Malachi 1:6

The Priests’ Polluted Offerings

6 ¹“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am ²a father, where is my honor? And if I am ³a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. ⁴But you say, ‘How have we despised your name? ’

Malachi 1:6 Meaning and Commentary

Malachi 1:6

A son honoureth [his] father, and a servant his master,
&c.] Or, "will honour", or "should honour"; it is their duty to do so, both according to the laws of God and man; and so the Targum,

``lo concerning a son it is said (or commanded) that be should honour his father; and of a servant, that he should fear (or show reverence) before his master;''

see ( Exodus 20:12 ) ( Ephesians 6:5 ) :

if then I [be] a Father;
as he was the Father of his divine and eternal Son; the Father of spirits, angels, and the souls of men; the Father of all men by creation; and the Father of all mercies to them in providence, as he was to Israel; and, besides, was their Father by national adoption, as he was not to other people; and to many of them stood in this relation by special adopting grace:

where [is] mine honour?
there is an honour due to God on account of this relation; which should be shown by loving him, trusting in him, calling upon him, imitating and obeying him, and by making use of what he has given for his glory; he is to be honoured in heart and life, by words and actions, and with our substance. This question suggests, that he had not the honour given him, which belonged unto him:

and if I [be] a master;
the word is in the plural number, and may be understood of Jehovah, Father, Son, and Spirit; though the first Person seems rather designed, who stands in this relation to Christ, as Mediator; to the angels, his ministering spirits; to the ministers of the Gospel, and to all the saints; and indeed to all men, and particularly to the Israelites; as appeared by the special laws and commands he enjoined them, and by his special government, protection, and care of them:

where [is] my fear?
fear and reverence are due to the Lord from his people, considered in such a relation to them; not a slavish fear of wrath and punishment; but a godly filial fear, which is influenced by the goodness of God, and appears in a carefulness not to offend him, and by the performance of all religious worship, both private and public; and in this not only natural men, but professors of religion, and even God's own people, are wanting; yea, those that should set examples to others, as men in public office, and of a public character, as follows:

saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name;
for what is before said is not only said to the people in general; but to the priests in particular, who ought to have honoured and feared the Lord; and yet they despised his name, or made it contemptible; by not paying that regard to his authority, as a Father and master, they ought; by neglecting his worship, and not taking that care of offerings and sacrifices as became them:

and ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
as if they were entirely innocent and guiltless.

Malachi 1:6 In-Context

4 If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins, ” the Lord of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country, ’ and ‘the people with whom the Lord is angry forever. ’”

5 Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the Lord beyond the border of Israel! ”

6 “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. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name? ’

7 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.

8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts.

Cross References

• 1. 1:6 See Ex. 20:12
• 2. 1:6 Ex. 4:22; Hos. 11:1
• 3. 1:6 [Luke 6:46]
• 4. 1:6 [See ver. 2 above]