Malachi 2:13
And this is another thing you do: You cover the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping and groaning, because He no longer regards your offerings or receives them gladly from your hands.
And this is another thing you do
This phrase introduces a new grievance that God has against the people of Israel. The Hebrew word for "another" (עוֹד, 'od) suggests a continuation of a list of offenses. It indicates that the people are repeatedly engaging in behaviors that displease God. This sets the stage for understanding the seriousness of their actions and the need for repentance.

You cover the altar of the LORD with tears
The imagery of covering the altar with tears is powerful and evocative. The altar, a sacred place for offerings and communion with God, is now drenched with the tears of the people. The Hebrew word for "cover" (כָּסָה, kasah) implies an overwhelming amount, suggesting that the people's sorrow is abundant. This sorrow, however, is not due to genuine repentance but rather a response to God's rejection of their offerings.

with weeping and groaning
The words "weeping" (בְּכִי, beki) and "groaning" (אֲנָקָה, anakah) emphasize the depth of the people's emotional distress. Historically, these expressions of lament were common in times of mourning or distress. However, in this context, they are indicative of a superficial sorrow, as the people fail to address the root cause of their separation from God.

because He no longer regards your offerings
The phrase highlights the consequence of the people's actions. The Hebrew word for "regards" (שָׁעָה, sha'ah) means to look upon or consider. God's refusal to regard their offerings signifies a broken relationship. This is a critical point, as offerings were central to worship and covenant relationship in the Old Testament. The people's failure to uphold their covenantal responsibilities has led to divine disfavor.

or receives them gladly from your hands
The lack of divine acceptance is further emphasized by the phrase "receives them gladly." The Hebrew root for "receives" (רָצָה, ratsah) conveys the idea of acceptance or pleasure. The absence of God's pleasure in their offerings underscores the severity of their spiritual condition. It serves as a call to introspection and genuine repentance, urging the people to realign their hearts and actions with God's will.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Malachi
A prophet in the Old Testament, Malachi is the author of the book bearing his name. He addresses the spiritual and moral decay of the Israelites after their return from exile.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who is central to the message of Malachi, calling His people to faithfulness and purity in worship.

3. The Altar
A sacred place where offerings and sacrifices were made to God. In this context, it symbolizes the people's worship and relationship with God.

4. The Israelites
The people of God who have returned from Babylonian exile and are struggling with faithfulness and obedience to God's covenant.

5. Tears, Weeping, and Groaning
These expressions of sorrow indicate the people's emotional response to God's rejection of their offerings, highlighting their awareness of a broken relationship with Him.
Teaching Points
Sincerity in Worship
God desires genuine worship from a sincere heart rather than mere ritualistic practices. Our external acts of worship must reflect an internal reality of faith and obedience.

The Consequences of Unfaithfulness
When we are unfaithful to God, it affects our relationship with Him, and our worship becomes unacceptable. We must examine our lives for areas of disobedience.

Repentance and Restoration
The tears and weeping at the altar signify a need for repentance. True repentance involves turning away from sin and returning to God with a sincere heart.

The Importance of Relationships
Our relationship with God is interconnected with our relationships with others. We must seek reconciliation and peace with others to maintain a right standing before God.

God’s Unchanging Standards
God’s standards for holiness and righteousness do not change. We are called to live according to His Word, reflecting His character in our daily lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does Malachi 2:13 reveal about the condition of the Israelites' relationship with God, and how can we apply this to our own spiritual lives today?

2. How does the concept of sincerity in worship, as seen in Malachi 2:13, challenge our current practices of worship and devotion?

3. In what ways can we ensure that our offerings to God—whether time, resources, or service—are pleasing to Him?

4. How do the themes of repentance and restoration in Malachi 2:13 connect with the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament?

5. Reflect on a time when your relationship with others affected your worship of God. How can you apply the principles from Malachi 2:13 to seek reconciliation and restore your worship?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 1:11-15
This passage similarly addresses the futility of offerings when the heart is not right with God, emphasizing that God desires obedience over sacrifice.

Psalm 51:16-17
David speaks of God’s preference for a contrite heart over burnt offerings, aligning with Malachi’s message about the importance of inner sincerity in worship.

Matthew 5:23-24
Jesus teaches about reconciliation with others before offering gifts at the altar, underscoring the importance of right relationships in worship.
The Minister of Divine TruthHomilistMalachi 2:4-17
MarriageW. B. Collyer, D. D.Malachi 2:13-15
The Divine Institution of MarriageHomilistMalachi 2:13-15
People
Jacob, Levi, Malachi
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Accepts, Altar, Attention, Cover, Covering, Crying, Doesn't, Favor, Further, Gives, Grief, Groaning, Hands, Insomuch, Longer, Lord's, Oblation, Offering, Offerings, Pays, Pleasing, Pleasure, Present, Receives, Receiveth, Receiving, Regard, Regardeth, Regards, Satisfaction, Sighing, Tears, Turning, Wail, Weep, Weeping
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Malachi 2:13

     5198   weeping
     6603   acceptance, divine

Malachi 2:10-16

     5676   divorce, in OT

Malachi 2:13-14

     5349   injustice, examples
     8460   pleasing God

Malachi 2:13-15

     5702   husband

Library
The Covenant of an Everlasting Priesthood
"That My covenant might be with Levi. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared Me, and was afraid before My name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips; he walked with Me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity."--MAL. ii. 4-6. ISRAEL was meant by God to be a nation of priests. In the first making of the Covenant this was distinctly stipulated. "If ye will obey My voice, and keep My covenant,
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants

Whether a Believer Can Marry an Unbeliever?
Objection 1: It would seem that a believer can marry an unbeliever. For Joseph married an Egyptian woman, and Esther married Assuerus: and in both marriages there was disparity of worship, since one was an unbeliever and the other a believer. Therefore disparity of worship previous to marriage is not an impediment thereto. Objection 2: Further, the Old Law teaches the same faith as the New. But according to the Old Law there could be marriage between a believer and an unbeliever, as evidenced by
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether it was Lawful to Divorce a Wife under the Mosaic Law?
Objection 1: It would seem that it was lawful to divorce a wife under the Mosaic law. For one way of giving consent is to refrain from prohibiting when one can prohibit. It is also unlawful to consent to what is unlawful. Since then the Mosaic law did not forbid the putting away of a wife and did no wrong by not forbidding it, for "the law . . . is holy" (Rom. 7:12), it would seem that divorce was at one time lawful. Objection 2: Further, the prophets spoke inspired by the Holy Ghost, according to
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether the Reason for Divorce was Hatred for the Wife?
Objection 1: It would seem that the reason for divorce was hatred for the wife. For it is written (Malachi 2:16): "When thou shalt hate her put her away." Therefore, etc. Objection 2: Further, it is written (Dt. 24:1): "If . . . she find not favor in his eyes, for some uncleanness," etc. Therefore the same conclusion follows as before. Objection 3: On the contrary, Barrenness and fornication are more opposed to marriage than hatred. Therefore they ought to have been reasons for divorce rather than
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether a Wicked Priest Can Consecrate the Eucharist?
Objection 1: It seems that a wicked priest cannot consecrate the Eucharist. For Jerome, commenting on Sophon. iii, 4, says: "The priests who perform the Eucharist, and who distribute our Lord's blood to the people, act wickedly against Christ's law, in deeming that the Eucharist is consecrated by a prayer rather than by a good life; and that only the solemn prayer is requisite, and not the priest's merits: of whom it is said: 'Let not the priest, in whatever defilement he may be, approach to offer
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether the Precepts Referring to Knowledge and Understanding were Fittingly Set Down in the Old Law?
Objection 1: It would seem that the precepts referring to knowledge and understanding were unfittingly set down in the Old Law. For knowledge and understanding pertain to cognition. Now cognition precedes and directs action. Therefore the precepts referring to knowledge and understanding should precede the precepts of the Law referring to action. Since, then, the first precepts of the Law are those of the decalogue, it seems that precepts of knowledge and understanding should have been given a place
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether it is Fitting that Christ Should be a Priest?
Objection 1: It would seem unfitting that Christ should be a priest. For a priest is less than an angel; whence it is written (Zech. 3:1): "The Lord showed me the high-priest standing before the angel of the Lord." But Christ is greater than the angels, according to Heb. 1:4: "Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath inherited a more excellent name than they." Therefore it is unfitting that Christ should be a priest. Objection 2: Further, things which were in the Old Testament were figures
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Knowledge of all Holy Writ is Required?
Objection 1: It would seem that knowledge of all Holy Writ is required. For one from whose lips we seek the law, should have knowledge of the law. Now the laity seek the law at the mouth of the priest (Malachi 2:7). Therefore he should have knowledge of the whole law. Objection 2: Further, "being always ready to satisfy everyone that asketh you a reason of that faith and hope in you [*Vulg.: 'Of that hope which is in you; St. Thomas apparently took his reading from Bede]." Now to give a reason for
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

A Dialogue with God
'The Lord will cut off the man that doeth this ... out of the tents of Jacob, ... 14. Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the Lord hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth.'--MALACHI ii. 12, 14 (R.V.). It is obvious from the whole context that divorce and foreign inter-marriage were becoming increasingly prevalent in Malachi's time. The conditions in these respects were nearly similar to that prevailing in the times of Ezra and Nehemiah. It is these sins which the Prophet is here vehemently
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Of Orders.
Of this sacrament the Church of Christ knows nothing; it was invented by the church of the Pope. It not only has no promise of grace, anywhere declared, but not a word is said about it in the whole of the New Testament. Now it is ridiculous to set up as a sacrament of God that which can nowhere be proved to have been instituted by God. Not that I consider that a rite practised for so many ages is to be condemned; but I would not have human inventions established in sacred things, nor should it be
Martin Luther—First Principles of the Reformation

The Development of the Earlier Old Testament Laws
[Sidenote: First the principle, and then the detailed laws] If the canon of the New Testament had remained open as long as did that of the Old, there is little doubt that it also would have contained many laws, legal precedents, and ecclesiastical histories. From the writings of the Church Fathers and the records of the Catholic Church it is possible to conjecture what these in general would have been. The early history of Christianity illustrates the universal fact that the broad principles are
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

The Secret Walk with God (ii).
He that would to others give Let him take from Jesus still; They who deepest in Him live Flow furthest at His will. I resume the rich subject of Secret Devotion, Secret Communion with God. Not that I wish to enter in detail on either the theory or the practice of prayer in secret; as I have attempted to do already in a little book which I may venture here to mention, Secret Prayer. My aim at present, as I talk to my younger Brethren in the Ministry, is far rather to lay all possible stress on
Handley C. G. Moule—To My Younger Brethren

Lessons for Worship and for Work
'Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. 2. Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few. 3. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. 4. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Apostolic Traditions Generally in Abeyance.
1. Washing of feet. St. John xiii. 4-14. 2. Anointing of sick with prayer for healing. St. James v. 14, 15. 3. Anointing with Oil and Muron in Baptism. 4. Anointing with Muron for Consecration. 5. Trine immersion in Baptism. 6. Incense offered to God's Holy Name. Malachi ii. 11.
Dionysius—Ecclesiastical Hierarchy

The Cities of the Levites.
Concerning them, see Numbers, chapter 35, and Joshua chapter 21. "The suburbs of the cities of the Levites were three thousand cubits on every side; viz. from the walls of the city, and outwards; as it is said, 'From the walls of the city and outwards a thousand cubits: and thou shalt measure from without the city two thousand cubits' (Num 35:4,5). The former thousand were the suburbs, and the latter two thousand were for fields and vineyards. They appointed the place of burial to every one of those
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The Fourth Commandment
Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day and hallowed it. Exod 20: 8-11. This
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Thirtieth Lesson. An Holy Priesthood;'
An holy priesthood;' Or, The Ministry of Intercession. An holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.'--I Peter ii. 5. Ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord.'--Isaiah lxi. 6. THE Spirit of the Lord God is upon me: because the Lord hath anointed me.' These are the words of Jesus in Isaiah. As the fruit of His work all redeemed ones are priests, fellow-partakers with Him of His anointing with the Spirit as High Priest. Like the precious ointment upon
Andrew Murray—With Christ in the School of Prayer

The Writings of Israel's Philosophers
[Sidenote: Discussions the problem of evil] An intense interest in man led certain of Israel's sages in time to devote their attention to more general philosophical problems, such as the moral order of the universe. In the earlier proverbs, prophetic histories, and laws, the doctrine that sin was always punished by suffering or misfortune, and conversely that calamity and misfortune were sure evidence of the guilt of the one affected, had been reiterated until it had become a dogma. In nine out
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

Pastor in Parish (ii. ).
Work on in hope; the plough, the sickle wield; Thy Master is the harvest's Master too; He gives the golden seed, He owns the field, And does Himself what His true servants do. I take up again the all-important subject of Pastoral Visitation, for the same sort of informal and fragmentary treatment as that attempted in the last chapter, and with the same feeling that the subject is practically inexhaustible. LET THE VISITOR BE A TEACHER, WATCHING FOR OPPORTUNITIES. One object which the visitor will
Handley C. G. Moule—To My Younger Brethren

Mothers, Daughters, and Wives in Israel
In order accurately to understand the position of woman in Israel, it is only necessary carefully to peruse the New Testament. The picture of social life there presented gives a full view of the place which she held in private and in public life. Here we do not find that separation, so common among Orientals at all times, but a woman mingles freely with others both at home and abroad. So far from suffering under social inferiority, she takes influential and often leading part in all movements, specially
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Holy Spirit in Relation to the Father and the Son. ...
The Holy Spirit in relation to the Father and the Son. Under this heading we began by considering Justin's remarkable words, in which he declares that "we worship and adore the Father, and the Son who came from Him and taught us these things, and the host of the other good angels that attend Him and are made like unto Him, and the prophetic Spirit." Hardly less remarkable, though in a very different way, is the following passage from the Demonstration (c. 10); and it has a special interest from the
Irenæus—The Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching

The Fifth Commandment
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.' Exod 20: 12. Having done with the first table, I am next to speak of the duties of the second table. The commandments may be likened to Jacob's ladder: the first table respects God, and is the top of the ladder that reaches to heaven; the second respects superiors and inferiors, and is the foot of the ladder that rests on the earth. By the first table, we walk religiously towards God; by
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

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