Mercy, Not Sacrifice

In the book of Malachi, we see God’s chosen people imploring Him to be

gracious to them even while they keep disrespecting Him and showing

contempt for His commands.

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By God’s law, they are to make unblemished animal sacrifices to God for

their sins. Instead, they sacrifice blind, diseased, and injured animals.

Even the priests offer God what they themselves do not want. God tells them

He wants the whole tithe and offering from them, not leftover bits. He also

calls out people who have broken faith by marrying unbelievers or divorcing

their spouses without reason.

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The actions of the people suggest that what they want is a savior, not a

lord. They seek a cosmic genie to do their bidding rather than the ruler of

the universe to rule their hearts. They don’t want to love God and their

neighbor, and so they break God’s commands, ignoring Him and disregarding

the vulnerable in their midst.

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But God knows what’s going on in their hearts. In this last book of the Old

Testament, He points to the Savior and Lord the people need: Jesus. Jesus

will be the sinless, unblemished sacrifice people need to receive

forgiveness for their sins and attain eternal life with God. God will make

this sacrifice because He loves us. Jesus will die for us willingly, and

once Jesus is sacrificed for the sins of all, the old laws with animal

sacrifices will be fulfilled. People who put their trust in Jesus,

believing He died and rose again, will be transformed by the Holy Spirit

and be able to lead God-pleasing lives under grace and mercy, not

sacrifice. Ronica Stromberg

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How does the book of Malachi make it clear that everyone has fallen short

of loving God and loving their neighbor? (If you want to dig deeper, read

Matthew 22:36-40 and Romans 3:23.)

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How does Malachi point to Jesus, the Son of God, who has made the only

way for us to have a right relationship with God?

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For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than

burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6 (NIV)

Read Verses:

Malachi 3:6-Malachi 3:7; Hosea 6:6; Malachi 1:7-Malachi 1:9; Malachi 1:11-Malachi 1:12; Malachi 2:13-Malachi 2:16