9 "So I also have made you despised and abased before all the people , just e as you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality e in the instruction .
10 "Do we not all have one father ? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal treacherously each against his brother so as to profane the covenant of our fathers ? 11 "Judah has dealt treacherously , and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem ; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the Lord which He loves and has married the daughter of a foreign god . 12 "As for the man who does this, may the Lord cut off from the tents of Jacob everyone who awakes and answers , or who presents an offering to the Lord of hosts . 13 "This is another thing you do : you cover the altar of the Lord with tears , with weeping and with groaning , because He no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand . 14 "Yet you say , 'For what reason e ?' Because e the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth , against whom you have dealt treacherously , though she is your companion and your wife by covenant . 15 "But not one has done so who has a remnant of the Spirit . And what did that one do while he was seeking a godly offspring ? Take heed then to your spirit , and let no one deal treacherously against the wife of your youth . 16 "For I hate divorce ," says the Lord , the God of Israel , "and him who covers his garment with wrong ," says the Lord of hosts . "So take heed to your spirit , that you do not deal treacherously ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Malachi 2:9-16
Commentary on Malachi 2:1-9
(Read Malachi 2:1-9)
What is here said of the covenant of priesthood, is true of the covenant of grace made with all believers, as spiritual priests. It is a covenant of life and peace; it assures all believers of all happiness, both in this world and in that to come. It is an honour to God's servants to be employed as his messengers. The priest's lips should not keep knowledge from his people, but keep it for them. The people are all concerned to know the will of the Lord. We must not only consult the written word, but desire instruction and advice from God's messengers, in the affairs of our souls. Ministers must exert themselves to the utmost for the conversion of sinners; and even among those called Israelites, there are many to be turned from iniquity. Those ministers, and those only, are likely to turn men from sin, who preach sound doctrine, and live holy lives according to the Scripture. Many departed from this way; thus they misled the people. Such as walk with God in peace and righteousness, and turn others from sin, honour God; he will honour them, while those who despise him shall be lightly esteemed.
Commentary on Malachi 2:10-17
(Read Malachi 2:10-17)
Corrupt practices are the fruit of corrupt principles; and he who is false to his God, will not be true to his fellow mortals. In contempt of the marriage covenant, which God instituted, the Jews put away the wives they had of their own nation, probably to make room for strange wives. They made their lives bitter to them; yet, in the sight of others, they pretend to be tender of them. Consider she is thy wife; thy own; the nearest relation thou hast in the world. The wife is to be looked on, not as a servant, but as a companion to the husband. There is an oath of God between them, which is not to be trifled with. Man and wife should continue to their lives' end, in holy love and peace. Did not God make one, one Eve for one Adam? Yet God could have made another Eve. Wherefore did he make but one woman for one man? It was that the children might be made a seed to serve him. Husbands and wives must live in the fear of God, that their seed may be a godly seed. The God of Israel saith that he hateth putting away. Those who would be kept from sin, must take heed to their spirits, for there all sin begins. Men will find that their wrong conduct in their families springs from selfishness, which disregards the welfare and happiness of others, when opposed to their own passions and fancies. It is wearisome to God to hear people justify themselves in wicked practices. Those who think God can be a friend to sin, affront him, and deceive themselves. The scoffers said, Where is the God of judgement? but the day of the Lord will come.