Matthew Henry Commentary Malachi 3:1-6

"Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts. But who can abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner`s fire, and like fuller`s soap: and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer unto Jehovah offerings in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto Jehovah, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years. And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner [from his right], and fear not me, saith Jehovah of hosts. For I, Jehovah, change not; therefore ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed." — Malachi 3:1-6 (ASV)

The first words of this chapter seem to be an answer to the scoffers of those days. Here is a prophecy of the appearing of John the Baptist. He is Christ's harbinger. He will prepare the way before him, by calling people to repentance. The Messiah had long been called, “He that should come,” and now he will soon come. He is the Messenger of the covenant.

Those who seek Jesus will find pleasure in him, often when not expected. The Lord Jesus prepares the sinner's heart to be his temple through the ministry of his word and the convictions of his Spirit, and he enters it as the Messenger of peace and consolation. No hypocrite or formalist can endure his doctrine or stand before his tribunal. Christ came to distinguish people, to separate between the precious and the vile.

He will sit as a Refiner. Christ, by his gospel, will purify and reform his church, and by his Spirit working with it, will regenerate and cleanse souls. He will take away the dross found in them. He will separate their corruptions, which make their inner powers worthless and useless. The believer need not fear the fiery trial of afflictions and temptations, by which the Savior refines his gold.

He will take care that it is not more intense or longer than is necessary for his good; and this trial will end very differently from that of the wicked. Christ, by interceding for them, will make them accepted. Where there is no fear of God, no good is to be expected. Evil pursues sinners.

God is unchangeable. And though the sentence against evil works is not executed speedily, yet it will be executed; the Lord is as much an enemy to sin as ever. We may all apply this to ourselves. Because we deal with a God who does not change, therefore we are not consumed, because his compassions do not fail.