The LORD announces He will send His messenger to prepare the way before Him, followed by the sudden coming of the Lord to His temple—the messenger of the covenant—who will purify the sons of Levi like a refiner's fire and make their offerings acceptable. The dispute format continues: the people deny robbing God, yet they rob Him in tithes and offerings, bringing a curse upon themselves; the challenged to test God by bringing full tithes to the storehouse and watch Him open heaven's windows. Those who fear the LORD speak to one another, and He records their names in His book of remembrance, distinguishing them on the day He acts as His treasured possession.
Read Malachi Chapter 3 Summary
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Characters in This Chapter
Places in This Chapter
The Temple
View on MapThe Temple in Jerusalem was the permanent house of worship built by Solomon on Mount Moriah. Destroyed by Babylon, it was rebuilt by Zerubbabel and later greatly expanded by Herod. Jesus taught in the Temple courts, cleared it of merchants, and predicted its destruction, which occurred in 70 AD.
Position in Book
God's Love QuestionedChapters 1:1-5
God affirms His love for Israel despite their doubts.
Corrupt WorshipChapters 1:6-2:9
Marriage FaithlessnessChapters 2:10-16
God hates divorce; marrying foreign women breaks covenant.
Coming JudgmentChapters 2:17-4:6
The messenger, refining fire, tithing, and Elijah's return.
Bible Bites
The prophet whose name means his job
Malachi means 'my messenger' in Hebrew, perfectly fitting his role as God's final Old Testament prophet. As the last book before 400 years of prophetic silence, Malachi closes with a promise that Elijah will return before the great day of the LORD.
Malachi 1:1