瑪拉基書3:4-5

3:4 那時，猶大和耶路撒冷所獻的供物必蒙耶和華悅納，彷彿古時之日、上古之年。

3:5 萬軍之耶和華說：「我必臨近你們，施行審判。我必速速作見證，警戒行邪術的、犯姦淫的、起假誓的、虧負人之工價的、欺壓寡婦孤兒的、屈枉寄居的，和不敬畏我的。」

Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

"Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.

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    上帝要潔淨祂的祭司，是要靠耶穌基督的寶血，祂要將祂的聖潔，透過耶穌基督賜給祂真正的祭司。

    這讓我們想起以弗所書1章4-7節所說：「就如上帝從創立世界以前，在基督裡揀選了我們，使我們在他面前成為聖潔，無有瑕疵；又因愛我們，就按著自己的意旨所喜悅的，預定我們藉著耶穌基督得兒子的名分，使他榮耀的恩典得著稱讚；這恩典是他在愛子裡所賜給我們的。我們藉這愛子的血得蒙救贖，過犯得以赦免，乃是照他豐富的恩典。」

    所以，我們要靠耶穌基督的寶血，站立在上帝的面前，這事上帝為我們預備唯一成為聖潔的道路！

瑪拉基書2:10-17

2:10 我們豈不都是一位父嗎？豈不是一位上帝所造的嗎？我們各人怎麼以詭詐待弟兄，背棄了上帝與我們列祖所立的約呢？

2:11 猶大人行事詭詐，並且在以色列和耶路撒冷中行一件可憎的事；因為猶大人褻瀆耶和華所喜愛的聖潔（或譯：聖地），娶事奉外邦神的女子為妻。

2:12 凡行這事的，無論何人（何人：原文是叫醒的，答應的），就是獻供物給萬軍之耶和華，耶和華也必從雅各的帳棚中剪除他。

2:13 你們又行了一件這樣的事，使前妻歎息哭泣的眼淚遮蓋耶和華的壇，以致耶和華不再看顧那供物，也不樂意從你們手中收納。

2:14 你們還說：「這是為甚麼呢？」因耶和華在你和你幼年所娶的妻中間作見證。她雖是你的配偶，又是你盟約的妻，你卻以詭詐待她。

2:15 雖然上帝有靈的餘力能造多人，他不是單造一人嗎？為何只造一人呢？乃是他願人得虔誠的後裔。所以當謹守你們的心，誰也不可以詭詐待幼年所娶的妻。

2:16 耶和華─以色列的上帝說：「休妻的事和以強暴待妻的人都是我所恨惡的！所以當謹守你們的心，不可行詭詐。」這是萬軍之耶和華說的。

2:17 你們用言語煩瑣耶和華，你們還說：「我們在何事上煩瑣他呢？」因為你們說：「凡行惡的，耶和華眼看為善，並且他喜悅他們」；或說：「公義的上帝在哪裡呢？」

Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers? Judah has been faithless, and abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord, which he loves, and has married the daughter of a foreign god. May the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob any descendant of the man who does this, who brings an offering to the Lord of hosts!

And this second thing you do. You cover the Lord's altar with tears, with weeping and groaning because he no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand. But you say, "Why does he not?" Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant. Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. "For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless."

You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, "How have we wearied him?" By saying, "Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them." Or by asking, "Where is the God of justice?"

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    上帝指謫猶太人，在信仰與婚姻的不忠。這也說明到忠心是上帝所看重的，婚姻和信仰更是需要忠心來支持，若不忠心就不配成為上帝的祭司，就沒有公義了！

瑪拉基書2:5-9

2:5 我曾與他立生命和平安的約。我將這兩樣賜給他，使他存敬畏的心，他就敬畏我，懼怕我的名。

2:6 真實的律法在他口中，他嘴裡沒有不義的話。他以平安和正直與我同行，使多人回頭離開罪孽。

2:7 祭司的嘴裡當存知識，人也當由他口中尋求律法，因為他是萬軍之耶和華的使者。

2:8 你們卻偏離正道，使許多人在律法上跌倒。你們廢棄我與利未所立的約。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。

2:9 所以我使你們被眾人藐視，看為下賤；因你們不守我的道，竟在律法上瞻徇情面。」

My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction."

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    上帝賦於祭司是何等大的責任：「立生命和平安的約」、「真實的律法在他口中」、「是萬軍之耶和華的使者」。

    所以，祭司要存敬畏耶和華的心；以平安和正直與上帝同行，使多人回頭離開罪孽；嘴裡當存知識，人也當由他口中尋求律法。

    然而當時的祭司竟然偏離正道，使許多人在律法上跌倒；廢棄上帝與利未所立的約。以至於被眾人藐視，看為下賤。

    基督徒也當以遵守聖經的教訓，來敬畏上帝，才能獲得人的尊重。可見敬畏上帝，遵守祂的教訓事非常的重要。不僅是自己得意處，還會影響人願不願意接受基督為救主。

瑪拉基書2:1-4

2:1 「眾祭司啊，這誡命是傳給你們的。

2:2 萬軍之耶和華說：你們若不聽從，也不放在心上，將榮耀歸與我的名，我就使咒詛臨到你們，使你們的福分變為咒詛；因你們不把誡命放在心上，我已經咒詛你們了。

2:3 我必斥責你們的種子，又把你們犧牲的糞抹你們的臉上；你們要與糞一同除掉。

2:4 你們就知道我傳這誡命給你們，使我與利未（或譯：利未人）所立的約可以常存。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。

"And now, O priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the Lord of hosts.

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    祭司是上帝揀選來事奉祂的族群，也因此祭司要比一般人更敬畏上帝，他的生活一切所需，和工作上的能力來源，完全都要上帝來供應。更直接的是，他是上帝和世人之間的橋樑，是上帝的代表。他不敬畏上帝，其他人會敬畏上帝嗎？因為祭司也是上帝的出口。

    說道這些，我們屬乎基督的人，也要想到我們也是有祭司的功能。因為使徒彼得教導我們：「惟有你們是被揀選的族類，是有君尊的祭司，是聖潔的國度，是屬上帝的子民，要叫你們宣揚那召你們出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。」

    也因此，我們更應當用敬畏的心來服事上帝。因為我們得救與蒙揀選，也就是要來事奉主，更何況我們是用基督寶血買贖回來的呢！

瑪拉基書1:9-14

1:9 「現在我勸你們懇求上帝，他好施恩與我們。這妄獻的事，既由你們經手，他豈能看你們的情面嗎？這是萬軍之耶和華說的。

1:10 甚願你們中間有一人關上殿門，免得你們徒然在我壇上燒火。萬軍之耶和華說：我不喜悅你們，也不從你們手中收納供物。

1:11 萬軍之耶和華說：從日出之地到日落之處，我的名在外邦中必尊為大。在各處，人必奉我的名燒香，獻潔淨的供物，因為我的名在外邦中必尊為大。

1:12 你們卻褻瀆我的名，說：『耶和華的桌子是污穢的，其上的食物是可藐視的。』

1:13 你們又說：『這些事何等煩瑣！』並嗤之以鼻。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。你們把搶奪的、瘸腿的、有病的拿來獻上為祭。我豈能從你們手中收納呢？這是耶和華說的。

1:14 行詭詐的在群中有公羊，他許願卻用有殘疾的獻給主，這人是可咒詛的。因為我是大君王，我的名在外邦中是可畏的。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。

And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the Lord of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. But you profane it when you say that the Lord's table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, 'What a weariness this is,' and you snort at it, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.

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    從上帝的回應以色列人不敬畏上帝的心之話語，我們可以察覺倒是有人在其中自立權柄，以自己的教導取代上帝的命令。以至於使得以色列人對上帝沒有敬畏的心，正如先知在這裡所宣告：「行詭詐的在群中有公羊，他許願卻用有殘疾的獻給主，這人是可咒詛的。因為我是大君王，我的名在外邦中是可畏的。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。」

    這也說明，許多人以知識和服事來代替信仰，不照上帝的方式—靠著耶穌基督的寶血，以悔改認罪的方式來親近主。他們自以為，要有積極思想，要正面的態度，否定人是有罪的事實。他們認為承認罪，是負面與消極，更是無意義的！他們更認為到上帝面前只有敬拜與讚美，沒有哀歌，沒有悔罪。

    我們的信仰真是如此嗎？只有敬拜讚美、喜樂平安嗎？只有歡笑、沒有哀哭麼？只有敞開、沒有隱蔽嗎？只有歡呼、沒有安靜嗎？