Community on Columbia

The prophets Malachi and Isaiah had predicted that a forerunner would precede the coming of the Messiah. This would be Elijah, who would turn the people’s hearts back to God. The news of the miraculous birth of this messenger is delivered to Zacharias the priest by the angel Gabriel. But he and his wife were childless and aged, so he hesitated to believe this news.

Notes on Luke 1:1-25

The genealogical lists tracing the lineage of Jesus appear in Matthew 1 and Luke 3. It was vitally important that the Messiah be in the line of King David, and that’s what these lists show. But there are seeming contradictions as well as a curse that needs explaining.

Notes on Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-28

The coming of Jesus into the world was accompanied by intense anticipation. The prophet Daniel’s timeline for the appearance of the Messiah to defeat Israel’s oppressors and restore the kingdom was almost up. But the prophecies and scripture references gave seemingly conflicting versions of the Messiah’s mission and character.

Introduction to the Life of the Messiah

The corrupt priests in Malachi’s day were literally robbing God of the tithes while complaining that He is unjust. The prophet enumerates their sins, and warns that God will “suddenly come to His Temple” to purify and purge the priesthood. First He will send a messenger, Elijah the prophet. But if they repent and “bring all the tithes into the storehouse,” they will be blessed beyond measure.

Notes on Malachi 3:1-18 and 4:1-6

The prophet Malachi delivers a number of complaints God has against Israel’s priesthood. They were bringing blemished, sick or lame animals for sacrifice, which contradicted commandments in the Torah. That showed they considered God’s table “contemptible.” As a consequence, God says He is turning to the Gentiles, looking toward the days of Messiah.

Notes on Malachi 1:1-14

Ezra and Nehemiah arrive in Jerusalem about 60 years after the Temple has been rebuilt. They find a serious problem. Many prominent Jews have taken wives from the idol-worshipping Samaritans and surrounding peoples. The children of these unions barely speak Hebrew and know little about Israel’s God. The solution is harsh. The repentant men must separate from their foreign wives and children born from those marriages.

Notes in Ezra 7-10, Nehemiah 13, Malachi 2