A Pure Offering
In the manual: Come, Follow Me lesson 51, “I Have Loved You, Saith the Lord,” on Gospel Library
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The priests in Malachi’s day brought blind, lame, and sick animals to the Lord’s altar (Malachi 1:8).
Read Together
The law of Moses asked for animals without blemish, the best of the flock (Leviticus 22:20–22). Some people kept their best animals and gave the Lord the worst (Malachi 1:14).
8And 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.
11For 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.
What It Teaches
The Lord asked a pointed question. “Offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee?” (Malachi 1:8). No one would give a leader a gift that sick, and they were giving it to God.
They complained about worship too. “Behold, what a weariness is it!” they said (Malachi 1:13). They went through the motions and resented every step.
The Lord promised that one day, “in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering” (Malachi 1:11). After his death, while darkness covered the land, the Savior’s voice told the Nephites what offering he wants now, a broken heart and a contrite spirit (3 Nephi 9:19–20).
Our offerings today include our prayers, our tithing, our time serving others, and the way we take the sacrament. A pure offering is the best we have, given gladly.
Talk About It
What is one offering we give the Lord, like prayer, church, or service? How could we give him our best instead of our leftovers?
Take to Church
Malachi’s priests gave the Lord their sick and lame animals. The Lord asks for our best, given gladly, and the purest offering is a broken heart.