Jesus the Messiah – The House of The Nazarene

Finding Yeshua (Jesus) in the Names of God

Variations of the Hebrew name Yeshua (Jesus). The top two are pronounced Yehoshua, and the bottom one is a contraction that is pronounced Yeshua. This spelling and pronunciation were typical in Jerusalem during the Second Temple period.

In Jewish culture, names are not chosen randomly or on a whim like my name William ויליאם.

A person’s name is believed to affect their entire spiritual identity and even their destiny.

Scripture seems to enforce this idea; for instance, the Messiah was named Yeshua (Jesus). That name means salvation, and Matthew 1:21 confirms that it reflects His destiny.

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Yeshua, because He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

Since Yeshua is one with the Father (John 10:30, 14:7; Matthew 11:27), we can expect to find His character revealed in the names of the Father.

“My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets.” (Malachi 1:11)

Variations of the Hebrew name Yeshua (Jesus). The top two are pronounced Yehoshua, and the bottom one is a contraction that is pronounced Yeshua. This spelling and pronunciation were typical in Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. Now some have said the bottom one is just Joshua however here is Joshua in Hebrew: יהושע

So you can see יהושע and ישוע is not the same in Hebrew!

Discovering the Character of Messiah in the Names of the Father

“So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel…” (Ezekiel 39:7)

Father God has, in His mercy, chosen to reveal His Divine character and nature to His people through His Holy name.

All of the names we will look at here are compound and begin with the Four Letters of God’s personal, holy name: YHWH.

“I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as El Shaddai (God Almighty), but by My name YHWH יְהֹוָה, I did not make myself known to them.” (Exodus 6:3)

This four-letter name of God is derived from the Hebrew verb hayah meaning to be. God seems to explain this to Moses when He said, “I Am who I Am [ehyeh aser ehyeh]’”

Most Christian Bibles write LORD in place of YHWH. And in the Jewish tradition, the Hebrew word Adonai is said when reading Scripture aloud.

Let’s now take a look at Father God and Messiah Yeshua in the names: YHWH El Elyon (Most High), YHWH Nissi (Banner), and YHWH Roi (My Shepherd).

The holy name of God, YHWH, was spoken by the High Priest on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). When the Jewish People read Scripture aloud, however, they substitute Adonai (Lord).

1) The LORD Most High God: YHWH El Elyon (יְהֹוָה אֵ֣ל עֶלְי֔וֹן)

“For You, O Lord [YHWH], are Most High [Elyon] over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.” (Psalm 97:9, see Genesis 14:22)

The name Adonai El Elyon (The Lord Most High God) reveals the superiority and supremacy of God.

The Hebrew word Elyon, meaning Most High, Uppermost, Lofty, or the Supreme, is derived from the Hebrew root A-L-H, meaning to go up or ascend.

The implication is that God is high and above any and all created things. This includes the false gods that arise from the imaginations of humankind and all demonic powers.

In fact, when God poured out His fury upon Egypt in the form of the ten plagues, He proved Himself to be Elyon — higher than any false Egyptian deity (Exodus 12:12).

The Plague of Flies depicts the fourth plague and the supremacy of YHWH over the Egyptian god Khepri, who had the head of a fly, can you imagine having the head of a fly, tiny brain, and drinking poop and they made that a god?

The name El Elyon reveals that God is the absolute Highest Supremacy. He is the Extremely-Exalted, High God who is far superior to anyone or anything.

For this reason, we should both fear Him revere Him and trust Him.

“I cry out to God Most High [Elohim Elyon], to God [El], who fulfills [His purpose] for me.” (Psalm 57:2; see also Psalm 7:17)

“How awesome is the LORD Most High [YHWH Elyon], the great King over all the earth!” (Psalm 47:2)

The Brit Chadashah (New Covenant) connects this idea of supremacy with Yeshua (Jesus). God has made Him above all (Elyon) by placing all things under His feet.

“And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the community of Believers.” (Ephesians 1:22)

2) The Lord My Banner: YHWH Nissi (יְהוָה נִסִּי)

“Moses built an altar and called it The LORD [YHWH] is my Banner [Nissi].” (Exodus 17:15)

The Lord My Banner or Adonai Nissi (YHWH Nissi) is the name Moses called the altar that he built when he rejoiced over Israel’s victory over the Amalekites.

To understand this name, consider that today, military units and even marching bands often rally behind the one carrying the flag that identifies the group. That person is known as the standard-bearer.

So, too, Moses rallied behind the Lord, his Standard-Bearer, and He led the way to victory.

Yet, the banner is not an adequate term to describe our Lord.

The word Nissi could be derived from nes (miracle, banner, sign); nasa (lifted up), or nus (flee for refuge).

So, in addition to being our Leader, YHWH Nissi could also mean that God is our Miracle, our Exalted One, our Refuge.

The Prophet Isaiah refers to the Messiah as a banner (nes) in two of his End-Time Messianic Prophecies.

“In that day the Root of Jesse [Messiah] will stand as a banner [nes] for the peoples; the nations [Goyim] will rally to him, and His place of rest will be glorious.” (Isaiah 11:10)

Also in Isaiah 49, he uses the word nissi in connection with the end-time restoration of Israel.

“See, I will beckon to the Gentiles [Goyim], I will lift up my banner [nissi] to the peoples; they will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders.” (Isaiah 49:22)

Messiah Yeshua has been sent to the nations, and because of their great love for Him, Gentiles are helping to restore the Jewish People to the land of Israel, just as Isaiah prophesied.

God’s “banner over us” symbolizes His presence, provision, redemptive power, and love.

We no longer need to be out there on our own, gaining victory through our own might and devices. He is our rallying point and our Banner, and we can confidently look to Him and to Messiah Yeshua for direction and help.

“He has taken me to the banquet hall, and His banner [dagal] over me is love [ahava].” (Song of Solomon 2:4)

He demonstrates to us His love as a Shepherd does for His sheep.

“‘I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest,’ declares the Lord GOD.”
(Ezekiel 34:15)

3) The Lord My Shepherd: YHWH Ro’i (יְהוָה רֹעִי)

One of the best known and beloved of the psalms of David begins with these comforting words you might even have it memorized:

“The Lord is my Shepherd [YHWH Roi], I shall not be in want.” (Psalm 23:1)

This psalm is traditionally read at many Jewish and gentile funeral services because it refers to God walking with us as a good shepherd, through the valley of the shadow of death.

The realization that we have a faithful Shepherd to guide and protect us, and that we are not wandering lost and alone in this world, alleviates fear and loneliness, and establishes the safety, purpose, and direction that we can find in Him.

Yeshua (Jesus) also called Himself the Good Shepherd, saying that He would even give His life for His sheep.

“I am the Good Shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

David, the shepherd who became a shepherd king to the people of Israel remained a humble lamb in the face of YHWH Roi, Adonai my Shepherd.

While YHWH Roi is our Shepherd, He has appointed a Shepherd of His own to rule and reign over His creation on His behalf.

The Hebrew Prophet Ezekiel confirmed that the Messiah, a descendant of King David, would come and, like David, rule Israel as a Shepherd King.

“My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd.” (Ezekiel 37:24; see also Isaiah 40:11, Micah 5:4)

The Hebrew prophets also foretold, however, that the Shepherd would be struck down, and would give His life as an offering for sin as the Lamb of God (Isaiah 53:4–5).

“Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me! declares the LORD Almighty. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered….” (Zechariah 13:7; see Matthew 26:31, Mark 14:27, John 16:32)

The Book of Revelation ties these three aspects of the Messiah—the Lamb, the King, and the Shepherd—to Yeshua and His soon return as the Shepherd King of Israel.

“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17)

So now you also know the people that use the word Jehovah are not interpreting that word from the Hebrew Bible or the Tanakh it is always LORD or Adonai.

Although the Jewish People know God as El Elyon (The Most High God), many do not know that all things are under Yeshua’s feet.

And although they know that God is their Banner, they do not know that Yeshua is the prophesied Root of Jesse who will stand as a Banner to the peoples.

Israel also knows that the Lord is their Shepherd, but many do not yet realize that Yeshua is their Shepherd King who laid down His life for them and will soon return to completely fulfill every Messianic prophecy.

As for the world, so few know that the God of Israel is the one true God and that He loves them and is reaching out to meet their needs and save them.

We need your help in bringing the Good News of Yeshua to Israel and the nations through articles like this!

“Let them know that You, whose name is the LORD [YHWH]—that You alone are the Most High [Elyon] over all the earth.” (Psalm 83:18)

“Everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments.” (Exodus 35:21)

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Messianic Prophecies Not Read In Any Synagogues

It is a tragedy that the majority of God-fearing Jewish people, even those who attend synagogue services regularly, do not have knowledge of these crucial Scriptures that point to Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).

Every week during Shabbat (Sabbath) synagogue services around the world the Torah and Haftarah (prophetic) portions are read.

The entire five books of the Torah are publicly read every year through a set reading cycle on Shabbat, Mondays, and Thursdays. But the Haftarah constitutes only selected portions of the Prophets and it is only read on Shabbat and certain holy days.

The readings from the prophetic portions are, therefore, isolated and incomplete.

Most importantly, many of the prophecies concerning the coming of the promised Messiah are simply not read at all.

Only some Jewish communities include Isaiah 9:5–6 in the Haftarah readings for Yitro.

Although these prophecies are continually referred to throughout the Brit Chadashah (New Covenant), indicating that the people of Yeshua’s (Jesus’) day were familiar with them, today the Jewish People have almost no knowledge of them.

It is unknown when these prophecies were excluded from the readings, but some suspect that they were left out because they strongly support the conclusion that Yeshua is the Messiah and because they are mentioned in the New Covenant (New Testament).

Let’s take a closer look at what these readings consist of, which prophecies Yeshua Himself spoke of, and which ones point to Him as Messiah.

What’s in the Tanakh?

The arrangement of books in the Tanakh, or the Hebrew Bible, is somewhat different than the arrangement in the “Christian Bible,” though the same books are included.

There are three sections in the Tanakh: the Torah, the Nevi’im, and the K’tuvim.

The first five books of the Tanakh is the section called the Torah (Teaching, Instructions).

The next section is the Nevi’im (Prophets). This section comprises essentially 19 prophetic books. However, a subsection of the Latter Prophets (Nevi’im Acharonim), is sometimes classed as one book called The Twelve (Shneim Asar or Trei Asar).

The remaining 11 books make up a section called the K’tuvim (Writings). These books include Psalms, Proverbs, Daniel, Ezra–Nehemiah and Chronicles.

What Is the Haftarah?

The word Haftarah may suggest to the English ear that it is half of the Torah, but it actually means parting or some say concluding and is not related to the word Torah.

The Haftarah are selected readings from the Nevi’im.

Each Haftarah reading usually relates in some way to the Torah portion (Parasha) for that Shabbat.

For instance, the Torah and Haftarah portions for Parasha Eikev point to God as the source of our blessings. In both readings, Adonai reveals Himself to the Jewish People as their Redeemer and Provider.

Still, it must be re-emphasized that not every prophecy in the Nevi’im is read in the synagogues.

Yeshua Publicly Reads the Haftarah

The reading of the Prophets on Shabbat is a very old tradition, but it is not known how old.

Actually, the earliest mention of this practice is found in the Brit Chadashah.

In Luke 4:16–19, we see that reading the Prophets after the Torah portion was already an accepted practice.

In that passage of Luke, Yeshua read in a Nazareth synagogue from the scroll of the ancient Hebrew Prophet Yeshayahu (Isaiah):

“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Isaiah 61:1–2, Luke 4:18–19)

It was then, after the Haftarah portion, that Yeshua, to the amazement of all, proclaimed Himself the fulfillment of this Messianic Prophecy.

After handing the scroll of Isaiah back to the attendant, Yeshua said to the congregation: “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21)

Yeshua essentially began His ministry by highlighting the connection between the Messianic prophecies and His arrival as Yeshua of Nazareth.

Because He revealed His identity to them by using the Messianic prophecies in Scripture, we can know for certain that this is an effective method for sharing Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah) with the Jewish People.

That is why House of the Nazarene wants to place a copy of the Bible into the hands of every person. This Bible will highlight the Messianic prophecies using Jewish sources and evidence.

The Missing Prophecies in the Haftarah

Although it is obvious from the New Covenant that the Messianic prophecies in the Nevi’im were at one time read and known, for many, many centuries, they have not been read publicly.

Sadly, Isaiah 61:1–2, which Yeshua read in the Nazareth synagogue, is one that has been omitted from the Haftarah readings.

So have the following prophecies concerning the Messiah:

The Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52:13–53:12)

“Just as there were many who were appalled at Him—His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and His form marred beyond human likeness.” (Isaiah 52:14)

The Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14)

“The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel [God with us].”

The Messiah Is to Be Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Messiah Rides into Jerusalem on a Donkey (Zechariah 9:9)

“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

Betrayed for 30 Pieces of Silver (Zechariah 11:13)

“The LORD said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter’—the handsome price at which they valued Me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the LORD.”

The New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. … I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people. … I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

The Arrival of Messiah (Malachi 3:1)

“I will send My messenger, who will prepare the way before Me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.

Several more Messianic prophecies that clearly point to Yeshua have been intentionally omitted from the weekly synagogue Haftarah readings without public knowledge or the consent of most Jewish people.

Some scholars say that the omission was never intentional, explaining that these prophecies just don’t serve the purpose of the Haftarah.

Yet Yeshua found great purpose in them. As He walked alongside two disciples on the road to Emmaus, “starting with Moses and all the prophets, He explained to them the things that can be found throughout the Tanakh concerning Himself.” (Luke 24:27)

The Original Purpose of the Haftarah Readings

While the public reading of the Torah began during the Babylonian captivity in the 5th century BC, some rabbinic sources believe that the Haftarah readings may have begun during the reign of the foreign King Antiochus Epiphanes around the 2nd century BC.

Because this king forbade the Jews from studying the Torah, the priests searched for portions of Scripture in the Prophets that could be tied to the theme of the Parasha (Torah reading) for that week.

As an example, instead of reading the account of Noah and the ark, the portion from Isaiah which makes reference to the “waters of Noah” would be read.

“This is like the days of Noah to Me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, and will not rebuke you.” (Isaiah 54:9)

Other Jewish rabbinic sources propose another theory—the Pharisees were trying to uphold their belief that the Prophets carried equal authority as the Torah—a claim that the rival Sadducees rejected.

The Haftarah readings, therefore, served to establish the Prophets as important and worthy of study in addition to the Torah.

The Haftarot (plural for Haftarah) include valuable lessons in Biblical history, such as the stories of David, Saul, Daniel, Rahab, and other Biblical heroes and heroines.

Also, on major Biblical festivals, Haftarot that correspond to the theme of the special holiday are read.

So, the holidays and history of the Jewish people are well taught through the readings; however, the Messiah is not well understood because so many of the Messianic prophecies are not publicly read.

If only the Jewish people knew how important these prophetic writings really are.

A page from the Book of Jeremiah from the Aleppo Codex, the oldest and most complete Hebrew manuscript available

The Purpose of Prophets

Most of the prophets were called by God to deliver a particular message to the nation of Israel. They were His voice to His people.

Before the destruction of the First Temple in 586 BC, most often, the messages God delivered through the ancient Hebrew prophets were warnings of impending Divine punishment if the people did not repent and turn from their wicked ways.

Their pleas for repentance fell largely on deaf ears, and so the people received the judgment the prophets warned them about.

“And when the people ask, ‘Why has the LORD our God done all this to us?’ you will tell them, ‘As you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.’” (Jeremiah 5:19)

Prophets were not only sent by God to deliver bad news, however; they also comforted the people by bringing them hope of restoration.

“Comfort, comfort My people,” says Adonai. (Isaiah 40:1)

Today, we still need both of these messages—warnings to stay on the narrow path that leads to life, as well as comfort in our losses, encouragement in the trials of life, and the hope of things to come.

The ultimate comfort and restoration that would come through the Messiah was not to be fulfilled in the time that these prophets wrote, but at a future date.

Therefore, many prophecies throughout the Tanakh reveal additional information regarding who this Redeemer/Messiah would be.

Sometimes they appear in the most unlikely of books. Here is one from the Book of Proverbs:

“Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is the name of His son? Surely you know!” (Proverbs 30:4)

Did you know this scripture was talking about Jesus?

The prophets were not alone in their responsibility to discern the times.

The priests who performed the rites of the Temple services during the time of Yeshua, also had the responsibility to search all the Scriptures and discern the time that the Son—the Messiah—had come.

Many of these priests, however, missed it, although even that was the fulfillment of Messianic Prophecy:

“The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Yeshua, yet in condemning Him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.” (Acts 13:27)

And that was done by God so that we could obtain mercy and enter the gates of Heaven through grace and not of works so that we cannot boast.

The Pursuit of Prophetic Restoration

It is a tragedy that the majority of God-fearing Jewish people, even those who attend synagogue services regularly, do not have knowledge of these crucial Scriptures that point to Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).

This is why it is so essential that we give the Jewish people back the whole Bible, and not just selected portions which have been pre-approved by rabbinic consensus and stripped of all “Messianic” understanding.

These Messianic Prophecies carry a powerful message.

For instance, I heard a story of a ministry worker visited her elderly aunt who was in the hospital in Canada.

Upon reading to her several of the Messianic prophecies which have been omitted from the designated schedule of Haftarah readings, including Isaiah 53, her aunt gladly received Yeshua as her Messiah and found salvation just a short while before her passing.

“But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

When she heard that these Messianic prophecies have been omitted from the synagogue readings, she was incensed (very angry; enraged)!

“Why have the Rabbis taken these verses out of the readings?” she asked.

Sadly, the reason seems clear. They were likely omitted because they point to Yeshua being the true Messiah of Israel and the Savior of all humankind.

Some Israeli scholars and academics are beginning to admit that the Rabbis perhaps omitted them intentionally. They may have been fearful that a public reading of these Messianic prophecies would cause people to believe that Yeshua is the Messiah.

We should be grieved by the exclusion of these important Messianic prophecies from the Jewish synagogue readings. In 2005 at the 14th World Congress of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem a call went out for critical discussion of this very issue.

Then in 2013 at the 16th World Congress of Jewish Studies, Messianic Jews made their first official appearance at this international gathering of distinguished academics, teachers, and experts.

Of course it may have been somewhat interesting to some of the Jewish academics in attendance, but they can’t change the rabbinical synagogue system! Nor, are they interested in doing so.

After 2000 years of Judaism, nothing is going to be changed.

“Believe in the LORD your God, so shall you be established; believe His prophets, so shall you prosper.” (2 Chronicles 20:20)

Please pray that these crucial Messianic prophecies will be publicly restored to all the people.

“Israel will be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation; you will never be put to shame or disgraced, to ages everlasting.” (Isaiah 45:17)

We are certain that they will believe and be saved after the time of the gentiles or if I may, the time of the church and grace is over and we’re called home, then God will turn His attention back to the Jews.

Please Remember To Include House of the Nazarene In Your Holiday Gifting Giving As We Continue To Share The Gospel Around The World!

House of the Nazarene Projects: Support, Education, Food, Bibles, Prayer, Healing, and Church Building. So, Please, contribute to this fundraising effort!

HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our GoFundMe page

“I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, LORD, for it is good.” (Psalm 54:6)

You may make a donation securely through PayPal here: paypal.me/houseofthenazarene

So now we at House of the Nazarene are looking into land and church building donation requests for a physical church! What great news, right?

HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our GoFundMe page

Discover the Most Mysterious of the Hebrew Prophets – Malachi

However, Malachi is also considered by many to be the last prophet before the arrival of Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptist) and Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).

Malachi (מַלְאָכִי–Mal’akhiy) meaning my messenger or my angel is one of the most mysterious Bible prophets. Though a revered spokesperson of God, there are few details about him outside of Scripture.

He is the last of the Minor Prophets in the Tanakh (Jewish Bible), placed in that position because Judaism traditionally believes that prophecy ceased with him and will only be renewed in the Messianic age.

However, he is also considered by many to be the last prophet before the arrival of Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptist) and Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).

Malachi prophesied in the early fifth century, almost 100 years after the prophets Haggai and Zechariah and during the days of Nehemiah (see Malachi 2:8 and Nehemiah 13:15; Malachi 2:10–16 and Nehemiah 13:23).

At that time, the Jewish people had returned from their captivity in Babylon, the walls of Jerusalem and the Temple were being reconstructed, and along with a new Sanctuary, the reinstitution of Temple worship.

Some scholars believe that Malachi was a priest among the prophets, scribes, and other priests who were led out of exile and back to Judah by Ezra and Nehemiah.

Others believe that he may have been just a common man speaking the Word of God to the Jewish community who returned home to rebuild the Holy Temple.

A minority of opinion in the Talmud says Malachi was actually Ezra the scribe or perhaps Mordechai of the Book of Esther. Some scholars have concluded that the four chapters of Malachi were actually extracted from the Book of Zechariah.

Orthodox circles contend that Malachi was a member of the Anshei Knesset HaGedolah (Men of the Great Assembly) that was founded by Ezra in about 520 BC. Others in this assembly of Torah sages were Mordechai, Haggai, and Zechariah. (Chabad; Orthodox Union)

How Have You Loved Us?

Despite having returned from exile, the people of Malachi’s day were disappointed, disillusioned, and apathetic.

Their apathy can be seen in their half-hearted following of the Torah, and so it only follows that they were experiencing drought and crop failure, and enemies continued to oppose them.

The people cried out to God who apparently is not accepting their offerings, explaining that men are divorcing the wives of their youth to marry women from other nations.

“‘The man who hates and divorces his wife,’ says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘does violence to the one he should protect,’ says the LORD Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful.” (2:16)

Such intermarriage with idol worshipers had become rampant and threatened the future of Israel:

“You have been unfaithful to her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant,” Malachi says, adding, “Has not the one God made you? You belong to Him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring.” (2:14–15)

While godly unions result in godly offspring who seek and serve the Lord, ungodly partnerships result in ungodly children who defile God’s holy name:

“Judah has been unfaithful. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the sanctuary the Lord loves by marrying women who worship a foreign god.” (2:11)

It seems only natural that a people who have a problem loving and being faithful to their mates would question God’s love for them. Indeed, Malachi begins his rebukes by recording their doubt:

“‘I have loved you,’ says the Lord. ‘But you ask, “How have you loved us?”’” (1:2)

The Lord reminds them of how He chose them, protected them, and blessed them as descendants of Abraham through Jacob.

It seems they forgot this supernatural history of their people. So the Lord sent Malachi to warn them that their forgetfulness and unfaithfulness is even now causing their ruin.

How Have We Shown Contempt for Your Name?

In Malachi’s day, unfaithfulness extended to the priesthood. Instead of protecting the holiness of the ceremonial laws that God had charged the priests to keep, they offered injured, lame, and diseased animals to the Lord as sacrifices and offerings. (Malachi 1:6–2:9)

This amounted to contempt for God.

“It is you priests who show contempt for my name. But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ ‘By offering defiled food on my altar.’” (1:6–7)

God answers, “For the lips of a priest ought to preserve knowledge, because he is the messenger of the LORD Almighty and people seek instruction from his mouth.”

The priests were to provide correct teaching regarding the ways of God and be living examples of holiness. In their corruption, the priests were causing “many to stumble at the law.” (2:8)

Because the priests compromised in their offerings, so did the people; Malachi 3:8–12 reveals that the people became lax in tithing.

“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ ‘In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.” (Malachi 3:8–10)

This prophecy is still relevant for us today. Faithfulness in tithing will lead to abundant blessings.

As partakers of a New Covenant, the priests in the ministry of the Good News are still charged with presenting God’s truth and setting a holy example for the people. (Romans 15:16)

Those priests are of a spiritual bloodline—they are every Believer in Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Messiah).

“You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord

Malachi highlights the sins that are resulting in oppression from outsiders, drought, famine, and poverty, leading to the stripping away of prosperity and of influence in the region. This, the prophet warned, called for an outpouring of national repentance, and for the people to humble themselves in prayer. (1:9)

Through Malachi, God reveals that He will hold back His wrath and restore His blessings if the people will return to Him. If not, destruction awaits.

But Malachi is not all reproof and judgment. He also offers hope to the nation of Israel, indeed all humanity, by prophesying a coming reign of the Messiah and His millennial kingdom.

In Malachi 3:1, the prophet says that a messenger would prepare the way for the Messiah:

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before Me.”

Yeshua identified this messenger as Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptist) when He quoted this verse in Malachi, saying,

“‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.”’” (Luke 7:24–27)

In the final chapter of Malachi, the prophet returns to the theme of the messenger. In this chapter, we understand that Elijah would be the Messiah’s forerunner.

“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.” (Malachi 4:5)

Yeshua told His talmidim that Yochanan the Immerser had come in the spirit of Elijah.

“For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until Yochanan. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.” (Matthew 11:13–14)

Here are a few of the ways that Yochanan came like Elijah:

He dressed like Elijah (2 Kings 1:8; Matthew 3:4).
He spent long periods of his ministry in the wilderness (1 Kings 17:3; 19:3–4; John 1:23).
He challenged the king and rebuked him for his wicked wife (1 Kings 18:17; Matthew 14:3).
He lived under the threat of execution because of the king’s wife (1 Kings 19:2; Matthew 14:3)
He led people to repentance of sins (1 Kings 21:27; Matthew 3:2)
He prepared the way for the Lord (Malachi 4:5; Mark 1:3; Luke 1:17)

Certainly, Yochanan did preach a message of repentance and reconciliation, just like Elijah. He led the people from disobedience into a state prepared for Messiah, just as the angel prophesied to Yochanan’s father, Zechariah:

“He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:16–17)

While Yochanan prepared the way for Yeshua’s first coming, we can understand that he has also prepared us for the coming return of the Messiah who will “suddenly” reappear and enter into the rebuilt Temple.

“‘I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to His temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,’ says the LORD Almighty.” (3:1)

In describing His return as suddenly, Malachi is warning us to be prepared for the Messiah’s coming and to not be caught off guard.

However, it seems that Yeshua will not return until a Temple is prepared for Him, perhaps the Temple that the prophet Ezekiel describes at the end of his prophetic book.

Return to Me and I Will Return to You

Malachi tells us that when our Messiah comes, He will be like “a refiner’s fire,” purifying the servants of God like one purifies silver and gold, so that offerings will once again be made in purity and holiness. (3:2)

But for others, He will come in judgment:

“‘I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien—because they do not fear Me,’ says the Lord of hosts.” (3:5)

Nevertheless, Malachi shares the same hope for every person as all of God’s prophets have shared with us: “Return to Me, and I will return to you.” (3:7)

We can take hold of this promise every day of our lives. As in the time of Malachi, “the LORD listened and heard” the hearts of those who feared the Lord. He saw their sincere repentance and turning from sin.

As a result, “a scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored His name.” (3:16)

Let us desire with all of our heart to fear the Lord by honoring His name in our thoughts and deeds, according to His will not our own, without compromise or corruption.

Let us strive to walk in holiness, becoming true sons and daughters, even priests of the Most High God.

For those who choose the path of repentance and holiness, He makes a covenantal promise:

“On the day when I act,’ says the Lord Almighty, ‘they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares His son who serves Him.’” (3:17)

“Tell the people, ‘This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.'” (Jeremiah 21:8)

Lord Jesus even so come soon!

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Please Remember To Include House of the Nazarene In Your Holiday Gifting Giving As We Continue To Share The Gospel Around The World!

Please Share This, Thank You And God Bless!

Please Remember To Include House of the Nazarene In Your Holiday Gifting Giving As We Continue To Share The Gospel Around The World!

Please Share This, Thank You And God Bless!

Please Remember To Include House of the Nazarene In Your Holiday Gifting Giving As We Continue To Share The Gospel Around The World!

Please Share This, Thank You And God Bless!