Malachi 3:13-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Malachi 3:13-18

Among the people of the Jews at this time, though they all enjoyed the same privileges and advantages, there were men of very different characters (as ever were, and ever will be, in the world and in the church), like Jeremiah's figs, some very good and others very bad, some that plainly appeared to be the children of God and others that as plainly discovered themselves to be the children of the wicked one. There are tares and wheat in the same field, chaff and corn in the same floor; and here... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 3:13

Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord ,.... Hard and strong; they bore very hardly upon him, were exceeding impudent and insolent; murmuring at his providence; arraigning his justice and goodness; and despising his word, worship, and ordinances. Aben Ezra says, this is a prophecy concerning the time to come, that is, the times of the Messiah; and so it describes the Jews in his times. Yet ye say, what have we spoken so much against thee ? or "what have we spoken against... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 3:14

Ye have said, it is vain to serve God ,.... This they said in their hearts, if not with their lips, that it was a vain thing for a man to serve God; he got nothing by it; he had no reward for it; it fared no better with him than the wicked; nay, the wicked fared better than he; and therefore who would be a worshipper of God? see Job 21:15 . Abarbinel understands this also with respect to God, who is worshipped; to whom worship, say these men, is no ways profitable, nor does he regard it;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 3:15

And now we call the proud happy ,.... Or "therefore now" F17 ועתה "ergo nunc", V. L.; "igitur", Cocceius; "adeoque", Burkius. ; since this is the case, that the worshippers of God are not regarded, and there is nothing got by serving him; they that are proud and haughty, that neither fear God nor regard men, are the happy persons; even presumptuous sinners, as the word F18 זדים "arrogantes", V. L.; "feroces", Cocceius. signifies, that stretch out their hands against God, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 3:16

Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another ,.... Abarbinel thinks this is a continuation of the speech of the wicked; observing, that while they that work wickedness were set up, and they that tempted God escaped punishment, they that were religious, and feared God, "were destroyed one with another", particularly by the plague; so he would have the word נדברו rendered, which we translate, "spake often one to another"; in which sense he observes that root is used in Hosea... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 3:17

And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts ,.... That is, such as fear the Lord, and think of him, hereby they are known to be his; and hereafter, in the time referred to, it will be manifest that they are his: they are Christ's already by his Father's gift of them to him; by his own purchase; by the conquests of his grace; and by the voluntary surrender of themselves: but, in the last day, they will be claimed and owned by Christ before his Father and his holy angels; and they will be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Malachi 3:18

Then shall ye return ,.... Either the wicked, who will be "converted" F26 ושב־תאם "et convertemini", Cocceius, Gussetius, so Pagninus, Montanus; "conversi", Drusius, Junius & Tremellius. , as some render the word, and will have a different view of things, and change their minds and language; or they that feared the Lord, who at the time before spoken of will have a new turn of thought, and another and clear discerning of persons and things, and better judge of the dispensations... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 3:13

Your words have been stout against me - He speaks here to open infidels and revilers. What have we spoken - They are ready either to deny the whole, or impudently to maintain and defend what they had spoken! read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 3:14

Ye have said, It is vain to serve God - They strove to destroy the Divine worship; they asserted that it was vanity; that, if they performed acts of worship, they should be nothing the better; and if they abstained, they should be nothing the worse. This was their teaching to the people. Walked mournfully - Even repentance they have declared to be useless. This was a high pitch of ungodliness; but see what follows; behold the general conclusions of these reprobates: - read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Malachi 3:15

And now we call the proud happy - Proud and insolent men are the only happy people, for they domineer everywhere, and none dares to resist them. They that work wickedness are set up - The humble and holy are depressed and miserable; the proud and wicked are in places of trust and profit. Too often it is so. They that tempt God are even delivered - Even those who despise God, and insult his justice and providence, are preserved in and from dangers; while the righteous fall by them. read more

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