That real and inward cleansing is the great work of Christ.  It was wrought on as many of His contemporaries as believed on Him, and for such as did not He was a swift Witness against them.  Nor are we to forget that the prophecy is not exhausted yet; for there remains another ‘day of His coming’ for judgment.  The prophets did not see the perspective of the future, and often bring together events widely separated in time, just as, to a spectator on a mountain, distances between points far away towards the horizon are not measurable.  We have to allow for foreshortening.

This blending of events historically widely apart is to be kept in view in interpreting Malachi’s prediction that the coming would result in Judah’s and Israel’s offerings being ’pleasant unto the Lord as in former years.’  That prediction is not yet fulfilled, whether we regard the name of Israel and the relation expressed in it as having passed over to the Christian Church, or whether we look forward to that bringing in of all Israel which Paul says will be as ’life from the dead.’  But by slow degrees it is being fulfilled, and by Christ men are being led to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God.

The more directly Messianic part of this prophecy is closed in verse 6 by a great saying, which at once gives the reason for the coming and for its severe aspect of witness against sin.  The unchangeableness of God, which is declared in His very name, guarantees the continued existence of Israel.  As Paul says in regard to the same subject, ’The calling of God is without change of purpose’ (on His part).  But it is as impossible that God should leave them to their sins, which would destroy them, as that He should Himself consume them.  Therefore He will surely come; and coming, will deliver from evil.  But they who refuse to be so delivered will forfeit that title and the pledge of preservation which it implies.

A new paragraph begins with verse 7, which is not closely connected with the promises preceding.  It recurs to the prevailing tone of Malachi, the rebuke of negligence in attending to the legal obligations of worship.  That negligence is declared to be a reason for God’s withdrawal from them.  But the ‘return,’ which is promised on condition of their renewed obedience, can scarcely be identified with the coming just foretold.  That coming was to bring about offerings of righteousness which should be pleasant to the Lord.  This section (vs. 7-12) promises blessings as results of such offerings, and a ‘return’ of Jehovah to His people contingent upon their return to Him.  If the two sections of this passage are taken as closely connected, this one must describe the consequences of the coming.  But, more probably, this accusation of negligence and promise of blessing on a change of conduct are independent of the previous verses.  We, however, may fairly take them as exhibiting the obligations of those who have received that great gift of purifying from Jesus Christ, and are thereby consecrated as His priests.