Malachi 1:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Malachi 1:6-14

The prophet is here, by a special commission, calling the priests to account, though they were themselves appointed judges, to call the people to an account. Let the rulers in the house of God know that there is one above them, who will reckon with them for their mal-administrations. Thus saith the Lord of hosts to you, O priests! Mal. 1:6. God will have a saying to unfaithful ministers; and it concerns those who speak from God to his people to hear and heed what he says to them, that they may... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 1:8

And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil ?.... Certainly it is, according to the law in Leviticus 22:22 or, as Kimchi interprets it, when they bring to you a lamb that is blind for sacrifice to offer it up, ye say, this is not evil; but it is good to offer it up, because the table is contemptible. The sense is, that, however evil this may be in itself, according to them it was good enough to be offered up upon the altar; which proves that they despised the name of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 1:8

Offer it now unto thy governor - פחת pechath , a word signifying a lieutenant, or viceroy, among the Chaldeans, Syrians, and Persians; for neither at this time, nor ever after, was there a king in Israel. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 1:8

Verse 8 I have hitherto explained the Prophet’s words with reference chiefly to the shew-bread; not that they ought to be so strictly taken as many interpreters have considered them; for under the name of bread is included, we know, every kind of eatables; so it seems probable to me that the word ought to be extended to all the sacrifices; but one kind is here mentioned as an example; and it seems also that what immediately follows is added as an explanation — ye offer the lame and the blind... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 1:6-9

The profession and the practice of religion. "A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a Father, where is mine honour? and if I be a Master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my Name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy Name?" etc. The subject of these words is the profession and the practice of religion; and they suggest two thoughts. I. THE PROFESSION AND THE PRACTICE SHOULD ALWAYS BE IN ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 1:6-14

§ 3. Israel had shown no gratitude for all these proofs of God's love, and the very priests had been the chief offenders by offering defective sacrifices, and profaning the temple worship. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 1:7-8

Irreverence-its causes and signs. Notice how in many places Malachi puts the thoughts of sinners into bold and bald words. He interprets their conduct in speech, that they may see the offensiveness of their thoughts and acts. Sins of the heart may sometimes be best exposed by translating them into unsubmissive or even impious prayers. They cannot endure the light when they are paraded in speech under the scrutiny of our fellow men. Still less can they tolerate the brightness that proceeds... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 1:8

If ye offer the blind. The Law ordered that the victims should be perfect and without blemish (see Le 22:19-25). Is it not evil! It is more forcible to read this without the interrogation, "It is no evil!" and to regard it as the priests' thought or word, here introduced by the prophet in bitter irony. Their conscience had grown so dull, and they had become so familiarized with constant dereliction of duty, that they saw no wrong in these violations of the Law, and never recalled the people... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 1:8

The law of acceptable sacrifice. It must be such as would be acceptable if offered to any earthly official. This, indeed, is but taking low ground, but that the prophet should take this position, and use this argument, is in itself a revelation of the sad condition into which the priesthood of the day had fallen. He could not take high grounds, and make his appeal directly to the holiness of the claims of the infinitely Holy One. "It argues a great contempt of Almighty God when men are... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Malachi 1:8

And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? - Others, “it is not evil,” as we should say, “there is no harm in it.” Both imply, alike, an utter unconsciousness on the part of the offerer, that it was evil: the one, in irony, that this was always their answer, “there is nothing amiss;” the other is an indignant question, “is there indeed nought amiss?” And this seems the most natural.The sacrifice of the “blind” and “lame” was expressly forbidden in the law Deuteronomy 15:21, and... read more

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