Page 87 - The Minor Prophets - Student textbook

Study Section 16: The Book of Malachi

16.1 Connect

The book of Malachi, the last and most recent Old Testament book, was written to the Jews
living in the land who had again wandered away from their love for the Lord. Their worship
had become rote and meaningless. They had put other interests ahead of the Lord, and
they were NOT giving Him first place in their lives. Malachi addresses the problem with
lukewarmness which can creep into the heart of His followers after a time.

One of the central passages that pastors use from this book is found in chapter 3:8-10 about robbing
God by not tithing. It is cited to motivate church members to be sure to bring their tithe or 10% of their
income to the church. Otherwise, the church member, according to Malachi, is robbing God. Is that
true? Don’t you wonder how Malachi, written over 400 years before the church was even born, told
the people of Israel that they were robbing the church which did not yet exist? Let’s see if we can put
the many verses in Malachi back into the context for which it was written, and clarify the issue….

16.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to describe the purpose of the writing of Malachi.

2. The student should be able to state the audience to whom the book was written.

3. The student should be able to answer the key questions presented in the lesson.

16.3 The Book of Malachi

From https://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Malachi.html

Author: Malachi 1:1 identifies the author of the Book of Malachi as the Prophet Malachi.

Date of Writing: The Book of Malachi was written between 440 and 400 B.C.

Purpose of Writing: The Book of Malachi is an oracle: The word of the Lord to Israel through Malachi
(1:1). This was God’s warning through Malachi to tell the people to turn back to God. As the final book
of the Old Testament closes, the pronouncement of God’s justice and the promise of His restoration
through the coming Messiah is ringing in the ears of the Israelites. Four hundred years of silence
ensues, ending with a similar message from God’s next prophet, John the Baptist, proclaiming, “Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is near” (Matthew 3:2).

Key Verses:

Malachi 1:6, “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor
due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me? says the Lord Almighty. It is you, O priests,
who show contempt for my name. 7By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, 'How have
we polluted you?' By saying that the LORD's table may be despised. 8When you offer blind animals in

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