The Meat Offering

Leviticus 2:1-16

“And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon: And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: And the remnant of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.” (Leviticus 2:1-3) 

The words ‘meat offering’ simply means a food offering.   It was to be of finely ground flour as compared to coarsely ground meal and have fresh olive oil poured on it, and frankincense placed on it.  Finely ground flour takes far more effort to produce than just  crushing the grain for meal, and was usually reserved for the most important people.  It was a mark of respect to use the fine flour.

When we first moved to the reservation, most Navajos were very poor, eating only one meal a day, often nothing more than a piece of fry bread and a cup of coffee.  When they had the money, they cooked the fry bread in grease, greatly increasing the nutritional value of the bread.  If they lacked the money, they cooked it as a tortilla, with far less energy value.   The olive oil served the same purpose, greatly enhancing the food value of the flour.

Frankinscense was dreid sap from certain trees.  When heated, it gives of a pleasant odor, and when used in food imparts a pleasant taste.  It  was and still is used for treatment of various illnesses by Chinese and other traditional medicines, and has always been quite expensive.  It was the kind of thing a person would set before an important or highly respected guest, of the best one had.  Once again this is an offering of thanks giving.

“And if thou bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. 

And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in a pan, it shall be of fine flour unleavened, mingled with oil.  Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon: it is a meat offering. 

And if thy oblation be a meat offering baken in the fryingpan, it shall be made of fine flour with oil.” (Leviticus 2:4-7) 

The offering could be given in what ever form the giver chose to give it.  It could take the form of unleavened cakes with the oil mixed in or like crackers with oil poured over them.  It could be baked in and oven or cooked like a tortilla, or even brought as raw flour ready to be used.  It was up to the person how they wanted to present it to God.

“And thou shalt bring the meat offering that is made of these things unto the LORD: and when it is presented unto the priest, he shall bring it unto the altar.  And the priest shall take from the meat offering a memorial thereof, and shall burn it upon the altar: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.  And that which is left of the meat offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the LORD made by fire.” (Leviticus 2:8-10)

The offering was to be brought to the priest to offer to the Lord.  He was to take a portion of the offering and burn it on the altar for a sweet smell to God.  The rest was to be given to the priests for their food.  It was considered holy and was not to be consumed by any but the priests.

"No meat offering, which ye shall bring unto the LORD, shall be made with leaven: for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the LORD made by fire.” (Leviticus 2:11) 

Leaven, whether yeast, sour dough, or baking powder is an impurity added to the dough to cause the development of gases that cause the bread to rise.  What was presented to God could have no impurities.

Traditionally, leaven is viewed as a picture or representative for sin.  The flour traditionally represents the human being, while the olive oil traditionally represents the Holy Spirit.  The frankincense which went with it traditionally represents prayer.  Thus the meat offering represents a person who is anointed with the Holy Spirit voluntarily and prayerfully presenting himself to God to be used for God’s work  

“As for the oblation of the firstfruits, ye shall offer them unto the LORD: but they shall not be burnt on the altar for a sweet savour.” ( Leviticus 2:12)

While the offering of the first fruits was an offering of food as well, it was a required offering.  As such it was not indicative of love, and was not to be burned as a sweet smell to God.  It will be dealt with later in the book.

“And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.” (Leviticus 2:13)

Every meat offering was to be seasoned with salt.  No meat offering was acceptable without it.  It is vital to human life for the regulation of several functions including the proper production of stomach acid.  Doctors are becoming concerned that the emphasis on low salt diets to limit sodium intake to reduce blood pressure may be having serious side effects because people don’t get enough salt, while excess sodium comes from various food additives.   Salt also serves as a food preservative, absorbing water and preventing the growth of pathogens.

“And if thou offer a meat offering of thy firstfruits unto the LORD, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy firstfruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears.  And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense thereon: it is a meat offering.  And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD.” (Leviticus 2:14-16)

The food offering could also consist of whole parched grain, whether in the head or after it had been threshed.  It still was to have oil put on it and be offered with incense avter threshing if needed, and still served as a demonstration of love.

Why Study Leviticus?

Leviticus 1:1-17

Many today believe that the Old Testament Law is irrelevant to Christians.  After all, Romans 6:14 says, “…for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”   Romans 10:4  declares, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness...”   Based on these two verses, and others, the Law definitely would seem irrelevant, but such a conclusion brings us into a direct contradiction to Christ’s statements in Matthew 5:17-20.

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-20)

Was Jesus wrong?  Was Paul wrong?  If Jesus was right and Paul is wrong, the law will still be in effect as long as the earth remains, and we will be in trouble for ignoring it.   If we go back and examine the complete verse of Romans 10:4 we find it says, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”   It doesn’t say he is the end of the law for everybody, just for those who believe.  Galatians 5:18 says, But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.”

In I Timothy 1:8-10, Paul said, “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;” 

 The law was never for those  who did what was right.  It was for those who didn’t.  Galatians 3:24-25 says, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”  Its purpose was to make us understand we were sinners and needed a savior, not to provide salvation.  Romans 3:20 tells us, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”  It only told us what sin was, not how to get rid of it.

One of the scribes and Pharisees questioned Jesus’ teaching about the law in Matthew 22:36-40.  “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

In other words, all the law can be summed up in having a proper relationship with God and a proper relationship with those around us.   Romans 7:6 says, “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.”  We have been set free from the mechanical actions of the law so we can concentrate on the spirit, the intent or attitude of the law.

For the Jews, Leviticus was a set of rules they had to follow to avoid punishment.  For the Christian, it shows how to properly demonstrate our love for God, and our love for the people around us, but it is not a set of rules we have to follow.   As such, it is a valuable study for those who wish to please God.

The book of Leviticus starts out with the various sacrifices to God.  Each of them portrays some aspect of what Christ has done for us, and of what our attitude should be toward God in giving them.

“And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. 

If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.  And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.  And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.  And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.” (Leviticus 1:1-6)

The first thing we notice is that it didn’t matter whether the offering was a sheep or a cow, but it had to a male without blemish.  In Malachi 1:6-8 God warns that anything less than the best is an indication of disrespect to God.  “A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. 

And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.  And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.”  

By offering less than our best, we imply God isn’t worth as much to us as some political or business leader.  Secondly, the offering had to be completely voluntary.  It would be meaningless if not given of his own choice.  God loves a cheerful giver according to II Corinthians 9:7.

The third thing we see is that it has to be a personal offering.  He was to place his hand on its head signifying it was for him personally,  then he was to kill the animal in front of the priests to make atonement for him personally.  He was to personally skin the animal and cut it up ready for the sacrifice.

“And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire: And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.” (Leviticus 1:7-9) 

This offering was not for sin, but was solely a demonstration of love and appreciation for What God had done.  As such the entire carcass was burned on the altar as a sweet smell to God showing the givers love.

“And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.  And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar. 

And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat: and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.” (Leviticus 1;10-13)

The process for a sheep or goat was exactly the same as that for a bull.  Some people would find it impossible to give a bull or a sheep.  In that case, a pigeon or turtledove could be caught instead, and offered as a sacrifice.

“And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.  And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar: And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes: And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.” (Leviticus 1:14-17)

A turtledove or pigeon was small enough the body could be held up and the blood allowed to sprinkle the altar without being caught in a container.  The crop and feathers were to be disposed of along with the ashes.  The body did not need dividing up before being burned.

The Judgment To Come

Malachi 3:16-4:6

“Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.   And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. ” (Malachi 3:16-17) 

Some of the people feared the Lord, uniting together to serve God.  The Hasmonean family of priests led a rebellion against the Hellenistic Greek influence about 168 BC.  They were joined in their effort by the Hassidim or Jews who believed in keeping the Law.  Today traditionalists are called Hassidic Jews.

One of their Hasmonean priests, Mattathius killed a Jewish man he found offering sacrifices to the gods of the heathen nations around them about 166 BC.  In a series of battles, his son Judas Maccabee defeated the Seleucid and Syrian troops, and Syria sued for peace.  Antiochus V granted religious freedom for the Jews, and the was rededicated in Jerusalem.  The festival of Hanukah was ordained to celebrate the rededication of the temple.

 Demetrius I appointed another high priest, and Judah resisted, making an alliance with Rome.  While they successfully defeated the Selucid forces, Judah was killed, and his brother Jonathan assumed control,  He was then appointed high priest by Alexander Balas, who served as a Roman proxy, and set up his own government.  This led to a series of power struggles and ended with Jonathan being killed.  It was during this period that the apocryphal book of Judith was written.

The last surviving Macabee brother, Jonathan led a delegation to Rome.  Later, about 160 BC, he was declared to be the hereditary high priest and made governor of Israel.  It was during his administration the Hassidim formed what would become known as  the Pharisees.  The wealthy and aristocratic Jews who had adopted the Hellenistic Greek customs became known as the Sadducees.   The Essenes formed a monastic like colony, isolating themselves to worship God.  Judah would be an independent state, largely devoted to God until Simon’s death around 136 BC.

“Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. “ (Malachi 3:18-4:1)

Malachi prophesied that later God would return and separate the righteous that served God from the wicked,  and burn those that did wickedly like stubble left in the field.  After the death of Simon Macabee, His son John, known as John Hyrcanus was ratified by the Sanhedrin, and destroyed the temple that Samaritans had build after Alexander the Great conquered Jerusalem.  The Samaritans wrote their own version of the Torah, or old Testament.  Conflict between the Pharisees and Sadducees resulted in civil strife.  John Hyrcanus sided with the Sadducees, and the leader of the Sanhedrin was forced to flee to Egypt.

John was succeeded by his son Aristobulus, upon his death, his widow married his brother Alexander  Jannai, who was appointed high priest.  The Pharisees were offended by his appointment and rebelled about 115 BC, leading to Roman king seizing power of the region.  While the Romans were generally tolerant toward other religions, Constant strife and rebellion in Ersatz-Israel, otherwise known as the nation of Judah, would result in ever increasing restrictions, and finally war and the total destruction of Jerusalem between 66 and 70 AD.

“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.  And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. 

Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.” (Malachi 4:2-4 )

Those who feared the Lord would see Christ come offering salvation.  The believing Jews would spread like calves released from the stall, treading over the wicked who tried to stop them.  The book of Acts describes the unsuccessful efforts of those who did not believe to stop the spread of Christianity.  Those who turned to Christ were the Jews who had most closely followed the teachings of the law, not falling into the camps of either the Pharisees or the Saducees.

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Malachi 4:5-6 )

While God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of the Lord, when Jesus came, the primary focus of this passage seems to be just before the Judgment during the tribulation.   Revelation 11 describes the two witnesses who will warn Israel and turn them to God during a forty two month period, displaying the same powers Elijah exhibited during his prophecies.

“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.  These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth.  And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.  These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.”(Revelation 11:3-6)

Some believe Elijah himself will be one of those two witnesses.


Additional Historical Notes

In 102 BC. Julius Caesar would ascend to the Roman throne and keep it until 44 BC.   Civil war would limit Caesar’s power in 88 BC, placing the senate in charge,  Alexander Jannai quarreled with the Pharisees, and killed 800 of them.  When he died his wife Alexandra Salome appointed his son Hyrcanus II as high priest..  About 76 BC, He would reinstate the Pharisees’ ordinances and their control of the temple to try get peace.

Alexandra Salome’s younger son, Aristobulus II wrested both the kingship and the priesthood from  Hyrcanus II, and both brothers appealed to rome for support in their struggle.  In 67 BC, Pompeii invaded Judea, placing Hyrcanus II as priest but stripping him of most of the civil power and ending the Hasmonean regime, finally bringing Judah fully under Roman control in 63 BC.  In 60 BC, Julius Caesar agreed to share his power with Pompeii and Crassus forming the triumvirate.  They would make Cleopatra, the last descendant of Ptolemy, Alexander the Great’s general, queen of Egypt in 51 BC.

In 48 BC Julius Caesar would  be made sole ruler of the Roman Empire for life.  In exchange for Jewish help in defeat of Egypt, Caesar would Hyrcanus II ethnarch of the Jews and Antipater procurator of Judea.  Antipater’s son Herod would defeat and execute a Jewish army in Gallilee, almost causing a civil war.   Caesar was murdered  in 44 BC, and the Jews appealed to Anthony to settle the conflict.   Hyrcanus was stripped of his political power and Herod and his brother Phasael were appointed tetrarchs in Judea.

In 43 BC, Antigonus, a son of Aristobulus assisted the Parthians in capturing Jerusalem.  Hyrcanus II and Phasael were captured and Herod fled.  Antigonus became king and high priest.  The Roman senate authorized Herod to recapture Judea and he conquered and killed Antigonus, marrying a grandaughter of Hyrcanus.  In 40 BC, the Roman army defeated the Parthians, and Herod was made king of Judea.  About 33 BC, Herod had his wife , and all the remaining members of the Hasmonean family executed to ensure they would never try to claim the throne.  About 22 BC, he had two of his own sons executed for the same reason.

Herod was a cruel and corrupt ruler, and under his reign, the priesthood was corrupted with nepotism and political abuse.  In 10 BC, the Galileans revolted and were defeated and Herod executed his son Antipater.  Herod died in in 7 BC after naming his son Archealus as his successor.  Archalaeus was confirmed by Rome as king in 6 BC.  Two years later, Caesar Augustus split the region among Herod’s three sons in an effort to prevent further revolts.

At about the same time, Hillel, one of the priests appointed by Herod proposed new rules to broaden the interpretation of the Torah or Old Testament Law.  One of the changes was toallow a court to decide ownership of land to eliminate the reversion of property to the original owners during the Sabbatical year.  This was touted as providing as great economic benefit that would allow them to compete more freely.  It eliminated the protections of the poor provided by the Old Testament Law, and was repeatedly condemned by Christ.

Unprepared For The Lord To Come

Malachi 3:1-15

“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:1) 

For more than five hundred years, Israel had been looking for the coming of the Messiah, the son of David.  The prophecy in Isaiah 40 about a person going before to prepare the way of the Lord had been made about four hundred years before.  It would not be fulfilled for at least a hundred fifty more years, but the Jews would have recognized Malachi’s prophecy as referring to the same events.  

“But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.” (Malachi 3:2-3)

When Messiah came he would set a standard even higher than the standard the Law required, and the Jews had not even kept that standard.  In Matthew 5:20, Jesus warned, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”  He then provided examples showing that the attitude could be sin even without the physical action even though the Law could not judge the attitudes of the heart.   Malachi was making it clear that Israel was not prepared for Christ’s coming at the time.

When the Lord comes back at the end of the tribulation period, Israel will have gone through much more severe suffering than they were going through at the time, and will finally turn wholly to the Lord.  Even the wicked attitudes will have been forsaken so that they can offer their sacrifices in complete righteousness.

“Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.  And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:4-6)

While he was here the first time, Jesus stood strongly against the sins listed here, but when he comes again, as the ruling king, will rule with a rod of iron, severely punishing all forms of sin.   Things will approach what they were like in the Garden of Eden, as God originally made them, because he has not changed, nor have his intentions.

“Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. 

But ye said, Wherein shall we return? 

Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. 

But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee?

In tithes and offerings.  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.”  (Malachi 3:7-9)

Israel had agreed to God’s covenant as God described it verbally.  While Moses was still on the mountain to get a written copy, the Jews had decided to make a golden calf to worship instead.  From that time forward there had been almost continual violations of their agreement.  Every time they played innocent , pretending they didn’t know what they had done and asking what he wanted them to do, much like a man I know who is messing around on his wife does her.

On part of the agreement was to give the tithes and offerings as a demonstration of their appreciation for his blessings and of their faith that he would supply enough to meet their needs.  Leviticus 27:30  declares, “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.”   In withholding those tithes and offerings, they were keeping back what was rightfully God’s, robbing him.  God was quite specific what they needed to do.

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 

And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.  And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.”  (Malachi 3:10-12)

If they would just trust God enough to obey them, he would keep the promise he had made, to supply abundantly for them.  Leviticus 26:3-promised,  “If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.  And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.”

By simply putting God ahead of getting all the things the Greeks around them had, the \Jews could reach a point where they were no longer struggling just to survive.  They were impoverishing themselves in their efforts to be like the Greeks.  Sadly, many Christians today are doing the same thing.

“Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. 

Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? 

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? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.”  (Malachi 3:13-15)

In their rebellion against God, Israel had taken a strong stand against his demands by constantly complaining that serving the Lord didn’t pay very well, and that all their efforts to serve God weren’t paying off.  They were setting those who ignored God’s rules as the examples to be emulated, even protecting them for their sin. It much like what we see commonly in America today, with so called Christians supporting gay rights, abortion, and the lifestyles of our politicians and celebrities, in many cases trying to copy them..

Most “Christians” today are equally unprepared for the Lord’s return.   Most are too busy building a career or enjoying their hobbies to take time to even attend church once a week, and those who do seldom take God’s commands very seriously.  Serving God would interfere with their other activities.

We don’t know when we may be taken through an accident or illness, and the Lord deliberately didn’t tell us when he would come because he knew how many would wait till the last moment if they knew when he was coming.  God just told us to keep serving him till he comes.

A Warning To The Priests

Malachi 2:1-17

"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.  If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.” (Malachi 2:1-2) 

By 174 BC, The Jews had largely adopted the Greek lifestyle.  Jason, the high priest offered for the people to pay extra taxes if Antiochus and the Selucid Empire would build them a gymnasium and provide certain social programs to help integrate the Jews with the Greek culture.  The priests were actively promoting the turning from God to the Greek religion, and God said he had already cursed them and would do more if they did not start listening.

“Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.” (Malachi 2:3) 

Because they were actively helping turn Israel away from God, he would cause their children to be turned away even more, and embarrass the priests for having made mere rituals of God’s feasts., finally removing them from the priesthood.

Menelaus was not descended from Aaron and thus not eligible to be a priest, but he bribed Antiochus IV to make him high priest instead of Jason.  The priest’s revolt against his action led to Antiochus banning Judaism in 169 BC and the Samaritans dis-associating themselves from the Jews and demanding they no longer be under Judean control.

“And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.  My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.  The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.” (Malachi 2:4-6) 

Because of what happened, the priests would know that the prophecy was from God, as they saw it fulfilled.  They would understand the original covenant with Levi, that they were to be priests because of their fear and respect toward God.  Because they feared the Lord, he and his children would not get involved in the sin many of the Israelites were involved in, such as when they got involved with the Moabite and Middianite womn in Numbers 25.

“For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.  But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.  Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.(Malachi 2:7-9)

The priest’s responsibility is to represent the Lord to the people, just as the pastor today is to do.  In order to properly do his job, he needs to  find out what God expects and practice it himself.  Israel’s priests had ignored God’s commands, leading the people to violate his law, and violating God’s covenant with Levi and the priests.  Just as they had favored some and oppressed others, ignoring what was Right, God would do the same to them.

“Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?  Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. 

The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 2:10-12) 

All of Israel was descended from Jacob, and they were all created by the same God.  In playing favorites the priests had encouraged the people to set some groups ahead of others, implying God loved some more than others and making a mockery of God’s covenant.  This had in turn led to people turning away from God and getting involved with worshipping other things.  God hates that attitude, will cut out the person who practices it even if he is a respected scholar, a leader, or a priest.

It is the same attitude James condemns in the church in James 2:1-12, and just as it caused the people to turn away from God to worship other gods, the practice leads to idolizing wealth and fame today.  

“And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. 

Yet ye say, Wherefore? 

Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.  And did not he make one? 

Yet had he the residue of the spirit.

 And wherefore one? 

That he might seek a godly seed. 

Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.  For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.(Malachi 2:13-16)

Like an adulterous husband or wife, Israel had turned to other gods, and when confronted about it, denied it asking when they were supposed to have done it in an effort to make it look like they are being unfairly accused.   One of the evidences of their unfaithfulness to God was that they no longer took their marriage vows seriously.   God hates divorce, and for professing Christians to just walk away from their marriage implies they have little concern for what pleases God.

There is an old saying, that where there’s smoke, there’s fire.  Where one sin becomes apparent , there are almost always concealed sins such a domestic violence as well.  Israel as a whole, and the priests in particular, needed to look closely at what they were doing.

“Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? 

When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?(Malachi 2:17) 

God was sick and tired of their constant denials of guilt, and like the adulterous mate they asked what he was upset about.  He was upset that they were pointing to others who were doing evil and talking about how well they were doing and that God must approve or not care since he wasn’t stopping them.  It is the same attitude we see among many who claim to be Christians today, and I suspect God is just as sick and tired of it.

Disrespecting God

Malachi 1:1-14

"The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. 

I have loved you, saith the LORD. 

Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? 

Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever. 

And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.” (Malachi 1:1-5)

After the death of Artaxerxes, the Greeks had steadily taken an ever larger role in controlling the old Persian Empire.  Just about eighty years later, if the historians are correct and Darius II was co-regent with Artaxerxes, or one hundred years if not, Alexander the Great had seized total control of the political system.  Fifty years later, Antiochus had seized control of the religious system as well, replacing the descendants of Levi with men of his own choosing.  Many of the Jews had openly rejected Judaism, even undoing their circumcision in order to be accepted by the Greeks.

When more traditional Jews protested Menelaus’ appointment as high priest by Antiochus, he treated it as an act of treason, outlawing the practice of Judaism, and defiling the temple by offering pigs on the altar contrary to the Levitical law.  Many Jews were killed while others fled west to Egypt or north to the Macedonia to escape from the Selucid Empire.

As they had done so many times before, the Jews blamed God for their trouble, questioning whether he loved them.  God reminded them of the difference in his treatment of Jacob who he loved and Esau, who he hated.   Because their land straddled the old silk road which reached from Morroco to China, almost every conquering army passed through their land on their way to attack other countries, taking what they wanted along he way.  The Edomite people had been enslaved by every group around them including the Jews.

God had blessed the Jews, giving them freedom and wealth the Edomites had never experienced, yet the Jews were griping about God’s lack of love and giving up hope while the Edomites had not given up hope, even though they were fighting God himself and could not possibly win.  If the Jews could stop complaining long enough to look, they would see God’s power displayed in what was happening to the countries around them.

“A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. 

And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 

Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 1:6-8)

A child will respect his parents enough to do what they want, and an employee will respect his employer, but Israel had refused to show similar respect toward God.  They were deliberately trying to hide any relationship with God by undoing their circumcision and adopting the Hellenistic Greek customs, language, and religion.

They no longer considered God worthy of the best, offering instead those sick animals that no one else would buy.  If they offered the same things to the governor of the land, it would be seen as an insult and cause them trouble, yet they thought God ought to be thrilled to get it.  It is like having a waiter serve you really well so you give him a penny for a tip.  He probably won’t try as hard to please you the next time.

“And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.  Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought.” (Malachi  1:9-10a)

After showing such disrespect toward Gdo, what right do they have to demand he give them the respect they feel they deserve.  None of them would even close the door of light a fire on God’s altar unless they expected a reward for doing it.  Why should God do what they want, knowing they don’t appreciate it enough to make it worth his while?

I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.  For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 1:10b-11)

God no longer found pleasure in doing things for Israel because they were so unappreciative.  The Gentile people would be appreciative of his efforts and show him respect for what he was doing.

“But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.  Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.” (Malachi 1:12-13)

Rather than appreciating what God did for them, the Jews were complaining about how much of a nuisance it was to have to give him the offerings and that they didn’t see why he had been so strict in his requirements when no body would get sick from sacrificing a sick animal instead of a healthy one.  They were a lot like Christians today who complain about being expected to live up to such a high moral standard or having to go to church all the time, and decide it doesn’t really matter.

“But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.” (Malachi 1:14)

A person who something good to offer God but chooses to give him the worst has no respect toward God and doesn’t appreciate what he does.  Most people would be upset by someone spitting in their face and might retaliate.  God is similarly upset by such actions, and curses those who disrespect him in such a fashion.

Historical Notes About Malachi’s Time

Artaxerxes reigned almost forty one years.  According to Herodotus, the Greek historian considered the father of modern history, he was succeeded by three of his sons, Xerxes II, Sogdanius, and Darius II.  Fighting among themselves resulted in the others being killed, and Darius II taking the kingdom.   Because some of the subject countries do not mention Darius II at all and others only in connection with artaxerxes, some scholars suspect he may in fact have been co-regent with Artaxerxes, rather than a separated king, and there is nothing in Persian records to dispute this conclusion.  It was a fairly common practice

If true, this would place Artaxerxes’ reign as commencing about 444 BC, rather than 465 BC, and ending around 404 BC instead of 424 BC.  We know from Roman records that Herod died in 7 BC, and his son Archalaeus was named king early in 6 BC.   Matthew 2:13-16 makes it clear that Jesus birth was more probably more than two years before Herods’s death, around 9-10 BC.  “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.  When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son."  

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.”

This places the start of Artaxerxes reign approximately 434 years before the birth of Christ, the 62 weeks of Daniel 9:26.  Combined with the forty nine years from Cyrus’ command to rebuild Jerusalem  to the Death of Darius, it explains how the wisemen were able to identify the star the followed to Jerusalem.  The record of their coming indicates that it is probably true.

Daniel 11:2-4 prophesies, “And now will I show thee the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Grecia.  And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.  And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.”

After the end of the Peloponnesian war in 404 BC, the greek colony of Sparta began to extend Greek influence to other countries, allowing Persian kings to rule under their oversight.  Philip of Macedon would consolidate Greek power by 338 BC.  His son Alexander the great would finally depose the Persian rulers and claim the throne shortly before his death in 323 BC.

After the death of Alexander the great, the Greek empire would eventually be split among his generals, fulfilling Daniel’s prophecy that there would only be four independent kings of Persia, and how the Greek empire would be broken up.  These would become the Selucid empire, the  Antigonoid kingdom, and the Ptolemaic Kingdom, while the original Greeks formed a largely independent kingdom.  By 146 BC, all four parts would be under Roman domination although the Southern or Ptolemaic Kingdom, including Egypt would retain their own rulers until 30 BC.  

Under Greek rule, the Jews were largely left alone to worship and serve God as they pleased, and were given status as citizens.  About 300 BC. Simon the Just became leader, rebuilding and refortifying the walls and repairing the temple.

About 241 BC, the High priest Orias II  had stopped paying taxes to Ptolemy III, expecting him to be defeated.  In retaliation. Ptolemy transferred his power to Tobias family, who began to turn Jerusalem into a center of Greek Hellenism and commerce.  Simon the Just became the last high priest with an undisputed connection to the position about 221 BC.  He struggled to stop the increasing turn to Greek culture.  A couple of years later, war between the Ptolemaic kingdom and Selucid Empires resulted in serious damage to Jerusalem.  Antiochus III reduced taxes and made plans to restore the Temple, encouraging the Jews to preserve their worship of God and traditional Law.

Around 195 BC, Antiochus Epiphanies offered citizenship to Jews who would adopt the Hellenistic lifestyle and forgo their Jewish customs.  Some even tried to undo their circumcision in order to take part in their games.

Jason, a son of Orias III offered to pay increased tribute to Antiochus if he would provide a gymnasium and continue to promote Hellenistic conversion.  Menelaus bribed Antiochus to make him high priest instead, despite his lacking the proper pedigree.  Jason attempted to overthrow Menelaus, and Antiochus perceived his actions as a rebellion.  He plundered the temple, forbidding the Jews to practice Judaism and offering a pig on the altar of the temple, in 169 BC.

Both Jason and Menelaus were intent on turning the Jews toward the Hellenistic culture and religion, but they were neither one willing to allow the other to have control.  It is against this backdrop that the book of MalachI was written, although we do not know exactly when.