Malachi: The faithful LORD calls His people to return

Where Malachi sits

In the story

Act IV, Israel · Return, c. 538–430 BC

In the Bible

Old Testament · Prophets · book 39 of 66

Before it in the story

Nehemiah

After it in the story

1 Chronicles

Judah lives under a governor after the temple has been rebuilt. Priests and people grow careless in worship and distrustful of the LORD's justice and love.

Malachi summary

Malachi in context

Written by

Malachi, named in 1:1. The name means my messenger; a personal name is the natural reading, though some understand a title.

Written to

The priests and people of Judah after the temple has been rebuilt.

Setting

Judah lives under a governor after the temple has been rebuilt. Priests and people grow careless in worship and distrustful of the LORD's justice and love.

When

After the temple's completion in 515 BC, probably the fifth century BC; the precise date is debated.

Why

To confront faithless worship and conduct, recall the LORD's unchanging love and prepare His people for the coming day of judgment and salvation.

Themes of Malachi

• God's faithfulness and human betrayal
• The coming Lord and His messenger

Key verses in Malachi

• Malachi 3:6

  “Because I, the LORD, do not change, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed.

• Malachi 3:1

  “Behold, I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to His temple—the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight—see, He is coming,” says the LORD of Hosts.

• Malachi 4:5–6

  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

Malachi chapter by chapter

Part 1 · The LORD's love and dishonored name 1

1. 1
   Malachi 1: Loved by the LORD, yet despising His name

   The LORD answers Israel's doubts about His love and condemns the contempt shown by defective offerings.

Part 2 · Priests and marriages called to account 2

1. 2
   Malachi 2: Faithless priests and broken marriage vows

   The LORD holds priests accountable for corrupt teaching and condemns covenant betrayal in marriage.

Part 3 · The coming Lord and the call to return 3

1. 3
   Malachi 3: The Lord will come, so return to Him

   The unchanging LORD promises purification and judgment, calls for repentance and remembers those who fear Him.

Part 4 · The approaching day and its messenger 4

1. 4
   Malachi 4: One day brings judgment and healing

   The coming day will expose the wicked and vindicate God's people, who must heed His word and promised forerunner.

See the outline of Malachi