Malachi 1:14

“But cursed be the deceiver, etc.] A cunning, crafty, subtle man, who thinks and contrives, speaks and acts, in a very artful and deceiving manner; though some derive the word from lky, “to be able”; and so the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, “who is able”; to bring a proper offering, a perfect lamb, as it follows: which hath in his flock a male; without spot and blemish, as the law requires: and voweth and sacrificeth to the Lord a corrupt thing; that was a female, or had blemishes in it; for the law required what was perfect and without a blemish for a vow; what was superfluous or deficient in its parts might do for a freewill offering, but not for a vow, (<032218>Leviticus…”

“deceiver--hypocrite. Not poverty, but avarice was the cause of their mean offerings. male--required by law (Lev 1:3, Lev 1:10). great King-- (Psa 48:2; Mat 5:35). my name . . . dreadful among . . . heathen--Even the heathen dread Me because of My judgments; what a reproach this is to you, My people, who fear Me not (Mal 1:6)! Also it may be translated, "shall be feared among," &c. agreeing with the prophecy of the call of the Gentiles (Mal 1:11). Next: Malachi Chapter 2”

“Cursed is the deceiver - o “The fraudulent, hypocritical, false or deceitful dealer, who makes a show of one thing, and doth or intends another, nor doth to his power what he would make a show of doing; as if he could deceive God in doing in His service otherwise than He required, and yet be accepted by Him.” The whole habit of these men was not to break with God, but to keep well with Him on as easy terms as they could. They even went beyond what the law required in making vows, probably for some temporal end, and then substituted for that which had typical perfection, the less valuable animal, the ewe and that, diseased. It was probably, to prevent self-deceit, that the law commanded that…”

“The deceiver - The hypocrite that would seem to offer a sacrifice of the best, but puts God off with the worst. A male - A perfect male, such as God requireth. Next: Malachi Chapter 2”

“1:14 Cursed: To “bind with a curse” was to deliver an individual over to misfortune as punishment for a serious crime against the community (see Deut 27:15-26; Jer 48:10). Malachi spoke for the Lord, so the curse was a pronouncement of doom.”

“cursed: Mal 3:9; Gen 27:12; Jos 7:11, Jos 7:12; Jer 48:10; Mat 24:51; Luk 12:1, Luk 12:2, Luk 12:46; Act 5:1-10; Rev 21:8 which hath in his flock: or, in whose flock is, Ecc 5:4, Ecc 5:5; Mar 12:41-44, Mar 14:8; Co2 8:12 for: Mal 1:8, Mal 1:11; Deu 28:58; Psa 47:2, Psa 48:2, Psa 95:3; Isa 57:15; Jer 10:10; Dan 4:37; Zac 14:9; Mat 5:35; Ti1 6:15 my name: Psa 68:35, Psa 76:12; Dan 9:4; Heb 12:29; Rev 15:4 Next: Malachi Chapter 2”

“"And cursed is he who deceives whilst there is in his flock a male animal, and he who vows and sacrifices to the Lord that which is corrupt; for I am a great King, saith Jehovah of hosts, and my name is feared among the nations." This verse is not attached adversatively to Mal 1:13, but Vav is the simple copula, for the question in Mal 1:13 has a negative sense, or is to be answered by "No." To this answer there is attached the curse upon all the Israelites who offer such sacrifices to God as have not the characteristics required by the law. Two cases are mentioned. In the first place, that when according to the law a male animal ought to have been sacrificed, the person offering the…”