Malachi 2:17

Resistance to the Lord through Self-deceit

2:17 You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” Because you say, “Everyone who does evil is good in the Lord’s opinion, ¹  and he delights in them,” or “Where is the God of justice?”

Malachi 2:6

2:6 He taught what was true; ²  sinful words were not found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and integrity, and he turned many people away from sin.

Malachi 2:13

2:13 You also do this: You cover the altar of the Lord with tears ³  as you weep and groan, because he no longer pays any attention to the offering nor accepts it favorably from you.

[2:17]  ¹ tn Heb “in the eyes of the Lord.”

[2:6]  ² tn Heb “True teaching was in his mouth”; cf. NASB, NRSV “True instruction (doctrine NAB) was in his mouth.”

[2:13]  ³ sn You cover the altar of the Lord with tears. These tears are the false tears of hypocrisy, not genuine tears of repentance. The people weep because the Lord will not hear them, not because of their sin.