Corrupt Priests
Category: Failure of holiness
Could endure: Honor God with pure offerings.
“For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty.” (Malachi 2:7)
Cross-Refs: Leviticus 21:6; Ezekiel 44:23.
Chose wrongly: Offered defiled sacrifices, despised God’s name.
“You place defiled food on my altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’” (Malachi 1:7)
Cross-Refs: Leviticus 22:8–9; Matthew 23:27.
Endured (negatively): Rejected by God.
“Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar!” (Malachi 1:10)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 1:13; Revelation 2:5.
Why (wrong motive): Greed, contempt for God.
“But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled.’” (Malachi 1:12)
Cross-Refs: Ezekiel 22:26; 1 Samuel 2:29.
Result: Cursed blessings, shamed.
“I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them.” (Malachi 2:2)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 28:15; Hosea 4:6.
Unfaithful People
Category: Failure of covenant loyalty
Could endure: Remain faithful in marriage and covenant with God.
“Guard yourself in your spirit, and do not be unfaithful.” (Malachi 2:16)
Cross-Refs: Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:6.
Chose wrongly: Broke faith with spouses and with God.
“You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.” (Malachi 2:14)
Cross-Refs: Hosea 2:2; Matthew 5:32.
Endured (negatively): Brought grief, dishonor, covenant curses.
“So guard yourself in your spirit and do not be unfaithful.” (Malachi 2:16)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 2:16–17; Hebrews 13:4.
Why (wrong motive): Lust, spiritual apathy.
“Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the LORD loves by marrying women who worship a foreign god.” (Malachi 2:11)
Cross-Refs: Nehemiah 13:27; 2 Corinthians 6:14.
Result: Cut off from covenant blessings.
“As for the man who does this… may the LORD remove him from the tents of Jacob.” (Malachi 2:12)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 28:63; Galatians 6:7.
Robbing God
Category: Failure of stewardship
Could endure: Bring full tithes and offerings.
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.” (Malachi 3:10a)
Cross-Refs: Leviticus 27:30; 2 Corinthians 9:7.
Chose wrongly: Withheld tithes and offerings.
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.” (Malachi 3:8)
Cross-Refs: Proverbs 3:9; Acts 5:1–4.
Endured (negatively): Experienced curse and lack.
“You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me.” (Malachi 3:9)
Cross-Refs: Haggai 1:9–11; James 4:3.
Why (wrong motive): Greed, distrust of God’s provision.
“You have spoken arrogantly against me.” (Malachi 3:13)
Cross-Refs: Deuteronomy 8:17–18; Luke 12:15.
Result: Loss of blessing until repentance.
“Test me in this… and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven.” (Malachi 3:10b)
Cross-Refs: 2 Corinthians 9:8; Philippians 4:19.
Weariness in Worship
Category: Failure of reverence
Could endure: Honor God with joy and fear.
“My name will be great among the nations.” (Malachi 1:11)
Cross-Refs: Psalm 100:2; John 4:23–24.
Chose wrongly: Treated worship as a burden.
“You say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously.” (Malachi 1:13)
Cross-Refs: Isaiah 43:22; Matthew 23:23.
Endured (negatively): Worship despised by God.
“I am not pleased with you… and I will accept no offering from your hands.” (Malachi 1:10)
Cross-Refs: Amos 5:21–23; Revelation 3:16.
Why (wrong motive): Disdain for God’s greatness.
“You profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled.’” (Malachi 1:12)
Cross-Refs: Ezekiel 22:26; Hebrews 12:28.
Result: Shame and rejection until purified.
“Who can endure the day of his coming?… For he will be like a refiner’s fire.” (Malachi 3:2)
Cross-Refs: 1 Corinthians 3:13; Revelation 21:27.