Malachi 1:6

Malachi 1:6 says, A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?   God stated that a son honored his father and a servant his master, but then asked where was His honor from the priests of Israel.  God aided that the priests despised His name, and we know that when Jesus Christ came, this was especially true.  The religious leaders despised His name.  We cannot afford to do the same thing today.  Verse seven adds, Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.  When God said that the priests offered polluted offerings, they asked when they had done this, just as they had asked when they had not honored God.  Anytime we offer less than our best out of a sincere heart to God, we offer a polluted offering to Him.  Verse eight continues, And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that when they offered the blind and lame for a sacrifice that what they were doing was evil, and asked if the governor would be pleased with such an offering.  We cannot give more to the rulers of the world than we give to God.  Verse nine declares, And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts. When they prayed to God, they were asked if God would regard their requests graciously if they had no real respect for Him is what I believe the question means.  We cannot see God as a source for what we want while at the same time not having any real reverence for Him.  Verse ten adds, Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.  Just as people would not shut a door for no reason, they should not offer sacrifices for no reason, or without any real concern for what they represented.   When they did, God said He would not accept their sacrifices, and He still won't today.  God does not have to accept our leftovers just because we bring them to Him.  Verse eleven continues, For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.  God said that since His chosen people, the Jews, had rejected Him that His name would be made great throughout all the world of the Gentiles.   Jesus Christ came to save not just certain people, but everyone who put their faith in Him as their Savior and Lord.  Verse twelve says, But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.  God said that the people of Israel had profaned His table by their cheap offerings.  We must bring the best that we have to God, including the best that we can be as individuals, or we profane God's table, or altar.  Verse thirteen adds, Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.  God said that the people of Israel had declared serving Him to be a weariness.  We should never grow weary in doing God's work and following His will for our life.  Verse fourteen concludes, But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.  God warned against promising one thing to Him and then giving something less valuable.   God will always expect us as followers of Christ to give Him only our best, especially when we have dedicated something to Him.