God's Rightful Honor

The Bridge

Malachi - God’s Rightful Honor

Malachi prophesied sometime near the end of the fifth century BC during the time with the Persian Empire ruled the world. The Temple in Jerusalem was rebuilt and many Jews had returned to the land of Israel but they had neglected the things of God. They were skimping on their sacrifices and failing to give their tithes, and the priests of God did nothing to encourage them. There were mixed marriages and divorce had become a common practice, and Malachi came to stir the people up. He told them not to neglect the things of God if they ever expect to prosper, and they need to repent right now in order for God to bless them.

Malachi also speaks of the coming day of the Lord, but the prophet Elijah would come first, he will be a forerunner to the Messiah and then the Messiah would come. In the New Testament Elijah is identified as John the Baptist who was the forerunner for Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:1-12; Matthew 11:14). The Book of Malachi closes the Old Testament and there was not another prophet in the land of Israel for nearly 400 years until John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness.

This marks the final sermon in the series entitled The 12 Major Points of the Minor Prophets.