Today, I am reading and commenting on  Malachi 1-4.

I see two ways we may dismiss today’s passage.  First, we may say that the particular offenses which Malachi lists do not apply to us. For example, we do not offer sacrifices of animals, so we do not need to worry about offering defective animals.  But this is about the attitude, not the specific behavior.  Second, we may think that we aren’t so bad because we are only guilty of one of these, not all of them.  But I read this as responding to those who smugly think that it does not apply to them by listing another thing of which they are guilty.

Malachi (I use this as a proper name here, but it may be intended to be read as “My messenger”)  lists these various sins all the same.  Offering substandard animals is no worse, and no better, than breaking your marriage vows by getting a divorce.  Dismissing evil behavior as acceptable to God is no worse, and no better, than failing to give back to God some of the material goods with which He has blessed you.  The failure of religious leaders to faithfully teach God’s word is no worse, and no better, than those “in the pews” who say, “What’s the point of doing God’s will? The rich and powerful get away with their misbehavior.”

There is more to the above than I have been able to put into words.  Hopefully, you have read the passage and see that part as well.  However, there is one last piece to this passage.  Malachi refers to a number who heard his prophecy and feared the Lord.  They spoke to each other about how they had fallen short and how they could do better (I know, I am reading a lot between the lines here).  They committed themselves to being held accountable by each other to do according to God’s will.  And Malachi prophesied that God noticed their desire to be faithful and would bless them for it.

I use the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.