6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the Lord of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ 7 By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the Lord's table may be despised. 8 When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the Lord of hosts. 9 And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. 10 Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. 12 But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. 13 But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord. 14 Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.
Questions:
Malachi 1:6-14
God commanded sacrifice in Leviticus and Deuteronomy yet He says in Isaiah 1:11-15 that he has had enough of their sacrifices and offerings. What does Isaiah 1:15-17 tell us about God’s reason for not wanting Israel’s sacrifices? How is that different to what we read in Malachi?
2. Why does the failure to recognise God as Father and Master effect Israel’s worship? How might the same attitude effect Christians’ worship of God (by ‘worship’ I mean our daily relationship with God and His worth to us)?
3. Lee Gatiss said that you will get the best from people when they know that the best is yet to come. How does that relate to verse 11 and what effect should it have had on the Israelites? Although verse 11 is no doubt talking about the gospel spreading to the ends of the world, there seems to be a close parallel and an extension to it in Philippians 2:10-11. How does the Philippians passage encourage you to give your best to God?
4. Jesus is both the perfect priest and the perfect sacrifice and thus gave us full access to and reconciliation with God. How does Hebrews 10:19-25 help you understand what Jesus has given us and what our response should be?
5. Read Romans 12. What does it teach us about being a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God? Read Philippians 4:14-20. What does it tell us about how we as a church can offer sacrifice to God and what does Paul say are the results of such actions?
6. If you have time, read Hebrews 13:1-19 and list the ways we offer sacrifice to God.
