QT 31/12/2025 Wed. Malachi 4 The Importance of The Law and The Future Prophet. 法律的重要性与未来的先知
QT 31/12/2025 Wed. Malachi 4 The Importance of The Law and The Future Prophet.
READ http://www.esv.org/malachi4
Malachi 4:4–6
[4] “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel. [5] “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. [6] And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” (ESV)
The final words of the Old Testament are not accidental. Malachi 4 closes Scripture with two towering figures of Israel’s history: Moses and Elijah—representing the Law and the Prophets. Together, they summarise all that God had revealed up to that point, while also pointing beyond themselves.
(1) Remember the Law of Moses (v. 4)
God commands His people to “remember the law of my servant Moses.” Moses stands for God’s covenant instruction—His holy standards given at Horeb (Sinai). The law revealed God’s character, exposed sin, and taught Israel how to live as His redeemed people.
Yet the law also revealed humanity’s inability to fully obey. Remembering the law was meant not only to guide Israel, but to prepare them to long for something more—for a Redeemer who could do what they could not.
The law teaches us what righteousness looks like, but it cannot produce it in us.
(2) The Promise of a Prophetic Voice (v. 5)
God then promises to send “Elijah the prophet” before the great and awesome Day of the LORD. Elijah represents the prophetic ministry—calling God’s people back when they wander, confronting sin, and urging repentance.
This promise finds its fulfillment in John the Baptist, who came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17), preparing the way for Jesus Christ. Before judgment comes, God sends a voice of mercy, calling people to turn back. God never leaves His people without a witness or a warning.
(3) Hearts Turned Before Judgment (v. 6)
The result of this prophetic ministry is repentance that restores relationships—“the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers.” When people are reconciled to God, broken human relationships begin to heal as well.
This verse also underscores the urgency: refusal to repent leads to judgment. God’s desire is restoration, but His holiness requires a response.
(4) The Future Prophet Fulfilled
Malachi ends with expectation. The Law and the Prophets stand like signposts pointing forward to the ultimate Prophet—Jesus Christ. Moses spoke of Him (Deut. 18:15), and Elijah’s ministry foreshadowed His coming.
On the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus—and then disappear—leaving Christ alone (Matt. 17:1–8). The message is clear: the Law and the Prophets find their fulfillment in Him. Jesus is the One who perfectly obeyed the Law and fulfilled the prophetic promise.
Conclusion: The Old Testament ends by calling God’s people to remember, repent, and prepare. The New Testament begins by announcing that the One they were waiting for has come. The question Malachi leaves behind is the same question the gospel presses upon us today: Will we listen to God’s Word and receive the Savior to whom it points?
Prayer
Father, thank You for Your Law that reveals Your holiness and for Your prophets who call us back to You. Help us to see that all Scripture points to Christ. Turn our hearts toward You and toward one another as we wait for the Day of the Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
QT 31/12/2025 星期三. 玛拉基书 4 法律的重要性与未来的先知
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/mal/4/
玛拉基书 4:4–6
4 “你们要谨记我仆人摩西的律法，就是我在何烈山为以色列众人所吩咐他的律例和典章。5 “看哪！在耶和华大而可畏的日子来到以先，我必差派以利亚先知到你们那里去。 6他要使父亲的心转向儿女，儿女的心转向父亲，免得我来击打这地，以至完全毁灭。”
旧约的终章并非偶然。玛拉基书第四章以以色列历史中两位巍峨人物——摩西与以利亚——作结，他们分别代表律法与先知。二人共同概括了上帝迄今所启示的一切，同时指向超越自身的永恒应许。
(1) 谨记摩西律法（第4节）
神吩咐子民“你们要谨记我仆人摩西的律法”。摩西象征神的立约训诲——祂在何烈山（西奈山）颁布的圣洁准则。律法显明神的性情，揭露罪恶，教导以色列如何作为蒙救赎的子民生活。
然而律法也揭示了人类无法完全遵行的软弱。记念律法不仅为指引以色列，更要预备他们渴慕更高之物——那位能成就他们力所不及之事的救赎主。
律法教导我们公义的样式，却无法在我们里面成就公义。
(2) 先知之声的应许（第5节）
神应许在耶和华大而可畏的日子来临之前，必差遣“先知以利亚”。以利亚象征先知的事工——当神的子民偏离正道时呼召他们归回，直面罪恶，催促悔改。
这应许在施洗约翰身上得以应验，“他必有以利亚的灵和能力，行在主的前面”（路加福音1:17），为耶稣基督预备道路。审判降临前，神必先发出怜悯之声，呼召人归回。神从不让祂的子民在没有见证或警告的情况下受审判。
(3) 审判前的心意回转（第6节）
这先知性事工的结果是悔改，从而修复关系——“使父亲的心转向儿女，儿女的心转向父亲”。当人与神和好时，破碎的人际关系也开始愈合。
本节更凸显紧迫性：拒绝悔改必招致审判。神渴慕复兴，但祂的圣洁要求人作出回应。
(4) 未来先知的应验
玛拉基书以盼望作结。律法与先知如同路标，指向终极先知——耶稣基督。摩西曾预言祂（申18:15），以利亚的事工预示祂的降临。
在变像山上，摩西与以利亚与耶稣同现——继而消失——唯独基督独留（太17:1-8）。信息清晰：律法与先知皆在祂身上得着应验。耶稣是那完全遵行律法、成就先知应许的救主。
结论：旧约以呼吁神的子民记念、悔改、预备为终结；新约则宣告他们所盼望的那位已经降临。玛拉基书留下的问题，正是今日福音向我们提出的问题：我们是否愿意聆听神的话语，并领受它所指明的救主？
祷告
天父，感谢祢的律法彰显祢的圣洁，感谢祢的先知呼召我们归向祢。求祢帮助我们看见，所有经文都指向基督。当我们等候主的日子来临，求祢使我们的心转向祢，也转向彼此。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
