3:1 Behold, I will send my a messenger, and he shall prepare
the way before me: and the b Lord, whom ye seek, shall
suddenly come to his temple, even the c messenger of the
covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith
the LORD of hosts.
(a) This is meant of John the Baptist, as Christ interprets
it; (Lu 7:27).
(b) Meaning, the Messiah, as in (Ps 40:17 Da 9:17,25).
(c) That is, Christ, by whom the covenant was made and
ratified, who is called the angel or messenger of the
covenant, because he reconciles us to his Father, and is
Lord or King, because he has the rule of his Church.
3:2 But who d may abide the day of his coming? and who shall
stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner's fire,
and like fullers' soap:
(d) He shows that the hypocrites who wish so much for the
Lord's coming will not remain when he draws near: for he
will consume them, and purge his own and make them
clean.
3:3 And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and
he shall purify the sons of e Levi, and purge them as gold
and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in
righteousness.
(e) He begins at the priests, that they might be lights, and
shine unto others.
3:6 For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of
Jacob f are not consumed.
(f) They murmured against God, because they did not see his
help which was ever present to defend them: and
therefore he accuses them of ingratitude, and shows that
in that they are not daily consumed, it is a sign that
he still defends them, and so his mercy towards them
never changes.
3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from
mine ordinances, and have not kept [them]. g Return unto
me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But
ye said, Wherein shall we return?
3:8 Will a h man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say,
Wherein have we robbed thee? In i tithes and offerings.
(h) There are none of the heathen so barbarous, that will
defraud their gods of their honour, or deal deceitfully
with them.
(i) By which the service of God should have been maintained,
and the priests and the poor relieved.
3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may
be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the
LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of
heaven, and pour you out a blessing, k that [there shall]
not [be room] enough [to receive it].
(k) Not having respect how much you need, but I will give
you in all abundance, so that you will lack place to
put my blessings in.
3:11 And I will rebuke the l devourer for your sakes, and he
shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall
your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field,
saith the LORD of hosts.
(l) Meaning the caterpillar, and whatever destroys corn and
fruits.
3:13 Your words have been stout m against me, saith the LORD.
Yet ye say, What have we spoken [so much] against thee?
(m) The Prophet condemns them of double blasphemy against
God: first, in that they said that God had no respect
for those that served him, and next, that the wicked
were more in his favour than the godly.
3:15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work
wickedness are set up; yea, [they that] tempt God are even
n delivered.
(n) They are not only preferred to honour, but also
delivered from dangers.
3:16o Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to
another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a p
book of remembrance was written before him for them that
feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
(o) After these admonitions of the Prophet, some were
strongly touched, and encouraged others to fear God.
(p) Both because the thing was strange that some turned to
God in that great and universal corruption, and also
that this might be an example of God's mercies to all
repentant sinners.
3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that
day q when I make up my jewels; and I will r spare
them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
(q) When I will restore my Church according to my promise,
they will be as my own proper goods.
(r) That is, forgive their sins, and govern them with my
Spirit.
