Chapter 2:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 Zechariah Matthew
Malachi 2
Concise Complete
The priests reproved for neglecting their covenant.
(1-9) The people reproved for their evil practices. (10-17)
Verses 1-9 What is
here said of the covenant of priesthood, is true of the covenant of grace made
with all believers, as spiritual priests. It is a covenant of life and peace; it
assures all believers of all happiness, both in this world and in that to come.
It is an honour to God's servants to be employed as his messengers. The priest's
lips should not keep knowledge from his people, but keep it for them. The people
are all concerned to know the will of the Lord. We must not only consult the
written word, but desire instruction and advice from God's messengers, in the
affairs of our souls. Ministers must exert themselves to the utmost for the
conversion of sinners; and even among those called Israelites, there are many to
be turned from iniquity. Those ministers, and those only, are likely to turn men
from sin, who preach sound doctrine, and live holy lives according to the
Scripture. Many departed from this way; thus they misled the people. Such as
walk with God in peace and righteousness, and turn others from sin, honour God;
he will honour them, while those who despise him shall be lightly esteemed.
Verses 10-17
Corrupt practices are the fruit of corrupt principles; and he who is false to
his God, will not be true to his fellow mortals. In contempt of the marriage
covenant, which God instituted, the Jews put away the wives they had of their
own nation, probably to make room for strange wives. They made their lives
bitter to them; yet, in the sight of others, they pretend to be tender of them.
Consider she is thy wife; thy own; the nearest relation thou hast in the world.
The wife is to be looked on, not as a servant, but as a companion to the
husband. There is an oath of God between them, which is not to be trifled with.
Man and wife should continue to their lives' end, in holy love and peace. Did
not God make one, one Eve for one Adam? Yet God could have made another Eve.
Wherefore did he make but one woman for one man? It was that the children might
be made a seed to serve him. Husbands and wives must live in the fear of God,
that their seed may be a godly seed. The God of Israel saith that he hateth
putting away. Those who would be kept from sin, must take heed to their spirits,
for there all sin begins. Men will find that their wrong conduct in their
families springs from selfishness, which disregards the welfare and happiness of
others, when opposed to their own passions and fancies. It is wearisome to God
to hear people justify themselves in wicked practices. Those who think God can
be a friend to sin, affront him, and deceive themselves. The scoffers said,
Where is the God of judgement? but the day of the Lord will come.
Chapter 2:
| 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
