SOURCE FOR QUESTIONS
Malachi 1:1 through 4:6

‍KEY VERSE FOR MEMORIZATION
“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” (Malachi 3:16-17)

BACKGROUND

Decades before the prophet Malachi came on the scene, the Jewish people had returned from their seventy-year captivity in Babylon. Initially, they were committed to rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple and restoring their system of worship. Many believed that their Messiah would soon come and that their nation would once again experience the prosperity and blessing it had enjoyed in the time of David. 

However, as the years went by, the exiles who chose to return had become disillusioned. As their bright hopes failed to materialize, depression and discouragement settled upon the community. They wondered about God’s love for them as His chosen people. More and more of them drifted away from their covenant commitment to God. And year by year, the prosperity and blessing they hoped for failed to materialize. Instead, their crops were stunted and their harvests disappointing. 

The pure worship God had commanded was compromised as the priests became careless in the performance of their duties and neglected their responsibility to instruct the people, who openly questioned the authority and ways of God. Imperfect animals were offered as sacrifices and the people ceased paying their tithes and offerings. Social injustice became common, and the Sabbath was desecrated by greedy merchants. Intermarriage between Jewish men and heathen women became widespread, often preceded by divorcing their Jewish wives. The people were in dire peril of being absorbed by the ungodly cultures around them. 

It was to this dark situation that Malachi was called by God. In bold and severe words of condemnation, he rebuked the people for their neglect of the Temple, their false and profane worship, and their willful disobedience of God’s commandments. However, his messages also conveyed the love of God, who was willing to offer mercy and forgiveness to His disillusioned and discouraged people.

SUGGESTED RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS‍

1. The Book of Malachi is characterized as a “burden” in the first verse of chapter 1. In the original Hebrew, that word is massa, and it refers to a prophetic utterance describing a heavy judgment of great weight or importance against a nation or people. In Malachi 1:2, what was God’s first statement to His people? How do you think that statement fits together with the characterization of Malachi’s message as a burden?
   
   God’s first statement to the people was “I have loved you.”
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   Discussion of the second question should bring out that true love must include correction and discipline when that is necessary. In today’s vernacular, this might be referred to as “tough love.” The people of Judah were doubting God’s love because their economy was poor, and their civil and religious leaders had failed them. They needed to understand that these distressing circumstances were God’s judgment upon their disobedience, but that He still loved them. You may wish to use Revelation 3:19 as a supporting Scripture.
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2. The people responded to God’s assertion of His love for them with a question: “Wherein hast thou loved us?” In essence, they were demanding proof. What two Bible characters did God inspire Malachi to use as an example of God’s love and care?
   
   The two Bible characters were Jacob—ancestor of the Jewish people to whom Malachi was speaking—and Jacob’s older brother, Esau—ancestor of the Edomites. 
   
   Point out to your class that in verse 3, the Hebrew word translated as “hated” has a range of meanings from “less favored” to “vehement opposition.” The use of it in context with verse 4 illustrates God’s irreparable judgment upon Edom. He “laid his [Edom’s] mountains and his heritage waste” (verse 3), causing Malachi to refer to the Edomites as “the people against whom the Lord hath indignation for ever” (verse 4). In contrast, God cared for and preserved the Israelites in a special way, rescuing them from exile and restoring them to their own land. Verse 5 states, “your eyes shall see,” indicating that the evidence was right before them.
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3. In Malachi 1:6-8, Malachi stated that the priests had despised God by not giving Him the honor due to a father or master. The priests disputed that charge, asking, “Wherein have we despised thy name?” Malachi responded by pointing out that they had offered imperfect sacrifices to God — animals that were blind, lame, or sick—although the Law clearly prohibited offering blemished sacrifices. We do not offer animal sacrifices as part of worship now, so what might constitute an imperfect offering to God in our day?
   
   Your group may give a variety of responses to this question. Imperfect offerings could include worship rituals performed for show or to impress others; promises or commitments to God made casually or insincerely; offering God only sparing amounts of our leftover time and energy; or engaging in a hypocritical pretense of worship while harboring sin in the heart. 
   
   Amplify your class discussion by reminding your students of the New Testament teaching that our lives are to be living sacrifices for God (see Romans 12:1). No matter how impressive our worship or efforts in His work may appear to others, if our hearts are not fully yielded to Him or we are failing to obey Him, our pretense of worship is an imperfect offering.
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4. God chose the Jewish people to be a light to the nations and to communicate His message throughout the world. They had failed in this, and as a result, God declared, “Neither will I accept an offering at your hand” (Malachi 1:10). Despite the Jews’failure, God inspired Malachi to state a great Biblical truth in Malachi 1:11. How would you explain this promise in your own words?
   
   Ask a volunteer to read Malachi 1:11, or have your group read it together. This is a glorious promise that the true worship of God will one day extend over all the earth. The geographic, political, and ethnic scope of this promise is immense! Since it clearly did not describe the situation in Malachi’s day, many Bible scholars conclude that Malachi was speaking prophetically of a truth that will be fully realized in the Millennial Reign of Christ, when Jesus the Messiah will receive pure worship from all parts of the world.
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5. Chapter 2 continues God’s condemnation of the priests. Malachi warned that if the priests did not take God’s instructions to heart, they would bring punishment upon themselves. In verses 4-6, the prophet pointed to the covenant God had made with Levi and his descendants, who had been appointed to serve God in the Temple worship. (In this passage, Levi is a personification of the priestly order, rather than the son of Jacob and Leah.) Based on verses 5-6, what godly characteristics of the priests in the past made them a righteous example for the corrupted priests of Malachi’s day?
   
   Class discussion will likely bring out the following characteristics.
      • They “feared” God, regarding Him with appropriate reverence and awe.
      • The “law of truth” was in their mouths—they faithfully taught and explained God’s instructions to the people.
      • “Iniquity was not found” in their lips—they spoke the truth.
      • They walked with God “in peace and equity”—they had an intimate relationship with God.
      • They turned many “away from iniquity”— unlike the priests of Malachi’s day, they exhorted the people to forsake their sins and turn to God. 
   
   Class discussion should bring out that this description of the tribe of Levi also gives us a wonderful example of how to live in a manner pleasing to God. 
   
   Wrap up discussion of this question by pointing your group to verses 7-9 of chapter 2, which rehearses the priests’ role as God’s messengers. Sadly, the priesthood of Malachi’s day had “departed out of the way,” and their failure had caused many to “stumble,” so they needed this rebuke and reminder.
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6. In verses 10-17 of chapter 2, Malachi addressed the people of Judah. Although they were not openly declaring that they had rejected God, they were completely disregarding His instructions in a very important matter. This brought a stern rebuke by the prophet, recorded in verse 11: “Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem.” What sin had the people committed? Why do you think Malachi used such strong words to condemn their actions?
   
   Verse 11 indicates that the men were marrying heathen women who worshipped idols. (The same problem was addressed by the prophets Ezra and Nehemiah in Ezra 9:2 and Nehemiah 13:23). 
   
   Discussion of the second question should focus on the fact that God had strictly prohibited marriage between the people of Israel and foreigners (see Exodus 34:11-16 and Deuteronomy 7:1-4), so He was deeply disturbed by their willful disobedience. This was not a matter of racial prejudice. Marrying individuals who did not worship the true God could lead to spiritual pollution through the infiltration of pagan practices into Jewish worship. 
   
   You may wish to use this question as the lead-in to a discussion of the high value God places on marriage. According to God’s Word, marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman that is binding before God for life. Neither person has a right to marry again while their first companion lives (see Mark 10:6-12 and Romans 7:1-3). Tragically, the people of Judah were in flagrant violation of God’s commands and were suffering because of their disobedience.
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7. In the final verse of chapter 2, Malachi asserted that the people had “wearied” God with their words. They had complained that the wicked prospered and had it better than the godly. They thought it was unjust of God to bless others and not them, and asked, “Where is the God of judgment?” God responded in chapter 3. Verse 1 indicates that one would be sent by God to “prepare the way” for another Messenger. Jesus said this was John the Baptist. The “messenger of the covenant” was Jesus Christ. According to Malachi 3:3, what would this second Messenger do?
   
   Verse 3 indicates that Jesus would come to refine, purge, and purify—God’s ultimate remedy for all corruption, including that of the “sons of Levi” in Malachi’s day—the priests who had failed in their responsibilities toward God’s people. 
   
   If time allows, you may want to describe the refining process to your class to make the symbolism clear. The process of refining metal involves heating the raw metal until it melts. The impurities in the molten material rise to the surface, and then are skimmed off. This process is repeated until the reflection of the refiner is seen in the pure, smooth surface. Similarly, God wants to save and sanctify us, and then work with us until our lives reflect Him more and more.
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8. In verses 7-12 of chapter 3, the next question posed by the people was, “Wherein [how] shall we return [to God]?” Malachi responded by urging the people to stop neglecting to pay their tithes, comparing this to robbing God. What promise was associated with the instruction to “bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse” in verse 10? What significance does this promise have for us?
   
   Malachi promised that if the people would do so, God would open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing so abundant that they would not have room to receive it. You may wish to read verses 11-12 as well, which contain further promises for obedience in this matter. 
   
   In response to the second question, your group should understand that Malachi’s words were not just for the people of his day; they apply to us as well. Review with your class that the principle of honoring God first by tithing is found throughout Scripture. Both Abraham and Jacob set an example for their descendants long before tithing was instituted by God during the time of Moses. So, Malachi’s instruction to the people in today’s text was not new to them. By Malachi’s day, the refusal to tithe had made it necessary for the Levites to work to earn their living (see Nehemiah 13:10-11). As a result, they had neglected their responsibilities regarding the care of the Temple and the teaching of proper worship. 
   
   Remind your group that everything we have is given us by God, so when we neglect tithing—returning to Him a tenth of what He has given—we rob Him. When we tithe as commanded, we have the double blessing of pleasing God and helping to further His work.
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9. Malachi 3:16-17 records that there were a few faithful ones in Judah who feared the Lord and “spake often one to another” despite the arrogant doubters around them. They received God’s commendation: a “book of remembrance” was written about them and those who “thought upon his name.” In verse 17, God promised that He would claim them for His own, “in that day when I make up my jewels.” In every generation, God has those who trust in Him—His “jewels.” What are some ways that Christians are like jewels?
   
   Your class will likely be able to list several characteristics of jewels that are also true of Christians. These could include the following.
      • Jewels are prized for their rarity and are highly valued.
      • They are made by God.
      • Some are hidden and undiscovered.
      • They must be shaped and polished to achieve their full beauty.
      • They are of different types and sizes and are located in different places.
      • They are associated with royalty.
      • Because of their great value, they are carefully protected. 
   
   You may wish to wrap up this question by expanding on the last bullet point. Bring out that the word translated “jewels” in verse 17 is also translated as “peculiar treasure” in Exodus 19:5. The root of the Hebrew word means “to keep or preserve.” If we want to be kept, God will keep us.
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10. The final chapter of the Book of Malachi begins with the prophet’s warning of coming judgment upon “all that do wickedly.” However, a beautiful promise is given in verses 2-3. What is that promise?
    
    Have a volunteer read the verses aloud, as they offer an encouraging way to wrap up your class session and your study of the Book of Malachi. You may want to explain the figurative language of these two verses. The “Sun of righteousness” is a reference to Jesus Christ. The picture presented is that those who experience His healing will enjoy a blessed existence. They “shall go forth”—they will have freedom and liberty. They will “grow up as calves of the stall”—they will enjoy growth and increase in a secure environment. Finally, they will “tread down the wicked”—they will experience victory over their enemies. What a wonderful hope for those who obey and trust God!

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CONCLUSION

The Book of Malachi is the final prophecy of the Old Testament. The two concluding verses foretell the coming of John the Baptist, who was the forerunner of Jesus Christ. After it was written, a period of about four hundred years passed before the advent of Christ and the ushering in of the New Covenant.