14 Yet ye say, H559 Wherefore? H4100 Because the LORD H3068 hath been witness H5749 between thee and the wife H802 of thy youth, H5271 against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: H898 yet is she thy companion, H2278 and the wife H802 of thy covenant. H1285
And I will come near H7126 to you to judgment; H4941 and I will be a swift H4116 witness H5707 against the sorcerers, H3784 and against the adulterers, H5003 and against false H8267 swearers, H7650 and against those that oppress H6231 the hireling H7916 in his wages, H7939 the widow, H490 and the fatherless, H3490 and that turn aside H5186 the stranger H1616 from his right, and fear H3372 not me, saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635
If thou shalt afflict H6031 my daughters, H1323 or if thou shalt take H3947 other wives H802 beside H5921 my daughters, H1323 no man H376 is with us; see, H7200 God H430 is witness H5707 betwixt me and thee.
And the LORD H3068 God H430 said, H559 It is not good H2896 that the man H120 should be H1961 alone; I will make H6213 him an help meet H5828 for him. H5048
Now when I passed H5674 by thee, and looked H7200 upon thee, behold, thy time H6256 was the time H6256 of love; H1730 and I spread H6566 my skirt H3671 over thee, and covered H3680 thy nakedness: H6172 yea, I sware H7650 unto thee, and entered H935 into a covenant H1285 with thee, saith H5002 the Lord H136 GOD, H3069 and thou becamest mine.
Will a man H120 rob H6906 God? H430 Yet ye have robbed H6906 me. But ye say, H559 Wherein have we robbed H6906 thee? In tithes H4643 and offerings. H8641
And did not he make H6213 one? H259 Yet had he the residue H7605 of the spirit. H7307 And wherefore one? H259 That he might seek H1245 a godly H430 seed. H2233 Therefore take heed H8104 to your spirit, H7307 and let none deal treacherously H898 against the wife H802 of his youth. H5271
A son H1121 honoureth H3513 his father, H1 and a servant H5650 his master: H113 if then I be a father, H1 where is mine honour? H3519 and if I be a master, H113 where is my fear? H4172 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 unto you, O priests, H3548 that despise H959 my name. H8034 And ye say, H559 Wherein have we despised H959 thy name? H8034 Ye offer H5066 polluted H1351 bread H3899 upon mine altar; H4196 and ye say, H559 Wherein have we polluted H1351 thee? In that ye say, H559 The table H7979 of the LORD H3068 is contemptible. H959
Hear, H8085 all ye people; H5971 hearken, H7181 O earth, H776 and all that therein H4393 is: and let the Lord H136 GOD H3069 be witness H5707 against you, the Lord H136 from his holy H6944 temple. H1964
Were they ashamed H3001 when they had committed H6213 abomination? H8441 nay, they were not at all H954 ashamed, H954 neither could H3045 they blush: H3637 therefore shall they fall H5307 among them that fall: H5307 in the time H6256 of their visitation H6486 they shall be cast down, H3782 saith H559 the LORD. H3068
Live H2416 joyfully H7200 with the wife H802 whom thou lovest H157 all the days H3117 of the life H2416 of thy vanity, H1892 which he hath given H5414 thee under the sun, H8121 all the days H3117 of thy vanity: H1892 for that is thy portion H2506 in this life, H2416 and in thy labour H5999 which thou takest H6001 under the sun. H8121
Such is the way H1870 of an adulterous H5003 woman; H802 she eateth, H398 and wipeth H4229 her mouth, H6310 and saith, H559 I have done H6466 no wickedness. H205
Let thy fountain H4726 be blessed: H1288 and rejoice H8055 with the wife H802 of thy youth. H5271 Let her be as the loving H158 hind H365 and pleasant H2580 roe; H3280 let her breasts H1717 satisfy H7301 thee at all times; H6256 and be thou ravished H7686 always H8548 with her love. H160
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Malachi 2
Commentary on Malachi 2 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 2
There are two great ordinances which divine wisdom has instituted, the wretched profanation of both of which is complained of and sharply reproved in this chapter.
Mal 2:1-9
What was said in the foregoing chapter was directed to the priests (ch. 1:6): Thus saith the Lord of hosts to you, O priests! that despise my name. But the crimes there charged upon them they were guilty of as sacrificers, and for those they might think it some excuse that they offered what the people brought, and therefore that, if they were not so good as they should be, it was not their fault, but the people's; and therefore here the corruptions there complained of are traced to the source and spring of them-the faults the priests were guilty of as teachers of the people, as expositors of the law and the lively oracles; and this is a part of their office which still remains in the hands of gospel-ministers (who are appointed to be pastors and teachers, like the priests under the law, though not sacrificers, like them), and therefore by them the admonition here is to be particularly regarded. If the priests had given the people better instructions, the people would have brought better offerings; and therefore the blame returns upon the priests: "And now, O you priests! this commandment is purely for you (v. 1), who should have taught the people the good knowledge of the Lord, and how to worship him aright.' Note, The governors of the churches are under God's government, and to him they are accountable. Even for those who command God has commandments. Nay (v. 4), you shall know that I have sent these commandments for you. They should know it either,
Let us now see what this commandment is which is for the priests, which, they must know, was sent to them; and let us put into method the particulars of the charge.
Mal 2:10-17
Corrupt practices are the genuine fruit and product of corrupt principles; and the badness of men's hearts and lives is owing to some loose atheistical notions which they have got and which they govern themselves by. Now, in these verses, we have an instance of this; we here find men dealing falsely with one another, and it is because they think falsely of their God. Observe,