King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Chapters: The Book of Malachi
Lesson: Malachi: Sun of Righteousness
Hello My Friend,
The Book of Malachi contains four chapters, the author is Malachi, and it was written to Israel. The timeline for these events took place approximately between 440BC and 410BC. The purpose of the book was to call Israel to repentance and return to righteousness in order to restore the nation, with great emphasis on the Levites. What we are to learn from the book is that God only accepts the sacrifices (offerings) of those who love Him wholeheartedly, [Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.]
When the Jews returned from Babylon, they did not expect to find Jerusalem lying in desolation. Though the Temple had been rebuilt, the walls restored, and the city itself set on a path of renewal, nothing seemed to change. Their labor was heavy, yet their wages were small; they sowed much, yet reaped little. Discouragement settled over them, and their questions rose toward God. In response, God sent Malachi, the final prophet who would speak for God for four hundred years.
[Malachi 1:1-4 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. 2 I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, 3 And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. 4 Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.]
Why did God say He hated Esau? While much of it centers on Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a mere bowl of soup, it reaches far deeper. Esau mocked God by treating the birthright, God’s covenant blessing, as something trivial, [Genesis 25:33-34 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.]
In surrendering it so easily, he revealed that he despised what God had declared holy. Beyond that, Esau knew of God, yet refused to follow Him in any measure. His aim in life was not to honor God, but to please his father and secure the inheritance he desired. And when that failed, his response exposed the truth: he despised more than the birthright, he despised God Himself and in turn God despised Him. God, will deny anyone who denies Him, [II Timothy 2:11-13 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.]
Of course, this is referring to God in the flesh, Jesus Christ Himself, but just as true in Malachi’s days. Now that God had reminded them of His unchanging love, He turned to the reason they were laboring so hard yet receiving so little. The problem was not confined to one group or a handful of offenders, it was the entire congregation. God, begins where the responsibility was greatest: the priests.
[Malachi 1:6-9 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. 8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. 9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.]
These were the men appointed to labor in His service, and in return He Himself would provide for their needs. But instead of honoring Him, they had grown careless, irreverent, and indifferent toward the very sacrifices they were entrusted to offer. They were performing the work, but it was spotty, careless, and halfhearted. Because of this, God proceeds to tell them why He does not accept their offering.
[Malachi 1:11,13-14 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts. 13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD. 14 But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.]
This is the first time where God openly declares that the Gentiles will worship Him in a way the Jews. It does not matter who we are, God is KING over all and will do what He pleases with whom He pleases. What grieved God above all was that they had no delight in serving Him yet still expected His blessings. God, does not want our leftovers and He certainly does not want us to come to Him out of obligation, He wants us to come to Him with all our heart, soul, and mind, [Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.]
I have been learning about Judaism as it is practiced today and can understand why there is still so much weariness, confusion, and spiritual unrest in Israel. Israel, in Malachi’s day felt much the same. The more their efforts produced little, the more discouraged they became, until their service to God was no longer a delight but merely an obligation. Yet this was not the way to gain God’s favor. Instead of drawing near to Him with sincerity, they grew careless, indifferent, and spiritually dull. Therefore God not only rebukes them for their lack of commitment, but for dragging the entire congregation down with them.
[Malachi 2:1-4 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. 2 If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. 3 Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. 4 And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.]
God, is referring to Levi, the third son of Jacob, from whom Moses and Aaron descended. God, made a covenant with Aaron, despite all his failures, that he would be the first high priest to minister before Him, and that his sons after him would continue in that sacred office. God, goes on to rebuke the priests for corrupting the covenant.
[Malachi 2:6-9 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. 7 For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8 But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.]
God’s ministers, and this includes saved, born‑again preachers, evangelists, teachers, missionaries, and all who lead in His work, are called to set the example their people follow. They cannot afford to be partial to the Law or selective in obedience. When those entrusted with God’s work fail to walk in holiness, they do not merely stumble themselves, they hinder the cause of Christ, [Romans 14:21-23 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. 23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.]
Speaking of causing others to stumble, the congregation is not innocent either. They must learn to discern right from wrong and cannot excuse their sin by blaming their leaders or claiming ignorance. Each soul is accountable before God. Their failure was not merely the result of corrupt priests, it was the fruit of hearts that refused to walk in covenant faithfulness, even when they knew what God required. And now Malachi addresses Judah directly.
[Malachi 2:10-12 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? 11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. 12 The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.]
Malachi, is referring to the men of Judah who had taken wives from among the idol‑worshiping nations. This was a grievous mistake because it drew their hearts away from the LORD and led them into the very idolatry God had forbidden. By joining themselves to women who served false gods, they opened the door for those same idols to enter their homes, their worship, and ultimately their own hearts. They were also guilty of something else, divorcing the women, which actually grieved God more.
[Malachi 2:16-17 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. 17 Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?]
These men had entered unlawful marriages with idol‑worshiping women, and instead of repenting, they added to their sin by casting those women aside. Their unfaithfulness in marriage revealed a deeper unfaithfulness toward God Himself. The covenant they broke with their wives was a reflection of the covenant they were breaking with the LORD. They were not only condoning those who lived in sin, they were assuring them that God approved of their behavior. The world never changes, and neither does the religious world that remains partial to the Law. Men and women of God must be knowledgeable in the things of God and seek to know and teach them wherever they go. Now God reveals the coming Messenger who will teach believers in the way they should walk.
[Malachi 3:1-4 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ sope: 3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. 4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.]
As you read through Malachi, you discover that this is none other than Jesus speaking, the true Messenger of the covenant, the One who will purify, instruct, and lead His people in righteousness. However, the messenger that God is referring to here is none other than John the Baptist, he would be the first prophet to speak to them about the coming of Christ in four hundred years. John’s voice would break the long silence, calling the nation to repentance so that when the Messiah appeared, they would recognize Him, [Matthew 11:10-11 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.]
God never changes. What He established, believes, and taught from the very beginning is exactly what He teaches today. He reminds the Jews, and all of us, of that unchanging truth. Then He points out that He is being robbed, [Malachi 3:6-9 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.]
The people were withholding what belonged to Him, ignoring His commands, and yet still expecting His blessings. Their actions revealed not only disobedience, but a heart that had forgotten the fear of the Lord and the covenant responsibilities that came with His unchanging character.
[Malachi 3:10-12 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.]
We have surely made a mess of things, and this goes far beyond robbing God through tithes and offerings. We have robbed Him of the very thing He truly longs for, our fear of Him. The reverence, awe, and holy trembling that once marked the people of God has been traded for casual worship, selective obedience, and a religion of convenience. When the fear of God is lost, everything else unravels, [Revelation 2:4-5 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.]
No matter how knowledgeable we become in God’s Word, we still need to be fed spiritually. Every believer needs preachers and teachers who are grounded in Scripture to help guide us as we read and study it ourselves. God’s children, those who believe in and receive Him, are the only ones able to discern His Word as He reveals it through the Holy Spirit. Spiritual understanding is never achieved by intellect alone; it is given by God, taught by His ministers, and confirmed in the heart by the Spirit who dwells within us.
[Malachi 3:13-15 Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? 14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts? 15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.]
You see, they too were discouraged. They were working hard, praying to God, and yet their suffering had no end, and I can understand their point. We all grow weary at times, even when we are faithful in giving our time, tithes, and offerings to God, and still we suffer. But we cannot allow that suffering to change our disposition toward Him. And I am preaching to the choir as I sit here feeling that very way right now. Discouragement is real, but it must never become the lens through which we interpret God’s faithfulness. He calls us to trust Him even when the harvest seems small and the burden feels heavy, [Psalms 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.]
I am not going to lie, I am not too happy about where my life is right now. But I still have hope that God will see me through, because at this point the ball truly is in His court. God’s children are not just any children, their names are written in a book, Malachi calls it the book of remembrance, [Malachi 3:16-18 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.]
God, knows those who fear Him, He listens when they speak, and He records their faithfulness even in seasons of discouragement. When life feels heavy and the path unclear, that book reminds us that God watches over us, understands, remembers, and will act in His time. More precious to God than any jewels on the earth are the souls of man. This is why He made one way for all who truly desire Him to be saved, [John 3:16-18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.]
No treasure, earthly wealth, or created beauty compares to the worth of a soul that turns to Christ in repentance and faith. God’s longing is not for gold or silver, but for hearts that fear Him, trust Him, and walk with Him. The plan of salvation is the proof of that love, He provided one way because He desires that none should perish, but that all should come to Him and live. Through Malachi, God, reminds them of the day that all the earth will be gone and why the only ones to survive will be His jewels,
[Malachi 4:1-3 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.]
What does the Sun of righteousness heal us from? Eternal death. Christ, who is our righteousness, heals our dead souls by placing His life upon them through our faith in Him. He also heals our bodies. Even if we are in pain right now, one day we will be in pain no more. The rising of the Sun of righteousness is the promise that every wound, spiritual, emotional, and physical, will be swallowed up in His glory, [Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.]
Those who fear God, honor Him, and remain faithful to Him are treasured above all earthly riches. In the day of judgment, everything temporary will pass away, but those written in His book of remembrance, will be spared. God, draws a clear line between the righteous and the wicked and as Malachi closes the Old Testament God, reveals one more prophecy as He encourages them to remember the Law, [Malachi 4:4-6 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.]
This points directly to John the Baptist, who would come in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way for Christ after four hundred years of silence. Though judgment is certain for the wicked, healing and life await all who fear His name. The Sun of righteousness will rise with healing in His wings, restoring our souls from eternal death and one day removing every pain from our bodies, [I Corinthians 15:56-57 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for giving us the one perfect sacrifice that will redeem our souls forever. We can live in such a way that our limitations define us and guide us in all that we think, do, and say to the point that we do not give You our very best. Lord, we recognize the true freedom that comes when You accomplish Your will in our lives as when we humbly serve You with the very best of our abilities. The constraints we place on ourselves can be lifted by the power of Your Holy Spirit as we wholeheartedly devote ourselves to You and Your service. When we give You our very best, that is when You give us Yours. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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