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An Oracle Against the Temple Priesthood

“A son honors his father, and a slave his master;[a] but if I am a father, where is my honor, and if I am a master,[b] where is my reverence?” says Yahweh of hosts to you, O priests, who despise[c] my name. “But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ You are presenting defiled food on my altar! But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’ By saying that the table of Yahweh is despised! When you offer a blind animal for sacrifice, is that not wrong?[d] And when you offer the lame and the one who is ill, is that not wrong?[e] Present it, please, to your governor! Will he be pleased with you? Will he show you favor?”[f] says Yahweh of hosts.

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Footnotes

  1. Malachi 1:6 Hebrew “masters”
  2. Malachi 1:6 Hebrew “masters”
  3. Malachi 1:6 Literally “despisers of”
  4. Malachi 1:8 Or “is there no wrong?”
  5. Malachi 1:8 Or “is there no wrong?”
  6. Malachi 1:8 Literally “Will he lift your face?”

Breaking Covenant Through Blemished Sacrifices

“A son honors his father,(A) and a slave his master.(B) If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect(C) due me?” says the Lord Almighty.(D)

“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.

“But you ask,(E) ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’

“By offering defiled food(F) on my altar.

“But you ask,(G) ‘How have we defiled you?’

“By saying that the Lord’s table(H) is contemptible. When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals,(I) is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased(J) with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty.(K)

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