Malachi 4

It is called 'the wounding of the spirit' (Proverbs 18), which no creature knows how to reach and heal — none but God who is the Father of spirits, who made them and knows how to mend them. It is not only called the sickness of the spirit (as in Isaiah 33:24, where the want of a…

As Arminians expound many that Christ died for (Matthew 20:28) to be all and every man without exception (1 Timothy 2:6, Hebrews 2:9, 1 John 2:1) so they are debtors to us for the same liberty. Malachi 4: he shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children (Luke 1:16), many…

Daniel first raised up the standard, to the end the faithful might prepare themselves to return home: after him, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Nehemiah, Ezra, and others after them, until Christ's coming, always exhorted the faithful to be of good comfort, and to hope against hope…

We must therefore comprehend all these things together, if we will attain to the true meaning of the Prophet's words. And in this sense it is that Zechariah, Malachi, and Haggai do encourage the people touching the hope of their estate to come, while they thought they lost so mu…

First then let us hold it for certain, that this benefit proceeds only from God: secondly, that all indifferently do not partake hereof, but the elect only, whom the Lord enlightens by his free grace, that he might exempt them out of the common rank of other men. Now this is don…

Such was the reunion of parents with children, which was begun by John, and at length finished by Christ. Accordingly, when Malachi speaks of “turning the hearts of the fathers to the children,” (Malachi 4:5,) he intimates that the Church would be in a state of confusion when an…

In this way, whenever our salvation is the subject, we ought to raise our minds to the contemplation of the divine mercy. There appears to be an allusion to a prediction of Malachi, in which Christ is called "the Sun of Righteousness," and is said to "arise with healing in his w…

means for enlightening the Gentiles. Hence we infer, that men are by nature destitute of light, till Christ, “the Sun of Righteousness,” (Malachi 4:2,) shine upon them. With regard to Israel, though God had bestowed upon him distinguished honor, yet all his glory rests on this s…

He unquestionably describes the Baptist, when he says, “Behold, I send my messenger,” (Malachi 3:1:) for, as we have already said, that passage lays down an express distinction between the Law and the new order and condition of the Church. With the same view he had said a little…

The commencement of this light, and, as we might say, the dawn, was the return of the people from Babylon. At length, Christ, “the Sun of Righteousness,” (Malachi 4:2,) arose in full splendor, and, by his coming, utterly “abolished” (2 Timothy 1:10) the darkness of death. In the…

It will perhaps be asked, Is the same condition reserved after death for the godly of our own day, or did Christ, when he rose, open his bosom to admit Abraham himself, as well as all the godly? I reply briefly: As the grace of God is more clearly revealed to us in the Gospel, a…

14. And if you are willing to receive it He now explains more clearly in what manner John began to preach the kingdom of God. It was in the character of that Elijah, who was to be sent before the face of God, (Malachi 4:5.) Our Lord’s meaning therefore is, that the great and dre…

Why then should any one allow himself to be directed by them, except that he might fall into the same ditch? Now Christ, who has risen upon us as the Sun of righteousness, (Malachi 4:2,) and not only points out the road to us by the torch of his Gospel, but desires that we shoul…

As a generative virtue is used to be attributed to the Sun, so it cherishes also its own productions. The beams of that Sun of righteousness make them that fear God grow up as calves in the stall, fill them with marrow and fatness, cause them to flourish as the Cedars of Lebanon…

By reason of the same wonderful conjunction, Christ is represented by a great variety of sensible things that are on some account excellent. Thus in some places he is called a Sun (Malachi 4:2); in others a Star (Numbers 24:17). And he is especially represented by the morning st…

He does not only wish away full, clear and perfect light, but the dawning of the day, which is imperfect light, let not so much as the beginning or first moment of a morning succeed that night. The words in the original are, Let it not see the eyelids of the morning: it is a ver…

Rulers shall love their people, and with all their might seek their best good; and the people shall love their rulers, and shall joyfully submit to them, and give them that honor which is their due. And so shall there be a happy love between ministers and their people: Malachi 4…

Like furious Bulls, when they together rush? The fighting of these sheep does in two respects, notably comport with the sinful practises of contending Christians, (1) That in this fight they ingage with their heads one against another; and what are they but those head-notions or…

I will so love them, that I will not depart from them; and they shall so Fear me, that they shall not depart from me. 15. There are excellent Promises made to them that Fear God, Malachi 4:2. To you that Fear my Name, shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his Wing…

There should be a mutual condescension between men; for God resists the proud, that is, those that are lifted up above others. 2. Spiritual pride, that is disobedience and impenitency, which is discovered by a neglect of God, and contempt of his law; and that pride is often so t…

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He it is that sends his Spirit into our hearts to be a refiner's fire, to burn up our dross and make our graces sparkle like gold in the furnace. Christ arises upon the soul with healing in his wings (Malachi 4:2). He heals the understanding and says, Let there be light; he heal…

Christ does not only heal but adorn. He is called the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2) not only because of the healing under his wings, but because of those rays of beauty which he puts upon the soul. Christ is the most generous physician.

This is commonly called the law absolutely; but most frequently the law of God, the law of the Lord; and sometimes the law of Moses, because of his especial ministry in the giving of it. Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him, Malachi 4:4. And this the…

If any man answer that he therefore did not make them enjoy so great a benefit because he judged them unworthy, those who come after shall not be proved any more worthy. Of which thing, beside the experience, Malachi is a substantial witness, who, reproving infidelity mingled wi…

Which is gathered from a notable place of Malachi, where he bids them to be mindful of the law, and to give heed to it, even to the preaching of the Gospel (Malachi 2:7). For thereby he forbids them all newfound doctrines, and grants them no leave to swerve never so little out o…

Because he does not there commend the persons of men, but after he had preferred John before all the Prophets, he advances the preaching of the Gospel to the highest degree: which preaching we see in another place signified by the kingdom of heaven. But whereas John himself does…

Yet there was, by reason of a fierce flame that issued out and came from before him, a convenient distance between him and them, as between the judge and the prisoners at the bar. (1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Jude 15; John 5:28-29; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10; Revelation…

When the soul is benighted with ignorance, Christ is the morning-star that enlightens it. He is the Sun of righteousness, Malachi 4:2. This Sun of righteousness is more glorious than that in the Firmament.

Then professors are sifted to the very bran, searched to the very bottom principles. 'This is the day that burns as an oven, in which all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be as stubble' (Malachi 4:1). First, in that day the predominant interest must appear and be discove…

Did he not bring God's heavy wrath upon him in such a fearful manner, that a blessed angel was sent to smite him with death immediately, and he was eaten of worms (Acts 12:23)? Have you not read, that the day comes which shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, and all that do…

Moses was the schoolmaster to bring the Jews to Christ, and then God walked towards them with a reserved countenance, but now he dispenses himself more freely. Reason 3: Taken from the different dispensation of Christ in the Old Testament and in the new; he is called the Sun of…

So it is foretold, that at the beginning of the glorious times of the Christian church, at the same time that the hand of the Lord is known, towards his servants, so shall his indignation, towards his enemies (Isaiah 66:14). So when that glorious morning shall appear, wherein th…