Malachi 1

Insincere Worship

During His mortal ministry, Jesus condemned Jewish leaders because they tried to appear extremely righteous when in truth they lived unrighteously. The book of Malachi helps us understand that this problem existed for at least four hundred years. Malachi 1 records that Jewish leaders were obedient to the Lord’s commandment to sacrifice, but that instead of sacrificing the best of their flocks, they offered their injured or diseased animals (see Malachi 1:7–8, 12–14). This hypocrisy demonstrated their lack of respect for the Lord and the low priority religion held in their lives.