Week 13: Malachi

Objective: 

• Polluted Offerings to God

• Corrupt Priests

• The Coming Messenger

• Do Not Rob God

• The Great Day of God

Resources:

• Fr Tadros Y Malaty Commentary
• Catena Bible Commentary
• Fr Dawoud Lamie Bible study (Arabic)
• Minor Prophets SUSCOPTS

Activity for every week: Can you recite the 12 minor prophets?

Reading:

• Malachi 1
• Malachi 2:10-17
• Malachi 3
• Malachi 4

Key verse(s):

"Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me.” Malachi 3:1

NOTE TO SERVANT:

• Please plan to ask and review these questions every week:

  • Who are the minor prophets? Can you recite them?
    
  • The theme for last week's minor prophet
  • Highlight Messianic prophecy

Minor Prophets introduction:

• The Major and Minor Prophet division of the Holy Bible does not denote the importance or rank of the writing prophets, but the length of the Holy Books which bear their prophecies.

  • Ex: Jonah 4 chapters - Isaiah 66 chapters
• There are 12 minor prophets and 4 major prophets (5 books including Lamentations)
• In the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), all these books were listed under "prophets". In the Septuagint and Vulgate translations, this classification of major and minor was mentioned.
• The prophet in the OT was someone who passed God's message to the people. A prophet in the NT is also someone who passes God's message or news (God's love and salvation for all mankind).
• In the OT, there were many prophets (Moses, David, Elijah, Elisha, etc.), but when we refer to the "Prophets", we refer to the ones who recorded their prophecy. 
• All prophecies had one goal: Repentance!
• Recorded prophecies were split into three groups: Before, during, and after the exile.
  • Before: Repent so God doesn't bring the exile
  • During: Repent so God can end the exile and take us back to our land
  • After: Repent because the Messiah is coming
• The books of the prophets are rich with Messianic prophecies. Our Lord fulfilled all.
• The meaning of the names of the prophets is usually the message of their writings.
• The prophetic books always start with a strong tough message and then end with a joyful promising message.
  
• All books have different themes. All books have the same message (repentance).
•  

  

• 
  

  

•  

  

•  

  

•  

  

Comments:

Theme of Malachi: The coming of God's kingdom
Messianic Prophecy: St. John the Baptist preparing the way before the Messiah (3:1)

• Malachi means "My Messanger/angel"
• Malachi was one of the three minor prophets who appeared after the return from exile
  • Malachi was the last prophet before the NT
  • He appeared about 400 years before Christ
• He prophesied about the prophet coming after him to prepare the way
  • The prophet is St. John the Baptist
• Nehemiah led the third and final returning wave from captivity
  • After he finished his ministry and built the walls, he returned to the King as he promised him before leaving (Nehemiah 1)
    
• Malachi appeared when Nehemiah left the people
• The people were living in prosperity at that time, so they fell into the sin of 'lukewarmness'
• Chapter 1
  
  • V.2 “I have loved you” summarizes the OT and God's relationship with mankind. He loved us which is why he came for us, did miracles for us, sent the Israelites to captivity and brought them back, etc.
  • The book has questions from the people to God that show their lukewarmness
    • Question 1: Mal. 1:2- Questioning how God loved them
      • One way to avoid lukewarmness is to remember God's mercy in our lives and always to give thanksgiving
      • Question 2: Mal. 1:6- Questioning God's sovereignty and honor
        • Getting used to the thing leads to lukewarmness sometimes. One way to avoid lukewarmness is to remember God's honor and always have God's fear in our hearts
      • Question 3: Mal. 1:10- God is questioning their spiritual life
        • They pray in the Temple, but not at their homes
        • Lukewarmness is shown in praying with groups but not alone at home
      • Malachi 1:11: A prophecy that the Gentiles will be accepted in the NT. The incense was only offered in the Temple only. It also shows the use of incense in the worship
      • Question 4: Mal. 1:13
        • Lukewarmness is shown in the signs of being weary and complaining
        • Avoiding the urge to complain and realizing God's blessings in our lives is a way of defeating lukewarmness
• Chapter 2
  • Question 5: Mal. 2:14
    • Lukewarmness is shown in breaking the law
      • Having a 'favorite' sin in our hearts leads to lukewarmness. Certain sins, lusts, wrong feelings, etc lead to lukewarmness
      • God used marriage as a sin where the consequences will last for a long time
        
      • This part shows the holiness of marriage and what God intended for the couple. It is a covenant, not a contract
  • V.16: Shows that God doesn’t like divorce and in certain cases, it is the last resort as a solution
  • Question 6: Mal. 2:17
    • Lukewarmness is shown in not realizing God's judgment and thinking that God doesn't reward the rights and judge the sinners. It's the way of thinking the world has no one in control and that the righteous and the sinners are 'just living' and no rewards/consequences
    • Lukewarmness can be avoided if the person realizes his/her faults and always ask God for His mercy and forgiveness 
• Chapter 3
  • A famous chapter where Malachi prophesies about the prophet coming after him: St. John the Baptist
  • St. John the Baptist is the angel coming before God to prepare the way (people) as mentioned in Mark 1:1
    • Question 7: Mal. 3:7
      • Lukewarmness in the spiritual life can result from drifting away from tradition and from what the Church, as mothers, taught us to do. Thinking the church is old, God is not important, or the Clergy does not know anything causes lukewarmness.
    • Question 8: Mal. 3:8
      • We feel lukewarm towards God when we don't give the tithes. When we feel that God needs our tithes, not that we need to give, the heart becomes lukewarm.
      • Bringing the tithes (10%) is the beginning of giving. God wants the people to show their love. "Try me" means see what I will do to reward your love.
    • Question 9: Mal. 3:13
      • Lukewarmness is shown when people are harsh in their language with God. People think serving God is useless. Instead of feeling that we need to serve God for our edification, we take it as a burden and think it has no fruits/rewards. The same applies to prayers, fasting, repentance, etc.
• Chapter 4
  • V.1 The day of judgment will make the proud and the wicked be like stubble
  • V.2 The same day for the righteous will be a day of light and healing
  • Our Lord Jesus Christ "The Sun of Righteousness" in the second coming will judge the wicked and reward the righteous. That day will bring healing and good news for the righteous who were waiting for this day.

Review/recap questions:
**Servant may add more questions

1. Where incense shall be offered to God’s Name?
2. What did the priests offer on God’s Altar?
3. What does God say about divorce?
4. In what did the people rob the Lord?
5. Who is the messenger that will prepare the way? Give a verse from the New Testament to support your answer.
6. Who will arise with healing in His wings?

Homework:
**Servant may add more questions

1. For from the rising of the ______, even to its going down, My ______ shall be great among the _________; in every place________ shall be offered to My name, and a pure ________."
2. For I am a great _______," Says the LORD of hosts, "And My _______ is to be feared among the __________."
3. The lips of the priest should keep:
   a) praise b) knowledge c) lies d) jokes
4. What was written before the Lord?
   a) the Holy Bible b) prophecies c) a book of remembrance d) letters
5. Then you shall again discern between the ________ and the wicked, between one who _________ God and ______ who does not serve Him.
6. But to you who fear My name The __________ ______ ___________ shall arise with healing in His _______.
7. Behold, I will send you _______ the prophet before the coming of the _______ and dreadful ________ of the ________.