Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

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THE PROPHET MALACHI

CHAPTER FOUR:
MOSES AND ELIJAH

Malachi 4:1-3 – The Arrival of that Day

ML4:1 “For behold, the day is arriving 78 that will be like a blazing furnace. All the arrogant and the lawless 79 must become mere chaff. 80 That day is coming and will devour them,” says Yehowah of Hosts, “so nothing will be left 81 – not a root or branch. 82
78 The day is arriving: With the coming of the Angel of the Covenant, Jesus Christ the Messiah.
79 Arrogant and the lawless: Particularly the Jewish hierarchy of Christ’s day. [Matthew 23]
80 Chaff: Or, stubble. Compare Matthew 3:12.
81 Nothing will be left: This comes true in the holocaust of 70 AD when one million Jews were slaughtered and 100,000 made Roman slaves. The Temple was completely destroyed.
82 Not a root or branch: Judaism will never be restored to its former state, nor will it take on another form.
ML4:2 But to all of you who are in fear of My Name a just 83 and shining sun will radiate brilliantly with healing in its rays. 84 [Luke 1:78] Then all of you will go forth and paw the ground like young bulls. 85
83 Just: Or, righteous.
84 Sun will radiate brilliantly with healing in its rays: Or, wings. An inspired priest named Zechariah alludes to this phrase at Luke 1:78 and applies it to the beginning of the 1^st Century.
85 Young bulls: Including the zealous apostles and disciples of the Nazarene as revealed in the Acts of the Apostles.
ML4:3 Also, all of you people will trample the wicked 86 as they become dust beneath your feet – on that Day when I begin to respond,” 87 says Yehowah of Hosts.
86 Trample the wicked: Likely referring to that moment of Revelation 17:14. [Romans 16:20]
87 When I begin to respond: Or, act, work effectively, preparing.

Malachi 4:4-6 – The Coming of Elijah

ML4:4 “All of you people remember the Law 88 of my servant Moses when I commanded him on Horeb concerning rules and laws for all of Israel.
88 Remember the Law: The Jews have five hundred years before the appearance of Messiah ad then the Law will be fulfilled and obsolete. [Hebrews 8:13]
ML4:5 Behold, I will send to you people the prophet Elijah 89 [Matthew 11:14] before the arrival of the majestic and awesome Day of Yehowah. 90
89 Elijah: Jesus himself states this was fulfilled in John the Baptist. [Matthew 11:14]
90 Day of Yehowah: That “time of the end” of the Jewish Temple age. [Matthew 24:1-3; Acts 2:20]
ML4:6 He will surely reconcile the heart of fathers 91 to their sons, and the heart of sons to their fathers, [Luke 1:17] so that I do not come and strike the land with complete annihilation. 92
91 Reconcile the heart of fathers: The angel appearing to priest Zechariah uses the same language and applies it to John the Baptist. [Luke 1:17]
92 Complete annihilation: Though all Jews could have been wiped out, because of John the Baptist’s work of introducing the Messiah thousands of Jews, including priests, became Christians and continued the worship of Yehowah to this day.

Review Questions on Chapter Four

What day is coming with what results?
Who is promised to come before that Day?

Mark Heber Miller