Malachi 3:14 You have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance… The law was not only typical institution; it was a system of government appointed and administered by God Himself. It contains, therefore, references to the great principles, rules, and characteristics of acceptable obedience. The text refers to priests, but not exclusively. It describes the union of formal piety — something must be offered; avarice, producing unwillingness to offer what God required, as being too costly; and cunning, devising an expedient, namely, to "offer the torn, the lame, and the sick." Thus they brought an offering, but it was unacceptable, and, instead of a blessing, produced a curse. Lessons — 1. God requires that we offer Him a sacrifice. 2. Rightly offered, He accepts the offering, and blesses the offerer. 3. While there are those who will offer nothing, there are others who seek to reconcile duty with their own carnal interests. They seek not spiritual preparation for duty, they present partial, formal service, while they live in habitual disobedience. 4. Such persons are, as far as their object is concerned, "deceivers." Actually they cannot deceive God. Practically, and in their own intention, they act as though they could. 5. They are "accursed." God accepts not their sacrifice. They have no positive blessing. If you would accept ably sacrifice, you must give yourselves up entirely to God. For this, spiritual preparation is requisite. You must have spiritual regeneration, healing your soul, that your offering may be acceptable. Thus prepared, the whole must be given, in holy obedience, holy exercises. Your formal religion confesses that something is necessary. You are self-condemned. Your religion, such as it is, aggravates your guilt. (G. Cubitt.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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? |
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