1. MALACHI SERIES 3: GOD’S FIRST CHARGE OF SIN (1:6-2:9) I. GOD’S LOVE FOR JACOB (1:1-5) II. GOD’S FIRST CHARGE OF SIN (1:6-2:9) A. THE SIN OF THE PRIESTS (1:6-14) 1. The Priests Present Defiled Offerings (vv. 6-8) 2. God Rejects Their Offerings (vv. 9-12)

2. 3. The Priests Resent the Bringing of Offerings (v. 13)  Read Mal 1:13. ~ See v. 13a. ~ The priests regard the worship and the service of God service as tiresome (not tiring!), as burdensome, tedious, even boring – implying boredom and lifelessness in their worship of and service to God.

3.  Some people think that following God is supposed to make life more comfortable, more pleasant. ~ Actually, they are looking for a God of convenience. ~ THE TRUTH IS THAT IT TAKES COMMITMENT AND HARD WORK TO LIVE AND SERVE BY GOD’S HIGH STANDARDS.

4. ~ But IF SERVING GOD IS MORE IMPORTANT TO US THAN ANYTHING ELSE, WHAT WE GIVE UP IS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT WE GAIN – THE PLEASURE OF GOD AND ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM.  Read Mal 1:13b. ~ Their offensive attitude is also expressed nonverbally. ~ Compare Mic 6:3.

5.  So their inner contempt is expressed by their outward actions – presenting the most worthless offerings: Mal 1:13c-e. ~ But there is a new word here not mentioned earlier – “robbery”. ~ The intention here may be that the priests are bringing sacrifices that are valueless, thus costing those who offer them nothing. ~ Thus, they are a sacrifice that is no sacrifice.

6.  Do we pretend or deceive ourselves that what we offer God costs us something? ~ The issue here is not that a sacrifice that costs pays for God’s favor, but that sacrifice is an expression of the depth of our love and devotion to God.  It is the height of arrogance that we think we can grow tired of God when, in fact, we should tremble at the thought of God getting tired of us. ~ Isa 43:22-24

7. 4. God Pronounces a Curse on the Defilers (v. 14)  Read Mal 1:14.  The wrongdoer is a “swindler”. ~ This implies that greed, not poverty, was the cause of their inferior offerings.  The nature of the deceptions is explained in the next three clauses, where each clause describes subsequent steps in a process.

8.  The “sacrifice” is directed “to the Lord”. ~ The attempted deception disregards the lordship of the recipient. ~ Yahweh is in fact the only true “Lord” and should be treated as such.  How does God curse? ~ At times God brings catastrophe, while at other times He lets disobedient people experience the consequences of their ungodly choices. ~ Indeed, we will reap what we sow (Gal 6:7-8).