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

Malachi (or perhaps just The Messenger) condemns hypocrites in several different ways throughout this short book.  First, he condemns those who promise good offerings to the Lord, then substitute defective goods in their place.  Before I get into the other things he condemns I want to take a little time to parse the details about what he says about offering blemished animals.  In particular, I think we learn a lot about God when Malachi tells us that the one who has an acceptable animal and vows to offer it, but offers a blemished animal in its place is cursed.  This suggests to me that God will accept blemished goods as an offering if that is all that you have.

Having condemned those who substitute inferior goods for what they promised to God, Malachi goes on to condemn other actions which show that one does not truly believe what one claims to believe.  He condemns religious leaders who fail to preserve knowledge of God and instead lead people astray.  This condemnation may extend to religious leaders who attempt to use deception and lies to gain followers (certainly, such leaders should be condemned).  Malachi condemns those who demonstrate their lack of faith through the way they honor their marriage vows.  First, he condemns those who claim to worship God, yet marry someone who does not.  Then he condemns those who are unfaithful to the one they first married, even if they obtain a divorce first.  He condemns those who support injustice by claiming that those who do evil are good in God’s eyes.  Finally, Malachi condemns those who steal from God by failing to return a portion of what He gives them to Him.  However, Malachi also praised some as being willing to turn from God and honor His name.  Those he promises will be blessed and protected on the day when the Lord’s anger burns up the arrogant and the evildoer.

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