3:5Malachi 3:5

The Lord will come near in judgment as a swift witness against sorcerers, adulterers, false swearers, those who oppress the hireling in wages, the widow and the fatherless, those who turn aside the stranger from his right, and those who do not fear Him.Ms 37, 1896, par. 8–10+2 Swift means certain, direct and speedy, and His witnessing is by a judgment record in which every word and act is written, cries of the oppressed and wealth gained by fraud rise as testimony, and wrongdoing itself will testify against its doers unless repented of and blotted out.Ms 38a, 1905, par. 1–3+2 His coming near follows His sudden coming to His temple as a refiner's fire to purify the sons of Levi like gold and silver, so that righteous worship and the offering of Judah and Jerusalem are again pleasant to Him.Ms 115, 1898, par. 11–12+2 It is the investigative judgment now in progress in the most holy place, when the living must stand without a mediator with characters purified from sin, while those who held it to be the second advent taught it is His coming with ten thousands of saints to execute judgment upon all the ungodly.Ms 103, 1906, par. 3–4+4 What matters most is faithfulness in stewardship and mercy, for knowingly withholding tithes and offerings is robbery toward God that brings curse and judgment, and oppressing workers by withholding or pressing down wages, neglecting widow, fatherless and stranger, and offering to God what was gained by fraud is abhorrent to Him.Lt 38, 1902, par. 19–21+4

The Lord will come near to His people for judgment and act as a swift witness against sorcerers, adulterers and false swearers, against those who oppress the hired worker in wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who turn aside the stranger from his right, and against all who do not fear Him.Ms 37, 1896, par. 8–10+4 This warning is directed to many who claim to belong to the Lord and stands as a charge against His professed people for unfaithfulness.Ms 37, 1896, par. 8–10+1 It belongs to the judgment work that follows the purifying of God's people, and while the investigative judgment proceeds in heaven toward the ceasing of Christ's intercession in the sanctuary, believers on earth must have characters purified from sin to stand before a holy God.Ms 38a, 1905, par. 1–3+1 That judgment coming at the second advent for the execution of judgment is distinct and separate from the coming of the Lord to His temple.GC88 425.3

Swift means certain as well as direct and speedy.Lt 310, 1908, par. 9–14+1 Heavenly agents faithfully record every word and action, so every act is on record and injustice must be repented of and blotted out or it will be repaid.Ms 38a, 1905, par. 1–3+1 The cries of the oppressed, including the widow and the fatherless, rise to heaven as testimony against unfaithful stewards, and wealth gained by fraud and oppression rises as its own testimony.Lt 36, 1888, par. 11+1 Wrongdoing itself will testify against its doers at the last day, and selfish withholding of the portion the Lord claims as His own leaves undone what He requires and makes a judgment record the selfish will not want to meet.Ms 24, 1901, par. 24–26+1

This coming near to judgment follows the Lord suddenly coming to His temple as a refiner's fire and fuller's soap to purify the sons of Levi as gold and silver, so that the offering of Judah and Jerusalem in righteousness may be pleasant as in former years and righteous worship restored.Ms 115, 1898, par. 11–12+3 It is one of the tests permitted to come upon every soul.Ms 115, 1898, par. 11–12 In that setting the judgment exposes worldly policy and dealing brought into the church, unholy trafficking in sacred things, selfishness and covetousness, making merchandise of souls and selling the church to the world.Ms 142, 1903, par. 123–125+1

The judgment rests on the Lord's unchangeableness, by which the sons of Jacob are not consumed though from their fathers' days they went away from His ordinances and kept them not.Ms 115, 1898, par. 11–12+3 The guilty deserve to be consumed in sin for fruits of unrighteousness, passionate temper and selfishness, yet they are not consumed at once because God is not fitful, impulsive and changeable like human beings.Ms 93, 1898, par. 13–15 He bears long with perversity, constantly reproving sinners from His Word and drawing them to repent and be converted so that He may heal them.Ms 93, 1898, par. 13–15

Around the verse stands the call to return to God with His promise to return, the people's answer as if ignorant and doing their best in asking wherein they shall return, and the answer that they have robbed God in tithes and offerings.Ms 147, 1901, par. 1–7 Restoration and a return to God must come before He accepts repentance or heals the harm sin has caused.Ms 37, 1896, par. 8–10 The third chapter must be studied and practiced to escape sure visitation in judgment and to avoid being found committing robbery toward God by neglecting through lack of love and fear to follow every specification of His Word.Lt 70, 1893, par. 11

The coming near to judgment is the second advent of Christ for the execution of the judgment, distinct and separate from the coming of the Lord to His temple.GC88 425.3+1 It is the coming to execute judgment upon all listed evils — sorcery, adultery, false swearing, withholding wages and oppressing the widow and fatherless, turning aside the stranger from justice, and not fearing God.GC88 425.3+1

It is the same scene described by Jude as the Lord coming with ten thousands of His saints to execute judgment upon all and to convince the ungodly of their ungodly deeds.GC 425.3–426.1 Though He is now thought lightly of, despised and rejected, and the promise of His coming is mocked as though all things continue unchanged, He will be revealed from heaven and every eye will see Him.Ms 39, 1898, par. 23–25 He will take vengeance in flaming fire upon those who know not God and obey not the gospel, with everlasting destruction from His presence and glory, so that all kindreds of the earth wail, and kings and great and rich and bond and free hide from the face of Him on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb in the great day of His wrath, while workers of iniquity hear the sentence to depart from Him.Ms 39, 1898, par. 23–25

It also denotes the investigative judgment now in progress in the most holy place of the sanctuary in heaven, with special reference to the present time.Ms 103, 1906, par. 3–4+2 This is the time when Christ's intercession in the sanctuary above is to cease and go forward to its close, while the sins of penitent believers are removed from the sanctuary.Ms 103, 1906, par. 3–4+1 Those living on earth must then stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator, with spotless robes and characters purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling, through the grace of God and their own diligent effort as conquerors in the battle with evil in a special work of purification and putting away of sin.Ms 103, 1906, par. 3–4+1 Means obtained by dishonest practices or by oppression of the poor cannot be made acceptable by bringing an offering to ease conscience, for such gifts dishonor God and He cannot accept them.Ms 99, 1893, par. 9–12

The judgment brings a refining, winnowing process in every church, because wicked men who do not love the truth or honor God are among God's people.Ms 115, 1898, par. 11–12+1 It follows His sudden coming to His temple as a refiner's fire and fuller's soap to purify the sons of Levi as gold and silver for a righteous offering, and rests on His unchangeableness by which the sons of Jacob are not consumed.Ms 115, 1898, par. 11–12 Soon it will be seen who are vessels unto honor who receive the latter rain, as those who return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not, are separated from every soul who continues in sin, is blinded, and accepts delusions.Lt 15, 1892, par. 10–12 God's coming in judgment thus makes clear the difference between the righteous and the wicked and between those who fear and serve Him and those who do not, before the day that burns as an oven.Lt 30, 1900, par. 2–3+1

Sorcery, adultery and false swearing stand under coming judgment as forms of dishonesty and impurity toward God and toward fellow human beings, and because His claims are plain those who disobey are left without excuse.Ms 24, 1901, par. 11–12+1 The judgment falls on sorcery, adultery and false oaths together with withholding wages, mistreating widows and fatherless children, denying strangers their rights, and failure to fear Him.Ms 24, 1901, par. 11–12+1 Selfishness and lack of mercy toward the needy and robbery toward God expose offenders to that judgment.Ms 24, 1901, par. 24–26

Oppressing the hired worker in wages means withholding what was earned or unfairly limiting pay, pressing pay as low as possible, and taking advantage of those poorer and less shrewd in order to increase riches.CET 165.1+2 Love of property drives the use of any means to gain wealth until gaining earthly riches absorbs all thought and energy, trampling rights, oppressing the poor, and without hesitation pressing workers even until they are brought to beggary.CET 165.1 Money so gained is oppression and fraud before God even when given to His work, and such an offering is abhorrent to Him and brings His curse.PK 651.2–652.1+1 Justice and equality in dealing with workers are required, with no self-serving worldly business methods and no unsanctified dealing that creates burdens and perplexities, but justice and mercy revealed, employers fearing God and workers free from unfaithfulness and transgression.Lt 32, 1875, par. 40–43+1

The condemnation also falls on mistreatment of the widow and the fatherless and on turning aside the stranger from his right, including neglect of the needy, trampling on rights, and oppression of the poor and vulnerable.Lt 36, 1888, par. 11+2 It reaches professed Christians who for gain use unjust practices to take advantage of another's ignorance, weakness or misfortune, with such gain counted as fraud.PK 651.2–652.1 The cries of widows and fatherless children rise to heaven as testimony against unfaithful stewards, and caring for the poor and suffering is a duty given to His people rather than work to be done by proxy.Ms 105, 1899, par. 14–16+1 Serving Christ requires tender sympathy and care for those He values, since neglect and turning the stranger from his right do not meet divine approval.COL 383.3

Not fearing God means neglecting through lack of love and fear to follow every specification of His Word, rejecting His ways to follow one's own impulses, and refusing to heed many warnings and much light.Lt 70, 1893, par. 11+2 The third chapter must be studied and practiced to escape sure visitation and avoid being found committing robbery toward God.Lt 70, 1893, par. 11 Fearing Him instead means choosing poverty and hard work rather than profit gained by oppressing the vulnerable.PK 651.2–652.1 Parents who turn from truth and restraint and fail to guide children in the love and fear of God are accountable for leading them by influence and example toward disobedience and loss.Ms 69a, 1896, par. 8–10

These deeds are fruits of unrighteousness, passionate temper, selfishness and covetousness, with covetousness described as idolatry, and the guilty deserve to be consumed in sin.Ms 93, 1898, par. 13–15+1 The judgment exposes worldly policy and worldly dealing brought into the church, unholy trafficking in sacred things which the Lord hates, making merchandise of souls bought with precious blood, and selling the church to the world by worldly principles.Ms 16, 1902, par. 13–15 Those accepted as His subjects must cherish and hold up before the world His high, holy, uplifting and sanctifying principles of truth instead of being converted to worldly policy.Ms 16, 1902, par. 13–15 The warning also belongs to the Lord's coming to purify His people and restore righteous worship, bearing on worldly dealing and selfishness in the church and on robbery toward God and neglect of the needy.Ms 142, 1903, par. 123–125+1

The chapter teaches that the tithe belongs to the Lord and is to be brought into His storehouse to support the ministry.Ms 82, 1904, par. 12–13+2 Faithfulness in paying the tithe into His treasury gives an abundant supply that encourages laborers and enables more men to give themselves to ministerial work instead of being kept back by a depleted treasury.6T 387.3–388.1+1 Lack of supply comes when selfish hearts and hands divert the tithe to support other lines of work, and refusal by church members to give tithes and offerings as required places them under His disapproval.7MR 137.4+1 The verse gives warning and instruction in righteousness for every soul, showing the Lord still testing whether people will prove faithful servants.Lt 38, 1902, par. 19–21+1

Knowingly disregarding that requirement is robbery toward God.Lt 38, 1902, par. 19–21+2 Withholding tithes and offerings reserved for spreading Scripture and the news of salvation to those in spiritual darkness obstructs the advance of His work.6T 387.3–388.1+1 Withholding what is due to ease self-indulgence leaves undone what the Lord requires, makes a judgment record the selfish will not want to meet, and can bring His curse.Ms 144, 1897, par. 29–30+2 Those who so withhold will face the consequences described in the coming near to judgment as a swift witness against wrongdoing.Lt 38, 1902, par. 19–21+1

Withholding from the Lord what belongs to Him makes entrusted wealth a curse.9T 53.3+1 Those means are to advance His work by sending the gospel throughout the world, and withholding them obstructs that sending.9T 53.3+2 God will reckon with everyone living on earth for how property, time, strength, and abilities entrusted to them are used, and reward will accord with works.9T 53.3+1 The whole world must answer to God in the great day of judgment, when each person receives sentence according to deeds.6T 387.3–388.1+2

Faithfulness is a test of gratitude and loyalty, calling all to consider His goodness, respond to His mercy, and prove loyalty by bringing all the tithes into His storehouse.RH Feb 4, 1902+1 Those who honor Him with their substance and deal faithfully with Him receive blessing financially and spiritually.RH Feb 4, 1902+1 Those who receive the message are to be educators instructing others how to receive His blessing, and when all come into harmonious action they will see His salvation.RH Feb 4, 1902+1 Those who take for themselves the portion He reserved lose both what is withheld and what was given as their own.RH Feb 4, 1902+1

God also requires bringing tithes and offerings, caring for the poor, ministering to the widow and the fatherless, and dealing justly with the hireling and the stranger.Ms 106, 1893, par. 3–4+1 Caring for the poor and suffering is a duty given to His people, not work to be done by proxy.Ms 106, 1893, par. 3–4+1 He claims the Sabbath for Himself as a day set apart from toil for holy communion and contemplation of His power and love in creation and redemption.Ms 106, 1893, par. 3–4 Forsaking these ordinances and trampling the Sabbath is marked robbery of God, and willful disregard robs the sinner of rich blessing, brings a curse, and separates from God the source of good.Ms 106, 1893, par. 3–4

Means obtained by dishonest practices or by oppression of the poor cannot be made acceptable by bringing an offering to ease conscience.Ms 99, 1893, par. 9–12+1 Money gained by pressing a laborer's pay as low as possible is oppression and fraud even when given to God's work, and such an offering is abhorrent and brings His curse.COL 371.2+1 Those who offer it dishonor Him and He cannot accept their gifts.Ms 99, 1893, par. 9–12+1 Selfish use of entrusted wealth that fails to relieve suffering or help save souls robs Him of the glory due to Him, and justice and equality in dealing with workers is required.Ms 99, 1893, par. 9–12+2

The warning against oppression applies to treating God-given knowledge and resources as private property for personal gain and using them to exploit others.Ms 109, 1902, par. 4–6+2 There must be no self-serving, worldly business methods and no unsanctified dealing that creates burdens and perplexities, but justice and mercy revealed.Ms 109, 1902, par. 4–6+1 Employers are to fear God and workers to be free from unfaithfulness and transgression.Ms 109, 1902, par. 4–6+1 Misusing His resources and neglecting acts of mercy is robbery to be examined, for everyone will soon be judged according to deeds, including every unchristlike word and action.Ms 109, 1902, par. 4–6+1

The warning falls on many who claim to belong to the Lord, for the wrongs named — sorcery, adultery, false oaths, withholding workers' wages, mistreating widows and orphans, denying strangers their rights, and not fearing God — are brought as charges against His professed people who have failed in faithfulness.Ms 37, 1896, par. 8–10+2 It reaches church members and professed Christians who use unjust practices to take advantage of another's ignorance, weakness, or misfortune, and it warns even commandment keepers against being partial in the law and neglecting its living principles.Ms 26, 1896, par. 11–13+1 Such gain is fraud before God, and fearing Him means choosing poverty and hard work rather than profit that oppresses the vulnerable.PK 651.2–652.1 Restoration and a return to God must come before He accepts repentance or heals the harm sin has caused, so the verse calls for reformation and transformation of character with practical right doing shaping daily life.Ms 37, 1896, par. 8–10+1

Dishonesty and injustice have no place in God's institutions, for His work is to be carried out in equity and righteousness.Lt 223, 1904, par. 23–25 Misusing the Lord's resources and neglecting acts of mercy is robbery and must be examined, since everyone will soon be judged according to deeds, including every unchristlike word and action.Ms 109, 1902, par. 4–6

God's people have duties plainly stated in the chapter, but spiritual blindness can keep them from seeing them.Ms 24, 1901, par. 34–36 Minds and hearts must be cleansed and renewed so they can recognize good and evil and carry out God's commands.Ms 24, 1901, par. 34–36 Those who receive the message are to be educators who instruct others how to receive God's blessing, with promise of financial and spiritual blessing to those who deal faithfully with Him, and when all come into harmonious action they will see the salvation of God.Ms 38a, 1905, par. 33

The chapter is a call to unconverted people, backsliders, and those burdened by sin to turn to God, exposing sorcery, adultery, false swearing, oppression of workers, widows and orphans, denial of strangers' rights, and failure to fear God as offenses for which He will testify.Lt 44, 1876, par. 9–10 Those who rob Him in tithes and offerings cannot come to His house and receive His blessing while continuing in that course.Ms 147, 1901, par. 44–45 God is in earnest with them, expecting them to stop murmuring and complaining, to cooperate with Him in saving souls, to help plant His standard in places that have never heard the truth, and to practice self-denial by denying self, taking up the cross and following the Master, laying out no money unnecessarily, that the work in foreign fields may go forward in return for the life He gave for them.Ms 147, 1901, par. 44–45

The drawing near to judge those who reject His ways and follow their own impulses reaches parents who turn from truth and restraint and fail to guide their children in the love and fear of God, making them accountable for the influence and example by which they lead their children toward disobedience and loss.Ms 69a, 1896, par. 8–10 It also falls on those responsible for publishing houses who dishonor God by allowing objectionable material and refusing to humble themselves and obey His will when He comes near in judgment against those who refuse to repent.Ms 18, 1904, par. 28–29

The condemnation of those who oppress the widow, the orphan, and the hired worker is exemplified in Judas, who pretended to care for the poor while stealing money intended to help them.DA 563.2–564.1