Malachi

Malachi 2: The LORD sees unfaithful hearts

Begin in prayer

Before we hear that one God made us all and sees every unfaithful heart, please stop and come to Him together. Ask Him to help us listen, and to show us Jesus, who is faithful.

Yahweh’s eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Proverbs 15:3

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You made us all and see every heart, and help us to see Jesus, who is faithful. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The LORD tells the priests to honor His name, or He will curse their blessings. He reminds them of His covenant of life and peace with Levi, who feared Him and turned many from sin. These priests have turned aside, so the LORD has made them contemptible before the people. He asks whether one God did not make them all. Judah has been unfaithful to the LORD and to the wives of their youth, and He hates divorce. The people have wearied Him by saying He delights in evil and by asking where the God of justice is.

As you read Malachi 2, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

One God made us all, and He sees when we are unfaithful to Him and to each other.

Levi's family served at the altar, and God made a covenant with Levi, a binding promise of life and peace (verse 5). Levi stood in awe of the LORD's name, spoke the law truthfully and turned many away from sin (verses 5 and 6). The priests of Malachi's day had turned aside, and they favored some people over others when they taught the law (verses 8 and 9). So the LORD made them contemptible before all the people. Then He asks whether one God did not create them all (verse 10). Because one God made them, dealing falsely with a brother profaned the covenant of their fathers. Men of Judah married women who served a foreign god, and they broke faith with the wives of their youth (verses 11 and 14). They covered the altar with tears, yet God would no longer take their offerings, because He had been the witness. We need a faithful High Priest, and Jesus is that one.

How does Malachi 2 show us that one God made us all, and that He sees when we are unfaithful to Him and to each other?

The LORD told the priests to honor His name, as faithful Levi did.

If they will not “lay it to heart” and honor His name, the LORD will curse their blessings (verse 2). Levi stood in awe of the LORD's name, and the law of truth was in his mouth (verses 5 and 6). A priest's lips should keep knowledge, so that people could learn the law from him (verse 7). These priests caused many to stumble and favored some people over others, so the LORD made them contemptible (verses 8 and 9). Jesus became a merciful and faithful high priest to make atonement for the sins of His people (Hebrews 2 verse 17).

One God made us all, yet Judah broke faith with Him and others.

Because one God made them all, dealing falsely with a brother profaned the covenant of their fathers (verse 10). Judah married women who served a foreign god, and that profaned the holiness the LORD loves (verse 11). The LORD says He will cut off the man who does this from the tents of Jacob (verse 12).

The LORD was the witness when husbands broke faith with their wives.

The men wept and covered the altar with tears, but the LORD would no longer take their offerings (verse 13). He told them why. He had been the witness between each man and “the wife of your covenant” (verse 14). The LORD made a husband and wife one, and He says, “I hate divorce” (verses 15 and 16).

They wearied the LORD by saying He likes evil and asking where He is.

The people said that everyone who does evil is good in the LORD's sight, and asked, “Where is the God of justice?” (verse 17). Calling evil good treats the LORD as if He did not care about right and wrong. He answers in the next chapter, where the Lord comes to His temple to judge (chapter 3 verses 1 to 5).

Memorise

Don’t we all have one father? Hasn’t one God created us?

Malachi 2:10

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what promise have I broken, and why do I need Jesus?

The LORD says He was a witness between a husband and “the wife of your covenant.” Tears at His altar could not cover what He had seen. Only Jesus is faithful to God in all He does, and He is the High Priest who never failed God or His people.

We have all broken faith with God and with each other. So on the cross Jesus took the punishment for His people's unfaithfulness, and His one offering never needs to be made again. God raised Him up, and He lives.

Whatever promise you have broken, and whatever you have tried to hide, bring it to Jesus. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Him. Everyone who repents and trusts Him is forgiven, and He is faithful to all who come.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jesus is the faithful priest who died for His people's sin and rose again. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Please explain verses 10 to 16 gently, since some children live with divorce, and tell them it is not their fault.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He made us all and sees every heart, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:15

Lord God, thank You that You made us all and that You see every heart. Forgive us for the promises we have broken, and lead each of us to turn from sin and trust Jesus, who is faithful. Help us tell the truth and keep our promises this week. Amen.