Charles Ellicott Commentary Malachi 1:10

"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)

The prophet is now understood by many commentators to say that the Temple might as well be closed, concerning any pleasure the Lord takes in their offerings.

Who is there even among you ... doors ... altar for nought.—Those who take the above-mentioned view of the passage would translate it: O that there were one among even you who would shut the doors, that you might not light my altar to no purpose. “To no purpose,” like δωρεάν (Galatians 2:21). The rebuke contained in this verse is, according to this interpretation, very similar to that of Isaiah 1:11-15. But the word “even,” which can only refer to “you” (Keil thinks differently), seems to us almost fatal to this interpretation.

For we could only explain its use in the forced sense of: “Would that someone, among even you (who ought to be the promoters of God’s service), would (since His service has now become a mockery) shut, etc.” We are therefore inclined to retain the simple rendering of our venerable English Version. In that case, “even among you” (perhaps better, among even you) would mean: “even among you whose duty it is, and chief pleasure it ought to be, to minister to Me,” which, in that context, so far from being forced, would be most natural.

For nought. —Compare the attitude of the priests in 1 Samuel 2:13–16.