Malachi 3:1-18

Contents: Mission of John the Baptist, and Christ's first advent foretold. Israel exhorted to return to God.

Characters: God, Christ, Malachi, John the Baptist.

Conclusion: Those who deny God His part of their estates may justly expect a curse upon their own part of them. Those who rob God rob themselves of His benefits and protection. In view of the immanence of Christ's coming, we should see to it that our accounts with God are balanced.

Key Word: Return, Malachi 3:7; Malachi 3:18.

Strong Verses: Malachi 3:1; Malachi 3:10; Malachi 3:11; Malachi 3:17.

Striking Facts: Malachi 3:1. The first «messenger» is a prophecy of the appearing of the forerunner, John the Baptist (Matthew 11:10; Mark 1:2), which Isaiah had foretold (Isaiah 40:3). «The messenger of the covenant» is Christ Himself, but for its final fulfillment looks to the second coming of Christ, the messenger having been rejected at His first advent. His sudden coming to the temple, connected with judgment, awaits fulfillment (Hebrews 12:20). Malachi, like other O. T. prophets, saw both advents of Messiah blended in one horizon, but not the separating interval.