About Malachi
God's love for his people is unchanged, but he will not be mocked - half-hearted worship and covenant unfaithfulness will be purified by the coming day of the LORD.
"But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays."
Malachi 4:2
Written
circa 450-400 BC
Author
Malachi
Genre
Prophecy / Disputation
Position
39th of 66 books - Final book of the OT Minor Prophets
Authorship
Malachi - meaning my messenger - may be a title rather than a proper name. He was the last of the canonical prophets, ministering to the post-exilic community in Jerusalem during the same general period as Ezra and Nehemiah.
Historical Context
Written after the return from exile, when the initial enthusiasm had faded. The rebuilt temple stood but worship was perfunctory; priests offered blemished animals; people were divorcing their Jewish wives; tithes were withheld; and people questioned whether serving God was worthwhile.
Purpose
To confront a spiritually complacent post-exilic community with God's unchanged love and standards - and to close the OT with a promise of Elijah before the great Day.
Key Message
God's love for his people is unchanged, but he will not be mocked - half-hearted worship and covenant unfaithfulness will be purified by the coming day of the LORD.
Book Structure
Interesting Facts
Malachi is the last prophetic voice in the OT - after him comes 400 years of prophetic silence before John the Baptist.
Malachi 3:1 - See, I send my messenger who will prepare the way before me - is fulfilled in John the Baptist (Matt 11:10).
Malachi 4:5-6 - Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD - creates the expectation Jesus confirms is John the Baptist (Matt 17:12).
Malachi 3:10 is the only place in Scripture where God invites being tested: bring the full tithe... and see if I will not open the windows of heaven.