Malachi 1

The LORD puts the Israelites in minde of his love to them which he shewed therein, that he loved Jacob, and hated Esau, verse 1, &c and then he complaines of their unthankfunesse, first of the priest, and afterwards of the people, being altogether unfaithful in their offerings, 6 exhorting them to sorrow and repentance, 9 and prophecying of the true worship of God, such as the faithful among all nation in the New Testament should practice, 11. &c.

1. The burden [see Isaiah 13:1. and Zach. 9.1.] of the world of the LORD, unto Israel, [unto the people that was come back again out of the Babylonian captivity, into their own countrie, being not all of the tribe of Juda, but some of the ten tribes also. See 1 Chro. 9 on verse 3.] by the ministry [Heb. Hand] of Maleachi: [commonly called Maleachias.]

2. I have loved you, saith the LORD; but ye say, [to scornfully; or at least wife, out of weakness, or ignorance. Oth. If you say] wherein hast thou loved us? [i.e. whereby doth it appear, thou lovedst us? We are visited with as many, nay more adversities and troubles then many among the very heathen, that neither know nor honour the true God] was not Esau Jacobs brother, saith the LORD, nevertheless I loved Jacob, [that is the LORDS answer upon the foregoing demand: as if he said; is not this a clear evidence of my love unto you, that I chose father Jacob, and rejected his brother Esau? Whence it came to passé, that I accepted of you for my people, and not Edom; and shewed you so many great favours, and now lately, that of delivering you out of the Babylonian captivity. See Romans 9:13.]

3. And Esau I hated: and I have made his mountains [i.e. the mountainous, or hilly countrie, wherein he lived, called Seir] a desolation [that is to say, I have laid and left it waste, and to you I have restored both your countrie and religion. Compare Jeremiah 49:8 and Ezekiel 25:12, &c.] and his inheritance for the dragons in the wildernesse. [i.e. the country, which Esau and his posterity possessed many years as their own inheriatance and proprietie, shall be given to the dragons of the wildernesse to inhabit. See Jeremiah 49:13, &c.]

4. Though Edom said, [i.e. the Edomites] we are improverished, yet we shall build the waste places again; [Heb. We shall return, we shall build] thus saith the LORD of hosts; will they build, then I will break down; [or: they shall build, but I will break down: the meaning is, the land of the Edomites is desolate and shall lie waste for ever; past recovery] and one shall call them [that is, their country] the border of wickedness, and a people against whom the LORD is incensed for ever. [Or, which the LORD hath loathed, or, abhorred for ever. See of the Heb. Word Mich. 6 on verse 10.]

5. And your eyes shall see it, [Namely, this desolation of Edom] and ye shall say, the LORD be magnified [viz. for this destroying of his enemies] from the borders of Israel: [or, ever, for the borders, &c. oth. Read the verse thus: which your eyes shall see from the borders of Israel; and ye shall say, the LORD doth magnifie himself. Compare Psalms 35:26, 27 and 40.17 and 70.5. and 104.1.]

6. A son shall honour the father, [i.e. he is bound and obliged to do it] and a servant his master, [Heb. His masters. See Gen. 39. on verse 2] am I a father then, where is mine honour? [viz. that which is due unto me] and am I a master, where is my fear? [viz. due to me] faith the LORD of hosts unto you, O, Despisers of my Name: [He taxeth the priests then living, in particular, that their office requiring of them earnest to reprove the sins of the people, they, on the contrarie went before them giving evil example] but ye say, [oth. If ye say] wherewith do we despise thy name? [these wicked priests not onely committed all manner of grosse sins, but they were so hardned in them that they would not acknowledge them.]

7. Ye bring upon mine altar polluted bread [i.e. such obligations, as are forbidden in my law, Leviticus 22:20, &c. Deuteronomy 15:21. whereof some instances are given verse 8. bread is put for meat, or, oblation, such as were brought to be offered upon the altar of burnt offering, to be consumed by fire. See Ezekiel 44:7.] and say [not that they spake it in plain terms, but they plainly shewed it by their practice, that such was their meaning] wherewith do we pollute thee? [thee, i.e. thine altar. He that despiseth the holy things God ordained and instituted, despiseth God himself] therewith that ye say, The LORD table [i.e the Altar of the LORD see the annotate. Ezek. 41 on verse 22. and chapter 44.16. comp. 1 Cor. 10.21.] is contemptible: [i.e not to be so greatly esteemed, that we should need to offer just the very best of our flocks upon it, as the manner was in former times, when that glorious temple and Altar stood yet.]

8. For, when ye bring somewhat (that is) blind, [i.e. a blind beast. See Lev. 22 verse 20, 22, 25.] for to offer, it is not evil (with you) [or, is not that evil?] and if ye bring [viz. to offer] somewhat that is cripple, [i.e. a beast that is cripple, lame or, halting. See Deut. 17 verse 1.] and sick? It is not evil. [or, is it not evil? Yea verily is it, because the LORD did forbid to offer any such] bring it but to thy Prince; will he take pleasure in thee? [do ye think it will prove an acceptable present to him to offer him such things] or will be accept thy face? [i.e. graciously or favourably accept thy person, when thou cometh to seek or sue for something at his hands? See of this phrase, Gen. 19 on verse 21] saith the LORD of hosts.

9. Now then, beseech I pray, the face of God, to be gracious unto us; [this the prophet speakes ironically to the wicked priests; as if he should say, trie it once, I pray, and see, ye hypocrites, whether you shall be heard; I warrant you, no: for since you, for since you displease the LORD your selves, he can take no pleasure, neither in your prayers, or offerings,] this is done by your hands, [to wit, that ye have brought unwarrantable sacrifices unto the Altar of the LORD, and that others also did the same, you making them believe, it was not ill done, verse 8] shall he accept your face? [i.e. shall he regard your persons, offices, offering or prayers? The sense is, surely no] saith the LORD of hosts.

10. Who also is there among you, [to wit, Priests, or among you all] that shutteth the doors [viz. of the temple. See 1 chro 9 on verse 26.] (for nothing?) [as if God should say; have I not sufficiently requited your labour, in giving you the tenths, and divers other benefits and profits, as, the first fruits, and such shares and portions in the sacrifices and oblations themselves for your comfortable maintenance? And nevertheless are you so remiss and careless in looking to and performing your duties] and ye do kinde the fire (upon) mine Altar, for nothing: [Heb. And ye do not kindle my Altar for nothing] I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, and the meat-offering is not acceptable to me, from your hand: [viz. because you are such wicked and base wretches. See Isaiah 1:11. Jeremiah 6:20. Amos 5:21, 22.]

11. But from the rising of the sun, unto his going down [i.e. throughout all the world. See Deut. 32. verse 21. and Psalms 113:3.] shall my Name be great among the heathen; [i.e. not in Juda onely, but even all the world over, shall my name be honoured and worshipped; which was and is accomplished in and since Christ time, abundantly] and in every place shall incense and a pure meat-offering be brought unto my name; [i.e. people shall serve me every where with true worship; understand especially the inward and spiritual worship and sacrifices, whereof the ceremonial, here expressed, were expressed, were but Tyres and figures. Compare Zach. 14.16, 20.] for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.

12. But [or, for] ye profane the same [viz. my name] when ye say; the LORDs table is polluted, [namely, because it was destroyed by the Chaldeans; therefore these priest pretended, that they were not so strictly engaged now, to the new one, set up but of late, instead of the old, nor bound to give such exact heed to the sacrifices, whether they were perfect or imperfect, clean or unclean. See above verse 7] and [oth. Therefore] the income thereof [i.e. that which comes or is brought in there] the meat thereof is contemptible: [the sense is: as for the oblations or sacrifices which are laid thereon, the same is but contemptible meat.]

13. Yet ye say, behold what a toilsomness! [How doth it weary and tire one to bear it!] but ye should be able to blow it away, [oth. And ye have blown him away: that is, despised him, viz. God. Compare Psalms 10:4.] saith the LORD of hosts: [the sense is, ye hypocrites, when ye have carried once such a lean strvelng sheep or kid to the temple, as one might well be able to blow away, yet dare you make a shew and semblance, as if the bearing had tired you, so fat and heavy it was in the shew you made of it] also ye bring that which is robbed, and thus which is cripple and sick: [contrarie to Gods command. Leviticus 22:22.]] ye bring meat-offering likewise: [to wit, such as is no better then the rest. Oth. Ye bring (or offer) me the same for a meat-offering] should this [viz. meat-offering] be acceptable to me from your hand? Saith the LORD.

14. Yea, cursed be the deceiver that hath a male in his stock, [i.e. hath the power and means, to offer a sacrifice to God, according to his Law, Leviticus 1:3.] and voweth and offereth to the lord that which is corrupt: [i.e. of meer wretchedness neglect that, which he is bound and hath in readiness to offer, and bring instead thereof, that which is hurt, or defective, or spotted and therefore unfit and unwarrantable for sacrifice] for I am a great king, [thus the LORD is also called by David, Psalms 47:3. and therefore he is to be honoured and feared above all kings and princes. See above verse 8. see also Psalms 48:3 and mat. 5.35.] saith the LORD of hosts and my name is dreadful among the heathen. [how much more then, ought ye that are called my people to fear, honour and serve me?]