Malachi 1:6 Commentary and Bible Study

Things then change a little in the sixth verse, and a second section begins. It is the section which deals with the priesthood. ‘A son honoureth his father and a servant his master. If then I be a father says God, where is mine honour, and if I be a master where is my fear?’ This is going to be about the priests; they will be named very shortly. ‘Saith the Lord of hosts, Unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say’ – this is your defence – ‘Wherein have we despised thy name?’ Malachi begins with this reasoning: In your culture and under the law which you have, you honour your parents and you Jews take this very seriously. The children are very careful to honour the parents; it is deeply embedded in you. Well then, if you do this for your earthly parents, why haven't you done this for me, your heavenly parent and your Creator? That is the reasoning of the next couple of verses. What comes naturally to you, he says, and ought to be easy for you, you have denied to me. Doesn't that show the depth of your contempt for me and your indifference to me? This is the beginning of the condemnation of the priests; this is not all the people; this is the religious leaders. Words are put into the mouths of the priests, 'And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?' Is their protest real or is it feigned? Are they really ignorant of how they have dishonoured God, or are they not being honest? They don't even seem to know it. In their pride and in their foolishness their consciences are so hardened they seem to have no awareness of what they are doing, or are at least denying it to themselves. As the charges unfold against them, you see the things they are doing, and yet they admit no awareness of it. They are proud, they justify themselves, and they say, ‘How have we despised thy name?'