Albert Barnes Commentary Malachi 1:10

Albert Barnes Commentary

Malachi 1:10

1798–1870
Presbyterian
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes Commentary

Malachi 1:10

1798–1870
Presbyterian
SCRIPTURE

"Oh that there were one among you that would shut the doors, that ye might not kindle [fire on] mine altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, saith Jehovah of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand." — Malachi 1:10 (ASV)

Who is there even among you? — This stinginess in God’s service was not confined to those offices which cost something, like the sacrifices. They would not perform even absolutely free services, which required only a little trouble—such as closing the folding-doors of the temple or the outer court, or bringing the fire to consume the sacrifices—without some special payment. All was mercenary and hireling service. Others have interpreted it as a wish: “who is there among you!” that is, if only there were one among you who would close the doors altogether; so you will not kindle fire on My altar for nothing (that is, fruitlessly!).

But apart from the difficulty of this interpretation, it is not God’s way to quench the smoldering flax. He who commands, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost, accepts any imperfect service rather than none. He does not break off the last link that binds humanity to Himself.

Then, if or when God willed His service to cease, He would do it Himself. This is what He did through the destruction of the temple before the captivity, and finally by the Romans.

It would have been an ungodly act to close the doors and thereby break off all sacrifice (such as was only done by Ahaz, perhaps the most ungodly king of Israel (2 Chronicles 28:24), and one which especially called down His wrath (2 Chronicles 29:8)). Manasseh brought the worship of false gods into the temple itself; Ahaz, as far as he could, abolished the service of God. A prophet of God could not express a wish that pious Israelites (for it is presupposed that they would do this out of zeal for God’s honor) should bring the service of God to an end.

He sums up with an entire rejection of them, present and future: I have no pleasure in you (this is a term of repudiation, sometimes of disgust), neither will I accept an offering at your hands. He does not simply say, as in Jeremiah 6:20, your burnt-offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto Me, but rather, I will not accept it. Such as they were, such they would be in the future. God would not accept their sacrifices but would replace them.