Malachi 3:14, commentary and pictures

The verse records defiant words against God claiming there is no use in serving Him and no gain in keeping His requirements and going about in sorrowful display before Him. Walking mournfully is an outward gloomy show put on by human will from an unsanctified heart, which God never commanded. The complaint belongs to withholding the tithe that is the Lord's own, refusing to bring it faithfully into His storehouse to sustain His work while still expecting His favor. Serving God is not empty but brings profit and priceless reward, and He pledges Himself to bless spiritually and temporally all who deal honestly with Him and prove Him. At His soon coming He will discern between those who serve Him and those who serve Him not, burning the proud and wicked as stubble while those who fear His name rejoice in the light of the Sun of Righteousness.

Words and Chapter Setting

The verse records defiant speech directed against God, charging that serving Him is empty and useless and demanding what gain comes from keeping His ordinance and going about in mournful humiliation before the Lord of hosts. It is the mistaken verdict that faithfulness brings no reward and no apparent profit, doubting the value of obedience and of keeping His requirements. The complaint belongs to those who withhold what God has specified and reserved for Himself and who neglect works of mercy, yet expect Him to recognize and favor them, accusing Him of failing to reward them. Their adversity follows their own disloyalty, for they have hindered His work by using for themselves what should have supported it, and then blame Him while comparing themselves with prosperous wicked people. Such words are rebellion and disloyalty rather than a faithful judgment of God, measuring His actions by human standards, dishonoring Him, and fostering evil in the soul.

Walking mournfully denotes an outward sorrowful religious display, pictured as going in black, arising from human will and an unsanctified spirit rather than from Christ. No one has ever been told to walk mournfully before the Lord of hosts, and God does not want such gloom from His people. Those joined to Christ in obedience walk in gladness and cheerfulness in the light of the Sun of Righteousness, eating of the leaves of the tree of life, reflecting heaven's light and rejoicing because redemption is near. The mournful profession instead comes from those working out their own plans and following a course of their own choosing, who grumble because God does not bless them while they refuse to place themselves where He can bless them. They find fault with God and with their brethren and keep lamenting as they see their own wretched condition, leaving others with the impression that being Christians does not pay, in spiritual darkness and failure to understand the duty to return to God the portion He has specified as His own.

The verse belongs to what God says in Malachi 3 about the tithe, which is the Lord's and is required by the Lord Himself. That word is to be carefully read and followed for one's own good and for the sake of others who will be helped by example, giving warning and instruction in righteousness by which God still tests whether people will prove faithful servants. It calls churches to take their stand upon it by faithfully paying the tithe into His treasury and bringing all the tithes into the storehouse, without withholding or diverting to other lines of work. The tithe in the treasury sustains ministerial work, provides abundant supply rather than depletion caused by selfish hearts and hands, encourages more men to give themselves to the ministry, and answers God's call to consider His goodness, respond to His mercy, and prove loyalty. Appropriating to personal use the portion God has reserved proves an unfaithful steward, obstructs the work, discourages ministers, and causes loss not only of what was withheld from God but also of what was held as one's own, while those who refuse to comply after their attention has been called to the subject, disregarding the Lord's claims as non-essential, will be dealt with in the manner described in the chapter, under His promise to open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing with no room to receive it.

Its immediate setting joins the complaint to envy of the wicked, calling the proud happy and saying that workers of wickedness who tempt God are built up, set up, and delivered. It is the speech of the unconsecrated who have departed from God, blinded by the enemy so they cannot discern the ways and works of God. It is the business of a company of disaffected professed Christians, especially in the crisis when wicked men and the church join together in hatred of the law of God, to murmur and complain and accuse God by accusing His children, seeing nothing defective in themselves while finding very much to displease in others. These are the thoughts of many even when the words are not spoken, thinking and talking of the great advantages to be gained by worldly association and judging religion by its apparent rewards. It belongs to a church into which worldly policy and worldly dealing have been brought, with unholy trafficking in sacred things that the Lord hates, where selfishness and covetousness lead men to make merchandise of souls bought with the precious blood of Christ, where by adoption of worldly principles the church sells herself to the world and ungodliness triumphs, judging God's actions by human standards, complaining that the proud and wicked prosper, dishonoring God while trying to justify self, and creating an evil influence around them.

Its immediate setting stands opposite those who fear the Lord and think upon His name, who speak often to one another from sincere hearts with no deceit, guile, underhanded working, evil speaking, or complaint against God. The Lord hears them and writes them in a book of remembrance for those who fear Him and think upon His name, to claim as His jewels and to spare as a man spares his serving son, when it will be seen who serves God and who serves Him not. The question about the profit of serving God thus contrasts with the blessing and remembrance promised to those who fear and serve Him sincerely, and warns against murmuring when those who withhold from God fail to receive the favor they expect. Against the claim that devotion is profitless stands the priceless reward of a life devoted to His service, including making sacrifices to gather with those who fear Him, share testimonies, and encourage one another, whom God hears and remembers, regards as precious, and spares.

Roots of the Complaint

The speakers are disaffected professed Christians separating from God, whose unconsecrated hearts have been blinded by the enemy so they cannot discern His ways and works. They reject His claim and refuse instruction through His messengers, departing from Him while still professing belief. Their chief business becomes murmuring and complaining and accusing God by accusing His children, seeing nothing defective in themselves while finding much to displease in others. In contrast to those who fear the Lord and think upon His name, who speak often to one another from sincere hearts without deceit, guile, underhanded working, evil speaking or complaint, and whom the Lord hears and writes in a book of remembrance to claim as His jewels and spare as a man spares his serving son, these speakers utter stout words that it is useless to serve Him, that obedience brings no profit, and that keeping His ordinance and walking mournfully before the Lord of hosts is in vain.

The complaint is tied to withholding from God what He has specified and reserved for Himself, using His money selfishly and hindering His work while expecting Him to recognize and favor them. They neglect works of mercy and deal falsely with Him and others, yet accuse Him of failing to reward them. Their adversity follows their own disloyalty and wrongdoing, for God permits the spoiler to destroy crops and bring calamity when they fail to honor Him with entrusted goods. Whatever they profess, their words reveal a poor spiritual condition, and the chapter leaves the disobedient without excuse by stating God's claims and the consequences of unfaithfulness plainly.

The speakers judge God's actions by human standards and apparent rewards, doubting the value of obedience because they see no profit in keeping His commands or living humbly before Him. They complain that they have received hardship while the proud are called happy and workers of wickedness who tempt God are built up, set up and delivered. Their mistaken judgment that faithfulness has no reward dishonors Him while they try to justify themselves.

The thought is fostered by joining those who rejected truth and by weighing the great advantages to be gained by worldly association, even when the words are held in thought and not spoken. It is brought into the church as worldly policy and worldly dealing, with unholy trafficking in sacred things, selfishness and covetousness leading men to make merchandise of souls, so that by adoption of worldly principles the church sells herself to the world and ungodliness triumphs. It belongs to those striving for everlasting life who are tempted with earthly return, honor and riches, and it is met by refusing temptation in exclusive worship and service to God alone and by cherishing and presenting high and holy uplifting sanctifying principles.

Such words are rebellion and disloyalty, not a faithful judgment of God. They dishonor Him, foster evil in the soul, and create an evil influence around those who speak them. They are a false and harmful witness that misrepresents His goodness and can discourage others, especially new believers, whom God calls His followers to walk in the light rather than give voice to doubt and complaint. They reveal the heart and will be brought to account at the final reckoning, when each person's words and work are judged and those who speak against God and discourage others face shame and condemnation.

God's Correction and Promise

The claim that serving God and keeping His commands while living humbly before Him brings no profit is met by the declaration that serving God is not vain but brings a priceless reward. Those who complain that working for God brings no pay are reminded that such labor is the duty of those bought by Christ's blood and called to work for fallen humanity rather than spending life on self-glorification and amusement, with heavenly honor and immortal life as the greater reward. Keeping His ordinance does bring profit, and the instruction on this is full of light for those who rejoice in the hope of the soon-coming morning with the reviving, healing beams of His sunshine. The fashion of this world passes away but the fashion of the world to come endures forever, and the righteous will be rewarded with infinite bliss and boundless joy. Christ has gone to prepare mansions for the faithful, those who love God and keep His commandments have a clear, unquestioned title to the immortal inheritance, those who by faith take God at His Word have everlasting life, and those who by faith enter the kingdom of God and hold fast their profession will possess the kingdom forever and ever.

The doubt taken into the heart through joining with those who rejected the truth is answered by God's promise to bless financially and spiritually those who deal faithfully with Him. The complaint is to be met by obeying God's Word, by teaching others how they may receive God's blessing, and by coming into harmonious action as educators, so that all may see the salvation of God. God stands behind all His promises and distinctly pledges Himself to answer prayer, inviting all to prove the Lord God of hosts by doing their part and seeing what He will do in their behalf. His Word is an assurance so positive and ample that it leaves no room for mistake or limitation, Yea and Amen in Christ Jesus, and His resources cannot be exhausted.

The discouraged question of what profit there is in keeping God's ordinances arose after Adam's fall from perfect happiness to misery and sin, with a heavy curse resting on the human race and death the portion of all. That darkness and gloom is cleared away by hope in the instructions given to Adam, repeated by Seth, and fully exemplified by Enoch, that as through Adam came death, through Jesus the promised Redeemer will come life and immortality. Enoch's case teaches faithful people living among rebellious sinners that obedience and faith in the Redeemer lead to acceptance by God, righteous living, and eventual exaltation to heaven.

No one is told to walk mournfully before the Lord of hosts, for the complaint comes from those working out their own plans and following a course of their own choosing, who grumble because God does not bless them while they refuse to place themselves where He can bless them, who find fault with God and with their brethren and keep lamenting as they see their own wretched condition. Those joined to Christ in obedience walk in gladness and cheerfulness and eat of the leaves of the tree of life, living in the light of the Sun of Righteousness, reflecting heaven's light, and rejoicing because redemption is near. True service is loving God supremely and neighbor as self, personally caring for the poor and suffering as Christ cared for them and taking fatherless children into homes instead of depending largely on institutions or doing the work by proxy. Such self-denial and self-sacrifice gives Christlike evidence to the world and lets light shine from every Christian home.

The discouraged thought that religious service and sorrow have brought no benefit is echoed in the question about fasting and walking mournfully before the Lord. Isaiah 58:6-7 gives the remedy by prescribing the fast God chooses through breaking oppression and helping people in need. Those who feel faint-hearted and doubtful are to rise and help someone rather than remain in sorrow.

Judgment and Future Hope

The claim that serving God is empty and keeping His requirements brings no gain will be answered at the Lord's soon coming through a refining, winnowing work in every church that shows who are vessels unto honor. Then all will return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who serves Him not. The coming day will burn as an oven, and all the proud and all who do wickedly will be as stubble burned up so as to leave neither root nor branch. But to those who fear His name the Sun of Righteousness will arise with healing in His wings, and the vessels unto honor will receive the latter rain.

Words that accuse God by calling His service pointless reveal the heart, and every person's words and work will be brought to account at the final reckoning. Those who speak against God and discourage others by such speech will face shame and condemnation. Malachi 3 is God's plain warning that in the setting of entrusted gifts and coming judgment He will weigh character and reckon with each servant, rewarding work according to its character. It teaches that serving God is not vain and keeping His ordinance brings profit, giving instruction full of light for those who rejoice in the hope of the soon-coming morning with its reviving, healing beams of sunshine. The fashion of this world passes away but the fashion of the world to come endures forever, and the righteous will be rewarded with infinite bliss and boundless joy. Christ has gone to prepare mansions for the faithful, and those who love God and keep His commandments have a clear, unquestioned title to the immortal inheritance. Those who by faith take Him at His Word have everlasting life, and those who by faith enter the kingdom and hold fast their profession will possess the kingdom forever and ever.

The chapter gives warning and instruction in righteousness for every soul, and by it God still tests whether people will prove faithful servants. He calls His people to consider His goodness, respond to His mercy, and prove loyalty by bringing all the tithes into His storehouse, promising to open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing with no room to receive it. Withholding tithes and offerings is disobedience to His plain requirement, dealing falsely with Him, and it brings His disapproval and curse rather than blessing. Such unfaithfulness corresponds with weakened spiritual life, and its claims and consequences are so clearly stated as to leave the disobedient without excuse. Appropriating to personal use the portion God has reserved proves an unfaithful stewardship and causes loss not only of what was withheld from God but also of what had been committed as one's own. The chapter exposes the false paths of those claiming to belong to God and calls them to examine themselves under His words and to account for failing to fulfill His requirements. Its appeal to return to God applies especially to neglect of duty in tithes and offerings, where faithful obedience would have been a privilege and a source of happiness and blessing.

Call to Faithful Response

The complaint is to be studied and practiced as a binding warning, requiring that every specification in God's Word be followed out through love and fear of God. The third chapter where it stands is to be carefully read for one's own good and for the sake of others who will be helped by example. Neglect cannot be afforded, for it is robbery toward God and brings His sure visitation.

Churches are to take their stand upon that word by faithfully bringing all the tithes into the storehouse and into His treasury without withholding or diverting them to other lines of work. Selfish hearts and hands must not deplete the treasury but practice self-denial and honest dealing with God, returning His own portion and using entrusted means to help others. The tithe belongs to the Lord for ministerial work, to sustain His laborers and encourage more men to give themselves to the ministry instead of holding back. Money entrusted for advancing the gospel must not be withheld but used to send the gospel throughout the world, while diverting it obstructs the work and discourages ministers. Parents and children alike are to obey the command, practice self-denial, and use their means to advance His work.

The vain-service claim is answered by God's promise to bless financially and spiritually those who deal faithfully with Him. It is to be met by obeying God's Word, by teaching others how they may receive His blessing, and by coming into harmonious action as educators. Then all may see the salvation of God.

God's followers are to walk in the light and not give voice to doubt and complaint, for such testimony misrepresents His goodness and discourages others, especially new believers. Those accepted as His subjects must cherish and present high and holy uplifting sanctifying principles rather than bringing worldly policy and worldly dealing, unholy trafficking, selfishness and covetousness making merchandise of souls into the church. The church must not sell herself to the world by adoption of worldly principles nor be converted to worldly policy. Even when the thought of great advantage from worldly association is held in the mind without being spoken, with its weighing of earthly return, honor and riches and its envy calling the proud happy and workers of wickedness established and delivered, it is to be met by refusing temptation in exclusive worship and service to God alone.

Serving God is not profitless but carries a priceless reward, and it includes making sacrifices to gather with those who fear Him, share testimonies and encourage one another. God hears and remembers such gatherings, regards them as precious, and spares them. The duties stated plainly in this chapter require clear spiritual perception to see. Those whose perceptions are beclouded cannot see them, and God cannot work with them to renovate the mind, fill the heart with treasures of truth, and give sanctified memories to work to His honor and glory.

The message of this chapter is preached to meet determined apostasy. That apostasy comes when those laboring in the truth give up their position on the truth, go in for holiness altogether, come out against the testimonies of the Spirit of the Lord, and unite to accept some other light than the third angel's message.