Malachi 4 Study Notes: The Day of the LORD and Elijah
The LORD announces a coming day that will burn up the proud and the wicked like stubble, while healing and joy dawn for those who fear His name. He calls Israel to keep in mind the law given through Moses and promises to send Elijah before that great day to reconcile fathers and children.
General
According to 4:1, what will happen to the arrogant and the evildoers on the coming day?
Answer: They will be burned up like stubble
God answers the complaint that the proud get away with evil (3:15). A day is coming that burns like a furnace, and on that day every proud person and all who do wrong will be like stubble, the dry stalks left after harvest, set on fire (4:1). Nothing will be left of them, neither root nor branch. Isaiah also spoke of the LORD's day humbling everything proud (Isaiah 2:12). John the Baptist warned that fruitless trees face the axe and the fire (Matthew 3:10), and Paul describes the Lord Jesus revealed from heaven in blazing fire to judge those who refuse to obey the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8).
- Malachi 4:1 (BSB)““For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.””The LORD of Hosts announces the coming day of judgment on the proud and on all who do wickedly.
- Isaiah 2:12 (BSB)“For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled—”Isaiah also describes the LORD's day coming against everything proud and lofty.
- Matthew 3:10 (BSB)“The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”John the Baptist warns that fruitless trees face the axe and the fire.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 (BSB)“and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”Paul describes the Lord Jesus revealed from heaven in blazing fire, bringing judgment on those who refuse the gospel.
Theological
What does 4:1 say will befall every proud person and every evildoer on the coming day?
Answer: They will be burned up like stubble
The LORD's reply to the claim that the arrogant prosper and escape (3:15) is the coming day, hot as a furnace, when every proud person and evildoer becomes stubble set ablaze, with neither root nor branch remaining (4:1). The judgment is total. Isaiah 2:12 sets the LORD's day against everything proud and lofty, John the Baptist announces the axe and the fire for every fruitless tree (Matthew 3:10), and 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 describes the Lord Jesus revealed in blazing fire to judge those who refuse to obey the gospel.
- Malachi 4:1 (BSB)““For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.””The LORD of Hosts announces the coming day of judgment on the proud and on all who do wickedly.
- Isaiah 2:12 (BSB)“For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled—”Isaiah also describes the LORD's day coming against everything proud and lofty.
- Matthew 3:10 (BSB)“The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”John the Baptist warns that fruitless trees face the axe and the fire.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 (BSB)“and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”Paul describes the Lord Jesus revealed from heaven in blazing fire, bringing judgment on those who refuse the gospel.
General
Whom does the LORD promise to send before the great Day in 4:5-6, and how does the New Testament identify the fulfillment?
Answer: Elijah, fulfilled in John the Baptist
God promises to send the prophet Elijah ahead of the great, fearsome Day of the LORD (4:5). His work will be to bring the hearts of fathers and children back to one another; otherwise God will come and bring a curse on the land (4:6). Jesus said that John the Baptist was the promised Elijah (Matthew 11:14), and His disciples realized He meant John when He told them Elijah had come already (Matthew 17:11-13). Before John's birth, the angel announced that he would go ahead of the Lord with Elijah's spirit and power, turning hearts just as Malachi foretold (Luke 1:17). This ties back to the messenger of 3:1, who prepares the way for the Lord.
- Malachi 4:5-6 (BSB)“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.””The LORD promises to send the prophet Elijah ahead of His great Day, to turn hearts and avert the curse.
- Matthew 11:14 (BSB)“And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.”Jesus says that John the Baptist is the promised Elijah.
- Luke 1:17 (BSB)“And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.””The angel announces that John will go ahead of the Lord with Elijah's spirit and power, reconciling fathers and children.
- Matthew 17:11-13 (BSB)“Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist.”Jesus tells His disciples that Elijah has come already, and they understand He means John the Baptist.
Theological
Whom does the LORD promise to send in 4:5-6, and how does the New Testament identify this figure?
Answer: Elijah, fulfilled in John the Baptist
The book closes with the promise that the prophet Elijah will come ahead of the great, fearsome Day of the LORD (4:5), whose ministry of reconciling the hearts of fathers and children will avert the curse on the land (4:6). The New Testament identifies the fulfillment in John the Baptist: Jesus declares him the promised Elijah (Matthew 11:14), and the disciples understand Jesus' statement that Elijah had come already as a reference to John (Matthew 17:11-13). The angel's announcement sends John ahead of the Lord with Elijah's spirit and power, quoting the heart-turning ministry of Malachi 4:6 (Luke 1:17). The Elijah of 4:5 is thus the forerunner of 3:1, who prepared the way for Christ.
- Malachi 4:5-6 (BSB)“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.””The LORD promises to send the prophet Elijah ahead of His great Day, to turn hearts and avert the curse.
- Matthew 11:14 (BSB)“And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.”Jesus says that John the Baptist is the promised Elijah.
- Luke 1:17 (BSB)“And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.””The angel announces that John will go ahead of the Lord with Elijah's spirit and power, reconciling fathers and children.
- Matthew 17:11-13 (BSB)“Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist.”Jesus tells His disciples that Elijah has come already, and they understand He means John the Baptist.
General
What does the LORD command His people to do in 4:4?
Answer: To remember the law given to Moses at Horeb
Near the close of the book, God calls His people to remember the law He gave through His servant Moses, the decrees and rules He commanded for all of Israel at Horeb, another name for Mount Sinai (4:4). This turns the people back to the foundation of their covenant with God while they wait for what He has promised. Moses himself recalled the day at Horeb when God gathered the people to hear His words and learn to fear Him (Deuteronomy 4:10). Jesus later said He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets rather than to do away with them (Matthew 5:17).
- Malachi 4:4 (BSB)““Remember the law of My servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances I commanded him for all Israel at Horeb.”Before the closing promise, the LORD calls His people back to the law He gave through Moses.
- Deuteronomy 4:10 (BSB)“The day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, “Gather the people before Me to hear My words, so that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach them to their children.””Moses recalls the day at Horeb when God gathered the people to hear His words and learn to fear Him.
- Matthew 5:17 (BSB)“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.”Jesus declares that His mission was to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, not to do away with them.
Theological
What charge does the LORD give His people in 4:4?
Answer: To remember the law given to Moses at Horeb
The LORD charges Israel to remember the law given through His servant Moses, the decrees and rules commanded at Horeb for all Israel (4:4). The prophetic word closes by binding the people to the covenant revelation given at Sinai while they await the promised day. Deuteronomy 4:10 recalls Horeb as the place where God assembled His people to hear His words and learn His fear, and Jesus affirms that He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, not to abolish them (Matthew 5:17).
- Malachi 4:4 (BSB)““Remember the law of My servant Moses, the statutes and ordinances I commanded him for all Israel at Horeb.”Before the closing promise, the LORD calls His people back to the law He gave through Moses.
- Deuteronomy 4:10 (BSB)“The day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, “Gather the people before Me to hear My words, so that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach them to their children.””Moses recalls the day at Horeb when God gathered the people to hear His words and learn to fear Him.
- Matthew 5:17 (BSB)“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.”Jesus declares that His mission was to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, not to do away with them.
General
In 4:2, what does the LORD promise will rise for those who fear His name?
Answer: A sun of righteousness bringing healing
The day that burns up the wicked is very different for those who fear God's name. For them, a sun of righteousness is to dawn, carrying healing on its wings (4:2), like the morning sun bringing light and warmth after a long night. They will run out and spring about like calves let out of their stall, and the wicked will be like ashes under their feet in the day God is preparing (4:2-3). These are the same God-fearing people recorded in His scroll of remembrance (3:16). The LORD Himself is the source of their light (Psalm 84:11). Many Christians have seen this verse fulfilled in Christ, whom Zechariah called the Dawn from on high come to give light to those in darkness (Luke 1:78-79).
- Malachi 4:2-3 (BSB)““But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall. Then you will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I am preparing,” says the LORD of Hosts.”The same day that consumes the wicked brings healing and joy to those who fear the LORD's name.
- Luke 1:78-79 (BSB)“because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.””Zechariah praises God for the Dawn from on high that will bring light to people sitting in darkness.
- Psalm 84:11 (BSB)“For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.”The psalmist calls the LORD God a sun and shield who gives every good gift to those who walk uprightly.
- Malachi 3:16 (BSB)“At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name.”Those who fear the LORD were already known to Him and recorded in His scroll of remembrance.
Theological
What does 4:2 promise will rise for those who fear the LORD's name?
Answer: A sun of righteousness bringing healing
The day is twofold: what consumes the wicked brings deliverance to those who fear the LORD's name, for whom a sun of righteousness is to dawn, carrying healing on its wings (4:2). They go out free and exultant like calves released from the stall, and the wicked become ashes beneath their feet in the day He is preparing (4:2-3). These are the God-fearers of 3:16, whom the LORD has already marked as His own. Psalm 84:11 names the LORD a sun and shield to the upright. Many Christians have long seen Christ in this image, the Dawn from on high whose coming Zechariah celebrates in Luke 1:78-79.
- Malachi 4:2-3 (BSB)““But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall. Then you will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I am preparing,” says the LORD of Hosts.”The same day that consumes the wicked brings healing and joy to those who fear the LORD's name.
- Luke 1:78-79 (BSB)“because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.””Zechariah praises God for the Dawn from on high that will bring light to people sitting in darkness.
- Psalm 84:11 (BSB)“For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity.”The psalmist calls the LORD God a sun and shield who gives every good gift to those who walk uprightly.
- Malachi 3:16 (BSB)“At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name.”Those who fear the LORD were already known to Him and recorded in His scroll of remembrance.