Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryMalachi 4

Evangelical Predictions This section speaks about the great and terrible day of the Lord

v. 2: But for those who fear God’s name, “the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.” This is a promise about Jesus Christ, who brings light, healing, and joy to those who trust Him. They will go out with joy and grow strong, like calves released from a stall, full of life and happiness .

v. 3: God promises that His people will triumph over the wicked. The wicked will be like ashes under their feet. This victory will happen on the day God acts. For the righteous, that day will be a day of joy and triumph, but for the wicked, it will mean defeat and shame .

Evangelical PredictionsThis passage is the closing message not only of Malachi’s prophecy but of the entire Old Testament. It tells the people that there will be no more messages from God until the coming of the Messiah. The people are told to hold on to what God has already given them and to wait in hope for what is coming. This shows that the Old Testament is complete, and the Jews never accepted any extra books as scripture.v. 4: God commands His people to remember and obey the law of Moses: “Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments” . This verse is a call to remember and obey the law given to Moses at Mount Horeb (another name for Mount Sinai). Moses is honored as God’s servant, and the law is honored as God’s command for all Israel. Even though new prophecies will stop for a time, the people must keep following the law. This is the foundation for their faith and life. Forgetting God’s law leads to sin, but remembering it helps people do what is right. Even as they wait for the Messiah, they must keep living by God’s commands (Hebrews 8:10 ).

v. 5: God promises to send Elijah the prophet before the coming of the Messiah: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord

v. 6: Elijah’s work will be to turn people’s hearts back to each other and to God: “He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:6 ). This means he will help families love and obey God together. His message will bring unity and peace, preparing people for the coming of the Lord. If people do not listen and repent, God warns that He will come and strike the land with a curse. The Old Testament ends with this warning, but the New Testament begins with the promise of blessing through Jesus Christ (Luke 1:16-17; Revelation 22:21 ). This verse emphasizes the importance of repentance and reconciliation to avoid judgment and to prepare for God’s ultimate plan of salvation.