INTRODUCTION: Even in the Old Testament, much of the relationship between God and His people was based on love. God definitely loved them and they were expected to respond to Him in like kind. Yet, as today, when they began to waver from the Lord, God started getting their second-best. They gave Him the leftovers.

This can be seen even in human relationships. In a state of active love, no sacrifice is too great if it brings good to the loved one. We give them the best of our time, efforts and commitments. However, as the love fails, we begin to take the loved one for granted and give them only the leftovers of our love.

1. THE LEFTOVERS OF THEIR LOVE (Malachi 1:1-5 [1] The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. [2] I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, [3] And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. [4] Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever. [5] And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.
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1. The burden of the word (Malachi 1:1The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
   See All...); the message Malachi has for the Israelites is a heavy burden. It is sad truth that must be told and they must be confronted.
2. Their doubt of God’s love (Malachi 1:2I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
   See All...; compare Malachi 3:13-14 [13] Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? [14] Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
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1. God proclaims His love – “I have loved you.”
2. God proves His love – He chose them (Deuteronomy 7:6-8 [6] For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. [7] The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: [8] But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
   See All...).
1. Deuteronomy 7:6For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
   See All... For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
2. Deuteronomy 7:7The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
   See All... The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
3. Deuteronomy 7:8But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
   See All... But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
3. God chose Jacob over Esau (Malachi 1:3-4 [3] And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. [4] Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.
   See All...); the proof of God’s love to Israel is built on a solid, historical foundation.
1. Determined before birth, but according to foreknowledge
2. Concerned earthly blessings, not eternal salvation
3. National in scope, not just personal
1. Esau’s mountains laid waste (Malachi 1:3And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
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2. Edom’s determination to no avail (Malachi 1:4Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.
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3. The heritage of Esau (Malachi 1:4Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.
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1. The border of wickedness
2. The people hated by God
4. God’s love for Israel (Malachi 1:5And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.
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1. To bring blessing on Israel
2. To be magnified in Israel
1. 1 Chronicles 17:24Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.
   See All... Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.
2. God’s love to Israel is based on an absolute commitment to the future.
2. THE LEFTOVERS OF THEIR RESPECT (Malachi 1:6-8 [6] 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? [7] 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. [8] 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.
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1. Despising the name of the Lord (Malachi 1:6A 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?
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1. The honor a son gives to his father
2. The fear a servant gives to his master
3. Compare: the respect loved ones give to one another
1. Ephesians 5:33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
   See All... Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
2. Despising the altar of the Lord (Malachi 1:7-8 [7] 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. [8] 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.
   See All...; Deuteronomy 15:21And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.
   See All... – “And if there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.”)
1. By their contempt for the place of sacrifice (Malachi 1:7Ye 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.
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2. By their choice of a faulty sacrifice (Malachi 1:8And 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.
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3. The greater the love, the greater the willingness to sacrifice
1. Genesis 4:4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
   See All... And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
2. 2 Samuel 24:24And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
   See All... And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
3. Romans 12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
   See All... I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
3. THE LEFTOVERS OF THEIR TIME (Malachi 1:9-11 [9] 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. [10] 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. [11] 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.
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1. Needing to seek God’s grace (Malachi 1:9And 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.
   See All...); they have pushed the limits of God’s patience and need to seek His grace.
2. Doing nothing for nought (Malachi 1:10Who 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.
   See All...); they will not give of their time to the Lord unless someone pays them.  (Jeremiah 6:13For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.
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1. Would not shut the doors without pay
2. Would not kindle the fire on the altar
3. Will be rejected by the Lord
1. He will have no pleasure in them.
2. He will not accept their offering.
3. Refusing to serve the great God (Malachi 1:11For 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.
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1. His name to be great among the Gentiles
2. The great God to receive offerings of the Gentiles
3. The point is that even the Gentiles will serve the Lord; what a shame that God’s own chosen people refuse to fully serve Him.
4. THE LEFTOVERS OF THEIR EFFORTS (Malachi 1:12-14 [12] 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. [13] 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. [14] 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.
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1. Weary in their service (Malachi 1:12-13 [12] 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. [13] 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.
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1. Treating God’s worship with contempt (Malachi 1:12But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.
   See All...); treating the very special things of God as if they were low, dirty things. By application, this would be like treating that which is special and dear to a loved one as something cheap and without value.
2. Complaining of any effort given (Malachi 1:13Ye 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.
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1. “Behold, what a weariness is it!”
2. Ye “have snuffed at it” – they make light of anything dedicated to the service of God.
3. Bringing their least to God (Malachi 1:13Ye 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.
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1. The torn
2. The lame
3. The sick
4. The unacceptable to God
2. Deceptive in their service (Malachi 1:14But 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.
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1. Rejecting the great King
2. Ignoring the dreadful name of God
3. Jeremiah 48:10Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.
   See All... Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

CONCLUSION: How healthy is your love to the Lord? How healthy is your love to your loved one? Have you been giving leftovers when they deserve the best? Are you ready to repent of your sins and love as you have been loved by God?