Malachi 2:5-6

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 2:5

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

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 2:5

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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 2:6

Verse 6 He explains mote fully how Levi responded to God’s command, — that he had the law of truth in his mouth. The chief duty of a priest is to show the right way of living to the people; for however upright and holy one may be through his whole life, he is not on that account to be deemed a priest. Hence our Prophet dwells especially on this point — that Levi taught the people. He does not speak of Levi himself; for we know that Levi was dead when Aaron was made a priest. For God does not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 2:4-9

The minister of Divine truth, "My covenant was with him of life and peace," etc. We have here the minister of Divine truth as he always should be, and as he often is— I. THE MINISTER OF DIVINE TRUTH AS HE ALWAYS SHOULD BE . We learn: 1 . That he should be a man divinely called. "Ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts." What was the Divine commission to the priesthood? Here it is:... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 2:5

My covenant was with him of life and peace; rather, with him was life and peace. This is one side of the covenant, that which God gave—the blessing of life, abundance, prosperity, and secure and undisturbed enjoyment of these, in the everlasting priesthood, in agreement with the promise to Phinehas ( Numbers 25:12 ; comp. Deuteronomy 33:8-11 ). I gave them to him for the fear , etc. I gave him life and peace. The pronominal suffix "them" is not expressed in the Greek and Latin... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 2:5-6

The double future of a Jehovah covenant. The covenant was made with the tribe of Levi; and the precise terms here referred to occur in the renewal of covenant with Phinehas, "Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: and he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood" ( Numbers 25:12 , Numbers 25:13 ). A covenant is a mutual engagement entered into by two parties. Each party takes pledges; and each is exonerated from keeping his pledge if... read more

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