Malachi 2:17-4:6

What’s Happening?

In a season of prolonged political turmoil and national distress, Israel doubts that God is just and doubts that God is worth obeying. But through Malachi, God warns his priests that God will soon judge everyone they claim he’s falsely pardoned. He encourages his people that God is worth obeying.

God says he is tired of his priests' critique of his justice. They claim that since evil continues in this world, God must approve of it (Malachi 2:17). And if God approves of evil, there is no point in enacting justice on his behalf. But in response, God says that he will soon send a messenger to judge Israel of every evil and cruelty the priests have failed to condemn (Malachi 3:4-5). And the priestly tribe of Levi will itself be judged for its corruption and injustice (Malachi 3:1-3). If the priests want a God of justice, then that’s precisely what they’ll get.

But following the example of their leaders, the people of Israel question God’s faithfulness to his own laws. God promised that if every citizen of Israel gave ten percent of their income to keep his temple running, he would bless them (Exodus 23:25; Malachi 3:6-7). But during a time of relative poverty God’s people stopped giving. In their minds, since God didn’t hold up his end of the deal, why should they? (Malachi 3:8-9). Understandably, they believed that ten percent would be better spent providing for their own needs. But to God this is robbery. God owns all that they have. Instead of robbing him, they should test him. He will make their lives better on 90 percent of their income than they could with 100—so much so that other nations will not be able to deny God’s blessing on Israel (Malach 3:10-12).

Climactically, God says that his priest's critique of his justice is treason. When asked how, God says it’s because they believe that obeying God is pointless since some proud and evil people succeed (Malachi 3:13-14). They argue that if God refuses to judge evil, evil might as well be called good (Malachi 3:15). Rebelliously, they use God’s apparent injustice in their eyes as an excuse for their own cruelty. But God says this twisted logic is nothing less than treason against God’s Kingdom and his standards of justice. 

But not everyone in Israel is corrupt. Some are faithful, and God promises to protect them (Malachi 3:16-18). Soon he will come like a burning sun. All corruption, evil, and injustice along with those who practice them, will turn to ash (Malachi 4:1) But to the faithful, that sun will be like a healing spring day after a long and bitter winter (Malachi 4:2-3). The faithful should be on the lookout for a coming messenger. Like Elijah the prophet, he will condemn Israel’s rampant corruption. And once this messenger arrives, God’s sun won’t be far behind (Malachi 4:4-5).

Where is the Gospel?

The messenger of Malachi’s prophecy is John the Baptist. Before John the Baptist was even born, an angel told his father as much (Luke 1:17). Famously, John wore camel hair tunics just like Elijah (2 Kings 1:8; Matthew 3:4). And like Elijah, John was known for his fierce attacks against the corrupt religious leaders of his day (Matthew 3:7-8). John was the messenger of Malachi, and he is the one who prepares the way for God’s burning sun to judge evil and restore the faithful.

Earlier in Malachi we’re told that God would purify Levi’s priesthood from its corruption and restore it to its original purpose—to grant life and peace to God’s people by offering sacrifices (Malachi 2:4-5). John the Baptist is from the tribe of Levi. And he represents the promised restoration of God’s priesthood. 

When John saw Jesus, he announced that Jesus was the sacrificial Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). John then baptizes Jesus. In a sense, John sacrifices Jesus. Going under water is a symbol of death, which means that John completes the purpose of the Levites’ priesthood. He offered the final sacrifice to grant life and peace to all who trust in it. This makes John the last Levitical priest. He prepared the way for all sin and evil to be judged in God’s Son, and showed the faithful who would restore them (Hebrews 10:11-14). And since Jesus did not simply offer a small percentage but all of himself, we can be sure there will never be anything that can remove us from experiencing 100 percent of God’s love, justice, and protection.

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who sends messengers. And may you see Jesus as the burning Son of God whose way was prepared by John the Baptist.