Malachi 2:7 NIV

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 2:7

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

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 2:7

Verse 7 What the Prophet has said of the first priests he extends now to the whole Levitical tribe, and shows that it was a perpetual and unchangeable law as to the priesthood. He had said that Levi had been set over the Church, not to apply to himself the honor due to God, but to stand in his own place as the minister of God, and the teacher of the chosen people. The same thing he now confirms, declaring it as a general truth that the lips of the priest ought to retain knowledge, as though he... 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 2:5-9

§ 5. In contrast with these evil ministers, the character of the true priest is sketched, and thus the faults of the former are shown in darker colours. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 2:6-7

The qualifications and objects of Christian ministers. Aaron and the original priests of the house of Levi are here held up as a pattern to their degenerate descendants. Reference is made to the higher departments of the priest's work, for teaching is a nobler work than sacrificing, even according to a divinely appointed and typical ritual. Allusions to this work of teaching by priests or Levites may be found in Le 10:11; Deuteronomy 33:10 ; 2 Chronicles 15:8 ; 2 Chronicles 17:8 , 2... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 2:7

For the priest's lips should keep knowledge. It was the priest's duty to study the Law and to teach it faithfully, as it is said of Aaron, in Ecclesiasticus 45:17, "He gave unto him his commandments, and authority in the statutes of judgments, that he should teach Jacob the testimonies, and inform Israel in his laws." The law, here and verses 6, 8, means system of teaching, or the torah. At his month. The priest was the appointed interpreter of the Law (see Le 10:11; Deuteronomy... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 2:7

Reasonable expectations of God's ministers. "The priest's lips should keel knowledge." The ideal priest is here characterized, not by ceremonial exactitude, but by moral integrity. Sacrificing is not so essential as religious knowledge, sound learning, and wholesome teaching. The proper expectation of God's ministers is that they will tell God's will to the people, not only because they know it, but even more because they keep it. In our religious teachers we look for adequacy of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Malachi 2:7

For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge - o “He assigns the reason for what he had just said, the law of truth was in his mouth; they had done what it was their duty to do; as in Ecclesiasticus it is said of Aaron (Ecclesiasticus 45:17), ‘God gave unto him His commandments, and authority in the statutes of judgments, that he should teach Jacob the testimonies, and inform Israel in His laws.’ So Paul requires of Titus to ordain such overseers, as shall be able to Titus 1:9, ‘exhort by sound... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Malachi 2:7-9

Malachi 2:7-9. For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge Preserve and store up, so as to distribute it. It is his duty to understand the meaning of the law of God: and people ought to resort to him for instruction in any difficulty that arises concerning the sense of it. For he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts He is appointed to declare God’s will unto the people, and to enforce upon them obedience to it. But ye are departed out of the way Ye act in a quite different manner from... read more

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

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 2:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 2:4-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 2:5-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 2:6-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 2:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Malachi 2:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Malachi 2:7

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Malachi 2:7-9

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