Malachi 3:1-18

3:1 | Malachi 4:5 identifies this preparatory messenger as Elijah, who lived 400 years earlier. Jesus later identified him as John the Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Matt. 11:7-14; 17:10-13; Mark 1:2; 9:11-13; Luke 1:17).

3:2-5 | The day of His coming refers to Christ’s second coming, when the Lord will judge sin and purify His people. The sons of Levi are the future generation of leaders in Israel.

3:6-7 | Israel’s survival – and any future reconciliation and restored blessing – can only be credited to the Lord’s faithfulness and commitment to His covenant promises (I do not change).

3:8-9 | People rob God by failing to tithe what is rightfully His (Lev. 30-32). When they do not honor God with their lives, their bodies, and their possessions, severe spiritual – and sometimes material and physical – consequences result.

3:10-12 | God’s offer to try Me now in this is the one instance in Scripture where He permits His people to “prove” or “test” Him. When Christians honor God with their money and their commitments, God will pour out spiritual blessing and a protection (I will rebuke the devourer) that He would not provide otherwise. Storehouse refers to a special room in the temple for keeping tithed items (1 Kgs. 7:51; Neh. 10:38; 13:12).

3:13-15 | Here, God quotes the words of the people. They complained that serving Him did not produce the promised results, unaware that their motivations were the problem. Serving for one’s own profit is drudgery (useless) and will quickly be given up.

3:16-18 | To fear the LORD and meditate on His name are ways of reverencing His true majesty and acknowledging that He is who He claims to be. Yet God honors those who honor Him: He remembers these faithful ones as His special possession (They shall be Mine) and treasure (jewels).