Malachi 1:12

1:12 “But you are profaning it by saying that the table of the Lord is common and its offerings ¹  despicable.

Malachi 3:4

3:4 The offerings ²  of Judah and Jerusalem ³  will be pleasing to the Lord as in former times and years past.

Malachi 3:6

Resistance to the Lord through Selfishness

3:6 “Since, I, the Lord, do not go back on my promises, ⁴  you, sons of Jacob, have not perished.

Malachi 4:5

4:5 Look, I will send you Elijah ⁵  the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord arrives.

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¹ tn Heb “fruit.” The following word “food” in the Hebrew text (אָכְלוֹ, ’okhlo) appears to be an explanatory gloss to clarify the meaning of the rare word נִיב (niv, “fruit”; see Isa 57:19 Qere; נוֹב, nov, “fruit,” in Kethib). Cf. ASV “the fruit thereof, even its food.” In this cultic context the reference is to the offerings on the altar.

² tn Or “gift.”

³ map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.

⁴ tn Heb “do not change.” This refers to God’s ongoing commitment to his covenant promises to Israel.

⁵ sn I will send you Elijah the prophet. In light of the ascension of Elijah to heaven without dying (2 Kgs 2:11), Judaism has always awaited his return as an aspect of the messianic age (see, e.g., John 1:19-28). Jesus identified John the Baptist as Elijah, because he came in the “spirit and power” of his prototype Elijah (Matt 11:14; 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36).