How does Malachi 4:4 connect to Jesus' teachings in the New Testament? Setting the Stage: Malachi’s Last Word “Remember the Law of Moses My servant—the statutes and ordinances I commanded him for all Israel at Horeb.” (Malachi 4:4) • Malachi’s final verse is Israel’s last inspired instruction for four centuries. • It urges God’s people to keep Moses’ law fresh in mind and practice. • This call prepares hearts for the Messiah, who would not erase the Law but fulfill it. Jesus Picks Up the Same Thread • Matthew 5:17-18 — “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them… until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” • Matthew 5:19 — “Whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” • Luke 16:17 — “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.” In each statement, Jesus echoes Malachi’s “Remember the Law,” affirming its enduring relevance. From Remembering to Obeying Malachi’s “remember” goes beyond mental recall; it demands obedience. Jesus drives this home: • John 14:15 — “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” • Matthew 28:20 — “…teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.” • Matthew 7:24 — “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Law Summarized in Love • Matthew 22:37-40 — “You shall love the Lord your God… You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Jesus distills Moses’ statutes into wholehearted love, not to lessen them but to reveal their core. Pointing to Himself as the Fulfillment • Luke 24:44 — “Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” • John 5:46-47 — “If you believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me.” The Law remembered in Malachi finds its purpose in the Messiah who perfectly embodies and completes it. Practical Connections for Today • Treasure Scripture as one seamless revelation—from Moses to Jesus. • Obey out of love, knowing the Law’s moral voice remains, clarified by Christ. • Read Moses’ writings to deepen appreciation of Jesus’ mission and teachings. • Let every command drive you to the Savior who fulfills the Law and empowers obedience through the Spirit (Romans 8:3-4). Malachi’s final exhortation flows straight into Jesus’ call: remember, obey, and find the Law’s fulfillment in Him. |
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