Read Matt. 11:8-19; 17:11-12; Mal. 3:1; 4:4-6, John was Elijah

In this passage Jesus refers to two verses in the final book of the OT.  Malachi prophesied after the return from the Babylonian captivity.  He spoke the word of the Lord, calling the people to repent.  He particularly targeted the priests (religious leaders) of the day.  But he also spoke to the people in general, warning them of judgment to come. 

In this message of warning and woe God spoke words of hope.  In Mal. 3:1 He promised to send His messenger who would prepare the way before Me.  This might remind you of Isa. 40:1-3, the voice in the wilderness.  Note that Malachi speaks of two “messengers” in 3:1: My messenger who prepares the way for the Lord; and the Messenger of the covenant who will suddenly come to His temple.  In Matt. 11 Jesus only speaks of the first because He is speaking of John the Baptist.

At the very end of Malachi God promises to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord (4:5).  The ministry of Elijah will be effective, resulting in mercy from the Lord.  Jesus speaks in an interesting and special way in relating this prophecy to John the Baptist.  He says, if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.  At the time Jesus said this John was in prison and was about to be killed by Herod.  It is clear, as John the Apostle said, the people did not receive Jesus; the curse was not lifted from Israel.  In other words, the “Elijah ministry” of John the Baptist was not effective.  But for those who did receive it, he was Elijah to them.

What can we say about this?  First, the Jews understood this prophecy of Elijah to be related to the Messiah.  Some wondered if Jesus was Elijah who was to come (Matt. 16:14; John 1:21).  In Matt. 17 Jesus’ disciples asked why the scribes said Elijah must come first (17:10).  In other words, the rabbis understood Elijah precedes the Messiah.  The second thing follows from this.  Jesus, in equating the ministry of John with Elijah was identifying Himself as the Messenger of the Covenant.  Did you not notice that this Messenger was the LORD Himself in Mal. 3:1. It is another clear testimony from the OT that the Messiah would be Divine, God come in the flesh.

On that subject let me share something from the OT.  You may know that the word “Lord” in the OT is the Hebrew Adonai and can be applied to God or to men.  The term Yahweh is translated in the English Bible as LORD.  There are six occasions (besides Mal. 3:1) where “Adonai” is preceded by the definite article “the” (hadonai) and in all six it refers to God, and not man.  Here are those passages:

·        Exodus 23:17: three times a year all males shall appear before the Lord LORD.

·        Isaiah 1:23: the Lord says, the LORD of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel.

·        Isaiah 3:1: For behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts.

·        Isaiah 10:16: the Lord, the LORD of hosts, will send leanness.

·        Isaiah 10:33: Behold the Lord, the LORD of hosts.

·        Isaiah 19:4: a fierce king will rule over them says the Lord, the LORD of hosts.

In Malachi 3:1 the Lord whom you seek is “haadonai”.  The Messenger of the Covenant is Jesus Christ, the Word who was God and who became flesh and dwelt among us!  Worship Him today.  Accept Him as the LORD of Hosts.