Malachi 3:7

“Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, etc.] Here begins an enumeration of the sins of the Jews, which were the cause of their ruin; and here is first a general charge of apostasy from the statutes and ordinances of the law, which they made void by the traditions of the fathers; and therefore this word is used as referring to this evil, as well as to express their early, long, and continued departure from the ways of God; which as it was an aggravation of their sin, that they should have so long ago forsook the ordinances of God, and have not kept [them], but transgressed them by observing the traditions of men, (<401503>Matthew 15:3) so it is an instance…”

“Reproof for the non-payment of tithes and offerings, which is the cause of their national calamities, and promise of prosperity on their paying them. from . . . days of your fathers--Ye live as your fathers did when they brought on themselves the Babylonian captivity, and ye wish to follow in their steps. This shows that nothing but God's unchanging long-suffering had prevented their being long ago "consumed" (Mal 3:6). Return unto me--in penitence. I will return unto you--in blessings. Wherein, &c.-- (Mal 3:16). The same insensibility to their guilt continues: they speak in the tone of injured innocence, as if God calumniated them.”

“Even from the days of your fathers - Back to those days and from them ye are gone away from My ordinances. “I am not changed from good; ye are not changed from evil. I am unchangeable in holiness; ye are unchangeable in perversity.” Return unto Me - The beginning of our return is from the preventing grace of God. Jeremiah 31:18; Lamentations 5:21, “turn Thou me, and I shall be turned, for Thou art the Lord my God,” is the voice of the soul to God, preparing for His grace; Psalms 85:4, “turn us, O God of our salvation.” For, not in its own strength, but by His grace can the soul turn to God. “Turn thou to Me and I will return unto you,” is the Voice of God, acknowledging our free-will, and…”

“From mine ordinances - Which either directed my worship, or your dealings one with another. Malachi 3:9”

“3:7 In the context of covenant relationship, return expresses a change of loyalty on the part of Israel or God. Typically, the term is understood as repentance, a complete change of direction back to God or a total reorientation toward the Lord. The imperative verb conveys urgency and demands an immediate response from the audience. The indictment of insincere worship builds on similar charges in the second disputation (see 1:6-14), just as God’s promise to “open the windows of heaven” (3:10) affirms his power as “a great king” (see 1:14).”

“from the: Deu 9:7-21, Deu 31:20, Deu 31:27-29; Neh 9:16, Neh 9:17, Neh 9:26, Neh 9:28-30; Psa 78:8-10; Eze 20:8, Eze 20:13, Eze 20:21, Eze 20:28; Luk 11:48-51; Act 7:51, Act 7:52 Return unto me: Lev 26:40-42; Deu 4:29-31, Deu 30:1-4; Kg1 8:47-49; Neh 1:8, Neh 1:9; Isa 55:6, Isa 55:7; Jer 3:12-14, Jer 3:22; Eze 18:30-32; Hos 14:1; Zac 1:3; Jam 4:8 Wherein: Mal 3:13, Mal 1:6; Isa 65:2; Mat 23:27; Luk 15:16; Rom 7:9, Rom 10:3, Rom 10:21 Malachi 3:8”

“After the Lord has announced to the murmuring people that He will suddenly draw near to judgment upon the wicked, He proceeds to explain the reason why He has hitherto withheld His blessing and His salvation. Mal 3:7. "From the days of your fathers ye have departed from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, saith Jehovah of hosts; and ye say, Wherein shall we return? Mal 3:8. Dare a man indeed defraud God, that ye have defrauded me? and ye say, In what have we defrauded Thee? In the tithes and the heave-offering. Mal 3:9. Ye are cursed with the curse, and yet ye defraud me, even the whole nation." The reason why Israel waits in vain for the judgment…”