1Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear Yahweh’s word: 3The Lord Yahweh says, “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! 4Israel, your prophets have been like foxes in the waste places. 5You have not gone up into the gaps or built up the wall for the house of Israel, to stand in the battle in Yahweh’s day. 6They have seen falsehood and lying divination, who say, ‘Yahweh says;’ but Yahweh has not sent them. They have made men to hope that the word would be confirmed. 7Haven’t you seen a false vision, and haven’t you spoken a lying divination, in that you say, ‘Yahweh says;’ but I have not spoken?”
8“‘Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: “Because you have spoken falsehood and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you,” says the Lord Yahweh. 9“My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who utter lying divinations. They will not be in the council of my people, neither will they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither will they enter into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.”
10“‘Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, “Peace;” and there is no peace. When one builds up a wall, behold, they plaster it with whitewash. 11Tell those who plaster it with whitewash that it will fall. There will be an overflowing shower; and you, great hailstones, will fall. A stormy wind will tear it. 12Behold, when the wall has fallen, won’t it be said to you, “Where is the plaster with which you have plastered it?”
13“‘Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: “I will even tear it with a stormy wind in my wrath. There will be an overflowing shower in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to consume it. 14So I will break down the wall that you have plastered with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered. It will fall, and you will be consumed in the middle of it. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. 15Thus I will accomplish my wrath on the wall, and on those who have plastered it with whitewash. I will tell you, ‘The wall is no more, nor those who plastered it— 16to wit, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace,’” says the Lord Yahweh.’”
17You, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy against them, 18and say, “The Lord Yahweh says: ‘Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all elbows and make veils for the head of persons of every stature to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people and save souls alive for yourselves? 19You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls who should not die and to save the souls alive who should not live, by your lying to my people who listen to lies.’
20“Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: ‘Behold, I am against your magic bands, with which you hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms. I will let the souls fly free, even the souls whom you ensnare like birds. 21I will also tear your veils and deliver my people out of your hand; and they will no longer be in your hand to be ensnared. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. 22Because with lies you have grieved the heart of the righteous, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, and be saved alive. 23Therefore you shall no more see false visions nor practice divination. I will deliver my people out of your hand. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.’”
In the time of Malachi the prophet, the priests had “corrupted” the ministry entrusted to them (Mal 2:1-9). They offered blemished sacrifices on behalf of the people (Mal 1:6-14), although they had ample instruction not to do so (Lev 22:17-25; Deut 15:21). They refused to teach the people the word of God, the fear of God, repentance toward God, and walking with God (Mal 2:5-7). They showed “partiality in the instruction,” meaning that they taught the parts of Scripture they wanted and ignored other parts (2:8-9). Men divorced their wives and married others who worshiped foreign gods (2:10-16). The people practiced sorcery, adultery, false oaths, and oppression (3:5). They also robbed the Lord by withholding tithes and contributions (3:8-12).
As a result, the priests and the people did not trust the love of God (1:2), challenged the prophet whether they actually despised and defiled the name of the LORD (1:6-7, 12-13), received a curse from God (2:2; 3:10-12), questioned the justice of God (2:17), and asserted that it was vain to serve God (3:14).
Jesus and His apostles taught similarly of the dangers that ministers can bring on themselves and on those who follow them. He said, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves (Matt 7:13-23),” and, “they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit (Matt 15:14; see also Matthew 23).” Peter warned, “There will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves (2 Peter 2:1).” Because of the gravity of the office of teacher, James also admonished us, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment (James 3:1).” For further study, consult Jer 23-29, Ezek 13 and 34, and Acts 20:17-38.