Albert Barnes Commentary Malachi 1:6

"A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master: if then I am a father, where is mine honor? and if I am a master, where is my fear? saith Jehovah of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?" — Malachi 1:6 (ASV)

A son honoreth his father, and a slave his lord - Having spoken of the love of God, he turns to the thanklessness of man. God appeals to the first feelings of the human heart, the relation of parent and child, or, failing this, to the natural self-interest of those dependent on their fellow men. A “son” by the instinct of nature, by the unwritten law written in the heart, “honors his father.” If he fails to do so, he is counted to have broken the law of nature, to be an unnatural son. If he is what by nature he ought to be, he does really honor him. He does not even speak of love, as to which they might deceive themselves.

He speaks of “honor,” outward reverence only; which whoever does not show, would openly condemn himself as an unnatural son, a bad slave. “Of course,” the Jews would say, “children honor parents, and slaves their masters, but what is that to us?” God turns to them their own mental admission.

“If I am a Father.” “Although, before you were born, I began to love you in Jacob as sons, yet choose by what title you will name Me: I am either your Father or your Lord. If a Father, render Me the honor due to a father, and offer the piety worthy of a parent. If a Lord, why do you despise Me? Why do you not fear your Lord?”

God was their Father by creation, as He is Father of all, as Creator of all. He had come to be their Father in a nearer way, by temporal redemption and adoption as His special people, creating them to be a nation to His glory.

This they were taught to confess in their psalmody (Psalms 100:3), He hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. This title God had given them in sight of the Egyptians (Exodus 4:22), Israel is My son, My firstborn: of this Hosea reminded them (Hosea 11:1), When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called My son out of Egypt; and Jeremiah reassured them (Jeremiah 31:9), I am a Father to Israel and Ephraim is My firstborn:

This, Isaiah had pleaded to God (Isaiah 63:16): Doubtless Thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not. Thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer, Thy name is from everlasting. And (Isaiah 64:8) And now, O Lord, Thou art our Father; we the clay, and Thou our potter; and we all, the work of Thy hands.

God had impressed this His relation of Father, in Moses’ prophetic warning (Deuteronomy 32:6), Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? Is not He thy Father that hath bought thee? hath He not made thee and established thee?

“God is the Father of the faithful:

1. By creation;
2. By preservation and governance;
3. By sustenance;
4. By fatherly care and providence;
5. By faith and grace, whereby He justifies and adopts us as sons and heirs of His kingdom.”

“If I am a Father.” He does not throw doubt that He is our Father; but, by disobedience, we in deeds deny it. Our life denies what we in words profess. “Where is My honor?” “Why do you not obey My precepts, nor honor Me with acts of adoration; praying, praising, giving thanks, sacrificing, and reverently fulfilling every work of God? For (Jeremiah 48:10), cursed is he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully.”

“And if I am your Lord, as I certainly am, and especially by singular providence.” “He is our Lord by the same titles that He is our Father, and by others, in that He has redeemed us and purchased us for Himself by the Blood of His Son; that He is the Supreme Majesty, whom all creation is bound to serve; that, setting before us the reward of eternal glory, He has hired us as servants and laborers into His vineyard.”

God Alone is Lord through universal sovereignty, underived authority, and as the original source of laws, precepts, and rights. All other lords are but ministers and instruments compared to Him, the Lord and original Doer of all. Hence, He says (Isaiah 42:8), I am the Lord; that is My Name, and My glory will I not give to another.

“Where is My fear?” which ought to be shown to Me. “If you are a servant, render to the Lord the service of fear; if a son, show to your Father the feeling of piety. But you do not render thanks, neither love nor fear God. You are then either a contumacious servant or a proud son.” “Fear includes reverence, adoration, sacrifice, the whole worship of God.” “Whoever fears is not over-curious, but adores; is not inquisitive, but praises, and glorifies.”

“Fear is twofold: servile, by which punishment, not fault, is dreaded; filial, by which fault is feared. In like manner, service is twofold. A servant with a service of fear that is purely servile does not deserve to be called a son of God, nor is in a state of salvation, not having love.”

Hence Christ, distinguishing such a servant from a son of God by adoption, says (John 8:35), The servant abideth not in the house forever, but the son abideth ever; and again (John 15:15), The servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth. But a servant whose service is of pure and filial love is also a son, of whom the Savior says (Matthew 25:21, 23), Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. But since a distinction is made here between the son and the servant, he seems to be speaking of servile fear, which, although it does not do good well and meritoriously (that is, with a right intention and from love), yet withdraws from evil and is the beginning of wisdom, because it disposes to grace.

Hence it is written , The fear of the Lord driveth away sins, and again Scripture says (Proverbs 16:6), By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

“God requires to be feared as a Lord, honored as a Father, loved as a Husband. Which is chief of these? Love. Without this, fear has torment, honor has no grace. Fear, when not freed by love, is servile. Honor, which does not come from love, is not honor, but adulation. Honor and glory belong to God Alone; but neither of them will God accept, unless seasoned with the honey of love.”

Saith the Lord unto you, O priests, who despise My Name,—literally “despisers of My Name,” habitually beyond others. The contempt of God came especially from those bound most to honor Him. Priests, as consecrated to God, belonged especially to God.

“Malachi begins his prophecy and correction by the correction of the priests; because the reformation of the state and of the laity hangs upon the reformation of the clergy and the priest, for (Hosea 4:9), as is the priest, such also is the people?” He turns, with a suddenness which must have been startling to them, to them as the center of the offending.

And ye say, Wherein have we despised Thy Name? Before, it was ignorance of God’s love; now it is ignorance of self and of sin. They affect innocence and are unconscious of any sin.

They doubtless said to themselves (as many do now), “We cannot help it; we do the best we can under the circumstances.” Without some knowledge of God’s love, there can be no sense of sin; without some sense of sin, no knowledge of His love.

They take the defensive; they are simply surprised, like Cain (Genesis 4:9), Am I my brother’s keeper? Or like many of the lost on the day of judgment (Matthew 7:22–23): Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy Name? And in Thy Name have cast out devils? And in Thy Name done many wonderful works? Yet they were all the while workers of iniquity, to whom He will say, I never knew you.

And (Matthew 25:44), they will ask: Lord, when saw we Thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto Thee? And yet (Matthew 25:46) they shall go away into everlasting punishment.