An admonition on our approach to God
1:6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty.
1:14 “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord.”
An admonition to priests
2:2 “If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name, “ says the Lord Almighty, “I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings…”
An admonition to the people
2:16b “… So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith.”
Returning to God
3:6 & 7 “I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them.
Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.
The results of acceptable offerings
3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
What they did then – we can do now also …
3:16 – “Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name.”
He still listens … hears … remembers.