Malachi 2:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This directive from the law signifies that all of us who commit ourselves to God through our spiritual devotion should be consecrated and sanctified, as we present offerings that are free from impurities. The shoulder, in this context, can symbolize strength or a stronghold. It is aptly declared through the verse of the Psalmist, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name” (Psalm 102:1), emphasizing the importance of being both robust and courageous in our good works.

Regarding the internal organs of sacrificial animals and the proper administration of offerings as dictated by the law, we have explored these topics in other texts. Thus, we will focus on elucidating the words at hand. The law mandated the examination of the sacrifices for defects, instructing that unexamined offerings should not be presented at the altar, and that parts of the offerings were to be allocated to those designated for the priesthood. However, the priests failed to fulfill these requirements, neglecting to inspect the sacrifices and instead seeking to please their own preferences by choosing parts of the offerings that seemed most advantageous for themselves. This disregard leads to condemnation, as expressed in the rebuke: “Behold, I will reject you from among My people.” “I have already rejected,” he states, signifying a commitment to uphold this ordinance. By dishonoring the altar, they incur further reproach, as it is asserted, “He who dishonors Me will be dishonored” (1 Sam. 2:30). He continues, “I will not accept your offerings,” indicating that He will remain steadfast in revealing the wickedness present among them. Since they adhere rigidly to their own standards and neglect the acknowledgment of faults as trivial, they must realize that the gates of service are closed to them (Malachi 1:10), signifying their exclusion from divine worship.

“I have delivered this commandment or covenant to the Levites”—what does this entail? The servants at the divine altars must recognize that it is imperative to act in accordance with God's will, returning anything that seems otherwise beneficial in light of the Lord’s commandments, thereby fulfilling their roles as holy ministers rather than seekers of fleeting gains or shameful profits.

He states that He will scatter the substance from your offerings across your faces, symbolizing the rejection of what is unclean; this serves as a figurative representation of the priests’ receipt of the right shoulder, the breast, the tongue, and the innards, as outlined in Leviticus. Due to their sins, He announces that all these portions will be cast back at the priests, signifying that the offering shall be treated as common. This rejection will be evident, resulting in shame upon their faces, as a direct consequence of being forsaken by the One who chose Levi and then Aaron, bestowing upon them the honor of the priesthood, so that His covenant with Levi may be honored and he may serve in the eternal priesthood.

It is important to note that the Hebrew term 'brith' is rendered by Aquila as 'synthēkē', meaning contract, while the Seventy consistently translate it as 'diathēkē', which signifies covenant and oftentimes denotes a living promise rather than one made by the deceased. God desires all individuals, particularly the priests, to remain free from defilement and to adorn themselves with good deeds. The breast symbolizes a clear conscience, while the tongue represents a good confession, affirming the belief in truth with the heart, and leading to salvation with our spoken words.

Furthermore, the innards of an animal should not be viewed as deadly but rather as essential for sustenance and life. If one were unable to digest food, their strength would diminish, hastening their demise. Yet we often act contrary to this understanding, provoking God to withdraw His support, separating our actions from those of the righteous and those commanded to maintain purity in both body and spirit, especially during times of ritual observance. Today, we lament, "The shame of my face has covered me," and like Cain, we bear the mark of our transgressions, thwarting our ability to heed the command to "Lift up your eyes and see." Instead, our faces are stained by the grime of our vices, prompting us to declare, "My wounds are rotten and emit a foul odor due to my folly."

Consequently, all these transgressions result in uncleanness, as the Scripture proclaims, "Uncleanness shall encompass you as a shroud," precisely what has tarnished our countenance. We ought to present ourselves pure during the Lord’s feasts, be it by consuming the lamb with our shoes on, or by celebrating the appointed festivals, or after the completion of the seven weeks by dedicating the fruits of our labor to God, or by recognizing ourselves as pilgrims in this world, echoing the sentiment of our ancestors. The Seventy have translated "And I will gather you together" to suggest that following their disgrace, once the priests acknowledge their wrongdoing and turn back to God, they will indeed find acceptance with Him. This interpretation resonates with the understanding that “You shall know that I am the one who sent this command.” This perspective seems to reflect the true essence of the message, avoiding the unnecessary intertwining of dire warnings with tones of mercy, particularly given the subsequent expression of divine indignation presented by the prophet.