Malachi 4:6

“And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, etc.] Or “with” the children, as Kimchi; and Ben Melech observes, that l[ is put for µ[, and so in the next clause: and the heart of the children to their fathers; or “with” their fathers; that is, both fathers and children: the meaning is, that John the Baptist should be an instrument of converting many of the Jews, both fathers and children, and bringing them to the knowledge and faith of the true Messiah; and reconcile them together who were divided by the schools of Hillell and Shammai, and by the sects of the Sadducees and Pharisees, and bring them to be of one mind, judgment, and faith, and to have a hearty love to one…”

“turn . . . heart of . . . fathers to . . . children, &c.--Explained by some, that John's preaching should restore harmony in families. But Luk 1:16-17 substitutes for "the heart of the children to the fathers," "the disobedient to the wisdom of the just," implying that the reconciliation to be effected was that between the unbelieving disobedient children and the believing ancestors, Jacob, Levi, "Moses," and "Elijah" (just mentioned) (compare Mal 1:2; Mal 2:4, Mal 2:6; Mal 3:3-4). The threat here is that, if this restoration were not effected, Messiah's coming would prove "a curse" to the "earth," not a blessing. It proved so to guilty Jerusalem and the "earth," that is, the land of Judea…”

“And he shall turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children - Now they were unlike, and severed by that unlikeness from each other. Yet not on earth, for on earth parents and children were alike alienated from God, and united between themselves in wickedness or worldliness. The common love of the world or of worldly pursuits, or gain or self-exaltation, or making a fortune or securing it, is, so far, a common bond of interest to those of one family, through a common selfishness, though that selfishness is the parent of general discord, of fraud, violence, and other misdeeds. Nay, conversion of children or parents becomes rather a source of discord, embittering the unconverted. Whence our…”

“And he - John the Baptist. Shall turn the heart - There were at this time many great and unnatural divisions among the Jews, in which fathers studied mischief to their own children. Of the children - Undutiful children estranged from their fathers. With a curse - Which ends in utter destruction; leaving Jerusalem a desolate heap, and a perpetual monument of God's displeasure. Some observe, that the last word of the Old Testament is a curse: whereas the New Testament ends with a blessing, yea, the choicest of blessings, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all! Amen. Dec. 24, 1766. Next: Matthew Chapter 1”

“4:6 His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children: Two key themes prominent in Malachi and the Old Testament prophets in general are the turning of hearts and the ministry of reconciliation. Turn is the Old Testament term for repentance and indicates a complete change of loyalties. Turning toward God results in reconciliation between generations (see 2 Cor 5:18-20). • strike the land with a curse: The word curse implies total destruction (see Deut 7:26; 1 Sam 15:18; Zech 14:11). The people of Israel who did not respond to God’s prophet would face utter oblivion, as had been the fate of their Canaanite predecessors (e.g., Josh 6:17).”

“turn: Luk 1:16, Luk 1:17, Luk 1:76 lest: Isa 61:2; Dan 9:26, Dan 9:27; Zac 11:6, Zac 13:8, Zac 14:2; Mat 22:7, Mat 23:35-38; Mat 24:27-30; Mar 13:14-26; Luk 19:41-44, Luk 21:22-27 and smite: Deu 29:19-29; Isa 24:6, Isa 43:28, Isa 65:15; Dan 9:11; Zac 5:3, Zac 14:12; Mar 11:21; Heb 6:8, Heb 10:26-31; Rev 22:3, Rev 22:20, Rev 22:21 Next: Matthew Introduction”