1 "For, behold, the day comes, it burns as a furnace; and all the proud, and all who work wickedness, will be stubble; and the day that comes will burn them up," says Yahweh of Armies, "that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But to you who fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings. You will go out, and leap like calves of the stall. 3 You shall tread down the wicked; for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make," says Yahweh of Armies. 4 "Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."
God's awful judgments on the wicked, Malachi 4:1. Great blessedness of the righteous, Malachi 4:2, Malachi 4:3. The prophet then, with a solemnity becoming the last of the prophets, closes the Sacred Canon with enjoining the strict observance of the law till the forerunner already promised should appear, in the spirit of Elijah, to introduce the Messiah, and begin a new and everlasting dispensation, Malachi 4:4-6.
INTRODUCTION TO MALACHI 4
This chapter contains an account of the destruction of the wicked Jews, and the happiness of the righteous by the coming of the Messiah; an exhortation to regard the law of Moses; and a description of John the Baptist and his work. The day of Christ's coming, reaching to Jerusalem's destruction, is compared to a burning oven; the wicked Jews to stubble, whose ruin would be utter and complete, Malachi 4:1 the appearance of Christ is signified by the arising of him, the sun of righteousness; the manner, with healing in his wings; the effects of which are, going forth in the exercise of grace, and the discharge of duty, and spiritual growth and triumph over their enemies, in which will lie the happiness of them that fear God, Malachi 4:2 who are put in mind of the law of Moses on Horeb, Malachi 4:4 the sending of John the Baptist under the name of Elijah, before the coming of Christ is prophesied of, Malachi 4:5 and his work pointed out, with the end of it, Malachi 4:6.
(Malachi 4:1-3) The judgements on the wicked, and the happiness of the righteous.
(Malachi 4:4-6) Regard to be had to the law; John the Baptist promised as the forerunner of Messiah.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.