Study Desk

For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, because men seek the law from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD of hosts and has loved and served foreign gods.

And if you say, For what reason? Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously though she is your companion and the wife of your covenant.

For the LORD, the God of Israel, says that no one should conceal the iniquity in his robe; therefore take heed to your spirit, and do not deal treacherously.

BEHOLD, I will send my messenger and he shall prepare the way before me; and he for whom you are waiting shall suddenly come to the temple of the LORD, even the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight; behold, he shall come, says the LORD of hosts.

But who can endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiners fire and like fullers soap;

For he shall return to refine and purify the people like silver; and he shall cleanse the sons of Levi and purge them like gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness.

And I will come near to you for judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers and against the adulterers and against those who swear falsely and against those who defraud the laborer of his wages, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow; and those who turn aside him who turns to me, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.

For I am the LORD, I change not; but you sons of Jacob have not departed from your iniquities.

Bring all the tithes into my storehouse that there may be food in my house, and prove me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, and I will open the windows of heaven for you and pour out blessings for you until you shall say, It is enough.

These were the things which those who revered the LORD spoke often one to another; and the LORD gave ear and heard it, and he wrote it in a book of remembrance before him for those who revere him and for those who praise his name.

FOR behold, the days are coming when my anger shall burn as an oven; and all the wicked and all who do iniquity shall be stubble; and the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

But for you who revere my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing upon his lips; and you shall go forth and leap for joy like the calves of the herd.

And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, says the LORD of hosts.

Remember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

The birth of Jesus Christ was in this manner. While Mary his mother was acquired for a price for Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.

She will give birth to a son, and you will call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins.

And they were saying, Where is the King of the Jews, who has been born? For we have seen his star in the East, so we have come to worship him.

They said, In Bethlehem of Judah, for thus it is written in the book of the prophet:

Even you, Bethlehem of Judah, you are not insignificant in the eyes of the kings of Judah, for from you shall come out a king, who will shepherd my people Israel.