1An oracle. These are the words that Yahweh directed to Israel through Malachi.
2When Yahweh says, “I love you,” you reply, “How do you show that love?” So Yahweh asks you, 3“Was Esau not Jacob’s brother? Yet I loved Jacob and hated Esau. See how I left his mountains desolate and abandoned his land to the jackals of the desert. 4If Edom decides to rebuild its ruins, after having been destroyed, Yahweh of hosts says: They may rebuild, but I will demolish. You will call them: ‘Accursed country’ and ‘Nation with which Yahweh is forever displeased.’ 5You will see this with your own eyes, then you will exclaim: The power of Yahweh goes beyond the borders of Israel.”
Where is your respect for me?
6 ① The son honors his father, the servant respects his master. Now if I am a father, where is the honor due to me? If I am your master, where is your respect for me? This is what Yahweh of hosts wants you to know, priests who despise his name. But you will only ask: How have we despised your name?
7You present defiled foods on my altar, yet you say: How did we defile you? You think that my table does not deserve respect. 8When you bring a blind animal as a sacrifice, or when you present one that is lame or sick, are you not doing wrong? Go, present these to the governor; will he be pleased and receive you well?” says Yahweh of hosts.
9So now, ask God that he may have mercy on us. But if it goes badly for us because of your sin, are you those who should entreat him? 10Who among you would close my doors that you may no longer come to kindle fire upon my altar in vain? I am not pleased with you, says Yahweh of hosts, nor am I pleased with your offerings.
11See, from the rising of the sun to its setting, all the nations revere my Name and everywhere incense is offered to my Name as well as a pure offering. I am rightly esteemed among the nations, says Yahweh of hosts. 12But you despise my Name when you say: “The Lord’s table is dirty and his food is good for nothing.” 13When you complain that you do not like this food you despise me, says Yahweh. You bring a stolen animal, lame or diseased, to offer to me in sacrifice. Do you think that I will accept it? 14Cursed be the cheater who, after promising me a bull from his herd, sacrifices a stunted animal. For I am a great King and my Name is respected through all the nations, says Yahweh of hosts.
- Mal 1,6 The sin of those who offer their surplus to God. From the rising of the sun... Malachi observes that if the Jews are God's people, they cannot avoid doing what other people do, who in their own way worship God sincerely even though they do not know his revelation. - The sin of the priests who do not know how to teach the Law which is their responsibility. If they do not commit themselves to educating the people of God about their obligations, God will not allow them to continue their external rituals. - The sin of those who dismiss their wives. The Law and customs allowed divorce with specific guarantees for the wife. Malachi says what Jesus will teach with full authority in Matthew 19:1: the will of God regarding marriage is that the two remain together as one. The one who betrays his wife cannot encounter God.
