Malachi 3:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Those who are innocent lament by saying, ‘We have acted wickedly, we have strayed from Your commandments,’ while those with a multitude of sins boast that they have ‘kept His decrees!’ This observation serves to remind us to shun such pride and to adopt a spirit of humility.

He admonishes them for their unbridled speech and for their complaints spoken improperly: "Your words," He states, "are a burden to Me." The nature of their complaints is revealed in the phrase, “Reste: he that worketh in vanity is vanity to God,” indicating that there is no benefit in striving to uphold "His keeping," meaning the commandments of the law. Furthermore, you futilely claim to be His "prayer-worker," that is, to intercede for others. This truth is evident regarding the Almighty God as He addresses the Israelites. However, it’s paramount to understand the context behind the transgressions of those who spoke these words. God ruled over many nations but selected one—Israel—as His chosen inheritance (Deuteronomy 32:9). Having claimed them as His own, He provided them with the law for their guidance and blessed them through the prophets. In response, foolish Israel chose to worship the celestial bodies, served idols, and proclaimed to mere statues, "You are our gods" (4 Kings 17:16). Justly incensed by such egregious acts, the Supreme God chastised them in numerous ways, calling them to repentance through famines, devastating winds, fruitless seasons, plagues, and locusts. He sought to strike them with a strong hand and, through measured anger, to urge them towards righteousness and a love for the True God. Since these moderate chastisements were ineffective, as they remained firmly entrenched in wickedness, He led them into exile under Babylonian rule. Yet, by His grace, when they were restored to Judah, built a city, and erected a temple, they reverted to neglect, failing to honor their vows and disregarding the laws concerning tithes and offerings. When they approached sacrificial worship, they did so with reluctance and offered animals that were lame, blind, and sick. Although they committed these unrighteous acts, God did not send them hunger or barrenness in punishment. However, instead of returning to serve the Lord, whom they had offended, they made reckless allegations against Him. Observing neighboring nations that, devoid of the Lord, worshipped idols and thrived in prosperity, they irrationally declared, "Vanity to God who works; what benefit is there since we keep His law?" They claimed, "We are in distress and under punishment; we have been taken captive despite always serving the Almighty." In contrast, those who do not serve Him appear to suffer no punishment or misfortune. Thus, they proclaimed, “We bless those who are foreign to us,” while asserting, "The wicked prosper and resist God, yet are saved." Indeed, there are many who oppose the glory of God, errantly offering sacrifices to idols and to wood, declaring, “You are my gods, and to the stone, you have brought me forth” (Jer. 2:27). “These statements,” the Lord notes, “come from those who fear Him." This reflects a grave indictment of slander and serves as a definitive testimony of profound frailty, as the words emerging from a disturbed mind and the vitriol from a misguided soul constitute all forms of denunciation against the Lord. That He does not merely passively hear these utterances but actively listens is evidenced in His declaration: “And the Lord heard and gave heed,” for “the Spirit of the Lord fills the entire universe and encompasses all thoughts, hearing every voice” (Prem. 1:7). If any statement is made anywhere against His divine majesty, it is indeed burdensome for Him, though He, in His forbearance, endures all. Hence, He declared, “Your words weigh heavily upon Me.” Consequently, even in our trials, through which the Lord disciplines us for our good, we must not succumb to despair nor believe that such a benevolent God disregards the righteous. Instead, we should strive not to offend Him, seek His favor, and implore His mercy. And if any sinners find themselves enjoying worldly prosperity and temporal blessings, it is vital to attribute the Lord’s forbearance towards them to the mysterious workings of His Providence, which transcend our understanding.

And they shall be Mine, declares the Lord of hosts, My treasured possession on the day I will create, and I will show compassion to them as a father shows compassion to his son who serves him. Then you will again discern the distinction between the righteous and the wicked.... ...and you shall tread upon the wicked, for they shall be like dust beneath your feet on the day I will create, declares the Lord of hosts (Malachi 3:17-4:3). This is known as the day of judgment.

The prophet elaborates further on this sentiment, for it appears that the people who returned from Babylon acknowledged God, kept His law, offered sacrifices for transgressions, paid tithes, and observed the Sabbath, along with other commandments of God. However, upon witnessing that the neighboring nations flourished while they suffered from hunger, poverty, and various miseries, they were tempted frequently to doubt and said, “What rewards can I expect from honoring the one true God, rejecting idols with contempt, and approaching Him in anguish, fully conscious of my sins?” This idea is expressed more fully in the seventy-second Psalm.

Thus, the prophet, acting as a spiritual healer, tends to all wounds and addresses the removal of their blasphemous words directed at the Creator. He speaks on behalf of God, stating: “Your words have increased against Me” or “They have been weighed down,” as noted in the prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 5:7-8), where falsehood rests upon a talent of lead, and what is uttered against God is burdened as if weighed down by a heavy load of blasphemies. Yet, they, failing to comprehend the severity and damaging nature of their words, inquire, “What have we uttered against You?” The Lord responds, “You have declared, ‘Serving God is in vain, and there is no profit in keeping His commandments.’”

They seek rewards for their service to God in this life, but such rewards elude them. They have approached the presence of God with sorrowful faces, as noted in the Psalms: “All day long I will walk in sorrow” (Psalms 37:7). Hence, we view the arrogant as blessed, those who defiantly oppose God and arrogantly swear before Him with wicked words, yet they prosper after their transgressions, enjoying various forms of abundance despite their blasphemies. Although they may tempt or oppose God, they remain unscathed.

Consequently, the Jews perceive peace in this life as true happiness, leading them into grave error. This principle can be applied to heretics like Marcion and Valentinus, as well as others who reject the Old Testament and speak against the Creator. These individuals may find success in their wickedness and possess numerous accomplices in their crimes. Such are the deceived, who linger in the Church yet remain oblivious to the judgment of God, and they take the prophet’s words above as referring to these heretics, lamenting on behalf of the people.