The Context and Tone of Malachi’s Prophecy
The context of Malachi’s prophecy (Malachi 3:1) as quoted in the first few verses of Mark’s Gospel takes on a drastically different mood than the context of Isaiah’s does.
Where Isaiah’s prophecy and the surrounding context speaks of comfort, Malachi’s warns of coming judgment.
The last verse of the previous chapter, Malachi chapter 2, sets the tone as the Lord presents a grievance against Israel.
“Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?” (Mal. 2:17).
Also Malachi 3:5, “And I will come near to you to judgment;..“
Let’s take a closer look at this context in order to better understand why Mark includes this prophetic reference at the opening of his Gospel.
When the New Testament quotes the Old Testament, it is always a good idea to go back and look at the surrounding passage so that we can get a better feel for the quote itself. Often, the Holy Ghost would draw from the tone as well as the words of Scripture as He moved the human writers to quote an Old Testament account or narrative in the New Testament.
“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2:13).
Now, back to Malachi 2:17: “Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?
So, from this verse, there are three reasons why the children of Israel and of Judah had wearied the Lord with their words. The first was because they said that evildoers were good in the sight of the Lord.
Due to the rebellion of our hearts and the temptations of the devil, mankind is constantly trying to redefine what has already been clearly laid out in the Bible. Isaiah cries, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Is. 5:20). As believers, we must align ourselves with God’s definitions of things and call things as He declares them to be in his Word.
…there are three reasons why the children of Israel and of Judah had wearied the Lord with their words.The first was because they said that evildoers were good in the sight of the Lord.
This also at times means exposing sin in the church. There is no place for hypocrites in God’s holy kingdom. Nor can there be any lowering of God’s holy standards. Again, Isaiah’s prophecy declares, “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” (Isaiah 33:14).
Notice, these “sinners” were “in Zion,” and “among us.” These were not ‘somewhere out there’ sinners. This sin was occuring among God’s chosen people.
Jesus posed this question to a multitude: “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). God is the only One who perfectly defines good and evil, and he does so in his written Word.
The second reason given in the text for why they had wearied the Lord is because they said that God delights in evildoers.
While it is true that, “… God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…” (John 3:16 a, b), and also that he is, “…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Pet. 3:9 d, e), it is also equally true that, “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” (Ps. 7:11).
It is because God loves mankind and because he is just that he, “…commandeth all men every where to repent:” (Acts 17:30 b). Clearly, God, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth,” knows, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Prov. 14:12 & 16:25).
“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” (Ezek. 33:11).
The Bible gives directions for genuine repentance. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7).
The last reason given for why they had wearied the Lord is because they were living their lives in such a way so as to deny God’s justice.
In essence, they were provoking the Lord to wrath by asking”…Where is the God of judgment?“
Jesus warned about what would happen to a wicked servant who assumed his lord was delaying his return. “But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 24:48-51)
It seems many in our day believe Jesus is delaying his Coming. Funny, that’s exactly when Jesus said he would come.
You see? Mark’s style of writing is to hit the ground running and keep on moving. His is the shortest Gospel, and he brings life and speed to his writing by using the word, “immediately” seventeen times in sixteen chapters. So, Mark allows the contexts of the verses he quotes to tell the backstory for him. The spirit of these prophecies and the imminence of them comes through Mark’s abrupt intro.
The watchman doesn’t wait to give people the backstory. He immediately blows the shofar. He immediately sounds the alarm. There’s no time to delay. Judgment isn’t coming, it’s here!
The contexts of the prophecies Mark quotes tells everything his readers need to know. The Coming of the Lord is here now! He brings either comfort to the true people of God or judgment to his enemies.
Which side are you on?