Malachi, Part 4

The passage for this session is Malachi 2:17-3:5.

Let’s review the three Worlds of Context.

There is the World of the Text.

There is the World Behind the Text.

There is the World in Front of the Text.

The first context we deal with is the World of the Text.

Read Malachi 2:17-3:5 and make observations about the World of the Text.

Malachi 2:17–3:5 ESV

17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?” 1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. 5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.

Who is the subject of this passage?

Who is Yahweh’s messenger? Does anyone have a cross-reference for messenger in 3:1? - Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 4:5; Matt. 11:10; Mark 1:2; Luke 7:27; Luke 1:76.

How did John the Baptist prepare the way for Jesus?

How many messengers are there in this passage?

What events does the text address?

What will the first messenger do?

What will the messenger of the covenant do?

What will be the results of his judgment?

What do we learn about humanity or about us from this passage?

What do we learn about Yahweh from this text?

After briefly examining the World of the Text, let's examine the World Behind the Text. Does anyone have footnotes in their Study Bible that address the World Behind the Text?

The Minor Prophets, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old Testament), Volume 5 Malachi’s Fourth Disputation: Judgment and Purification (2:17–3:5)

Messenger (3:1). The idea of a forerunner preparing the way of the Lord also occurs in

Based on the World Behind the Text, what did we learn about messengers?

The Minor Prophets, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old Testament), Volume 5 Malachi’s Fourth Disputation: Judgment and Purification (2:17–3:5)

The refining and smelting of metals was accomplished in one of two types of furnaces: either the kiln or “blast furnace,” in which there is direct contact between the fuel and the ore yielding an oxidizing or reducing reaction, or the “crucible furnace,” which protects the ore or metal from direct contact with fuel of the fire or the products of its combustion and achieves separation of precious metals by means of both oxidation and amalgamation. Malachi may be referring to a metallurgy process known as cupellation. Such refinement of silver required exposure of the ores to high temperatures in a blast of the air (from a bellows), resulting in the oxidation of unwanted metals and other impurities. The purified silver was retrieved in a cupel or a small cup-like mold made of a porous material like bone ash or clay.23

Launderer’s soap (3:2). This term (Heb. bōrît) occurs in the OT only here and in

Based on the World Behind the Text, what did we learn about refiner's fire and fuller’s soap?

The Minor Prophets, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old Testament), Volume 5 Malachi’s Fourth Disputation: Judgment and Purification (2:17–3:5)

Sorcerers (3:5). The term refers to those who practice divination or fortune-telling by means of occult magic and witchcraft to influence people or events for personal gain or that of their clients. Sorcery was among the list of Canaanite customs prohibited for the Hebrews by the Mosaic law (

Based on the World Behind the Text, what did we learn about magic and sorcery?

It's time now to turn to the World in Front of the Text.

How should we respond to the text?

In what sense do we prepare the way for Jesus’ second coming?

How do we prepare for His second coming if none can stand?

How do we culturally view magic and sorcery?

How is this different than Scripture?

Where do we draw the line between fantasy and the real thing?