Verse 6
Rebuke of the faithless priests and people, Malachi 1:6-14.
6. The prophet starts from a generally recognized truth. Son… servant Every one would admit that a son owes loving reverence to his father or that a servant should regard his master with respect and honor. But though Jehovah was the father of Israel (Exodus 4:22; Hosea 11:1; Jeremiah 31:9) and his master, Israel being his servant (Isaiah 41:8; Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 44:1), the nation has failed to render to him that which rightfully belongs to him.
Fear Better, reverence (compare Isaiah 8:13).
O priests Though the priests are addressed as the “soul of the national life,” the reproof applies with equal force to the whole people.
Despise my name See on Amos 2:7; Micah 4:5. In the place of honor and reverence they bestow upon Jehovah insult and shame.
Wherein have we despised? The prophet knows that this question might be raised by those who were accustomed to pass through the forms of religion but were unable to enter into the spirit of it (see on Malachi 1:2); hence he immediately proceeds to answer it.
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