Malachi 2:1-9 Introduction: Theme: God directly addresses the sins of the priests who have dishonored God s name. Key Verse: Malachi 2:1 (ESV) And now, O priests, this command is for you. I. God warns the priests against continuing in an unrepentant state for having dishonored God s name. honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. Malachi 1:6 (ESV) A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, How have we despised your name? II. There will be severe consequences if they do not repent. A. God will actively work against the priests. B. God will overthrow the work of the priests of pronouncing a blessing. A primary role of the priest was to pronounce a blessing upon the people. 1
Numbers 6:23 (ESV) Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, Numbers 6:24 (ESV) The LORD bless you and keep you; Numbers 6:25 (ESV) the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; Numbers 6:26 (ESV) the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. C. God has already begun His work against them. D. This has happened due to the priests refusal to repent. E. The reprimand will extend to the priests descendants. Malachi 2:3 (ESV) Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. F. The future generations of the priests will be disgraced as a result of their unacceptable offerings. Malachi 2:3 (ESV) Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. G. This action will ultimately lead to conviction. Malachi 2:4 (ESV) So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the LORD of hosts. III. God is angered with the priests because they have dishonored God s name by corrupting His Word. 2
A. The priests are unlike their predecessor Levi, who faithfully honored God s name. Malachi 2:5 (ESV) My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. 1. Levi took seriously the covenant that God made with Levi in fulfilling his priestly duties. a. God would bless Levi. Malachi 2:5 (ESV) My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. b. In turn, Levi would honor God s name. peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. 2. Levi taught the Word of God accurately. Malachi 2:6 (ESV) True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. 3. Levi himself was obedient to the word of God. Malachi 2:6 (ESV) True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. 4. The result was that people repented of their sins. Malachi 2:6 (ESV) True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. B. The priests should stand watch over God's truth. 1. It is the role of the priest to guard or preserve God's truth. 3
Malachi 2:7 (ESV) For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 2. The priest is to guard God's truth because the people will come to him to hear the truth. Malachi 2:7 (ESV) For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 3. The priest is to guard God's truth, and people are to seek to be taught by the priest for he is to be God's spokesman. Malachi 2:7 (ESV) For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. C. God is angered at the priests for they have failed to guard and preserve God's truth. 1. The priests failed to preserve God's truth by their example. Malachi 2:8 (ESV) But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts, 2. The priests failed to preserve God's truth in their teaching. Malachi 2:8 (ESV) But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts, 3. The priests had failed in their responsibilities to the covenant. Malachi 2:8 (ESV) But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts, Malachi 2:5 (ESV) My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. 4
IV. Conclusion: A. Therefore God has brought dishonor to the priests who had dishonored God. Malachi 2:9 (ESV) and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction. Malachi 1:6 (ESV) A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, How have we despised your name? B. The priests had sought to bring honor to themselves by catering to people of reputation but that did not work. Malachi 2:9 (ESV) and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction. C. When we fail to honor God we bring dishonor upon ourselves. 5