Heb 8:Condemnation For Their Religious Indifference And Faithlessness (2:17-4:6)

The Approaching Judgment (2:17-3:6)

The Messenger: John The Baptist

MALACHI 3:1-6

Reading:

Songs:

Theme: preparation for the judgement

INTRODUCTION

B. The last prophetic voice heard from within the Old Testament writings was Malachi's. Four hundred years of silence passed before the people of God heard another word from the Lord. In chapter three Malachi prophecied of time when when God was to again speak.

C. Luke wrote that when God spoke again he did so through John, son of Zechariah, whom we know as John the Baptist. He preached a message of the need to repent (Mat 3:8).

D. There is still a need for such a message. It is one of the themes of the Bible. It is the idea of getting back on track spiritually. Let’s consider what God declared through Malachi.

Discussion

I. (3:1-6).

God’s Preparation

A. ... I will send my messenger ... (3:1).

1 ¶ Behold, I will send <07971> (8802) my messenger <04397>, and he shall prepare <06437> (8765) the way <01870> before <06440> me: and the Lord <0113>, whom ye seek <01245> (8764), shall suddenly <06597> come <0935> (8799) to his temple <01964>, even the messenger <04397> of the covenant <01285>, whom ye delight <02655> in: behold, he shall come <0935> (8804), saith <0559> (8804) the LORD <03068> of hosts <06635>.

1. God prophesied through Malachi of sending two messengers:

a. The messenger to “prepare the way” (cp. Isa 40:3-5).

(1) The New Testament tells us that the messenger's name was John the Baptist.

(2) Malachi likened him unto Elijah (cf. 4:5; Mat 17:10).

(3) He was to prepare the way before:

(a) (me) God the Father

(b) the Lord

(4) He was to come before the sending of the other messenger (cf. Isa. 40:3-8).

(5) The other messenger was not to come without having been announced

(6) The gospel accounts announced that both of these ancient prophecies were fulfilled by John the baptizer (Mat 3:3; 11:7-11, 14; 17:9-13; Mar 1:2-3; Luk 1:17, 76; 3:4; Joh 1:17, 23).

(a) John preached in the wilderness calling upon all to repent and baptized. In his preaching he also announced the then coming of the messiah and his kingdom.

(b)

b. The “messenger of the covenant”

(1) The messenger John prepared the way for was Jesus (Joh 1:29-37).

(a) The description “messenger of the covenant” was an appropriate description for Jesus because he was the “messenger of the covenant" (Heb 8:6).

(2) The prophecy given by Malachi was that the messenger of the covenant would enter the temple.

(a) Twice Jesus drove out the moneychangers out of the temple:

i) once at the beginning of his three year ministry and then

ii) once at the end of it ( Mat 21:12-17; Joh 2:13-17).

(b) Many of the confrontations that Jesus had with the priests, scribes and Pharisees took place in the temple. Toward the end of His ministry, it was on the temple grounds that Jesus leveled His strongest rebuke at them, calling them hypocrites for their pride, self-exaltation, dishonesty, inner corruption and rejection of the truth (Mat 23:1-36).

i) Shortly after this, Jesus wept over the coming destruction of Jerusalem (Mat 23:37-38).

ii) He foretold of the destruction of the temple (Mat 24:1-2).

iii) Many look for it today when it is already past.

iv) It was fulfilled within that generation, exactly as Jesus had said (Mat 24:34).

(c) Though the temple, the symbol of fellowship with God was torn down by the Romans, Jesus built another temple; a spiritual one.

i) It is the church and through it we have fellowship with God.

ii) We, his people, are the temple of God (Eph 2:19-22).

(3) This was as Daniel had prophesied (Dan 7:13-14).

2. In considering that it was the Lord who was to purify Israel and make it acceptable to God a question was posed.

God’s Perfecting

B. ... who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth ... (3:2-4)?

2 But who may abide <03557> (8772) the day <03117> of his coming <0935> (8800)? and who shall stand <05975> (8802) when he appeareth <07200> (8736)? for he is like a refiner’s <06884> (8764) fire <0784>, and like fullers <03526> (8764)‘ soap <01287>:

1. The Lord was to rid Israel of its wickedness.

a. Like a commercial for a brand of soap, the prophecy indicated that in the “day of his coming” he would remove their stain.

3 And he shall sit <03427> (8804) as a refiner <06884> (8764) and purifier <02891> (8764) of silver <03701>: and he shall purify <02891> (8765) the sons <01121> of Levi <03878>, and purge <02212> (8765) them as gold <02091> and silver <03701>, that they may offer <05066> (8688) unto the LORD <03068> an offering <04503> in righteousness <06666>.

4 Then shall the offering <04503> of Judah <03063> and Jerusalem <03389> be pleasant <06149> (8804) unto the LORD <03068>, as in the days <03117> of old <05769>, and as in former <06931> years <08141>. {former: or, ancient}

b. Like a refiner he was to purge them “that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.”

c. One of the reasons Jesus so strongly rebuked the religious leaders was because they were so corrupt.

d. Jesus emphasizing not only purity of action, but of thought as well (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28; 6:19-23).

e. Jesus announced a time that was to come when the true worshipers of God would worship "in spirit and in truth" (Joh 4:21-24).

2. When the Lord had removed their wickedness than their offerings would be found acceptable (v 4).

a. Those acceptable sacrifices are found through the saints (cp. Rom 12:1).

b. We in the church are now God’s people.

God’s Pronouncement

C. ... I will come near to you to judgment ... ye sons of Jacob are not consumed ... (3:5-6).

5 And I will come near <07126> (8804) to you to judgment <04941>; and I will be a swift <04116> (8764) witness <05707> against the sorcerers <03784> (8764), and against the adulterers <05003> (8764), and against false <08267> swearers <07650> (8737), and against those that oppress <06231> (8802) the hireling <07916> in his wages <07939>, the widow <0490>, and the fatherless <03490>, and that turn aside <05186> (8688) the stranger <01616> from his right, and fear <03372> (8804) not me, saith <0559> (8804) the LORD <03068> of hosts <06635>. {oppress: or, defraud}

6 For I am the LORD <03068>, I change <08138> (8804) not; therefore ye sons <01121> of Jacob <03290> are not consumed <03615> (8804).

1. Jesus' mission was not to judge the world but to save it (Luk 19:10).

a. However, judgment and condemnation are a consequences unfaithfulness (Joh 3:16-18).

b. Jesus did pronounce dire consequences upon the Pharisees for their faithless obstinacy. Several of His parables dealt with the fact that God would cast the unbelieving nation off (i.e. Matthew 22:1-14). But final judgment is reserved for the final day. The word that Jesus spoke will be the standard of judgment. Yes, the people had asked, "Where is the God of justice?" We find the answer in Jesus of Nazareth.

2. Though God grants mercy he will not be slow in judge those who reject his word.

3. Though his word, Jesus prepares us to be pleasing to the Father.

4. The choice of faithfulness is left up to us.

Sources:

Jon Quinn, Behold, I Am Going To Send My Messenger

outline points - Mark Lennon, Who can stand when God Judges?

In charity through Christ, Ra y mo nd Wis em an