Malachi 4:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Those who do lawlessness, and resist God, and are saved’ (Malachi 3:15). This is why he asserts that they will be consumed, as they opposed the glory of God and chose to worship created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1:28).

Furthermore, we must consider that idolaters, and in a broader sense those who have estranged themselves from the holy and chosen people, such as heretics, fit into this category. Regarding them, we can fairly assert, ‘They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us’ (1 John 2:19). Having rejected their divine heritage and distanced themselves from the holy race formed ‘for a supply’ (Malachi 3:17)—evidently through faith in Christ—they will serve as sustenance for the all-consuming fire (Malachi 3:17).

God's judgment will likewise be directed at ‘those who practice iniquity,’ regardless of whether they are counted among the believers who truly know Him, who is God in essence and in truth. However, merely believing is not sufficient to absolve them of sin, for ‘faith without works is dead’ (James 2:20). Faith in Christ indeed justifies (Galatians 2:16) and cleanses from past impurities. Yet, if one becomes complacent, yielding to carnal desires, they effectively extinguish their faith, contributing nothing commendable, but instead reverting to their former unrighteous conduct. The apostolic writer also remarks on such individuals: ‘It is better for them not to know the way of righteousness than for those who have known it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them: for the true parable will happen to them: the dog returns to his own vomit, and the swine that was washed returns to wallowing in the mire’ (2 Pet. 2:21-22).

Thus, those who commit iniquity shall stand alongside the outsiders and will likewise be consumed when the fire engulfs them. As the Savior illustrates, the grain is gathered into the barn by the holy harvesters, while the chaff is burned with unquenchable fire (Matt. 13:39-42 cf. 3 & parallels). ‘And there shall not remain of them a root lower than the branch,’ signifying that they will have no hope of renewal to a life that is honorable and glorifying to God, consisting of holiness and blessedness. For when the root is not entirely severed, and the branch remains intact, there exists some hope of regeneration, ‘there is hope for the tree,’ as written (Job 14:7); even after being cut down, it can flourish anew, and its shoots will not cease. However, if it is completely uprooted and its branches entirely severed, it will certainly perish, along with all hope of revival. By using this plant imagery, he highlights the total loss of hope for sinners. The divine prophet Isaiah clearly conveys this with the words, ‘The worm... their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched, and they shall be a disgrace to all flesh’ (Isaiah 66:24).

They have also said that serving God is futile, and questioned the benefit of obeying His commandments and grieving before the Lord of Hosts. The faithful, who fear God and reflect on His name, spoke against such foolish claims, and the Lord took note of them, listening and recording their words as a remembrance for those who fear Him and meditate on His name. He promised that when that day arrives, they will be His treasured possession, and He will spare them as a father spares his obedient son. He emphasizes this further by declaring, a day is coming, referring to the day of judgment that will provide brightness for the saints while darkness envelops the sinners. That day shall be as fiery as a furnace, where all the wicked shall be reduced to chaff, consumed by the flames. When it burns and becomes ash, it will leave behind no trace of their wickedness. This speaks of the judgment the wicked will face. In contrast, those who honor the name of the Lord will receive the opposite: the Sun of righteousness shall rise for you who fear my name, affirming that everything will unfold in accordance with truth, revealing both good and evil, virtue and vice, without concealment. Salvation will be found in His wings, as those healed through repentance will carry them, in accordance with what is written in Deuteronomy: Like an eagle spreading its wings, He will gather them (Deuteronomy 32:11). Those who are currently imprisoned will emerge like calves in the herd, freed from their restraints. This echoes what the apostle expressed, wishing to be free and to be with Christ (Philippians 1:23), longing to rise unbound like the sacrificial bullock. However, he desires more than just this joyful end; he too will trample on the wicked once they are turned to dust. Thus, the righteous also have this promise: God will soon crush Satan beneath your feet. Abraham, aware of his nothingness compared to God’s greatness, stated: I am but dust and ashes (Genesis 18:27). Therefore, he will witness the Sun of righteousness and find rest among his inheritance, ascending to heavenly realms on His own wings. The one who, in his arrogance, proclaimed, I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High (Isaiah 14:14), will be cast down to the earth, becoming dust under the feet of the saints when the day of the Lord's judgment arrives.

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 117:24). Indeed, while the Lord created every day, some are known as the days of the Jews, the days of heretics, and the days of Gentiles. The day of the Lord, the day of resurrection, is the day of Christians. That is why it is called the Lord's Day; on this day, our victorious Lord ascended to the Father. If Gentiles refer to it as the day of the sun, we gladly agree, for today the Light of the World has arisen, today the Sun of Truth has risen, and healing is in His rays (Malachi 4:2).

on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each person's work will be clearly shown; for the Day will reveal it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward; if it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss" (1 Cor. 3:12-15). In this manner, God, having foretold the fate of those who engage in wrongdoing, outlines the rewards reserved for the righteous.