Jesus Christ, the Messenger of the Covenant

1
Jesus Christ,the Messenger of the Covenant
Themes in Malachi

• Malachi 31-3

2
Israels Irreverence

• Evidences of irreverence
• God was being cheated (114), robbed (38),
  sneered at (113), insulted and treated with
  contempt (17,12)
• Harsh words against God (313)
• Gods name profaned (112)
• Gods justice questioned (217)
• Gods patience worn thin by words (217)
• Denial that God loved them (12)
• Doubt as to any advantage in serving God
  (314,15)
• Yet Israel didnt see its irreverence - 16

3
Keeping an Outward Form

• Israel not in open rebellion against God
• Still maintained a form of godliness
• What does God see in us today?
• We need to hear Malachi
• Romans 154
• 1 Corinthians 1011

4
Looking for the Coming One

• Eager for God to punish the wicked
• Surely, a great day was coming 41
• But the day would bring surprises 31-3

5
Some Would Find Joy

• A righteous remnant
• For these, the Messiah would bring joy
• The sun of righteousness 316-42

6
Preparing the Way

• Before the Messiah, another would come to prepare
  the way Malachi 31
• Elijah Malachi 45,6
• No prophecy interpreted any more clearly than
  this Matthew 117-14

7
Gods Last Word to Israel

• Malachi, the end of the Old Testament
• Sad story of Israels role complete
• Brought into nationhood, entered into covenant
• Sustained, blessed, warned, punished, restored
• Still, Israel persisted in sin
• Through Malachi, one last call for repentance
• Nothing more God could do or say until the
  fullness of the time (Galatians 44,5) 400 years
  later

8
Conclusion

• Malachi ends with a curse Malachi 46
• Relevance of curse to ourselves Hebrews 21-4
• God requires that we honor and respect Him
• A son honors his father, and a servant his
  master. If I then am the Father, where is My
  honor? And if I am a Master, where is My
  reverence (Malachi 16)