Malachi 2:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The law was given to the ancestors, the descendants of Levi, reflecting the guidance of Christ and serving as an image and prefiguration of the ultimate truth. Christ embodies this truth, for He is life and peace, as acknowledged in Ephesians and the Gospel of John, and He is represented through the shadows of Moses. Hence, He expressed to the Jewish people, “If you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.” He was foreshadowed by the sacrificial lamb, offered in the first month on the fourteenth day, whose blood saved those who marked their doorposts, as narrated in Exodus. He was also symbolized by the red and unblemished heifer, whose ashes, mixed with water, purified the unclean, as stated in Hebrews. Furthermore, He was foreshadowed by unleavened bread, by turtledoves, and the young of doves, embodying the entire law filled with reflections of Christ. He truly calls it a covenant of life and peace because, through Him, we are renewed and gain access to God the Father, securing peace through our obedience and faith. “And I will give him fear to fear me, and for my name, he shall be in awe.” It is beneficial to consider the glorious privileges granted by the priesthood through the sacred law; it principally instilled in the ministers a profound reverence for God, prompting them to honor His name thoughtfully, cultivating a genuine respect for Him as a sincere endeavor rather than a superficial act. What could be more esteemed than this? For it is written, “Fear the Lord, and you will find good,” and “The fear of the Lord is glory and praise.” Thus, the holy and righteous priesthood testifies to the enduring strength of the priesthood. They were not only afraid, but they experienced a deep reverent fear, acknowledging the divine presence with all their heart and soul; the repetition and emphasis of these words serve to highlight the steadfast character of those praised for their virtues.

Yet at the conclusion, the Lord states: "You have made the covenant with Levi of no effect." This clearly signifies that Levi refers to the priestly line, particularly the high priests. In the book of Numbers, we find the account of Phinehas, who, in his zeal, struck down the chief of the tribe of Simeon along with the Midianite woman. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron the high priest, turned away My wrath from the Israelites because he was zealous for Me rather than for them; thus, I did not destroy the children of Israel in My passion. Therefore, I shall grant him a covenant of peace, to be his and his descendants' as an everlasting priesthood, because he exhibited zeal for his God and stood in the gap for the children of Israel (Num. 25:8-13). By the covenant of life, we do not refer to that life which is shared among humans and animals, but to the promise of the Life that declares, "I am life" (John 16:6). Our life with Christ is hidden in God (Col. 3:3), and we can rightly say He is our peace, as confirmed by the Apostle: "For He is our peace" (Eph. 2:14). Hence, the Lord ordained that Levi and his descendants would revere God, for the beginning of wisdom is indeed the fear of the Lord (Ps. 110:10). They shall tremble before Him, demonstrating humility by their outward trembling, as it is written, "On whom will I look but on him who is humble, and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My word" (Is. 66:2). The law of truth shall be upon his lips, meaning the instruction for the people will not be corrupted by falsehood, deriving instead from the true Source. Deceit will not be found on his tongue, mirroring his Lord, of whom it is said, "Who committed no sin; nor was deceit found in His mouth" (1 Pet. 2:22). He walked in righteousness and peace with Me, embodying inner peace and reconciling others, and he judged without favoritism. He walked closely with God, as Enoch did, who was taken by the Lord and did not return (Gen. 15:24). Many will turn from their iniquity through his guidance. A priest who fails to correct those who falter undermines the very purpose of the priesthood. The mouth of the priest shall preserve knowledge—not merely serve it—meaning he will speak timely words and nourish those under his care. The law shall be sought from his mouth, as stated in the prophet Haggai: "Ask the priests concerning the law of the Lord" (Haggai 2:12). It is the priest's responsibility to provide answers about the law. He who covers for those who embrace ignorance and neglect the knowledge found in the sacred Scriptures futilely boasts of a lofty position whose duties he fails to embrace. This is precisely what the Apostle conveys to Titus: "He must hold firmly to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it" (Titus 1:9), and to Timothy: "And from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, and to reprove, rebuking, and exhorting with all long-suffering" (2 Timothy 3:15). Following this, it is said: "For he is the angel of the Lord of Hosts." Ezra, the priest, highlights the meaning of his name, Malachi, which denotes Angel of the Lord. The priest of God is referred to as an angel or messenger in the fullest sense, for he mediates between God and humanity, declaring His will to the people. This is why the word of judgment is placed on the priest’s breast, as seen in the rituals (Ex. 29), signifying that the priest is meant to be both a scholar and a proclaimer of Divine truth. Some mistakenly think that all which was said to Levi, and through him to the priests, should be applied solely to Christ, neglecting the fact that the subsequent prophetic words do not align with the nature of Christ.