Matthew Henry Commentary Malachi 2
Matthew Henry Commentary
Malachi 2
Matthew Henry Commentary
Malachi 2
"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith Jehovah of hosts, then will I send the curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will rebuke your seed, and will spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your feasts; and ye shall be taken away with it. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant may be with Levi, saith Jehovah of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him that he might fear; and he feared me, and stood in awe of my name. 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. For the priest`s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth; for he is the messenger of Jehovah of hosts. But ye are turned aside out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble in the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith Jehovah of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have had respect of persons in the law." — Malachi 2:1-9 (ASV)
What is said here of the covenant of priesthood, is true of the covenant of grace made with all believers, as spiritual priests. It is a covenant of life and peace; it assures all believers of all happiness, both in this world and in the world to come. It is an honour to God's servants to be employed as His messengers.
The priest's lips should not keep knowledge from his people, but keep it for them. The people are all concerned to know the will of the Lord. We must not only consult the written word, but desire instruction and advice from God's messengers, in the affairs of our souls. Ministers must exert themselves to the utmost for the conversion of sinners; and even among those called Israelites, there are many to be turned from iniquity.
Those ministers, and only those, are likely to turn people from sin, who preach sound doctrine, and live holy lives according to the Scripture. Many departed from this way; thus they misled the people. Those who walk with God in peace and righteousness, and turn others from sin, honour God; He will honour them, while those who despise Him shall be lightly esteemed.
"Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our fathers? Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of Jehovah which he loveth, and hath married the daughter of a foreign god. Jehovah will cut off, to the man that doeth this, him that waketh and him that answereth, out of the tents of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto Jehovah of hosts. And this again ye do: ye cover the altar of Jehovah with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, neither receiveth it with good will at your hand. Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because Jehovah hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously, though she is thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. And did he not make one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? And wherefore one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For I hate putting away, saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, and him that covereth his garment with violence, saith Jehovah of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. Ye have wearied Jehovah with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? In that ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of Jehovah, and he delighteth in them; or where is the God of justice?" — Malachi 2:10-17 (ASV)
Corrupt practices are the fruit of corrupt principles; and he who is false to his God will not be true to his fellow human beings. In contempt of the marriage covenant, which God instituted, the Jews put away the wives they had from their own nation, probably to make room for foreign wives. They made their lives bitter to them; yet, in the sight of others, they pretended to be tender toward them.
Consider she is your wife; your own; the nearest relation you have in the world. The wife is to be regarded, not as a servant, but as a companion to the husband. There is an oath of God between them, which is not to be trifled with. Husband and wife should continue until the end of their lives in holy love and peace.
Did not God make one—one Eve for one Adam? Yet God could have made another Eve. Why did he make only one woman for one man? It was so that their children might become offspring to serve him. Husbands and wives must live in the fear of God, so that their offspring may be godly offspring.
The God of Israel says that he hates putting away. Those who would be kept from sin must watch over their spirits, for that is where all sin begins. Men will find that their wrong conduct in their families springs from selfishness, which disregards the welfare and happiness of others when these conflict with their own passions and whims. God finds it wearisome to hear people justify themselves in wicked practices.
Those who think God can be a friend to sin insult him and deceive themselves. The scoffers said, Where is the God of judgment? But the day of the Lord will come.
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