coming send his messenger or angel; not the angel of death to destroy the wicked, as Jarchi thinks; nor an angel from heaven, as Kimchi; nor Messiah the son of Joseph; as Aben Ezra; nor the Prophet Malachi himself, as Abarbinel; but the same... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 3:2

But who may abide the day of his coming ?.... When he should be manifest in Israel, and come preaching the Gospel of the kingdom; who could bear the doctrines delivered by him, concerning his deity and equality with God the Father; concerning his character and mission as the Messiah, and his kingdom not being a temporal, but a spiritual one; concerning his giving his flesh for the life of the world, and eating that by faith; concerning distinguishing and efficacious grace; and all such that... read more

John Gill

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

And he shall sit as a refiner, and purifier of silver ,.... Kimchi interprets this, as he does the latter part of the preceding verse Malachi 3:2 , of the day, and not of the Lord, which he compares to a judge that sits and separates the guilty from the innocent; see 1 Corinthians 3:13 but it is to be understood of the Lord himself, and expresses his diligence in sitting and separating good men and principles from bad ones, just as silver is purified and refined from dross. Maimonides ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 3:4

Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord ,.... Or "sweet" F2 ערבה "dulcescet", Vatablus, Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius; "dulce", Piscator. ; grateful and well pleasing to him, as all spiritual sacrifices are acceptable to God through Christ, being offered up in the faith of his atoning sacrifice and righteousness, without which it is impossible to please God: as in the days of old, and as in former years : under the first temple, and when the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 3:5

And I will come near to you to judgment ,.... And so will manifestly appear to be the God of judgment they asked after, Malachi 2:17 this is not to be understood of Christ's coming to judgment at the last day, but of his coming to judge and punish the wicked Jews at the time of Jerusalem's destruction; for the same is here meant, who is spoken of in the third person before, and who will not be afar off; there will be no need to inquire after him, when he will come he will be near enough,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 3:6

For I am the Lord ,.... Or Jehovah; a name peculiar to the most High, and so a proof of the deity of Christ, who here speaks; and is expressive of his being; of his self-existence; of his purity and simplicity; of his immensity and infinity; and of his eternity and sovereignty: I change not ; being the same today, yesterday, and forever; he changed not in his divine nature and personality by becoming man; he took that into union with him he had not before, but remained the same he ever... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 3:1

Behold, I will send my messenger - מלאכי Malachi , the very name of the prophet. But this speaks of John the Baptist. I, the Messiah, the Seed of God, mentioned above, will send my messenger, John the Baptist. He shall prepare the way - Be as a pioneer before me; a corrector of civil abuses, and a preacher of righteousness. And the Lord, whom ye seek - The Messiah, whom ye expect, from the account given by the prophet Daniel, in his seventy weeks, Daniel 9:24 . Shall... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 3:2

But who may abide the day of his coming? - Only they who shall believe on his name; for they that will not, shall be blinded, and the unbelieving nations shall be destroyed by the Romans. Like fuller's soap - כברית keborith , from ברר barar , to cleanse, any thing that deterges. Kali, or fern ashes, or such things. I doubt whether the composition which we call soap, was known in ancient times. read more

Adam Clarke

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

He shall sit as a refiner - Alluding to the case of a refiner of metals, sitting at his fire; increasing it when he sees necessary, and watching the process of his work. The sons of Levi - Those who minister in their stead under the New covenant, for the Old Levitical institutions shall be abolished; yet, under the preaching of our Lord, a great number of the priests became obedient to the faith, Acts 6:7 ; and, as to the others that did not believe, this great Refiner threw them as... read more

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