Malachi 3:4

4 Then, and only then, will Judah and Jerusalem be fit and pleasing to God, as they used to be in the years long ago.

Malachi 3:4 Meaning and Commentary

Malachi 3:4

Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant
unto the Lord
Or "sweet" ^F2; grateful and well pleasing to him, as all spiritual sacrifices are acceptable to God through Christ, being offered up in the faith of his atoning sacrifice and righteousness, without which it is impossible to please God: as in the days of old, and as in former years:
under the first temple, and when the tabernacle was set up by Moses, and in the times of the patriarchs; and even before the flood, and as early as Abel, who offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, ( Hebrews 11:4-6 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

F2 (hbre) "dulcescet", Vatablus, Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius; "dulce", Piscator.

Malachi 3:4 In-Context

2 But who will be able to stand up to that coming? Who can survive his appearance? He'll be like white-hot fire from the smelter's furnace. He'll be like the strongest lye soap at the laundry.

3 He'll take his place as a refiner of silver, as a cleanser of dirty clothes. He'll scrub the Levite priests clean, refine them like gold and silver, until they're fit for God, fit to present offerings of righteousness.

4 Then, and only then, will Judah and Jerusalem be fit and pleasing to God, as they used to be in the years long ago.

5 "Yes, I'm on my way to visit you with Judgment. I'll present compelling evidence against sorcerers, adulterers, liars, those who exploit workers, those who take advantage of widows and orphans, those who are inhospitable to the homeless - anyone and everyone who doesn't honor me." A Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

6 "I am God - yes, I Am. I haven't changed. And because I haven't changed, you, the descendants of Jacob, haven't been destroyed.