Malaquias 4
Steven Cole · Citado em PreceptAustin
Malaquias 4
Cole notes that "Many commentators interpret “fathers” to refer to the Jewish patriarchs, and “children” to refer to the disobedient people of Malachi’s day. I reject that interpretation for two reasons. First, in Mal 2:10-16, we have already seen that the people in Malachi’s day were intermarrying with unbelievers and experiencing fractured families. Second, Malachi here does not just refer to the children being reconciled to their fathers, but also the fathers to the children. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob didn’t need to be reconciled to the people of Malachi’s day. So I interpret it in the normal sense, to refer to literal fathers and children being reconciled. There is a progression here: First, there was personal alienation from God due to neglecting His Word (Mal 4:4). Next, there was family alienation (Mal 4:6a). If that were not corrected, the final step would be national deterioration (Mal 4:6b). God’s remedy for the nation was to send Elijah the prophet to call the people to repentance before the day of judgment (Mal 4:5). God only sends judgment if we reject His offer of mercy. These people were indifferent to God’s great love (Mal 1:2). So they needed first to get right with God by obedience to His Word and then to get right with one another. These are the two great commandments that sum up all of the Law and Prophets. Malachi is saying, The key to reconciled families is that we obey God’s Word." A C Gaebelein - The close of the Old Testament prophetic Word is majestically solemn. In the beginning of the Old Testament stands written the sin and the curse which came upon the race through the fall of man. The final testimony in Malachi speaks of Him who comes to take the curse upon Himself, the promised Christ; who comes to deal with the wicked, who comes to bless and to remove that curse. The New Testament which follows tells us of Him and of His matchless work, the fullness of redemption and the all-sufficiency of Grace. And the final New Testament book shows the consummation, the coming judgments, the righteous judgments of the Lord, and the fulfillment of all “which was spoken by His holy prophets; ” ending with the great words, “Surely I come quickly! Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev 22:20-note) (Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible) FATHERS - Brett Favre is 40 years old and still playing Quarterback in the National Football League. Favre is playing for the Minnesota Vikings, the fourth team of his storied career. He has won one super bowl and three times he has been voted the Most Valuable Player in the NFL. One of the reasons, perhaps the main reason, he is still playing years after most quarterbacks have retired is a deep-seated need to prove something to his father. Brett’s wife, Deanna says, “Not only was Brett trying to impress his coach, he was trying to make his dad proud. That mentality always stuck with him. Six years after his father died, Brett Favre is still struggling to his most vocal second guesser proud. “I knew he was proud of me. But he was one of those who never said it.” In addition, he says, “Never did he say he loved us (children). But we knew. And vice-versa: We never said it to him. I am going to make sure my children never have to assume I love them and I am proud of them. I am going to tell them. Every chance I get. Part of being a father is to give them a place in the world where love, welcome, and acceptance rules. While I am at it, I think I will give my dad a call too. (USA Today, December 18, 2009. P. A1-2., Illustration by Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell) "Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse" (Malachi 4:6). Last words are powerful. Malachi 4 expresses God's final words to Israel under the Old Testament dispensation. For four hundred years He would remain silent until they would hear "the voice of one crying in the wilderness: `Prepare the way of the Lord" (Matt. 3:3). Although Malachi 4:6 appears to be a curse, it really is not. It does not close the door on hope. On the contrary, it was God's last appeal of love. The threat of a curse, expressed by the word lest, was aimed at averting the natural consequence of disobedience. G. Campbell
Malaquias 4
Cole comments - Malachi mentions this coming day four times in the closing verses of his prophecy (Malachi 3:17; 4:1, 3, 5). Walter Kaiser points out (Malachi: God's Unchanging Love [Baker], p. 102) that this “day of the Lord” was both “near” and “at hand” for each of five Old Testament prophets working in four separate centuries: Obadiah 15 and Joel 1:15; 2:1 in the ninth century; Isaiah 13:6 in the eighth; Zephaniah 1:7, 14 in the seventh; and Ezekiel 30:3 in the sixth. Each of these prophets saw fulfillments in specific events of his own times, and yet each of these prophecies has a still yet unfulfilled future nuance. Thus Kaiser concludes that “the day of the Lord” encompasses a number of successive judgment events throughout history, all of which depict some aspect of the final climatic fulfillment at the culmination of history. In other words, there have been a number of precursor days of the Lord (such as the destruction of Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar and again under Titus) that point ahead to the final great and terrible day of the Lord at the end of history (Mal. 4:5). (Malachi 4:1-3 - The Coming Day) Herbert M. Wolf - The Day of the Lord . In the prophetic books the day of the Lord signifies the time when God intervenes in the affairs of nations to judge the wicked and rescue the righteous. In Malachi the judgmental aspect is emphasized, in that the day of the Lord is a "dreadful day" in which evildoers will be set on fire (Malachi 4:1,5). Much of the judgment connected with the Messiah will take place at Christ's second coming, but in Malachi 3:2-4 it is the priests and Levites who are refined and purified. Perhaps Christ's severe criticism of religious leaders followed by the destruction of the temple in a.d. 70 shows how judgment can be tied in with his first coming also. For those who revered his name and received him as Savior, Christ's coming brought spiritual and even physical healing (Mal 4:2-3; see Acts 3:8). (Malachi, Theology of - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology) (See also Day of the Lord, God, Christ, the - Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology) There are 23 mentions of the specific phrase Day of the LORD in the NASB. Note that not every use of this phrase speaks of the future Day when God intervenes with bestowal of His righteous wrath upon a sinful, rebellious world. However, most do refer to this Day, which is frequently described as "near" (10x) and as "coming" (4x)! Isaiah 13:6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is near! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. 9 Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, Cruel, with fury and burning anger, To make the land a desolation; And He will exterminate its sinners from it. Isaiah 58:13 "If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot From doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, And honor it, desisting from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word, Comment: Not a reference to the future, eschatological day of God's righteous wrath. Ezekiel 13:5 "You have not gone up into the breaches, nor did you build the wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of the LORD. Ezekiel 30:3 "For the day is near, Even the day of the LORD is near; It will be a day of clouds, A time of doom for the nations. Joel 1:15 Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, And it will come as destruction from the Almighty. Joel 2:1 Blow a trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, For the day of the LORD is coming; Surely it is near, 11 The LORD utters His voice before His army; Surely His camp is very great, For strong is he who carries out His word. The day of the LORD is indeed great and very awesome, And who can endure it? 31 "The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. Amos 5:18 Alas, you who are longing for the day of the LORD, For what purpose will the day of the LORD be to you? It will be darkness and not light; 20 Will not the day of the LORD be darkness instead of light, Even gloom with no brightness in it? Obadiah 1:15 "For the day of the LORD draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head. Zephaniah 1:7 Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests. 14 Near is the great day of the LORD, Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the LORD! In it the warrior cries out bitterly. Malachi 4:5 "Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. Acts 2:20 'THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME. 1 Corinthians 5:5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 2 Thessalonians 2:2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Ryrie agrees that is day… coming is "The Day of the Lord." Ryrie draws our attention to a similar, but more detailed, description of the Day of Jehovah by the prophet Zephaniah… Near is the great day of the LORD, Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the LORD! In it the warrior cries out bitterly. 15 A day of wrath is that day, A day of trouble and distress, A day of destruction and desolation, A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness, 16 A day of trumpet and battle cry, Against the fortified cities And the high corner towers. 17 And I will bring distress on men, So that they will walk like the blind, Because they have sinned against the LORD; And their blood will be poured out like dust, And their flesh like dung. 18 Neither their silver nor their gold Will be able to deliver them On the day of the LORD’s wrath; And all the earth will be devoured In the fire of His jealousy, For He will make a complete end, Indeed a terrifying one, Of all the inhabitants of the earth. (Zeph. 1:14-18). Burning like a furnace - This simile (see discussion of the value of observing and interrogating terms of comparison) gives us a vivid picture of this fateful day. Notice the full orbed picture painted by use of these related terms "burning… furnace… chaff… set them ablaze." JEHOVAH… A REFINER'S FIRE He is either a Refining Fire or a Consuming Fire! (Hebrews 12:29) THOUGHT - WHAT IS GOD TO YOU - A REFINER OR A CONSUMER? In Malachi 3:2-3, God purges and cleanses His people with a "refiner’s fire" which contrasts with the burning… furnace here in Malachi 4:1 where the wicked will be destroyed in the fire of God’s judgment. Henry Morris on burning like a furnace - During the future day of the Lord, among other judgments of God, there will be great heat (Joel 1:19; Isaiah 24:6; Revelation 8:7; 16:8,9). Jamieson - The language is abrupt, “Behold, the day cometh! It burns like a furnace.” The abruptness imparts terrible reality to the picture, as if it suddenly burst on the prophet’s view. (Malachi 4 Commentary) All… every - Both words are translations of the Hebrew particle kol, (which occurs about 5000x in the OT) which usually signifies the "whole of something." The Septuagint (Lxx) uses the Greek word pas (pantes = masculine plural) to translate both uses of kol. BDAG says that pas "pertains to totality with focus on its individual components, each, every, any." As a lawyer might say "There are no exception clauses for the arrogant or evildoers!" However because of the great mercies of God, there is an "exception clause" which is available - repent and believe (Jesus words in Mk 1:15 where both calls are present imperative or commands)… The Lord is not slow about His promise (that He is returning, and His return brings sure judgment - 2Pe 3:4, 7), as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish (apollumi = not annihilation but separation from the presence of God and loss of purpose for all eternity!) but (thank God for this term of contrast) for all (Greek = pas) to come to repentance (metanoia) (a "repentance without regret", not accompanied by remorse or regret [see 2Cor 7:9-10] but a genuine change of heart and mind which is accompanied by a change of direction of one's life - heavenward, not "hell-ward" so to speak, a bringing forth of fruit in keeping with repentance - Lk 3:8). (2Pe 3:9-note) All the arrogant - Note the contrasting descriptions of those who fear My Name (Mal 4:1) and all (no exceptions) the arrogant and every evildoer (Mal 4:2) All the arrogant clearly includes the arrogant in Malachi 3:15-note (same Hebrew word "zed" both passages) The focus is on their pride, the ultimate sin of rebellion against God in Whose image they are made. Pride was the root of the fall of their father the devil (cp Isa 14:13-17, Jn 8:44). The proverbial "acorn" does not fall far from the "tree!" Arrogant (02086)(zed) an adjective meaning proud, insolent, presumptuous (Ps 19:13), having a sense of self-importance (inflated view of one's self), insolent, being self-willed, and often exaggerated by defiance and rebelliousness (Pr 11:2, Jer 49:16; 50:31-32; Ezek 7:10). Leon Wood summarizes the three aspects of zed, presumption, rebellion, willfulness - Because a person is proud he presumes too much in his favor, especially in the sense of authority… Because the person is proud he asserts his own will to the point of rebelling against one in authority over him… The third, closely related to the second, carries the additional element of willful decision. If a person so asserted himself and killed his neighbor, his own life was required as punishment." (TWOT) Zed - 13 verses -Ps 19:13; 86:14; 119:21, 51, 69, 78, 85, 122; Pr 21:24; Isa 13:11; Jer 43:2; Mal 3:15; 4:1 - Usage: arrogant(9), arrogant men(1), presumptuous(1), proud(2). Psalm 19:13 Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression. Psalm 86:14 O God, arrogant men have risen up against me, And a band of violent men have sought my life, And they have not set You before them. Psalm 119:21 You rebuke the arrogant, the cursed, Who wander from Your commandments. Psalm 119:51 The arrogant utterly deride me, Yet I do not turn aside from Your law. Psalm 119:69 The arrogant have forged a lie against me; With all my heart I will observe Your precepts. Psalm 119:78 May the arrogant be ashamed, for they subvert me with a lie; But I shall meditate on Your precepts. Psalm 119:85 The arrogant have dug pits for me, Men who are not in accord with Your law. Psalm 119:122 Be surety for Your servant for good; Do not let the arrogant oppress me. Proverbs 21:24 "Proud," "Haughty," "Scoffer," are his names, Who acts with insolent pride. Isaiah 13:11 Thus I will punish the world for its evil And the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud And abase the haughtiness of the ruthless. Jeremiah 43:2 Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, "You are telling a lie! The LORD our God has not sent you to say, 'You are not to enter Egypt to reside there'; Malachi 3:15 'So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up but they also test God and escape.'" Malachi 4:1 "For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the LORD of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch." Every evildoer - Note clear association of arrogant and evildoer - Pride is the root sin, but their evil deeds are the rotten fruit. Will be chaff - Not "like chaff" but (speaking metaphorically) chaff. Chaff and Stubble (figuratively speaking) were useless for any good and godly purpose. Chaff and stubble were easily consumed by fire (cf Isa 5:24, 47:14, Joel 2:5, Obad 1:18, Nah 1:10, Mal 4:1). This will come about when the Stone returns and all arrogance and evildoers will become like chaff “Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found (ALL THE GODLESS NATIONS AND PERSONS - THIS IS NOT ANNIHILATION BUT DESTRUCTION FOREVER OF THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH WE WERE CREATED - TO GLORIFY GOD cf 2 Th 1:5-9). But the STONE (MESSIAH) that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. (Da 2:35, 45+) Chaff (07179) (qas/qash) refers to stubble (short stumps of grain minus the fruit heads, remained in the ground after harvesting, dry and easy to burn, of little value), chaff (the seed covering and debris separated from the seed in threshing [cf this literal sense in Ex 5:12] and figuratively that which is comparatively worthless). The majority of the OT uses of qas/qash are figurative uses or terms of comparison (especially as a simile; "as [or like] chaff" = Ex 15:7, Ps 83:13 or "as [or like] stubble" = Job 41:48, Isa 40:24, 47;14, Obad 1:18, Nah 1:10), most of these figurative uses referring to Divine judgment. Bible Dictionary Discussions of Chaff Stubble - The stumps of wheat, rye, barley, oats or buckwheat, left in the ground; the part of the stalk left by the scythe or sickle. Chaff (Webster, 1828) - The husk or dry calyx of corn, and grasses. In common language, the word is applied to the husks when separated from the corn by threshing, riddling or winnowing. Refuse; worthless matter; especially that which is light, and apt to be driven by the wind. In scripture, false doctrines, fruitless designs, hypocrites and ungodly men are compared to chaff. Ps 1:4. Jer 23:28. Isa 33:11. Mt 3:12. Qas/Qash - 16 verses - Usage: chaff(5), straw(1), stubble(10). Exodus 5:12 So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. Exodus 15:7 "And in the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise up against You; You send forth Your burning anger, and it consumes them as chaff. Job 13:25 "Will You cause a driven leaf to tremble? Or will You pursue the dry chaff? Job 41:28 "The arrow cannot make him flee; Slingstones are turned into stubble for him. 29 "Clubs are regarded as stubble; He laughs at the rattling of the javelin. Psalm 83:13 O my God, make them like the whirling dust, Like chaff before the wind. Isaiah 5:24 Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble And dry grass collapses into the flame, So their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away as dust; For (Don't miss this critical term of explanation) they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 33:11 "You have conceived chaff (Hebrew = chashash), you will give birth to stubble; My breath will consume you like a fire. Isaiah 40:24 Scarcely have they been planted, Scarcely have they been sown, Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, But He merely blows on them, and they wither, And the storm carries them away like stubble. Isaiah 41:2 "Who has aroused one from the east Whom He calls in righteousness to His feet? He delivers up nations before him And subdues kings. He makes them like dust with his sword, As the wind-driven chaff with his bow. Isaiah 47:14 "Behold, they have become like stubble, Fire burns them; They cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame; There will be no coal to warm by Nor a fire to sit before! Jeremiah 13:24 "Therefore I will scatter them like drifting straw To the desert wind. Joel 2:5 With a noise as of chariots They leap on the tops of the mountains, Like the crackling of a flame of fire consuming the stubble, Like a mighty people arranged for battle. Obadiah 1:18 "Then the house of Jacob will be a fire And the house of Joseph a flame; But the house of Esau will be as stubble. And they will set them on fire and consume them, So that there will be no survivor of the house of Esau," For the LORD has spoken. Nahum 1:10 Like tangled thorns, And like those who are drunken with their drink, They are consumed as stubble completely withered. Malachi 4:1 "For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the LORD of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch." So that - Expresses purpose. What purpose? The purpose of the pouring out of God's fiery wrath. See more discussion of the value of pausing to ponder terms of purpose or result (be on the lookout for terms like so that [580 uses in NAS], in order that [161 uses], that [a common word but look for uses especially at the beginning of a clause, e.g., Ge 19:32], as a result [12 uses]). It will leave them neither root nor branch - "It" refers to the "divine conflagration" so to speak. It will be thorough and complete and forever. The description implies there is no recovery after God's judgment! THE DAY OF DIVISION AS DESCRIBED BY JESUS The Lord Jesus describes this day of division that would come burning "like a furnace" in His answer to the Pharisees when they asked Him about the Kingdom of God. One has to put on your rabbinical thinking cap to fully understand what they were asking about and what the average Jew in Jesus day (and even His own disciples) were expecting to transpire. Imagine this Man Who is able to do miracles, even some miracles that traditionally were thought to be only possible to accomplish by the Messiah (such as healing a leper or giving blind sight). So many were thinking this must be the Messiah, the One Who will bring in the Kingdom of God, so that Israel becomes the chief of the nations and the Messiah rules the world and the Jewish people will no longer be despised and persecuted by the Gentiles. So they were looking for a political Kingdom, and did not understand that first He must establish a spiritual Kingdom of God, which did transpire in every person who believed in Him. That was the internal Kingdom which they simply did not understand. But when Messiah returns a second time, He comes to establish His external Kingdom, the Messianic Kingdom when He will rule the earth and Israel will be the chief of all the nations of the world. And so that is what Jesus is describing in the following section from Luke 17:20-37-commentary where you will see just as in Malachi 4:1 a division is prophesied, Jesus gives more details on that division.... Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst (THE INTERNAL, SPIRITUAL KINGDOM, THE "ALREADY BUT NOT YET" PHASE).” 22 And He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 “They will say to you, ‘Look there! Look here!’ Do not go away, and do not run after them. 24 “For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day. (THE SUDDENNESS OF THE SECOND COMING AND DESCRIBED HERE IN Malachi 4:1) 25 “But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.(HIS CRUCIFIXION) 26 “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 “It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; 29 but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. (THE SECOND COMING WILL BRING ABOUT A DAY OF ETERNAL DIVISION) 31 “On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. 32“Remember Lot’s wife. (IF YOU LOVE THE WORLD, YOU DO NOT LOVE GOD AND YOU WILL BE "JUSTLY REWARDED" - cp 1 John 2:15ff-note) 33 “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it (SUMMARIZES WHAT IT MEANS TO LOVE THE WORLD LIKE LOT'S WIFE). 34 “I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 “There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. 36 [“Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.”] 37 And answering they *said to Him, “Where, Lord?” And He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered.” (Luke 17:20-37-commentary) Malachi 4:2 "But for you who fear My Name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.: Fear My Name - Rev 11:18, 15:4, 19:5 Ge 22:12 Ps 36:1, 89:7 Ec 12:13,14 Note: I have chosen to capitalize Sun as does the King James Version, the NKJV, the God News Version, the NLT. As discussed below not all commentators would agree that Sun should be capitalized.) KJV - But to you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise, and healing shall be in his wings: and ye shall go forth, and bound as young calves let loose from bonds. See related discussion - The Sun of Righteousness Will Rise THOSE WHO FEAR GOD But - Hallelujah! O what a blessed turn the text takes! This term of contrast should always prompt us to pause and ponder what is being contrasted. There is a striking contrast between the chaff (unbelievers, doers of evil) and the "wheat," those who fear God and give Him the glory (Read Ps 1:1-3 versus Ps 1:4-5 and the summation in Ps 1:6). This is one of those good uses of "but" in Scripture (e.g., see discussion of "But God" in Eph 2:4-6-note, contrasted with Eph 2:1-3-note). Butler - The next two verses are a vindication for the righteous. For now the wicked seem to prevail and produce the lamenting of Psalm 73 and Habakkuk 1; but the time will come with righteousness will reign and have power over evil. (Analytical Bible Expositor)
Malaquias 4
Cole - Some scholars do not interpret this as a reference to Jesus, but rather to the conditions that will exist in the millennium. But I think it is a reference to Jesus Christ. (Malachi 4:1-3 The Coming Day) David Levy - Does the phrase Sun of righteousness refer to God the Father, Christ at His Second Coming, or simply righteousness shining forth like the sun during the Kingdom age? The metaphor applies to all three. The righteousness of both God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son will shine on the believer during the Kingdom age. Christ, who is called the “day star” (2 Pet. 1:19 - "Morning Star") and the “bright and morning star” (Rev. 22:16), will shine on the righteous as an everlasting light (Isa. 60:2, 19-20). Gotquestions - “Sun of righteousness” can also be translated “son of vindication.” The context concerns the Day of the Lord, the time when God vindicates His people and judges sin. This vindication will be clear to all, like the bright light of the sunrise. (Reference) Disciple's Study Bible - The Old Testament closes with this chapter of expectation. Christians play on the English word sun of righteousness, which equals Son of righteousness, which equals Jesus Christ, the Light of the world (Lk 1:78; Jn 8:12). Christians are those who know that the true Light is now shining and that the darkness cannot put it out (1 Jn 2:8). John