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Commentary

Malachi 3:1-4

The author of Malachi speaks a word of prophesy from the L

ORD

. He tells us thatthe L

ORD

’s messenger is coming. This one will serve as the L

ORD

’s envoy and Hewill make sure that everything is ready for the coming of the L

ORD

in His housesof worship. This Good News from the L

ORD

also contains trials that will removethe impurities of all His followers. Only after the tare has been burned away, willthe offerings of the northern and southern kingdom be acceptable to the Lord.Malachi3:1

Iamsendingmymessengertopreparethewaybeforeme

–Anenvoycarries the full weight of the one who sent him. This one does everythingneed to make the country ready for the arrival.

suddenly come to his temple

– No other announcement of the L

ORD

’s com-ing to the earth will be given to anyone.

The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight

– The leader of thedelegation is known to the people and they like to be with him.Malachi 3:2

But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand whenhe appears?

– The people cannot wait any longer for the envoy. This couldbe the reason for the lack of respect. They are simply tired. It also could bethat the word brought to the people is too hard.

For he is like a reﬁner’s ﬁre and like fullers’ soap

– God will do what Hesays even if it takes ﬁre and soap.

The images presented here are both mas-culine and feminine. Working the ﬁre to remove impurities is traditionally atask done by the men of the community while washing clothes is normallydone by the women.

Malachi 3:3

he will sit as a reﬁner and puriﬁer of silver

– Even the most preciousmaterials need processing before they are acceptable to the discerning.Malachi 3:4

Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the

ORD

– If the chosen people of the L

ORD

must undergo signiﬁcant trans-formation why do the Christians, those grafted onto the root of Jesse, expectany different treatment?

Frederick J. Gaiser, ‘Reﬁner’s Fire and Laundry Soap: Images of God in Malachi 3:1-4’,

Word & World

, XIX Winter (1999):I, p.87.

Ibid., p.89.

Luke 1:68-79

Instead of the psalm, we have Zechariah’s hymn of praise for the birth of hisson John. This song tells us ﬁrst what the L

ORD

does and his messenger John theBaptizer.Onecommonthemethatrunsthroughtheseversesissalvation.However,liberation in Luke is deﬁned in religious and not political terms.

This means thatJohn’s work is not a political action that calls for rebellion against Rome.Luke 1:68

Blessed be

– This introduction from Zechariah shows that what fol-lows is a Jewish prayer that asks for a blessing.

favorably on his people

– The author of Luke/Acts shows that God does notabandon His people. This theme will continue through both books.

redeemed them

– This is the work of the Son. Jesus is paying the price forthe slave.

Luke 1:69

raised up a mighty savior

– The Greek has

γειρεν κέρας σωτηρίας

-“raised a horn for our salvation.” The Messianic allusion is to the Greek in1 Samuel 2:10 (

ψώσει κέρας χριστο ατο

in the house of his servant David

– Once again, the audience hears that Godcontinues to honor all of His promises.Luke 1:70

as he spoke

– For the author Luke/Acts, God speaks through theprophets and then He follows through. He does what He says that He willdo. The author of Jude uses the same approach. In Jude 1:17, he tells theaudience to remember the words of the apostles. Then the author in Jude1:18-19 repeats what they foretold.Luke 1:71

would be saved from our enemies

– This salvation in Luke/Acts bothcomes in this time and in the future. Stephen is a good example of liberationhappening some time in the future.Luke 1:72

he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remem-bered his holy covenant

– The hymn from Zacharia carefully reminds Godthat the work of the L

ORD

for His people continues in the present day.

Luke Timothy Johnson; Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., editor,

The Gospel of Luke

, Volume 3,

Sacra Pagina

, (The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1991), p.48.

Ibid., p.45.

Ibid., p.46.

Ibid.

Luke 1:73

ancestor Abraham

For the author of Luke/Acts and Paul, the key lineof the promise comes from Abraham and not Moses.

Luke 1:74

being rescued from the hands of our enemies

– The purpose of thesalvation is to give the people of God the freedom to worship the L

ORD

.Luke 1:75

in holiness and righteousness before him all our days

– This is theproper way to serve the L

ORD

.Luke 1:76Luke 1:77

knowledge of salvation

– God has prepared His people. (Luke 1:17With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the heartsof parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righ-teous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. NSRV)

forgiveness of their sins

– This also is the sign of salvation (Luke 3:3; 4:18;5:20-21; 5:23-24; 7:48-49; 11:4; 17:4; 23:34; Acts 2:38; 5:31; 10:43; 13:38;26:18).

Luke 1:78

the tender mercy of our God

– All this work is only possible becauseGod carefully sees that it occurs.Luke 1:79

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death

– This comes from Psalm 107:10 and 14. The L

ORD

only comes to thoseindividuals that need help. His salvation is only for the people that will die.In other words, Jesus comes for all of humanity.

0.1 Philippians 1:3-11

In this letter, Paul encourages the worshipping community that is found in Phillipi.He continually prays and in these prayers, he thanks God for their participation inthe Gospel. Christ’s work will be completed in the believers. Paul also asks Godto send the community the gifts of abundant love and increased wisdom so thatthe community will be ready for Christ.Philippians 1:3

I thank my God every time I remember you

– For Paul, the work of the church planter does not end when he leaves. He continues to offerprayers for the church in Phillipi.

Johnson,

Luke

, p.46.

Ibid.