Malachi: The Last Prophet

Sunday, March 9^th 2025

 Leviticus 22:17-20; Malachi 1:6-2:9

 Introduction

 Worship God with an Undivided Heart

 A Father’s Love Rejected

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? Says the Lord of hosts to you O priests, who despise my name.

 Honor – kabod – translated glory – the did not revere Him, glory in Him

 Fear – phobos – appropriate respect, a reverential fear for a holy God; yet terror as well

 Despise – bazah – attitude of ongoing disrespect, to treat things of value with contempt, as if they were worthless

 Actions Speak Louder Than Words

“But you say, ‘How have we despised your name? By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you? By saying that the LORD’s table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame and sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor?”

 Why did the sacrifices need to be perfect? 

These (OT) sacrifices pointed to (were pictures of) the (NT sacrifice of the) Lamb of God who would one day die for the sins of the world, and if they were imperfect, how could they typify the Perfect Sacrifice, the (sinless) Son of God?

 Hebrews 10:1-14

 A Rebuke to the Priests

“And now, O priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart.”

 If...then - This introduces a conditional statement, which is a promise. 

 v.3,4 – “Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts.”

 God was saying, “You’re treating Me with disrespect, so I’ll treat you like garbage! You don’t value the priestly ministry, so why should you be in office?”

 v.5-8 - God is going to contrast the fake priests, with a true priest…His name is Levi!

Levi was a True Priest:   

          He feared me (God), He stood in awe of my name

          True instruction and no wrong found on his lips

          He walked with God in peace and uprightness

          He turned many from iniquity (sin)

          He guarded knowledge, people sought instruction from him

          He is the messenger of the Lord of hosts

 v.8,9 – These priests have done the total opposite of Levi!

How does this apply to you and me?

 “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” James 3:1

 Jesus is our great high priest who brought about a better covenant.