1. Malachi 3:8-10 (NKJV) “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.

2. Malachi 3:8-10 (NKJV) 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

3. Knowing God’s Word Malachi

4. Knowing God’s Word Last week we studied Zechariah, the 2 nd post-exilic prophet who also urged Judah to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem This week we move on to the book of Malachi The book of Malachi is the 39 th book of our OT; the 12 th of the minor prophets

5. Knowing God’s Word Malachi is the author of this book (1:1) The Hebrew name Malaki(y) means “My Messenger” It is likely the shortened form of Malakya meaning “Messenger of Yahweh” He was the 3 rd and final post-exilic prophet

6. Knowing God’s Word This prophecy is likely dated somewhere around 435 – 400 BC Malachi is dated in the time of the book of Nehemiah (last book of history) Malachi is the last prophet in the history of the OT, preceding a 400 – 430 year period of silence

7. Knowing God’s Word The next prophet to arrive on the scene will be John the Baptist Malachi actually prophesies about the coming of John the Baptist Malachi speaks of the sending of Elijah the prophet (4:5-6), which was pointing to John (Matt. 3:1-12; 11:14)

8. Knowing God’s Word So Malachi is bringing the last of God’s messages to His people until John and Jesus The message to Judah was to point out their slackness in keeping God’s law The temple and walls were rebuilt, but the priests were not seeing to it that obedience was paramount

9. Knowing God’s Word The people were changing God’s law to fit their will and their pleasure God was certainly not pleased with their partial obedience He calls them out on it, rendering their partial obedience as no good

10. Knowing God’s Word Key Verses in Malachi: – 2:11 – 2:16 – 3:1 – 3:5-7 – 3:8-10 – 4:5-6

11. Knowing God’s Word Outline of Malachi: – Love For Israel; Opposition to Edom (1:1-5) – Rebuke of Priests (1:6-2:9) – Rebuke of Marriage Infidelity (2:10-17) – Coming Messiah & His Messenger (3:1-5) – Rebuke for Lack of Tithing (3:6-18) – Second Coming & Final Warning (4)