Matthew Henry Commentary Malachi 3:13-18

"Your words have been stout against me, saith Jehovah. Yet ye say, What have we spoken against thee? Ye have said, It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept his charge, and that we have walked mournfully before Jehovah of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are built up; yea, they tempt God, and escape. Then they that feared Jehovah spake one with another; and Jehovah hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared Jehovah, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith Jehovah of hosts, [even] mine own possession, in the day that I make; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not." — Malachi 3:13-18 (ASV)

Among the Jews at this time, some plainly revealed themselves to be children of the wicked one. The yoke of Christ is easy. But those who work wickedness tempt God by presumptuous sins. Judge things as they will appear when the doom of these proud sinners is executed. Those who feared the Lord spoke kindly, to preserve and promote mutual love, when sin so abounded.

They spoke to one another in the language of those who fear the Lord and think on His name. As evil communications corrupt good minds and manners, so good communications confirm them. A book of remembrance was written before God. He will take care that His children do not perish with those who do not believe. They shall be vessels of mercy and honour, when the rest are made vessels of wrath and dishonour.

The saints are God's jewels; they are dear to Him. He will preserve them as His jewels, when the earth is burned up like dross. Those who now acknowledge God as theirs, He will then acknowledge as His. It is our duty to serve God with the disposition of children; and He will not have His children trained up in idleness; they must do Him service from a principle of love. Even God's children are in need of sparing mercy.

All are righteous or wicked (namely, those who serve God, or those who do not serve Him): all are going to heaven or to hell. We are often deceived in our opinions concerning both these groups; but at the judgment seat of Christ, every person's character will be known. As for ourselves, we need to consider where our lot will be cast; and, regarding others, we must judge nothing before the time. But in the end, all the world will confess that only those who served the Lord and trusted in Him were wise and happy.