Malachi 1-4Digging for Spiritual Gems: (8 min.)

Mal 1:10—Why must our acts of worship be motivated by unselfish love for God and neighbor? (w07 12/15 27 ¶1)

1:10. Jehovah took no pleasure in the offerings of the greedy priests, who would charge a fee even for such simple services as shutting doors or lighting altar fires. How important it is that our acts of worship, including what we do in the Christian ministry, be motivated by unselfish love for God and neighbor, never for monetary gain!—Matthew 22:37-39; 2 Corinthians 11:7.

Mal 3:1—How was this verse fulfilled in the first century and in modern times? (w13 7/15 10-11 ¶5-6 )

5 Centuries before Jesus gave the illustration of the wheat and the weeds, Jehovah inspired his prophet Malachi to foretell events that are reflected in Jesus’ illustration. (Read Malachi 3:1-4.) John the Baptizer was the ‘messenger who cleared up the way.’ (Matt. 11:10, 11) When he came in 29 C.E., a time of judgment for the nation of Israel had drawn close. Jesus was the second messenger. He cleansed the temple in Jerusalem twice—first at the start of his ministry and second toward the end. (Matt. 21:12, 13; John 2:14-17) Hence, Jesus’ cleansing work involved a period of time.

6 What is the larger fulfillment of Malachi’s prophecy? During the decades leading up to 1914, C. T. Russell and his close associates did a work like that of John the Baptizer. That vital work involved restoring Bible truths. The Bible Students taught the true meaning of Christ’s ransom sacrifice, exposed the hellfire lie, and proclaimed the coming end of the Gentile Times. Still, there were numerous religious groups who claimed to be Christ’s followers. So a crucial question needed to be answered: Who among those groups were the wheat? To settle that question, Jesus began to inspect the spiritual temple in 1914. That inspection and cleansing work involved a period of time—from 1914 to the early part of 1919.

What has this week’s Bible reading taught you about Jehovah?*** w17 February p. 12 par. 17 The Ransom—A “Perfect Present” From the

Father ***17 God’s promises are absolutely reliable. Just as his laws of

creation never fail, Jehovah will never fail us. He does not change. (Mal. 3:6) Jehovah gives us far more than just the gift of life. He gives us his love. “We have come to know and

believe the love that God has for us. God is love.” (1 John 4:16) The whole earth will be made a paradise of exquisite delight, and everyone on earth will reflect God’s love. May we join our voices with those of God’s faithful heavenly creatures in saying: “Let the praise and the glory and the wisdom and the thanksgiving and the honor and the power and the strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”—Rev. 7:12.

*** w16 September p. 12 pars. 16-17 Keep Contending for Jehovah’s Blessing ***16 The Devil would really like to see you give up and drop your

hands in defeat. Be determined to “hold fast to what is fine.” (1 Thess. 5:21) Be assured that you can win the fight against Satan, his wicked world, and any sinful leanings. You can do so by completely trusting in God’s ability to strengthen you.—2 Cor. 4:7-9; Gal. 6:9.

17 By all means, keep fighting. Keep struggling. Keep contending. Keep persevering. Have full confidence that Jehovah will “pour out on you a blessing until there is nothing lacking.”—Mal. 3:10.

*** w16 September p. 20 pars. 11-12 Does Your Style of Dress Glorify God? ***11 When making decisions about

what to wear, God’s servants take into account that “there is a time for every activity and every action.” (Eccl. 3:1, 17) It is understandable that different climates and the change of seasons influence what we wear. So do varying circumstances and living conditions. Jehovah’s standards, however, do not fluctuate with the weather.—Mal.

3:6.12 In warmer climates, it can be particularly challenging to make sure that our style of

dress is respectable and sensible and that it shows good judgment. Hence, our brothers and sisters appreciate it when we refrain from wearing clothes that are so tight or so loose that they are revealing. (Job 31:1) Also, when relaxing at the beach or at a swimming pool, the style of swimwear we use should be modest. (Prov. 11:2, 20) Even if many in the world wear revealing swimwear, we who serve Jehovah are concerned about being a credit to the holy God we love.

*** w16 October p. 9 par. 5 “Do Not Forget Kindness to Strangers” ***5 Today, we can be sure that Jehovah

is equally concerned about people from a foreign background who attend meetings in our congregations. (Deut. 10:17-19; Mal. 3:5, 6) If we reflect on the challenges that they are facing, such as discrimination or the language barrier, we will look for ways to show them kindness and fellow feeling.—1 Pet. 3:8.

*** w16 December pp. 24-25 par. 3 Jehovah Rewards Those Who Earnestly Seek Him ***

3 Jehovah God has obligated himself to reward his faithful servants, so he invites us to reach out for his blessing. We read: “‘Test me out, please, . . .’ Jehovah of armies says, ‘to see whether I will not open to you the floodgates of the heavens and pour out on

you a blessing until there is nothing lacking.’” (Mal. 3:10) We show our deep appreciation and gratitude when we accept Jehovah’s generous offer.

*** w15 9/15 pp. 26-27 pars. 14-15 How Can We Show That We Love Jehovah? ***14 In the days of Malachi, many Jews did not

appreciate God’s counsel. They knew the Law regarding the offering of sacrifices but became so shamefully negligent that Jehovah had to give them strong counsel. (Read Malachi 1:12, 13.) How serious was the situation? Listen to Jehovah’s words: “I will send on you the curse, and I will turn your blessings into curses. Yes, I have turned the blessings into curses, because you are not taking [my commandment] to heart.” (Mal. 2:1, 2) Clearly, habitually or deliberately ignoring Jehovah’s loving counsel can have serious consequences.

15 In today’s me-first, self-centered generation, it is not easy to talk about counsel and discipline, let alone to accept such. Even those who seem to accept counsel or discipline often do so begrudgingly. Christians, though, are advised to “stop being molded by this system of things.” We are to perceive and follow the “perfect will of God.” (Rom. 12:2) Through his organization, Jehovah gives us timely counsel about many areas of life—our conduct with the opposite sex, our associations, and our recreation. By willingly accepting and applying such direction, we show that we are grateful and that we truly love Jehovah from the heart.—John 14:31; Rom. 6:17.

*** w14 3/1 p. 10 Interfaith—Is It God’s Way? ***Is Truth Relative?

Supporters of interfaith often feel that no religion can lay sole claim to truth. In fact, they may say that exclusivism among religions is what gives rise to many of the problems we see today.

Contrary to such opinions, Jehovah is described as “the God of truth,” and he said of himself: “I do not change.” (Psalm 31:5;

Malachi 3:6) About God, Jesus said: “Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) That truth is revealed in the divinely inspired Scriptures, the Bible. It instructs us and equips us “for every good work.”—2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

*** w14 12/1 p. 4 Do You Know and Use God’s Name? ***The Bible shows that God pays special attention to

“those meditating on [or possibly, “treasuring”] his name.” (Malachi 3:16; footnote) Concerning such a one, Jehovah promises: “I will protect him because he knows my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in distress.” (Psalm 91:14, 15) Knowing and using Jehovah’s name does matter if we wish to enjoy a close relationship with him.

*** w13 3/15 pp. 15-16 par. 12 Having “Come to Know God”—What Now? ***12 God’s friends grow spiritually through their sincere prayers

and good association. (Read Malachi 3:16.) Jehovah’s “ears are toward their supplication.” (1 Pet. 3:12) Like a loving parent, Jehovah is attentive to our prayerful cries for help. Hence, we need to “persevere in prayer.” (Rom. 12:12) We cannot remain a full-grown Christian unless we have the help of God. The pressures of this system are too great to resist and overcome by ourselves. If we cease to persist in prayer, we cut ourselves off from the constant fund of strength that God is willing and able to supply. Are you satisfied with the quality of your prayers, or do you see the need to make further progress in that area?—Jer. 16:19.

*** w13 6/15 p. 18 par. 6 Appreciate Jehovah’s Loyalty and Forgiveness ***6 In what other ways does Jehovah demonstrate loyalty?

He remains true to his standards. “Even to one’s old age I am the same,” he assures us. (Isa. 46:4) He always makes decisions based on his unchanging standards of right and wrong. (Mal. 3:6) In addition, Jehovah demonstrates loyalty by remaining faithful to his word of promise. (Isa. 55:11) Jehovah’s loyalty thus benefits all of his faithful worshippers. How so? When we do our best to adhere to Jehovah’s standards, we can be confident that he will keep his promise to bless us.—Isa. 48:17, 18.

*** w11 5/1 p. 25 Life in Bible Times—Money ***At the time that Jehovah gave Israel the written Law,

greedy merchants used faulty scales or inaccurate weights to cheat customers. Dishonesty is detestable to Jehovah God, so he told the Israelite merchants: “You should prove to have accurate scales, accurate weights.” (Leviticus 19:36; Proverbs 11:1) Today, those who sell goods do well to remember that Jehovah’s feelings about greed and dishonesty have not changed.—Malachi 3:6; 1 Corinthians

6:9, 10.

What other spiritual gems have you discovered in this week’s Bible reading?

*** w17 April p. 7 par. 15 “What You Vow, Pay” ***15 Of course, there has never been a

perfect marriage. Each marriage is made up of two imperfect people. That is why the Bible says that married people “will have tribulation” at times. (1 Cor. 7:28) Sad to say, many individuals in this world have a casual attitude toward marriage. When the relationship becomes strained, they just give up and walk out on their marriage mate. That, however, is not the Christian way. Breaking one’s marriage vow is equivalent to lying to God, and God hates liars! (Lev. 19:12; Prov. 6:16-19) The apostle Paul wrote: “Are you bound to a wife? Stop seeking a release.” (1 Cor. 7:27) Paul could say that because he knew that Jehovah also hates a treacherous divorce.—Mal. 2:13-16.

*** wp17 No. 4 p. 7 What the Bible Says About Life and Death ***Our Creator did not intend for humans to live just 70 or 80 years on

earth and then move on to spend an eternity in another realm. His original purpose was for his human creation to live forever right here on earth as his obedient children. This grand purpose is an expression of God’s love for humankind, and it will not be thwarted. (Malachi 3:6) Reassuringly, the inspired psalmist declared: “The righteous will possess the earth, and they will live forever on it.”—Psalm 37:29.

*** w16 April p. 8 par. 15 Being Faithful Leads to God’s Approval ***15 When we dedicated our

lives to Jehovah, we vowed that we would do his will unreservedly. We knew that living up to that promise would require self-sacrifice. However, our willingness is especially put to the test when we are asked to do things that are not initially to our liking. When we make such sacrifices and serve God in a way that takes us out of our comfort zone, we prove ourselves faithful. The resulting blessings are always far greater than any sacrifices we may make, painful as they may be. (Mal. 3:10) But what about Jephthah’s daughter?

*** w16 August p. 11 pars. 12-13 Marriage—Its Origin and Purpose ***12 In the days of the prophet Malachi, many Jewish

husbands dealt treacherously with their wives by divorcing them, using all kinds of excuses. Such men thus rid themselves of the wives of their youth, perhaps to marry younger women or even pagan women. Jewish men were

still treacherously divorcing their wives “on every sort of grounds” when Jesus was on earth. (Matt. 19:3) Jehovah God hated such divorcing.—Read Malachi 2:13-16.

13 Today, marital treachery cannot be tolerated among Jehovah’s people. But suppose a baptized married man or woman ran off with another person’s mate and married that one after obtaining a divorce. If he is unrepentant, the wrongdoer would be disfellowshipped in order to maintain the spiritual purity of the congregation. (1 Cor. 5:11-13) He or she would have to “produce fruits that befit repentance” before being accepted back into the congregation. (Luke 3:8; 2 Cor. 2:5-10) Though no set time must pass before that person’s reinstatement, such treachery, which seldom occurs among those associated with God’s people, cannot be ignored. It might take quite some time—a year or more—for the sinner to give proof of true repentance. Even if the person is reinstated, he or she must still render an account “before the judgment seat of God.”—Rom. 14:10-12; see The Watchtower, November 15, 1979, pp. 31-32.

*** w15 1/15 pp. 20-21 par. 10 Build a Strong and Happy Marriage ***10 A wife has an honorable place as her

husband’s “partner.” (Mal. 2:14) She provides valuable input concerning family decisions by respectfully expressing her thoughts and feelings yet remaining submissive. A wise husband will listen carefully to his wife’s expressions. (Prov. 31:10-31) Loving submission, in turn, promotes joy, peace, and harmony within the family, and gives husbands and wives the satisfaction that comes from knowing that they are pleasing God.—Eph. 5:22.

*** w15 6/15 p. 12 par. 18 He Loved People ***18 Mankind is groaning, full of pain, and dying.

(Rom. 8:22) We need God’s new world, where there will be the complete physical healing that he has promised. Malachi 4:2 gives us reason to trust that the healed ones will “skip about like fattened calves,” excited and delighted to be released from confinement to imperfection. May heartfelt gratitude to God coupled with deep faith in his promises move us to do now whatever is needed to qualify to be in that new world. How heartening it is to know that the

miracles Jesus performed while on earth were foregleams of the lasting relief that mankind will soon enjoy under his Messianic rule!

*** w15 8/1 p. 7 Hope for the Dead—How Can You Be Sure? ***Why has Jehovah arranged for the future resurrection? Because of his

love. “If a man dies, can he live again?” asked Job. “You will call, and I will answer you. You will long for the work of your hands.” (Job 14:14, 15) Job was convinced that his loving heavenly Father would yearn to resurrect him. Has God changed? “I am Jehovah; I do not change.” (Malachi 3:6) God still longs to see the dead brought back to life healthy and happy. This is just as any loving parent would wish after losing a child in death. The difference, of course, is that God has the power to do as he wishes.—Psalm 135:6.

*** w15 10/15 pp. 24-25 par. 8 Keep Meditating on Spiritual Things ***8 Reflecting on what you

read in the Bible is one important way to meditate, but there are others. For example, as you view the marvels of creation, pause and think. This will no doubt move you to praise Jehovah for his goodness and—if you are with a companion—to share your appreciative feelings. (Ps. 104:24; Acts 14:17) Does Jehovah value such prayerful thoughts and expressions about him? Let his precious Word give the answer. Concerning these critical last days, we have this promise: “At that time those who fear Jehovah spoke with one another, each one with his companion, and Jehovah kept paying attention and listening. And a book of remembrance was written before him for those fearing Jehovah and for those meditating on his name.”—Mal. 3:16.

*** w14 3/15 p. 24 par. 17 Honor the Aged Among You ***17 All involved in the

caregiving process can endeavor to make the experience as pleasant as possible. If you have a role in this, do your utmost to maintain a positive spirit. In some cases, aging causes despondency, even

depression. You may thus need to put forth special effort to honor and encourage older brothers and sisters by keeping conversations with them upbuilding. Those who have a good record of dedicated service are to be commended. Jehovah does not forget what they have done to serve him, and neither do fellow Christians.—Read Malachi 3:16; Hebrews 6:10.

*** w14 6/15 p. 9 Assist Divorced Fellow Believers—How? ***A Balanced View of Divorce

Jehovah’s servants view marriage very seriously. That is because we base our thinking on what the Scriptures say. For instance, at Malachi 2:16, we read God’s clear statement: “I hate divorce.” Sexual immorality on the part of one’s mate is the only Scriptural grounds for divorce. Hence, it would be a serious mistake to entertain thoughts of filing for an unscriptural divorce from one person, perhaps while already planning to marry another.—Gen. 2:22-24;

Deut. 5:21; Matt. 19:4-6, 9.

But when a divorce does occur, such as after a Christian’s mate has proved unfaithful, brothers and sisters in the congregation are supportive. They imitate Jehovah by doing all they can to assist righteous ones who for a while are “crushed in spirit.”—Ps. 34:15, 18; Isa. 41:10.

*** w14 7/1 p. 12 How Should You Discipline Your Children? ***“I am Jehovah; I do not change,” says Malachi

3:6. Servants of God rely on this truth and feel secure in this knowledge. Children also need the security of consistent discipline. If your standards change depending on your mood, your child may become confused and frustrated.

Recall that Jesus said: “Let your word ‘Yes’ mean yes, your ‘No,’ no.” Those words well apply to parenting. (Matthew 5:37) Think carefully before giving ultimatums you have no intention of carrying out. If you warn your child that a certain form of discipline will result if he misbehaves, be sure to follow through.

Good parental communication is essential to consistent discipline. Robert explains: “If our children manage to get me to agree to something that my wife told them they could not do, when I become aware of it, I reverse my decision to back up my wife.” If parents disagree about how to handle a situation, it is best that they discuss those differences privately and reach a united decision.

*** w13 5/15 pp. 10-11 par. 11 Are You “Zealous for Fine Works”? ***11 Although we recognize that our actions can influence

people for good, the opposite is also possible. So whether we are at work, at home, or in school, we seek to avoid giving anyone a basis for finding fault with our ministry and our conduct. If we were to practice sin willfully, the personal consequences would be disastrous. (Heb. 10:26, 27) This

thought should move us to consider prayerfully what we are doing and what our lives tell others. As this world’s moral standards decline, sincere people will increasingly “see the distinction . . . between one serving God and one who has not served him.” (Mal. 3:18) Yes, our fine Christian conduct plays an important role in reconciling people to God.

*** w11 2/15 pp. 16-17 pars. 18-19 Gaining God’s Approval Leads to Everlasting Life ***

18 Today, many people draw the same conclusion as some did in Malachi’s time: “It is useless to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept his charge?” (Mal. 3:14, An American Translation) Led on by materialistic desires, they view God’s purpose as unattainable and his laws as no longer applicable. To them, the preaching of the good news is a waste of time and a source of irritation.

19 The driving force behind such ideas goes back to the garden of Eden. It was Satan who persuaded Eve to disregard the real value of the wonderful life Jehovah had given her and to disdain His approval. Today, Satan eggs people on to believe that nothing is to be gained by doing God’s will. However, Eve and her husband discovered that losing God’s favor meant losing their lives. Those who now follow their bad example will soon come to realize the same bitter truth.—Gen. 3:1-7, 17-19.

*** w11 11/1 p. 6 Ten Questions About Sex Answered ***7 Does the Bible permit divorce?

▪ Answer: The Bible does permit divorce. However, Jesus identified only one acceptable reason to end a marriage, stating: “Whoever divorces his wife, except on the ground of fornication [sex outside of the marriage], and marries another commits adultery.”—Matthew 19:9.

God hates a deceitful, treacherous divorce. He will personally hold accountable those who frivolously leave their mate, especially when they do so with the

motive of taking another partner.—Malachi 2:13-16; Mark 10:9.

*** w11 11/15 p. 25 par. 7 Help Men to Progress Spiritually ***7 How can we imitate Jesus in helping our Bible

students to build their trust in Jehovah? (Prov. 3:5, 6) The way we teach has a considerable bearing on this. When teaching, we can highlight God’s promise to bless us abundantly if we put Kingdom interests first. (Read Malachi 3:10; Matthew 6:33.) Although we can use various scriptures to emphasize how Jehovah provides for his people, not to be overlooked is the effect of the example we ourselves set. Sharing experiences from our own life can accomplish much in helping our students develop reliance on

Jehovah. We can also share encouraging experiences that we read about in our literature.

*** w10 1/15 pp. 12-13 pars. 4-5 Prove to Be a Real Follower of Christ ***4 Accordingly, the prophet Malachi wrote:

“You people will again certainly see the distinction between a righteous one and a wicked one, between one serving God and one who has not served him.” (Mal. 3:18) As you reflect on those words, ask yourself: ‘Do I blend in with the world, or do I stand out as different? Do I always strive to fit in with my secular associates, whether at school or at work, or do I remain firm for Bible principles, even speaking up when appropriate?’ (Read 1 Peter 3:16.) Of course, we do not want to appear self-righteous,

but we should stand out as different from those who do not love and serve Jehovah.5 If you see room for improvement, why not pray about the matter and seek spiritual

strength through regular Bible study, prayer, and meeting attendance? The more God’s Word becomes a part of you, the more you will produce “fine fruit,” including “the fruit of lips which make public declaration to [God’s] name.”—Heb. 13:15.