Malachi:1

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* Verse 1-5 - All advantages , either as to outward circumstances , or spiritual privileges , come from the free love of God , who makes one to differ from another . All the evils sinners feel and fear , are the just recompence of their crimes , while all their hopes and comforts are from the unmerited mercy of the Lord . He chose his people that they might be holy . If we love him , it is because he has first loved us ; yet we all are prone to undervalue the mercies of God , and to excuse our own offences . * Verse 6-14 - We may each charge upon ourselves what is here charged upon the priests . Our relation to God , as our Father and Master , strongly obliges us to fear and honour him . But they were so scornful that they derided reproof . Sinners ruin themselves by trying to baffle their convictions . Those who live in careless neglect of holy ordinances , who attend on them without reverence , and go from them under no concern , in effect say , The table of the Lord is contemptible . They despised God 's name in what they did . It is evident that these understood not the meaning of the sacrifices , as shadowing forth the unblemished Lamb of God ; they grudged the expense , thinking all thrown away which did not turn to their profit . If we worship God ignorantly , and without understanding , we bring the blind for sacrifice ; if we do it carelessly , if we are cold , dull , and dead in it , we bring the sick ; if we rest in the bodily exercise , and do not make heart-work of it , we bring the lame ; and if we suffer vain thoughts and distractions to lodge within us , we bring the torn . And is not this evil ? Is it not a great affront to God , and a great wrong and injury to our own souls ? In order to the acceptance of our actions with God , it is not enough to do that which , for the matter of it , is good ; but we must do it from a right principle , in a right manner , and for a right end . Our constant mercies from God , make worse our slothfulness and niggardliness , in our returns of duty to God . A spiritual worship shall be established . Incense shall be offered to God 's name , which signifies prayer and praise . And it shall be a pure offering . When the hour came , in which the true worshippers worshipped the Father in Spirit and in truth , then this incense was offered , even this pure offering . We may rely on God 's mercy for pardon as to the past , but not for indulgence to sin in future . If there be a willing mind , it will be accepted , though defective ; but if any be a deceiver , devoting his best to Satan and to his lusts , he is under a curse . Men now , though in a different way , profane the name of the Lord , pollute his table , and show contempt for his worship . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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