John Calvin Commentary Malachi 2:6

"The law of truth was in his mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and uprightness, and turned many away from iniquity." — Malachi 2:6 (ASV)

He explains more fully how Levi responded to God’s command, — that he had the law of truth in his mouth. The chief duty of a priest is to show the right way of living to the people; for however upright and holy one may be throughout his whole life, he is not on that account to be considered a priest.

Therefore, our Prophet dwells especially on this point — that Levi taught the people. He does not speak of Levi himself, for we know that Levi was dead when Aaron was made a priest. For God does not speak here of individuals, but of the tribe, as though He had said, “Aaron and Eleazar, and those who followed them, knew for what purpose they were honored with the priesthood, and they faithfully performed their duties.” The Prophet now explains what God mainly requires from priests — to show the people, as I have already said, the way of living a pious and holy life. However, he uses different words, which still mean the same thing.

The law of truth, he says, was in his mouth. Why does he not commend the integrity of his heart rather than his words? If he had spoken of an individual, the Prophet might have justly said that he who sought to be an approved servant of God had conducted himself harmlessly towards men. But he speaks of a public office when he says that the law of truth was in his mouth, for he who is mute is not worthy of that honor. Indeed, nothing is more preposterous, or even more ridiculous, than that those should be considered priests who are not teachers. These two things are, as they say, inseparable — the office of the priesthood and teaching.

And so that he might more clearly show that he is not speaking of an ordinary matter, he repeats the same thing in other words: Iniquity was not found in his lips. We therefore see that all this belongs distinctively to the priestly office. He afterward adds, In peace and rectitude he walked before me.

The Prophet here also commends the sincere concern for religion that the first priests manifested, for they walked with God in peace and uprightness. They not only carried signs in their lips and mouth, by which they might have been justly considered the ministers of God and the pastors of His Church, but they also faithfully carried out their office.

And he alludes to the peace of which he had spoken. As God then had promised peace to the Levites, so also he says that the Levites themselves had lived peaceably before God, for they did not break the covenant which He had made with them. Since they had responded to God's stipulation, he says that they had walked in peace. But he also mentions how this was so: it was because they had walked in uprightness.

And the phrase, אתי, ati, 'with me,' ought to be observed, for it confirms what I have stated, — that the honor of the priesthood in no way lessens God’s authority, because He keeps the priests devoted to Himself. He intimates then that they were not elevated to such a height that their dignity took anything away from God’s authority. For the obligation that has been mentioned ought to be mutual: God is faithful, and the priests also must be faithful in their office and show themselves to be the legitimate ministers of God.

He also mentions the fruit of their doctrine, for Levi turned many from iniquity; that is, he led many to repentance. It afterward follows (for this verse ought to be joined)—