Malachi 2:9

"But you have turned away from the path. You have caused many to stumble in the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Armies."

Key Reflection

In Malachi 2:9, the Lord addresses the priests and Levites, highlighting their deviation from the covenantal path established by God through Levi. The original audience would have recognized this as a severe accusation against them for neglecting their sacred duties, leading to widespread corruption among the people who looked to them for guidance in the Law. Their failure not only affected themselves but also caused many others to stumble and deviate from the correct path of religious observance.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Therefore have I made you contemptible -They had said in their heartsMalachi 1:7, “The table of the Lord is contemptible.” So God would requite them “measure for measure.” Yet not only so, but in their office as judges, against the repeated protestations in the lawLeviticus 19:15, “Thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty, in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighborDeuteronomy 1:17, ye shall not respect persons in judgmentDeuteronomy 16:19, thou shall not wrest judgment,” he says, Ye have accepted persons in the law -You have interpreted the law differently for rich and poor, or have put it in force against the poor, not against the rich.

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