Mal 3:1
3:1 Behold, I will send my {a} messenger, and he shall prepare
    the way before me: and the {b} Lord, whom ye seek, shall
    suddenly come to his temple, even the {c} messenger of the
    covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith
    the LORD of hosts.

    (a) This is meant of John the Baptist, as Christ interprets
        it; Lu 7:27.
    (b) Meaning, the Messiah, as in Ps 40:17 Da 9:17,25.
    (c) That is, Christ, by whom the covenant was made and
        ratified, who is called the angel or messenger of the
        covenant, because he reconciles us to his Father, and is
        Lord or King, because he has the rule of his Church.

Mal 3:2
3:2 But who {d} may abide the day of his coming? and who shall
    stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner's fire,
    and like fullers' soap:

    (d) He shows that the hypocrites who wish so much for the
        Lord's coming will not remain when he draws near: for he
        will consume them, and purge his own and make them
        clean.

Mal 3:3
3:3 And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and
    he shall purify the sons of {e} Levi, and purge them as gold
    and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in
    righteousness.

    (e) He begins at the priests, that they might be lights, and
        shine unto others.

Mal 3:6
3:6 For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of
    Jacob {f} are not consumed.

    (f) They murmured against God, because they did not see his
        help which was ever present to defend them: and
        therefore he accuses them of ingratitude, and shows that
        in that they are not daily consumed, it is a sign that
        he still defends them, and so his mercy towards them
        never changes.

Mal 3:7
3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from
    mine ordinances, and have not kept [them]. {g} Return unto
    me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But
    ye said, Wherein shall we return?

    (g) Read Zec 1:3.

Mal 3:8
3:8 Will a {h} man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say,
    Wherein have we robbed thee? In {i} tithes and offerings.

    (h) There are none of the heathen so barbarous, that will
        defraud their gods of their honour, or deal deceitfully
        with them.
    (i) By which the service of God should have been maintained,
        and the priests and the poor relieved.

Mal 3:10
3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may
     be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the
     LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of
     heaven, and pour you out a blessing, {k} that [there shall]
     not [be room] enough [to receive it].

     (k) Not having respect how much you need, but I will give
         you in all abundance, so that you will lack place to
         put my blessings in.

Mal 3:11
3:11 And I will rebuke the {l} devourer for your sakes, and he
     shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall
     your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field,
     saith the LORD of hosts.

     (l) Meaning the caterpillar, and whatever destroys corn and
         fruits.

Mal 3:13
3:13 Your words have been stout {m} against me, saith the LORD.
     Yet ye say, What have we spoken [so much] against thee?

     (m) The Prophet condemns them of double blasphemy against
         God: first, in that they said that God had no respect
         for those that served him, and next, that the wicked
         were more in his favour than the godly.

Mal 3:15
3:15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work
     wickedness are set up; yea, [they that] tempt God are even
     {n} delivered.

     (n) They are not only preferred to honour, but also
         delivered from dangers.

Mal 3:16
3:16 {o} Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to
     another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a {p}
     book of remembrance was written before him for them that
     feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

     (o) After these admonitions of the Prophet, some were
         strongly touched, and encouraged others to fear God.
     (p) Both because the thing was strange that some turned to
         God in that great and universal corruption, and also
         that this might be an example of God's mercies to all
         repentant sinners.

Mal 3:17
3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that
     day {q} when I make up my jewels; and I will {r} spare
     them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

     (q) When I will restore my Church according to my promise,
         they will be as my own proper goods.
     (r) That is, forgive their sins, and govern them with my
         Spirit.