Old Testament

Malachi
Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. It was written in the second half of the 5th century bc, during or shortly after the ministries of Ezra and Nehemiah. Nothing is known about the man Malachi or his life. The name Malachi means “my messenger.” Several messengers of the Lord appear in this book.
The message of Malachi is a last call to repentance before the coming of the Messiah.
11An oracle.[] The word of the Lord to Israel through[] Malachi.
An Oracle From the Lord: God's Love for Israel
2I have loved you, says the Lord.
But you say, “How have you loved us?”
Was not Esau Jacob's brother? declares the Lord. I loved Jacob, 3but I hated Esau. I turned Esau's mountains into a desolate place, and I turned the territory he possessed over to the wild jackals.
4Edom will certainly say, “We have been beaten down, but we will return, and we will rebuild the ruins.”
This is what the Lord of Armies says. They may rebuild, but I will tear it down. Edom will be called a wicked territory, and the Edomites will be called the people whom the Lord has denounced forever. 5Your eyes will see this, and you will say, “The Lord is great—even beyond the border of Israel!”
An Oracle From the Lord: Improper Sacrifices Insult God
6A son honors his father. A servant honors his master. If I am a father, where is my honor? If I am master, where is the reverence owed to me?
This is what the Lord of Armies says to you. The priests are the ones who despise my name. You say, “How have we despised your name?” 7You despise my name by bringing defiled food to my altar. But you say, “How have we defiled you?” You defile me when you say, “The Lord's table deserves no respect.” 8When you bring a blind animal as a sacrifice, isn't that evil? When you bring something lame and sick, isn't that evil? Try bringing that to your governor. Would he be pleased with you? Would he receive you with favor? This is what the Lord of Armies says.
Interjection by Israel
9Now ask for God's favor so that he may be gracious to us.
An Oracle From the Lord: Improper Sacrifices Insult God
With offerings like this from your hand, will he receive you with favor? This is what the Lord of Armies says. 10I wish there was someone among you who would shut the temple doors so you would not keep lighting useless fires on my altar! I find nothing pleasing about you, says the Lord of Armies. I am not pleased with an offering from your hand.
11Yes, from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, my name will be great among the nations! In every place incense and a pure offering will be presented to my name, because my name is great among the nations, says the Lord of Armies.
12But you are profaning my name when you say, “The Lord's table is polluted, and we despise the things offered on it, the food on it.” 13You also say, “What drudgery!” and you snort at it with contempt, says the Lord of Armies. You bring something torn,[] something lame, something sick, and present it as an offering. Should I be pleased with something like that from your hand? says the Lord.
14Cursed is the cheater who vows to offer a male animal from his flock, but then he sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord instead. Indeed, I am a great king, says the Lord of Armies, and my name will be feared among the nations.

Footnotes

  • 1:1 The Hebrew term massa often has the connotation of a threatening prophecy. Sometimes it simply is a prophecy.
  • 1:1 Literally by the hand of
  • 1:13 Or stolen