Malachi 2:4-7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Malachi 2:1-9

What was said in the foregoing chapter was directed to the priests (Mal. 1:6): Thus saith the Lord of hosts to you, O priests! that despise my name. But the crimes there charged upon them they were guilty of as sacrificers, and for those they might think it some excuse that they offered what the people brought, and therefore that, if they were not so good as they should be, it was not their fault, but the people?s; and therefore here the corruptions there complained of are traced to the source... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 2:4

And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you ,.... See Gill on Malachi 2:1 , that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts ; not that the ceremonial law might be confirmed and established, on which the Levitical priesthood was founded; for it was the will of God that that should be abolished, because of the weakness and unprofitableness of it; but that the covenant of grace made with Christ, the antitype of Levi, with whom the true Urim and Thummim are, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 2:5

My covenant was with him of life and peace ,.... Not with Aaron, nor with Phinehas; nor is it to be understood of a covenant, promising temporal life and outward prosperity to either of them; Aaron living a hundred and twenty three years, Numbers 33:39 and Phinehas, according to some Jewish writers, above three hundred years, which they gather from Judges 20:28 but of the covenant made with Christ from everlasting, called "a covenant of life", because it was made with Christ the Word of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 2:6

The law of truth was in his mouth ,.... The Gospel, the word and doctrine of truth; which comes from the God of truth; is concerning Christ the truth and men are guided into it by the Spirit of truth; it contains most glorious truths, and nothing but truth: and this was in the mouth of Christ, being put there by his Father, who gave him what he should say, and what he should speak; and which was preached by him in the most faithful manner, and so as it never was by any other, for which he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 2:7

For the priest's lips should keep knowledge ,.... Or "shall keep knowledge", as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions; or "do keep knowledge", as the Arabic version; and so the Syriac version, "for the lips of the priest drop knowledge"; all this is true of Christ our great High Priest; for as it was predicted of him, that his lips should keep knowledge, so they have kept it, and do keep it; not concealing it, but preserving it, and communicating it freely and openly; as he did to his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 2:4

This commandment - That in the first verse; to drive such priests from his presence and his service. That my covenant might be with Levi - I gave the priesthood and the service of my altar to that tribe. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 2:5

My covenant was with him of life and peace - These are the two grand blessings given to men by the New Covenant, which was shadowed by the Old. To man, excluded from the favor of God, and sentenced to death because of sin, God gave ברית berith , a covenant sacrifice, and this secured life - exemption from the death deserved by transgressors; communication of that inward spiritual life given by Christ, and issuing in that eternal life promised to all his faithful disciples. And, as it... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 2:6

The law of truth was in his mouth - See the qualifications of Levi: "He feared me;" he was my sincere worshipper. "He was afraid;" he acted as in the presence of a just and holy God, and acted conscientiously in all that he did. "My law of truth was ever in his mouth;" by this he directed his own conduct and that of others. "No iniquity;" nothing contrary to justice and equity ever proceeded "from his lips." "He walked with me in peace;" he lived in such a way as to keep up union... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 2:4

Verse 4 Here he addresses in particular the priests; for though the whole people with great haughtiness resisted God, yet the priests surpassed them. And we know how ready men are to turn to evil whatever benefits God may bestow on them. It has been then a common evil in men from the beginning of the world, to exalt themselves and to raise their crests against God, when they found themselves adorned with his benefits: but we know that the more any one is bound to God the more thankful he ought... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 2:5

Verse 5 The Prophet now proves more clearly how God violates not his covenant, when he freely rebukes the priests, and exposes also their false attempts in absurdly applying to themselves the covenant of God, like the Papal priests at this day, who say that they are the Church. How? because they have in a regular order succeeded the apostles; but this is a foolish and ridiculous definition; for he who occupies the place of another ought not on that account only to be deemed a successor. Were a... read more

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