Malaquias 1
John MacArthur · Citado em PreceptAustin
Malaquias 1
MacArthur adds... The invitation to repent is best taken as irony. How could they expect God to extend His grace when they were insulting Him with unacceptable sacrifices? (MacArthur Study Bible) Criswell comments... The prophet employs sarcasm here in an effort to convict the people. The point is, "Although you would not be foolish enough to offer such gifts to your governor and expect him to be pleased (Mal 1:8), offer them to God -- surely He is much easier to please!" The opposite, of course, is the case, as Mal 1:10 makes clear. The words of this anonymous poem accurately describe the profane priestly practices... With lip we call Him Master, In life oppose His Word, We ev’ry day deny Him, And yet we call Him Lord No more is our religion Like His in soul or deed Than painted grain on canvas Is like the living seed. In the balance we are weigh’d, And wanting we are found, In all that’s true and Christly The universe around. Malachi 1:10 "Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates, that you might not uselessly kindle fire on My altar! I am not pleased with you," says the LORD of hosts, "nor will I accept an offering from you.: (That there: Job 1:9-11 Isa 56:11,12 Jer 6:13 8:10 Mic 3:11 Jn 10:12 Php 2:21 1Pe 5:2) (That you might not: 1Co 9:13)(Accept: Isa 1:11-15 Jer 6:20 Am 5:21-24 Heb 10:38) SHUT THE GATES LOCK THE TEMPLE DOORS! Oh that there were one among you who would shut the gates - Simply stated, God desired to find someone who would prevent the ritualistic (going through the motions) presentation of profane sacrifices.
Malaquias 1
MacArthur comments that "It would be better to stop all sacrifices than to offer insincere offerings." (MacArthur Study Bible) Uselessly kindle fire on My altar - "will not kindle the fire of mine altar for nothing." (KJV), "stop the pointless lighting of fires on my altar" (NJB) To light the fire for burning the sacrifices was without cause and served no purpose. It was going through the motions, but without a heart for God. Form without substance. Indeed form without power (2Ti 3:5). It was like their useless prayers in Malachi 1:9! God is not interested in our external efforts, our "religiosity" so to speak. He wants our whole heart. In fact there is a wonderful promise for those who make the conscious choice to present their whole heart... the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. (2Chr 16:9) I am not pleased with you - "I have no pleasure in you." (KJV, ESV) God is not delighted. The corollary is that acceptable sacrifices delight the Holy God! Amazing! So let us as New Testament saints... Through Him (Jesus, our Great High Priest, our Mediator between God and men) then...continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. (Heb 13:15-note) As Paul exhorted the saints at Rome... I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. (Ro 12:1-note) A C Gaebelein rightly reminds us that today God does not take any pleasure in the unscriptural worship of ritualistic Christendom, or the dead, Spirit-less worship of an apostate Protestantism. Nor will I accept your offering - Literally " a present I do not accept of your hand." (YLT) "From your hands I find no offerings acceptable" (NJB) The priests were spiritually blind to the fact that their offerings were unacceptable to God. Jeremiah gave a similar description of Judah before the 70 year exile, indicating that the post-exilic community had failed to learn their lesson... Jer 6:20 For what purpose does frankincense come to Me from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, and your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me. There is a parallel passage in the prophecy of Isaiah... Isaiah 1:11-15 (note) “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” Says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams, And the fat of fed cattle. And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats. 12 “When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? 13 “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies– I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. 14 “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me. I am weary of bearing them. 15 “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you, Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. Amos records God's assessment of Israel's worship... “I hate, I reject your festivals, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. 22 “Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. 23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. 24 But let justice roll down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:21-24)
Malaquias 1
MacArthur comments on rising of the sun...setting explaining that this... phrase is a way of referring to the whole earth (cf. Ps 50:1; 103:12; Is 45:6; 59:19; Zec 8:7), as the subsequent phrase, “In every place,” indicates. Although no indication is given as to the time when such worship of God will fill the earth, this cannot be a reference to any historic Jewish worship outside the borders of Israel. Malachi’s zeal for Israel’s sacrifices, coupled with his negative attitude toward foreigners and their gods (Mic 1:2-5; 2:11), points to the millennial era, when they will worship in the rebuilt temple and incense plus offerings will be present. At that time, and not until that time, the Lord will receive pure worship throughout the world and His name will be honored everywhere. (MacArthur, J.: The MacArthur Study Bible Nashville: Word) (Bolding added) Scofield on rising of sun even to its setting - "So it would have been had Israel been true. So it shall be despite Israel's failure." Every place incense is going to be offered to My name, and a grain offering that is pure - To what does this refer? Gaebelein writes that "The last chapters of Ezekiel reveal the fact that with the millennial worship in the millennial temple incense and offerings are connected. The prophecy of the eleventh verse will be fulfilled during the Millennium. Now His Name is not universally great among the Gentiles; it will be otherwise when the Lord Jesus Christ has come back." The Psalmist calls for worldwide praise of Jehovah... From the rising of the sun to its setting The Name of the LORD is to be praised. Ps 113:3 (Praise His Name with Paul Wilbur as you sing Praise Adonai)