Attributed commentary excerpt
Barnes' Notes on Malachi 2:12
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Notes on the Whole Bible
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · 19th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
The Lord will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar - , literally “The Lord cut off from the man that doeth this, watcher and answerer.” A proverbial saying apparently, in which the two corresponding classes comprise the whole. Yet so, probably, that the one is the active agent; the other, the passive. The one as a “watcher” goes his rounds, to see that nothing stirreth against that which he is to guard; the other “answereth,” when roused. Together, they express the two opposite classes, active and passive sin; those who originate the sin, and those who adopt or retain it at the instigation of the inventor or active propagator of it. It will not exempt from punishment, that he was led into the sin. From the tabernacles of Jacob - Perhaps “he chose the word, to remind them of their unsettled condition,” out of which God had brought them. And him that offereth an offering unto the Lord of hosts - i. e., him, who, doing these things, offereth an offering to God, to bribe Him, as it were, to connivance at his sin. In the same meaning, Isaiah says, that God hateth Isaiah 1:13. “iniquity and the solemn meeting,” and Isaiah 61:8, “I hate robbery with burnt-offering;” or Solomon Proverbs 15:8, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord Proverbs 28:9; he that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, his prayer shall be an abomination.” And God by Amos says , “I hate, I despise, your feast-days, and will not accept your solemn assemblies.” In one sense the sacrifice was an aggravation, in that the worship of God made the offence either a sin against light, or implied that God might be bribed into connivance in the breaking of His laws. The ancient discipline of removing from communion those guilty of grievous sin was founded on this principle. return to 'Top of Page'
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