Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 Zechariah Matthew
Malachi 1
Concise Complete
The ingratitude of Israel. (1-5) They are careless in
God's institutions. (6-14)
Verses 1-5 All
advantages, either as to outward circumstances, or spiritual privileges, come
from the free love of God, who makes one to differ from another. All the evils
sinners feel and fear, are the just recompence of their crimes, while all their
hopes and comforts are from the unmerited mercy of the Lord. He chose his people
that they might be holy. If we love him, it is because he has first loved us;
yet we all are prone to undervalue the mercies of God, and to excuse our own
offences.
Verses 6-14 We
may each charge upon ourselves what is here charged upon the priests. Our
relation to God, as our Father and Master, strongly obliges us to fear and
honour him. But they were so scornful that they derided reproof. Sinners ruin
themselves by trying to baffle their convictions. Those who live in careless
neglect of holy ordinances, who attend on them without reverence, and go from
them under no concern, in effect say, The table of the Lord is contemptible.
They despised God's name in what they did. It is evident that these understood
not the meaning of the sacrifices, as shadowing forth the unblemished Lamb of
God; they grudged the expense, thinking all thrown away which did not turn to
their profit. If we worship God ignorantly, and without understanding, we bring
the blind for sacrifice; if we do it carelessly, if we are cold, dull, and dead
in it, we bring the sick; if we rest in the bodily exercise, and do not make
heart-work of it, we bring the lame; and if we suffer vain thoughts and
distractions to lodge within us, we bring the torn. And is not this evil? Is it
not a great affront to God, and a great wrong and injury to our own souls? In
order to the acceptance of our actions with God, it is not enough to do that
which, for the matter of it, is good; but we must do it from a right principle,
in a right manner, and for a right end. Our constant mercies from God, make
worse our slothfulness and niggardliness, in our returns of duty to God. A
spiritual worship shall be established. Incense shall be offered to God's name,
which signifies prayer and praise. And it shall be a pure offering. When the
hour came, in which the true worshippers worshipped the Father in Spirit and in
truth, then this incense was offered, even this pure offering. We may rely on
God's mercy for pardon as to the past, but not for indulgence to sin in future.
If there be a willing mind, it will be accepted, though defective; but if any be
a deceiver, devoting his best to Satan and to his lusts, he is under a curse.
Men now, though in a different way, profane the name of the Lord, pollute his
table, and show contempt for his worship.
Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 Zechariah Matthew
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
