Book of Malachi - Chapter 1 - Verse 7

In this verse from the Book of Malachi, the speaker is delivering a message from the Lord regarding the unacceptable offerings that the people are making. The people are accused of offering polluted bread on the altar of the Lord and asking how they have polluted Him. The Lord responds by explaining that they have shown contempt for Him by offering sacrifices that are not worthy of His name. The people are not putting in the effort to offer their best to the Lord, which shows a lack of reverence and respect for His authority. This verse serves as a reminder to the readers that God deserves our best and that we should approach Him with sincerity and humility in our worship. It emphasizes the importance of offering our whole hearts and lives to the Lord in a way that honors and pleases Him.

In Malachi 1:7, the prophet addresses the priests who were offering sacrifices on the altar. The priests were accused of offering polluted bread, which symbolized their lack of reverence and obedience to God. The word "polluted" in this context refers to something that is impure or defiled. The priests were not offering their best to God, but rather giving Him leftovers or inferior offerings. When the priests questioned how they had polluted God, it revealed their ignorance and lack of understanding of their wrongdoings. Furthermore, the priests were criticizing the table of the Lord as contemptible, showing their disrespect towards the sacredness of the altar and the offerings placed upon it. This verse serves as a reminder to believers to always give God our best and to approach Him with respect and obedience in all our worship and sacrifices.