Malachi 3:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He points out their reckless speech and their complaints voiced in inappropriate terms: for He says, 'your words are burdensome to me'. The nature of their grievance is encapsulated in the observation, 'Reste: he that worketh in vanity is vanity to God,' indicating that there is no value in striving to maintain 'His keeping,' which refers to the statutes of the law. Additionally, you assert in vain, and to be His 'prayer-worker,' meaning to intercede for someone. It is indeed fitting for the Almighty to make such statements and to hold the Israelites accountable. However, it is crucial to examine the rationale behind the transgressions of those who uttered such things. God had authority over various nations, yet He selected one—Israel—as His chosen people, referred to as His share, heritage, and possession (Deuteronomy 32:9). Having claimed them as His own, He bestowed upon them the law for direction and ensured their welfare through the prophets. How did ungrateful Israel respond? They worshiped celestial bodies, served idols, and addressed inanimate objects with the declaration, 'Ye are our gods' (4 Kings 17:16). Righteously angered by such egregious offenses, the Creator punished them in various ways, calling them to repentance through famines, storms, lack of harvests, plagues, and locusts. His intention was to bring them to their senses with swift retribution and to guide them gently towards a desire for righteousness and the love of the True God. Since they remained steadfast in their wicked ways despite these moderate chastisements, He allowed them to be taken into captivity and fall under Babylonian rule. However, by God's grace, when they were eventually invited back to Judah, rebuilt their city, and established a temple, they relapsed into negligence, breaking their vows and disregarding the law regarding tithes and offerings. They approached sacrifices begrudgingly and offered animals that were lame, blind, and sick. Despite their lawlessness, God did not visit them with famine or barrenness. Rather than returning to a life of righteousness towards the Almighty they had offended, they made irrational accusations against Him. Observing their neighboring Gentiles—who neither honored God nor rejected the allure of idols and delusion, yet lived in prosperity and pleasure—they misguidedly claimed, 'vanity to God who works, and what more, since we keep His keeping?' They lamented their troubles and chastisements, despite their service to the Lord Almighty, while noting that those who neglected such duties faced neither punishment nor misfortune. Consequently, they proclaimed, 'we bless strangers,’ and asserted that 'the wicked prosper despite their defiance, and are even rescued from calamity.' Indeed, numerous are those who, in their folly, resist the glory of God, offering sacrifices to idols, saying, 'God, thou art mine, and to the rock, thou hast given me life’ (Jer. 2:27). 'These things,' he says, 'are uttered by those who fear the Lord.' This clearly indicates a rebuke of their ill speech and serves as evident proof of severe weakness; for their remarks reflect a troubled mind and a God-rejecting outpouring of an intoxicated soul. However, God hears such words not lightly but attentively, as indicated by the declaration: 'And the Lord hearkened, and heard,' for 'the Spirit of the Lord filled the whole universe, and contained all minds, and heard the voice' (Prem. 1:7). Should any phrase ever be directed against His divine majesty, it is grievous and challenging, particularly for Him who is accustomed to exercising patience beyond measure. Therefore, He proclaims: 'your words are heavy upon Me.' Even in adversity, through which God disciplines us for our own good, we should not succumb to despair nor believe that such a benevolent God overlooks the righteous. Rather, we must be vigilant to avoid offending Him and strive to appease Him, seeking His mercy. Should it appear that any sinner enjoys worldly prosperity and temporal blessings, the reason for God's forbearance towards them should be attributed to His providential designs, which surpass our understanding.

I will show compassion towards them, as a father is compassionate to his son who serves him.” Then, you will witness the distinction between the righteous and the wicked… You will tread upon the wicked, who shall be like dust beneath your feet on the day I will prepare, says the Lord of hosts (Malachi 3:17-4:3). This day is known as the day of judgment.

ubled Him?' By asserting, 'All who do evil are considered good in the sight of the Lord, and they seem to find favor with Him,' or by questioning, 'Where is the God of justice?'” The Lord now reiterates this more comprehensively; it appeared that those who returned from Babylon had some knowledge of God, adhering to the law, making atonement for sins, offering tithes, and observing the Sabbath along with other commandments prescribed by the law of God. However, witnessing that the neighboring nations thrived while they suffered from hunger, poverty, and a multitude of hardships, they were tempted to question: “What benefit is there in honoring the one true God, in rejecting idols with disdain, and in approaching God in grief, fully aware of my transgressions?” This sentiment, as previously mentioned, is detailed more articulately in the seventy-second Psalm. Therefore, the prophet, serving as a spiritual healer, addresses all wounds and reveals the removal (like a scab) of blasphemous utterances against the Creator, proclaiming in God's name: “Your words have become more forceful against Me; they have been burdened, as stated in the prophet Zechariah, that falsehood rests on a talent of lead, and what is spoken against God is weighed down as if by a great load of blasphemies.” They, not comprehending the gravity and destructiveness of their words, question, ‘What have we said against You?’ The Lord responds, ‘You have proclaimed, “Serving God is vanity, and what gain is there in observing His commandments.”’ They seek their reward in this life for their devotion to God, yet they do not receive it. They presented themselves before God with sorrowful hearts, according to the Psalms: “All the day long I will walk in sorrow.” Thus, we view the proud as fortunate, and those who defiantly rebel against God, swearing insolently before Him with wicked words; they continue to prosper despite their offenses and enjoy every form of abundance even after defying God. Despite having provoked God, they remain unscathed. Consequently, the Jews perceive temporal peace in this life as true happiness, which leads them astray. This observation can be applied to heretics like Marcion and Valentinus, among others, who reject the Old Testament and speak against the Creator, as these individuals thrive in their wrongdoing and attract many partners in their sin. These are the misled, who persist in the Church yet fail to recognize God's judgment, and they attribute the prophet's lamentations on behalf of the people to these heretics.