Malachi 3:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Yet, God has clearly indicated that a transformation to a more glorious existence awaits those in the priestly office when Christ renews them in life and leads them to righteous conduct.

Moreover, He will not accept those who are devoted to wickedness or honor them with accolades; instead, He will condemn and discipline those who live unrighteously, as He reveals in His declaration: “and I will come to you with judgement,” meaning He will arrive as the Judge, “and I will be a witness of tribulation.” This signifies His self-initiated action rather than a summons from others, as He will dispense justice to the unrighteous and render verdicts without an advocate for their transgressions, embodying divine knowledge of both overt and hidden sins, with their own consciences bearing testimony against them.

The Apostle Paul also affirmed that all individuals on earth will stand before the Judgment Seat (2 Cor. 5:10), where they will “judge or answer among themselves by their own thoughts, in the day when God shall judge in secret by man, according to my gospel, Jesus Christ” (Rom. 2:15-17). Observe how those who have sinned, in both concealed and open ways, must appear for judgment. Initially, he mentions ‘sorcerers and adulterers,’ followed by ‘those who kneel in falsehood.’ Such acts are typically hidden, as one would not openly practice sorcery or seek to be seen in an adulterous act. Individuals who commit perjury usually attempt to mask their offenses. King David rebukes them for their thoughtlessness, urging, “But consider, ye fools in men, and the foolish, and the foolish once, be wise: He that planteth an ear, shall he not hear? Or he that maketh an eye, shall he not see?” (Psalm 93:8-9). Nothing escapes God's gaze; He alone comprehends the depths of invisible and visible evils.

The aforementioned sins are often committed in secrecy, like shadows; however, He also points out open transgressions, such as denying a laborer his wages, oppression, and exploitation of the vulnerable—widows and orphans. Ultimately, He also condemns those who challenge righteous judgment and live without reverence for Him. Individuals who offend God in various ways beyond those previously mentioned fall under this same scrutiny. Thus, He asserts: “I will be a judge and a witness” against ‘sorcerers and adulterers’ and others who commit evil. It is likely that, during that time, some had the audacity to engage in such deeds, inciting many to speak blasphemer's words against God (Malachi 2:17). Consequently, we must earnestly evade all forms of evil and strive towards righteousness, actively pursuing actions that garner commendation and goodness. In doing so, one can also evade the divine wrath awaiting habitual sinners, receiving instead the rewards and glory bestowed by God upon those who cherish Him.

I will come to you for judgment, and I will swiftly bear witness against the evildoers, against the adulterers, and those who falsely swear by My name, who exploit the hired worker, oppress widows forcefully, and turn away orphans, misjudging the foreigner; they do not fear Me, says the Lord Almighty. For I am the Lord your God, and I do not change."

This raises a question from those who claim, "All who do evil are good in the sight of God, and they are acceptable to Him; if they are not, then where is the God of justice toward them?" Essentially, they question the truth of divine judgment. To address this inquiry, the Lord's word provides the response: "I will send my messenger ahead of You to prepare Your way, and the Lord you seek, who is the judge of truth, will come to His temple." This is echoed in the Psalm: "O God, give Your judgment to the king and Your righteousness to the king's son" (Psalm 71:1), for, "The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son" (John 5:22). He is the Messenger of the covenant you seek, who finds evil unacceptable, one who judges not by outward appearances (Col. 3:25), unwavering in mercy and justice. The cup in the Lord's hand is filled with pure, unadulterated wine, symbolizing His balance of mercy and justice. Therefore, He will soon arrive at His temple, that is, His Church. Who can fathom the day of His coming? If no one can withstand His might, who can truly gaze upon Him, especially with eyes almost shut, and behold the brilliance of the Sun of righteousness who brings salvation? He comes like a consuming fire and like the grass of the launderers, with fire blazing from His countenance and a powerful storm surrounding Him (Psalm 49:4).

He will summon heaven and earth to judge His people, with streams of fire encompassing all sinners, pulling them before Him. The Lord is referred to as fire and a consuming flame (Deuteronomy 4:11, 12), like chaff and stubble. Yet, He is not just fire but also the cleansing herb for clothiers, known in Hebrew as borith (בורית), which the Seventy render as πόαν from πόα, the grass of launderers. He is the refining fire for those who have committed serious sins, and the herb for those with lesser transgressions, to bring them back to purity, as proclaimed in Isaiah: "The Lord has cleansed the iniquity of the daughters and sons of Zion and purified the blood from their midst with the spirit of judgment and the spirit of fire" (Isaiah 4:4). Those in filth require the spirit of judgment for cleansing, while those stained with blood need the spirit of fire to destroy the exterior contamination.

He will refine as one who melts and purifies silver, as stated by the prophet Ezekiel—what is mixed in our gold and silver (the soul and words) intertwined with less noble metals will be subjected to the crucible of the Lord, resulting in pure gold and silver. Therefore, the Lord also declares in the Gospel, "I have come to bring fire upon the earth, and oh how I wish it were already kindled" (Luke 12:49). He will purify the children of Levi, for judgment begins at the household of God (1 Pet. 4:17), where it also states, "Start with My sanctified ones" (Ezek. 9:6). The sons of Levi represent all priestly roles. If the priests must be cleansed and purified, leading to the retention of pure gold and silver, what then of the others? Once cleansed, they will offer righteous sacrifices to the Lord, which shall be received as acceptable by the holy priesthood on behalf of Judah and Jerusalem—those who genuinely seek the Lord and mentally contemplate His peace. "As in the days of ages past," implying that as they were initially pleasing to God, so after repentance, they can be renewed in His favor when they are cleansed of all defilement.

He states, "I will come to you for judgment, and I will be a quick witness." What a dreadful judgment it will be when He serves as both accuser and adjudicator, exposing evildoers and adulterers, for these sins are covert and will be brought to light so they may be no longer hidden. Villains are labeled adulterers, adulterers are called false swearers, and those who falsify wages of laborers, avoiding fair payment, will be reckoned as guilty. They also may deceive widows and orphans, oppressing strangers—those yet to be citizens in God’s kingdom through Christ; and even if they haven't committed all these acts, one sin alone suffices to warrant punishment: a lack of reverence for God. Thus, we cannot consider false oaths, underpayment of laborers, mistreatment of orphans and widows, or oppression of strangers to be insignificant offenses, for such acts equate to wickedness and betrayals akin to poisoning and adultery.

What has been articulated applies both to historical events and metaphorically to the present state, signifying that what was once addressed to Jewish leaders now pertains to the Church's shepherds. The statement, "I am the Lord, and I do not change," is reiterated by Him to clarify that despite His appearances as fire or a messenger, the essence of the Godhead remains unaltered.

ing to pay them; in essence, I will confront anyone who unjustly governs those who grieve for orphans and widows, who render biased judgments against strangers, and who disregard My divine justice; I will not permit the unjust to go unpunished.

24:14-15), either withholding wages or completely denying them; against those who wrong widows and orphans, whom the Lord threatened in His law, declaring that their spouses would be widowed and their children left parentless (Exodus 22:24); against those who disregard the rights of the stranger, meaning judges who mistreat foreigners residing in Israel, whether as citizens or temporary residents, when they commit offenses against native Israelites; and fundamentally, against all who live without the fear of God—who engage in transgressions due to the lack of reverence for the Almighty. Such lawless individuals will be revealed and judged by the Messiah, who will not only enact punishment on the day of reckoning following death and the final judgment, but also in the here and now, by placing them under the dominion of foreign powers.