Malachi 2:10
Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why then do we break faith with one another so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?
Do we not all have one Father?
This phrase emphasizes the shared paternity of all people under God, highlighting the unity and equality of humanity. The Hebrew word for "Father" here is "אָב" (av), which not only refers to a biological father but also to a figure of authority and care. In the context of Israel, this underscores the idea that God is the ultimate Father of the nation, having chosen and nurtured them. This concept is foundational in the Old Testament, where God is often depicted as a father to Israel, guiding and disciplining them. The rhetorical question serves to remind the Israelites of their common origin and shared responsibilities as children of God.

Did not one God create us?
The phrase points to the monotheistic belief central to Judaism and Christianity, affirming that there is only one God who is the Creator of all. The Hebrew word for "create" is "בָּרָא" (bara), which is used in Genesis 1:1 to describe God's creation of the world. This term implies a divine act of bringing something into existence from nothing, underscoring God's sovereignty and power. By reminding the Israelites of their common Creator, Malachi calls them to recognize their shared identity and purpose, which should lead to unity and mutual respect.

Why then do we break faith with one another
This phrase addresses the issue of faithlessness or betrayal among the people. The Hebrew word for "break faith" is "בָּגַד" (bagad), which conveys the idea of treachery or deceit. In the context of Malachi, this refers to the Israelites' unfaithfulness in their relationships with one another, particularly in marriage and community obligations. The prophet challenges the people to examine their actions and consider how their behavior contradicts their identity as God's people. This call to faithfulness is a recurring theme in the prophetic literature, where social justice and covenant loyalty are emphasized.

so as to profane the covenant of our fathers?
The term "profane" comes from the Hebrew "חָלַל" (chalal), meaning to defile or desecrate something sacred. The "covenant of our fathers" refers to the agreements made between God and the patriarchs, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as the Mosaic covenant at Sinai. These covenants established the Israelites as God's chosen people, with specific laws and obligations. By breaking faith with one another, the Israelites were not only harming their community but also dishonoring the sacred agreements that defined their relationship with God. This phrase serves as a solemn reminder of the importance of upholding the covenant and living in a way that honors God and the legacy of their ancestors.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Malachi
The last prophet in the Old Testament, Malachi addresses the spiritual and moral decay of the Israelites after their return from exile.

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

3. Covenant of the Fathers
Refers to the covenant God made with the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and later with Moses at Sinai, emphasizing faithfulness and obedience.

4. One Father
A reference to God as the Father of all, highlighting the unity and shared heritage of the Israelites.

5. Profaning the Covenant
The act of breaking faith with God and each other, which is seen as a serious violation of their relationship with God.
Teaching Points
Unity in Creation
Recognize that all humans are created by one God, which calls us to treat each other with respect and dignity.

Faithfulness to the Covenant
Understand the importance of remaining faithful to God's covenant, which includes loving and serving one another.

Breaking Faith
Reflect on how breaking faith with others is a serious offense that dishonors God and damages community relationships.

God as Father
Embrace the concept of God as our Father, which unites us as a family and calls us to live in harmony.

Living the Covenant
Apply the principles of the covenant in daily life by being trustworthy, loving, and committed to God's commands.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does recognizing God as our one Father influence the way we interact with others in our community?

2. In what ways can we ensure that we are not breaking faith with one another in our personal and church relationships?

3. How does the concept of a shared creation by one God challenge societal divisions and prejudices?

4. What practical steps can we take to live out the covenant of our fathers in today's world?

5. How do the teachings of Jesus and the apostles reinforce the message of unity and faithfulness found in Malachi 2:10?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 1:27
Connects to the idea of one God creating all humans, emphasizing the shared origin and dignity of all people.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Reinforces the concept of one God and the call to love and serve Him wholeheartedly, which is foundational to the covenant.

Matthew 23:9
Jesus speaks of God as the one Father, reinforcing the unity and equality of all believers.

Ephesians 4:4-6
Paul speaks of one body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, echoing the unity theme in Malachi.

1 John 4:20-21
Addresses the inconsistency of claiming to love God while failing to love others, similar to the breaking of faith mentioned in Malachi.
Unfaithfulness to God Involves Injury to Our BrethrenR. Tuck Malachi 2:10
The Minister of Divine TruthHomilistMalachi 2:4-17
God Our FatherA. Scott.Malachi 2:10-12
One FatherHomilistMalachi 2:10-12
One FatherD. Thomas Malachi 2:10-12
People
Jacob, Levi, Malachi
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Acting, Agreement, Breaking, Brother, Covenant, Created, Deal, Faith, Faithless, Falsely, Fathers, Hasn't, Pollute, Prepared, Profane, Profaning, Putting, Shame, Treacherously, Unfaithfully, Wherefore
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Malachi 2:10

     1040   God, fatherhood
     1305   God, activity of
     1349   covenant, at Sinai
     1651   numbers, 1-2
     5409   metaphor
     7021   church, OT anticipations
     7032   unity, God's people
     7115   children of God
     7923   fellowship, in gospel
     8298   love, for one another

Malachi 2:7-10

     8807   profanity

Malachi 2:10-16

     5676   divorce, in OT

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

Links
Malachi 2:10 NIV
Malachi 2:10 NLT
Malachi 2:10 ESV
Malachi 2:10 NASB
Malachi 2:10 KJV

Malachi 2:10 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Malachi 2:9
Top of Page
Top of Page