THE FORERUNNER AND THE MESSENGER

‘Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.’

Malachi 3:1

I. The forerunner and his commission.—(1) The forerunner of the ‘Messenger of the covenant’ was John the Baptist (cf. St. Luke 2:25; Luke 2:38). (2) His commission was preparative. This is indicated (a) By his own confession. (b) By the character of his preaching.

II. The Messenger of the covenant and His commission.—(1) ‘The Messenger of the covenant’ is our Lord Himself. (2) His commission involved a fulfilment of human desire and expectation. (3) This commission included an unexpected visit to His Temple. (4) His commission is implied in the name assigned Messenger of the Covenant.

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