But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD.
Not every prophecy is called a burden; this name belongs to words bearing God's judgment. The ungodly used it as a slur, hoping to excuse themselves from listening. Malachi's doctrine is rightly called a burden because the people had fallen into sins that could not be endured, and they stood summoned before God's tribunal.
AI summary
Commenting on Malachi 1:1-14
God has a reckoning to settle with unfaithful ministers before all others. A son honors his father by nature, a servant honors his master by compact; yet these priests, who are both God's children and servants, neither fear nor honor Him. What they do to the least of God's holy things, they do to Him.
AI summary
Commenting on Malachi 1:6-14
Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it?.... These are either the words of the priests, saying what a wearisome and fatiguing business the temple service was to them, for which they thought they were poorly paid; such as slaying the sacrifices; removing the ashes from the altar; putting the wood in order; kindling the fire, and laying the sacrifice on it: or of...