Malachi 2

Malachi 2:1

COmmandement] to procure the purity and entire observance of my worship.

Malachi 2:2

Your bessings] namely; the goods which you have through my bounty.

Malachi 2:3

I will corrupt] that is to say; I will curse them, and cause them not to increase Spread dung] I will make you abject, and abominable, v. 9. and will degrade you from your sacred honour, putting you out from before me; as the dung of sacrifices, which were offered in great number upon festivall dayes, was carried away out of sight. See Leviticus 4:12.

Malachi 2:4

Might be] that the Priesthood might remaine in his race, with my favour and blessing; as I formerly promised, as it were, by an especiall Covenant.

Malachi 2:5

My Covenant] the Tribe of Levi; and especially Aaron, and some of those who were presently after him, enjoyed the honour of this Office; with all manner of blessing, length of life, and prosperity. See Nehemiah 13:29.

Malachi 2:6

The Law] he expounded, and taught my Law in righteousnesse and truth, Iniquity] no false doctrine, evill life, or unjust judgement In peace] in an humble and quiet obedience, without any rebellion, which is alwayes turbulent.

Malachi 2:7

The Messenger] or Embassadour of the reconciliation between God and men, Ecclesiastes 5:6. Haggai 1:13. 2 Corinthians 5:20. and a Minister and instrument of the great Angell of the Covenant, which is Christ, Isaiah 63:9.

Malachi 2:8

To stumble] namely; by your evill example; or for want of instruction; or giving them occasion to disdaine Gods service, by reason of the Ministers wickednesse. See 1 Samuel 2:17. Jeremiah 18:15.

Malachi 2:9

Have been partiall] to favour, or to wrong men; you have subverted my Law, either in the Doctrine, or in Judgements, Ezekiel 22:26. Zephaniah 3:4.

Malachi 2:10

One Father] namely; the heavenly one; which is God; or in the flesh: namely; Abraham One God] that is; the generall foundation of all justice amongst men; who are of one and the same nature, though of different qualities and conditions. And must all answer before Gods Judgement Seat, as his creatures. See Job 31:15 The Covenant] not only naturall right; but the spirituall right also, of being the children of God through grace.

Malachi 2:11

Hath prophaned] have dishonoured that holy name of Gods people, which they beare, and all other sighes of his Covenant: by which God had sanctified them to himselfe; separating them from prophane Nations Of a strange] namely; Idolatrous women of Heathen Nations.

Malachi 2:12

The Lord] he speaks to the Priests and Levites, who had also sinned in these forraine marriages, Ezra 9. 1. and 10, 18. Nehemiah 13:28. and this threatening seemes to be directed to them, who should not willingly submit themselves to the reformation of this fault, appointed by Ezra; or to those who should hereafter fall into the like The Master and the Scholler] the Italian, him that watcheth, and him that singeth] he meanes, the Porters and singers of the Temple. The meaning is, that either by death, or by excommunication from out my Church; I will cause both him, and all his posterity to be uncapable of having any such sacred Office. See Nehemiah 13:28.

Malachi 2:13

Done againe] you have not only married strange women; but have also afflicted your owne lawfull wives: adding cruelty to prophanenesse Covering] you have caused your poore Wives, to poure out dolefull lamentations before mine Altar; which are like a thicke cloud, that will not suffer your offerings to be looked upon, nor accepted by me.

Malachi 2:14

Witnesse] of the matrimoniall promises, made as it were in his presence, by calling upon his name. See Proverbs 2:17 Of thy Covenant] thy first lawfull wife; with whom, having spent thy youthfull dayes, thou now beginnest to contemne and hate her in her old age.

Malachi 2:15

Did not he] did not God in the beginning create Adam alone; out of whom, he framed Eve to be his wife: without creating any more women for one man, or more men for one woman? Shewing thereby; that as he appointed Matrimony by one only Law of lawfull conjunction; it likewise ought to be of one with one, and two in the same flesh, Genesis 2:23-24. Mat. 19 4 Yet had he] he could if he would, have created more living persons at once He might seeke] Gods chiefe end in this proceeding was; That the posterity might be sanctified, being borne in chaste wedlocke, according to his appointment: whereas it is defiled by all manner of unlawfull conjunctions To your Spirit] as your life and salvation of your soule is deare to you Treacherously] defrauding, or otherwise abusing his lawfull wife for concubines.

Malachi 2:16

Putting away] if the husband doth diffame and disgrace his wife; it were more tolerable for him to make use of the permission of divorce, Deuteronomy 24:1. then for to keep her, and afflict her by the meanes of strange women Covereth] let him use the civill remedy of divorce, which is but a politicke coverture of iniquity, Matthew 19:8-9. so the Holy-Ghost condemneth divorces in conscience, though God did tollerate them in a politicke way.

Malachi 2:17

Wearied] grievously, and intolerably offended him. See Malachi 1:13 Every one] saying, that God favoureth the wicked: or if it be not so; why doth he leave them unpunished, and in the meane while afflicteth good men? Malachi 3:15.