Holy Bible Online 
Malachi was the last prophet of the Old Testament. His prophetic ministry lasted about 15 years. The prophet denounced religious and moral corruption in Judah, calling the people to repentance and to faithfulness to God. His legacy announces the coming of the Messiah and prepares the way for the New Testament.
The prophet Malachi was the last messenger of God before a long period of prophetic silence that lasted about four hundred years, until the appearance of John the Baptist.
The Bible does not give details about his genealogy or place of birth. Malachi lived in Jerusalem or its surroundings during the post-exilic period, around 430 B.C., when the people of Judah had returned from Babylon and the temple had already been rebuilt.
Malachi carried out his ministry during the governance of Nehemiah, at a time when the spiritual dedication of the people had weakened. Worship had become routine, and the priests were neglecting their responsibilities.
The prophet Malachi was called by God to denounce this hypocrisy, marital unfaithfulness, and social injustice. His messages confronted both the people and the spiritual leaders, demanding repentance and a renewal of the covenant with God.
Among his main prophecies, Malachi announced the coming of a messenger who would prepare the way of the Lord, a clear reference to John the Baptist and he foretold the “Day of the Lord,” a time of judgment and restoration.
After his ministry, the so-called “intertestamental period” began, during which there were no prophets recognized by Israel, symbolizing the silence of God and the expectation of the arrival of the promised Messiah.
The life of Malachi shows us that true worship requires sincerity, faithfulness, and justice. His message is still relevant today, reminding us that God is not pleased with empty rituals but with upright and obedient hearts. The prophet Malachi closes the Old Testament by pointing directly to the hope and redemption revealed in Christ.
Bible study on the prophet Malachi
Who wrote the Book of Malachi
The authorship of the Book of Malachi is attributed to the prophet himself. He was the last of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament and the last book of the Hebrew Bible.
The book was written around the 5th century B.C., after the return of the Jews from the Babylonian exile. Malachi delivered messages from God to the people of Israel, denouncing religious unfaithfulness, corruption among the priests, and disrespect for the laws of the Lord. He also announced the coming of a messenger who would prepare the way for the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Malachi 3:10 - “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse”
In Malachi 3:10, God draws the attention of the people of Israel for not giving the tithe, which was used to support the temple, the priests, and religious activities. The “storehouse” was the place in the temple where what was intended for the upkeep of worship and the help of the poor was kept. In this verse, God says:
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house. And test me now in this, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour out for you such a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.
- Malachi 3:10
By commanding the people to bring “all the tithes,” God was demanding faithfulness and integrity. The people had been withholding part of what they should have given, which demonstrated a lack of trust in divine provision. The promise to “open the windows of heaven” symbolizes abundance and blessings, both material and spiritual as a response to obedience and faith.
This passage is not only about finances, but about relationship and faithfulness to God. Tithing is an act of gratitude and acknowledgment that everything belongs to the Lord. The central message of Malachi 3:10 is that generosity and obedience create space for God to act in the lives of His people, revealing His faithfulness to supply every need.
What we can learn from the life of Malachi
The life and message of Malachi show the importance of faithfulness, sincerity, and reverence toward God. He lived in a time of apathy, when the people and the priests performed empty rituals and neglected the commandments of the Lord.
Malachi teaches us that God is not pleased with appearances but with sincere and obedient hearts. His preaching shows that faith must be accompanied by right actions, justice, and commitment to the covenant with the Lord.
We also learn about generosity and trust in God, as emphasized in his teaching on the tithe. In addition, his prophecy points to future hope, the coming of the Messiah and the messenger who would prepare the way, John the Baptist. The story of Malachi invites us to live with authentic faith, repentance, and expectation of God’s ongoing work in history and in the life of every believer.
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