The Word of Jehovah through the prophet Malachi is concerning the priests of Israel of the past in the minor fulfilment, and are warnings to spiritual "Israelite" priests of today in the major fulfilment.

(Chapter 1 Verses 1-5) conveys Jehovah's love for the people descended from the man Jacob or Israel, and His hatred for Jacob's brother Esau, byname Edom. To benefit from the inspired book of Malachi, and its original purpose, the following is to be understood spiritually, and as having its fulfilment now during the end of this system of things. It is also necessary to remember the laws given through Moses to the priests (the 'shadow' of its future fulfilment--the reality), in order to understand the complaints against certain priests today; the reality foreknown by Jehovah from the early tendencies to disobedience manifested by priests of the past. (Mal 4:1-6).

(V.6) Jehovah is speaking to treacherous priests today under the new covenant (Mal 2:10 & 3:9), saying that even earthly sons honour their fleshly fathers and secular masters. Although He is Grand Master and Heavenly Father they do not show Him honour or fear Him, proving they despise Him. Then Jehovah continues to explain how they are "saying" they despise Him. (See Mal 1:8,12-14 and Mal 2:10,16,17).

(V.7, 8) Jehovah here refers to one of the ways that priests are "saying" they despise His Name: By their presenting on His altar polluted bread. The priests are Jehovah's "face" before the people, His messenger. (Mal 2:7). Withholding God's Word that contains His disciplines for the people is the same as saying, "The table of Jehovah is something to be despised". (Mal 1:7) (Heb 12:7-11). Offering an untaught one, a male who has not been anointed with God's Spirit and sanctified for priestly service, is the same as sacrificing a blind animal. The offering of a lame animal is the same as appointing one for service who cannot be wholesouled in his devotion, and a sick animal one who is not sound mentally. (Titus 1:8). As those governing would not accept inferior ones in their service (those appointed in ignorant disregard), it is certainly disgraceful to offer them in service to Almighty God.

(V.9) Jehovah's favour (His blessings) are withheld from these priests and the people that remain within the aforementioned disobedience. But God's mercy is being expressed through Malachi, even to those that have despised Him, in the opportunity He offers them to "soften His face" and gain His favour; correcting their bad course and fulfilling all their priestly responsibilities correctly. Although this disobedience is from their "hand" (from their heart), Malachi includes himself as sharing their Divine disfavour.

(V.10) Jehovah is really saying: 'Who among you capable priests are the ones that will continue to shut Me off from My people by polluting My bread and offering up (sacrificing) incapable spokesmen of My Word for the people? The seriousness of their position is now made clear to them, individually.

(V.11) This makes manifest the non-existence of any effective course in opposition to God, as His Name will be great among the nations (including the nation of Israel), from morning to night of each day. Jesus Christ has presented himself as the "clean gift" to the Great Name of Jehovah.

(V.12) Jehovah's knowledge of what underlies their profanation of His table is here described as, "its fruit" (the wayward people it creates), and "its food" (the spiritual descendants of "its fruit").

(V.13) Knowing accurately the Word of God but refusing to eat of this "bread" of corrective discipline, refusing to teach all of it and act upon it fearlessly, is the same as saying, "Look! What a weariness! and you have caused a sniffing at it" (expressing their disapproval). Disobedient alternatives are described as the "lame one", the "sick one", and offerings "torn away", described further in verse 14 and on Page 831.

(Cont. on Page 831).

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