Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Malachi
Malachi is the final book of the Old Testament, confronting a cold, cynical faith that keeps the forms of religion while doubting God's love and offering Him second-best worship. It calls a jaded people back to reverence, and points ahead across four centuries of silence to the coming messenger. This commentary walks through it verse by verse.
About This Commentary
The Book of Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament, written to Judah after the temple was rebuilt, likely around 430 BC. The prophet, whose name means 'my messenger,' confronts a people who had grown spiritually cold: doubting God's love, dishonoring Him with blemished sacrifices, robbing Him in tithes, and treating His covenant carelessly. The book is structured as a series of disputes in which God states a truth, the people cynically object, and God answers.
This commentary covers Malachi verse by verse, with the Hebrew words that sharpen the meaning, verified background, and an Apostolic reading. Malachi closes the Old Testament looking forward: to the messenger who would prepare the way (3:1), fulfilled in John the Baptist, and to the coming of the Lord Himself. After Malachi came four centuries of silence, broken at last by the gospel. References are given at the foot of each chapter.
All 4 chapters of Malachi are complete, closing the Old Testament with God's disputes with a cold-hearted people, the promise of the messenger and the Lord coming to His temple, and the final vision of the Sun of righteousness rising with healing on those who fear His name.
Author
Malachi, whose name means 'my messenger.'
Setting
Judah after the rebuilt temple, likely around 430 BC.
Key Themes
God's love, honoring Him, and the coming messenger.
Structure
A series of disputes between God and a cynical people.
Translation
King James Version (KJV) throughout.
The Chapters
Malachi Commentary
The chapters below are available now. The rest are being written and will open here as they are finished and verified.
Malachi 1:1-14
I Have Loved You
God declares His love to a cold people who doubt it, exposes the insult of their blemished, leftover worship, and promises that His name will be great among all the nations.
Read Chapter 1 →Malachi 2:1-17
The Priest's Lips Should Keep Knowledge
The rebuke of the corrupt priests and the covenant of Levi, 'the priest's lips should keep knowledge... he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts'; the call to faithfulness grounded in the oneness of God, 'hath not one God created us?'; and God's word on the marriage covenant, 'the LORD... hateth putting away.'
Read Chapter 2 →Malachi 3:1-18
I Am the LORD, I Change Not
The messenger who prepares the way and 'the Lord... shall suddenly come to his temple,' the refiner's fire, the rock of 'I am the LORD, I change not,' the call 'Return unto me, and I will return unto you,' the challenge on tithes, 'prove me now... if I will not open you the windows of heaven,' and the book of remembrance for those who fear the LORD.
Read Chapter 3 →Malachi 4:1-6
The Sun of Righteousness Shall Arise
The last chapter of the Old Testament: the burning day, the promise 'unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings,' and the coming of Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the LORD, fulfilled in John the Baptist, the Old Testament's final word pointing forward to Christ.
Read Chapter 4 →