The Sun of Righteousness

Malachi 1:1-4:6

Key Verse 4:2

Read 1:1-5. The Lord says, “I have loved you”, but they (people of Israel) ask, “How have you loved us?” Why is it a problem for one not to recognize (or appreciate) God’s love for him or her? 

Read 1:6-2:9. In verse 6 the Lord characterizes the Lord’s relationship with them (priests in particular) as a “father-son” and “master-servant” relationship, and yet this relationship remained broken. Why? (2:2,5-8)

Read 2:10-16 and describe the way(s) in which people broke “faith” with one another. (11,14,16) Why did they break faith like this? (10,11,14-16)

Read 2:17-3:5 and think about what the Israelites used to say in 2:17c. What will the Lord do in judgment of “all” who do evil? 

Read 3:6-12. What is the “whole” tithe? The passage says not giving the whole tithe is robbing God. Why? The passage says tithing is the way to return to God. Why? (Matthew 6:21) How will the Lord bless those who return to the Lord in this way?

Read 3:13-4:3. How many categories of people are mentioned? What does the Lord think of their words? What will the Lord do for (or against) them? 

Read 4:4-6. By the time Malachi spoke, Elijah had already come. Yet, verse 5 says that the Lord will send the Prophet Elijah [who turned out to be a man named John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Savior of the world.] What is his mission? In what respect is the day of the Lord’s coming “great” and “dreadful”?