Maleachi 2

1 Und nun, ihr Priester, dies Gebot gilt euch.

2 Wo ihr's nicht hört noch zu Herzen nehmen werdet, daß ihr meinem Namen die Ehre gebt, spricht der HERR Zebaoth, so werde ich den Fluch unter euch schicken und euren Segen verfluchen, ja verfluchen werde ich ihn, weil ihr's nicht wolltet zu Herzen nehmen. {~}

3 Siehe, ich will schelten euch samt der Saat und den Kot eurer Festopfer euch ins Angesicht werfen, und er soll an euch kleben bleiben.

4 So werdet ihr dann erfahren, daß ich solches Gebot zu euch gesandt habe, daß es mein Bund sein sollte mit Levi, spricht der HERR Zebaoth.

5 Denn mein Bund war mit ihm zum Leben und Frieden, und ich gab ihm die Furcht, daß er mich fürchtete und meinen Namen scheute. {~} {~}

6 Das Gesetz der Wahrheit war in seinem Munde, und ward kein Böses in seinen Lippen gefunden. Er wandelte vor mir friedsam und aufrichtig und bekehrte viele von Sünden.

7 Denn des Priesters Lippen sollen die Lehre bewahren, daß man aus seinem Munde das Gesetz suche; denn er ist ein Engel des HERRN Zebaoth.

8 Ihr aber seid von dem Wege abgetreten und ärgert viele im Gesetz und habt den Bund Levis gebrochen, spricht der HERR Zebaoth.

9 Darum habe ich auch euch gemacht, daß ihr verachtet und unwert seid vor dem ganzen Volk, weil ihr meine Wege nicht haltet und seht Personen an im Gesetz.

10 Haben nicht alle einen Vater? Hat uns nicht ein Gott geschaffen? Warum verachten wir denn einer den andern und entheilgen den Bund, mit unsern Vätern gemacht?

11 Denn Juda ist ein Verräter geworden, und in Israel und zu Jerusalem geschehen Greuel. Denn Juda entheiligt, was dem HERRN heilig ist und was er liebhat, und buhlt mit eines fremden Gottes Tochter.

12 Aber der HERR wird den, so solches tut, ausrotten aus der Hütte Jakobs, beide, Meister und Schüler, samt dem, der dem HERRN Zebaoth Speisopfer bringt.

13 Weiter tut ihr auch das: ihr bedeckt den Altar des HERRN mit Tränen und Weinen und Seufzen, daß ich nicht mehr mag das Speisopfer ansehen noch etwas Angenehmes von euren Händen empfangen.

14 Und so sprecht ihr: "Warum das?" Darum daß der HERR zwischen dir und dem Weibe deiner Jugend Zeuge war, die du verachtest, so sie doch deine Gesellin und ein Weib deines Bundes ist.

15 Also tat der Eine nicht, und war doch großen Geistes. Was tat aber der Eine? Er suchte den Samen, von Gott verheißen. Darum so sehet euch vor vor eurem Geist und verachte keiner das Weib seiner Jugend.

16 Wer ihr aber gram ist und verstößt sie, spricht der HERR, der Gott Israels, der bedeckt mit Frevel sein Kleid, spricht der HERR Zebaoth. Darum so seht euch vor vor eurem Geist und verachtet sie nicht.

17 Ihr macht den HERRN unwillig durch eure Reden. So sprecht ihr: "Womit machen wir ihn unwillig?" damit daß ihr sprecht: "Wer Böses tut, der gefällt dem HERRN, und zu solchen hat er Lust", oder: "Wo ist der Gott, der da strafe?"

Maleachi 2 Commentary

Chapter 2

The priests reproved for neglecting their covenant. (1-9) The people reproved for their evil practices. (10-17)

Verses 1-9 What is here said of the covenant of priesthood, is true of the covenant of grace made with all believers, as spiritual priests. It is a covenant of life and peace; it assures all believers of all happiness, both in this world and in that to come. It is an honour to God's servants to be employed as his messengers. The priest's lips should not keep knowledge from his people, but keep it for them. The people are all concerned to know the will of the Lord. We must not only consult the written word, but desire instruction and advice from God's messengers, in the affairs of our souls. Ministers must exert themselves to the utmost for the conversion of sinners; and even among those called Israelites, there are many to be turned from iniquity. Those ministers, and those only, are likely to turn men from sin, who preach sound doctrine, and live holy lives according to the Scripture. Many departed from this way; thus they misled the people. Such as walk with God in peace and righteousness, and turn others from sin, honour God; he will honour them, while those who despise him shall be lightly esteemed.

Verses 10-17 Corrupt practices are the fruit of corrupt principles; and he who is false to his God, will not be true to his fellow mortals. In contempt of the marriage covenant, which God instituted, the Jews put away the wives they had of their own nation, probably to make room for strange wives. They made their lives bitter to them; yet, in the sight of others, they pretend to be tender of them. Consider she is thy wife; thy own; the nearest relation thou hast in the world. The wife is to be looked on, not as a servant, but as a companion to the husband. There is an oath of God between them, which is not to be trifled with. Man and wife should continue to their lives' end, in holy love and peace. Did not God make one, one Eve for one Adam? Yet God could have made another Eve. Wherefore did he make but one woman for one man? It was that the children might be made a seed to serve him. Husbands and wives must live in the fear of God, that their seed may be a godly seed. The God of Israel saith that he hateth putting away. Those who would be kept from sin, must take heed to their spirits, for there all sin begins. Men will find that their wrong conduct in their families springs from selfishness, which disregards the welfare and happiness of others, when opposed to their own passions and fancies. It is wearisome to God to hear people justify themselves in wicked practices. Those who think God can be a friend to sin, affront him, and deceive themselves. The scoffers said, Where is the God of judgement? but the day of the Lord will come.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO MALACHI 2

This chapter contains a reproof both of priests and people for their sins. It begins with the priests, Mal 2:1 and threatens, in case they attend not to glorify the name of the Lord, they and their blessings should be cursed, their seed corrupted, dung spread upon them, and they took away with it, Mal 2:2,3 and the end of this commandment being sent them, of giving glory to the name of God, was that the covenant might appear to be with Levi, or him that was typified by him, Mal 2:4 of which covenant some account is given, with the reason why the blessings of it were given to him, with whom it was, Mal 2:5 who is described by the true doctrine he preached; by the purity of his lips; by the peaceableness and righteousness of his walk and conversation; and by his usefulness and success in turning many from sin, Mal 2:6 and it being part of the priest's office to preserve true knowledge, and communicate it, it is the duty of the people to seek to him for it; since he is the messenger of the Lord, Mal 2:7 but as for the priests of those times the prophet respects, they were apostates from the way of the Lord; made others to stumble at the law, and corrupted the covenant; and therefore became contemptible, base, and mean, in the sight of the people, Mal 2:8,9 who are next reproved for their marrying with those of other nations, idolatrous persons; and using polygamy and divorces, which were a profanation of the covenant of their fathers; a piece of perfidy and treachery among themselves; an abomination to the Lord; a profanation of his holiness; and led to idolatry, Mal 2:10,11 wherefore they are threatened to be cut off from the tabernacles of Jacob, and their sacrifices to be rejected; insomuch that the altar is represented as covered with weeping and tears, because disregarded, Mal 2:12,13. The reason of which was, because marrying more wives than one, and these strange women, was dealing treacherously with their lawful wives; was contrary to the first creation of man, and the end of it; and therefore such practices ought to be avoided; and the rather, since putting away was hateful to the Lord, Mal 2:14-16 and the chapter is concluded with a charge against them, that they wearied the Lord with their wicked words; affirming that the Lord took delight in the men that did evil; and that there were no judgment, truth, nor righteousness, in him, Mal 2:17.