Malachi 2:9

"Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have had respect of persons in the law."

A part of priestly duty was that of the administration of the law; and the reprobacy of that priesthood is indicated here by the citation of a single sin, representative of many, but one of the most flagrant and disgusting, the sin of showing partiality and respecting persons in their decisions. The corruption of those charged with administration of justice is the mark of a society that has fallen low indeed.

Since they had shown their contempt for God, he would make them contemptible; and since they had shown such a low regard for God, God would make them low in the estimation of men.

"Therefore ..." "Therefore introduces the consequences brought on them by Jehovah."[11] God expected his covenant to be honored by the obedience of them that had received it, for no covenant of God was ever made without regard to the obligations imposed by it upon them that received the promises. This principle stands even in reference to the sacred promises of Christianity. As Richard Trench expressed it:

"Nor may we leave out of sight that all forgiveness, short of that crowning and last act, which will find place on the judgment day, and will be followed by a blessed impossibility of sinning any more, is conditional, in the very nature of things so conditional, that the condition in every case must be assumed, whether stated or no; that condition being that the forgiven man continues in faith and obedience."[12]

Jamieson's paraphrase of the meaning is, "Because ye do not keep the condition of the covenant, I will not fulfil the promise."[13]