Father and Master of All

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’
Malachi 1:6
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Father and Master of All
The Lord begins this part of Malachi, addressed to the priests, by alluding to the Fourth Commandment. They were negligent in the worship and in their guidance of God’s people. The priest showed no respect towards our heavenly Father. The honor and reverence due to God was lacking in the priestly worship. The honor due to God they took for themselves. And on top of that the priests were also charged with breaking the Second Commandment. They blasphemed God holy name when they used it in vain, and when they showed a general disregard for His Word and who He is. And their answer to these charges was contemptuous. “How have we despised Your name?” The priests asked for proof just as the people did in the earlier verses. How often are the people led astray by those men who would rather be the focus of attention as opposed to Christ and Him crucified. The church is full of wolves in sheep’s clothing. So it is for you dear Christian to find a church who has a faithful pastor. One who preaches Law and Gospel rightly divided. One who regularly and faithfully administers the Sacraments. Who preaches the truth of God’s Word in season and out. Find the church whose pastor who rather decrease so Christ would increase in the eyes of those he is called to shepherd. And when you find this church, there you will be give Jesus. You will be fed, and you will honor your Father.