Malachi Chapter 4
The Sun of Righteousness
A. The Final Resolution
1. (Malachi 4:1) Resolution of the Wicked
“For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” (Malachi 4:1 KJV)
The prophet begins with a solemn declaration, announcing a coming day of divine judgment that will consume the wicked like fire consumes stubble. God warns that this day will be all-consuming, leaving neither root nor branch, meaning total and irreversible destruction for the unrepentant. The proud and all who do wickedly, who in their arrogance refused to fear the Lord, will become as worthless chaff before the flame of His righteous wrath. This stands in stark contrast to the temporary prosperity of the wicked, which once discouraged God’s people. Though they once thought serving God was vain, they are reminded that God will have the final word, and the day of reckoning is certain.
The phrase “burning like an oven” represents a purifying fire for the righteous but a consuming fire for the wicked. The wicked are compared to stubble, which burns quickly and leaves nothing behind. The image communicates the complete and final nature of divine judgment. Just as the field left after harvest is barren of life, so will the unrepentant be cut off from all hope of renewal or future restoration. When God says, “it shall leave them neither root nor branch,” He makes clear that the wicked will be utterly consumed, with no potential for regrowth or recovery. Judgment will not only destroy their works but will also cut off the very possibility of spiritual fruit.
For the believer, this warning serves as both a comfort and a call to endurance. The comfort lies in the assurance that God will right every wrong and vindicate His people. The call lies in the reminder that sin brings destruction, and only those who walk in the fear of the Lord will stand when His fire comes.
2. (Malachi 4:2–3) Resolution of the Righteous
“But unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 4:2–3 KJV)
In contrast to the destruction awaiting the wicked, the faithful are promised deliverance and renewal. The phrase “unto you that fear My name” distinguishes the godly remnant who reverence the Lord and remain steadfast. To them shall arise “the Sun of righteousness,” a clear messianic title pointing to Jesus Christ. He is the Light of the world who brings illumination, purity, and life to those who trust in Him. Just as the rising sun dispels the darkness of night, so Christ dispels the darkness of sin, ignorance, and despair.
The expression “with healing in His wings” refers to the sun’s rays, described poetically as wings that spread across the heavens bringing warmth, restoration, and life. Spiritually, these rays symbolize the redemptive work of Christ. His light brings healing to the broken, forgiveness to the sinner, and restoration to all creation. The healing in His wings is not merely physical but moral and spiritual, restoring the soul and bringing peace to those who have been oppressed by sin. As Psalm 84:11 declares, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
The imagery continues: “and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.” This is a picture of exuberant freedom and abundant joy. Like young calves released from confinement into the open field, the righteous shall go forth with gladness, liberated from sin and oppression. Their joy will be uncontainable as they experience the full blessing of God’s redemption. They will grow strong and prosperous in the presence of the Lord, nourished by His light and truth.
Finally, God declares, “ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet.” This portrays the complete victory of righteousness over wickedness. The wicked, once proud and oppressive, will be reduced to ashes, symbolic of total defeat and annihilation. The righteous will not gloat in cruelty but will rejoice in the justice and holiness of God fully vindicated. This scene anticipates the ultimate triumph of Christ at His return, when every enemy will be made His footstool (Psalm 110:1), and His saints will share in His victory.
The contrast is complete: the wicked burn as stubble, while the righteous shine in the light of the Sun of Righteousness. The same divine fire that destroys the ungodly purifies and heals the godly. The day of the Lord will thus be both a day of destruction and a day of deliverance, depending entirely upon one’s relationship to the Redeemer. Those who feared His name will go forth into everlasting joy; those who rejected Him will perish in everlasting judgment.
B. The Concluding Words of the Old Testament
1. (Malachi 4:4) Remember the Law of Moses
“Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.” (Malachi 4:4 KJV)
In this closing exhortation of the Old Testament, God commands His people to remember the Law of Moses, His faithful servant. This is not merely a suggestion to recall the Law mentally, but a call to active obedience and reverent remembrance. The people of Israel were to live by what God had already spoken through Moses, even as prophetic revelation would cease for four centuries until the coming of John the Baptist. This silence would test their faithfulness, yet God’s written Word was more than sufficient to guide and sustain them.
The word “remember” signifies more than recollection; it implies taking to heart and acting upon the truths once delivered. During the coming 400 years of prophetic silence, the Law was to be their compass. Even when heaven seemed silent, the faithful remnant could cling to what God had already revealed, for His Word endures forever. This timeless principle remains true for believers today—when God appears quiet, His written Word remains a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105).
The phrase “with the statutes and judgments” reminds Israel of the covenantal foundation of their relationship with God. Under the Old Covenant, their fellowship with God was governed by the Law, including the moral, ceremonial, and civil commands given at Mount Horeb (another name for Mount Sinai). Yet the Law, though holy and good, could not impart righteousness. As the Apostle John later wrote, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17 KJV) The Law revealed man’s sinfulness and need for a Redeemer; Christ fulfilled that Law perfectly, ushering in the New Covenant of grace.
In the context of Malachi, this call to remembrance bridges the gap between the Law and the coming Gospel. The Law of Moses pointed to Christ, and those who truly remembered it would be prepared to recognize the Messiah when He came.
2. (Malachi 4:5–6) Elijah Will Come
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Malachi 4:5–6 KJV)
The Old Testament closes with a prophetic promise and a solemn warning. God declares that before the arrival of the “great and dreadful day of the LORD,” He will send “Elijah the prophet.” This statement links the end of the Old Covenant age with the future messianic hope, pointing both to John the Baptist’s ministry before Christ’s first coming and to Elijah’s literal or typological return before Christ’s second coming.
In a figurative sense, this prophecy was partially fulfilled through John the Baptist, as confirmed by the words of Jesus: “And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.” (Matthew 11:14 KJV) John came “in the spirit and power of Elias” (Luke 1:17 KJV), calling Israel to repentance and preparing the way for the Lord. Yet, because Malachi speaks of the “great and dreadful day of the LORD,” this prophecy finds its ultimate fulfillment in the end times, just prior to Christ’s Second Coming. Revelation 11:3–12 describes two witnesses with power to call down fire from heaven and shut the sky from rain—miracles associated with Elijah’s earthly ministry (1 Kings 17:1; 2 Kings 1:10–12). Many scholars, therefore, identify one of these witnesses as Elijah himself.
This expectation is deeply ingrained in Jewish tradition. Even today, at Passover, an empty chair and a cup of wine are set aside for Elijah, symbolizing the nation’s hope that he will soon appear to announce the Messiah. This practice reflects a continuing anticipation of redemption and restoration that began with Malachi’s words.
The reference to both Moses and Elijah in these closing verses is profoundly significant. Moses represents the Law, and Elijah represents the Prophets. Together, they stand as witnesses to the totality of God’s revelation under the Old Covenant. Both men met with God at Mount Sinai—Moses when receiving the Law (Exodus 3:1), and Elijah when fleeing from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:8–18). Both also appeared with Christ at the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–5), symbolizing the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in Him. It is therefore fitting that they may also be the two witnesses of Revelation 11, representing divine testimony before Christ’s final victory.
The phrase “he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers” extends beyond family reconciliation. It speaks of a spiritual turning—a restoration of covenant faithfulness across generations. The people of Israel will return to the faith of their patriarchs, reviving the genuine worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When Elijah’s ministry is renewed in the last days, it will bring repentance and revival, preparing hearts for the coming of the Lord.
Finally, God warns, “lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” The last word of the Old Testament—“curse”—is a sobering reminder of the consequences of rejecting God’s covenant. The Law ends with a curse because the Law could only condemn; it could not save. Yet this ending also stirs anticipation, for the New Testament opens with the arrival of Jesus Christ, who came to redeem humanity from that very curse. As Galatians 3:13 declares, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.” The Old Testament ends in warning; the New Testament ends in grace: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:21 KJV)
Ancient Jewish scribes were so uneasy with Malachi’s ending that they repeated the next-to-last verse after the final one, ensuring the Old Testament would not end on the note of a curse. Likewise, the Greek Septuagint reversed the last two verses to end with a blessing. Yet, in divine wisdom, God allowed the Hebrew text to stand as written—reminding mankind of its desperate need for a Savior and pointing to the coming dawn of the Sun of Righteousness.
