How do you know God loves you?

In Malachi 1:1-5, God’s people ask a heartbreaking question: “In what way have You loved us?” In this study, Dr. Toby Holt opens the book of Malachi and God’s surprising answer.

The people had drifted from God and doubted His love. God answers not by pointing to the Exodus or the Red Sea, but to two brothers: “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” Dr. Holt explains that God set His saving love on Jacob before the twins were even born — love that is unearned and based on God’s own choice. He proves it in history: Jacob’s line was restored, while Esau’s nation was wiped away. God’s love for His people is not something they earned, and it does not fail even when they wander.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did the people doubt God’s love? They had wandered from Him and measured His love by their circumstances. When life was hard, they assumed God had stopped loving them.

2. What did God mean by “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated”? He meant He had set His saving, covenant love on Jacob by His own choice, before the brothers were born — and that this shaped the history of their two nations.

3. What does this teach about God’s love for His people? That it is unearned and rooted in God’s grace, not our performance. Because He chose to love His people, His love does not fail even when they stray.

“‘I have loved you,’ says the LORD. ‘Yet you say, “In what way have You loved us?” … Yet Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated.’” — Malachi 1:2-3 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Malachi Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

What happens when preachers play favorites?

In Malachi 2:1-9, God rebukes the priests for “showing partiality” — for twisting His Word and favoring some people over others. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explains what God expects of those who teach His Word.

The priests had kept the outward show of religion but abandoned their real calling. God points back to Levi, the model priest who feared God and spoke the truth, turning many from sin. The current priests did the opposite — lowering the standard and applying Scripture unevenly. Dr. Holt warns against preaching only the popular, comfortable parts of the Bible. He compares it to a medicine with its key ingredient removed: it may look the same, but it cannot heal.

Questions this study answers:

1. What does it mean to “show partiality in the law”? It means teaching only the convenient parts of God’s Word or favoring certain people. The priests bent God’s truth to please others.

2. What is the right standard for those who teach? Like Levi, they should fear God, speak the truth, and turn people from sin. A faithful teacher gives people God’s whole Word, not just the easy parts.

3. Why does watering down the message matter? Because a gospel stripped of its hard truths cannot save, just as a medicine without its key ingredient cannot cure. People need the real thing.

“Therefore I also have made you contemptible and base before all the people, because you have not kept My ways but have shown partiality in the law.” — Malachi 2:9 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Malachi Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

Why does God say He hates divorce?

In Malachi 2:10-16, God confronts His people for breaking faith in their marriages. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explains why marriage matters so deeply to God — and what He means when He says He hates divorce.

God charges His people with “treachery” — being unfaithful both by marrying those who worshiped false gods and by betraying “the wife of your youth.” Dr. Holt explains that marriage is a covenant God Himself designed, and that it pictures Christ’s faithful love for His church. That is why breaking it grieves God so deeply, and why He refuses the worship of those who betray their spouses. Yet the chapter ends in hope: Christ loves His people with a faithfulness that never fails.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why does God take marriage so seriously? Because marriage is a covenant He designed, and it pictures Christ’s faithful love for His church. Breaking it is no small thing to God.

2. What does it mean that God “hates divorce”? It means He hates the betrayal and broken faith that tear apart what He joined together. He grieves the harm done to husbands, wives, and families.

3. Is there hope for those affected by broken marriages? Yes. The chapter points to Christ, whose faithful love never fails, and who offers forgiveness and healing to all who turn to Him.

“‘For the LORD God of Israel says that He hates divorce, for it covers one’s garment with violence,’ says the LORD of hosts. ‘Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously.’” — Malachi 2:16 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Malachi Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

Where is God when evil goes unpunished?

In Malachi 2:17 through 3:7, God’s people accuse Him of ignoring evil. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt faces an honest question: where is the God of justice when the wicked seem to win?

The people had grown cynical, even claiming that God delights in evildoers. God answers with a promise: He will send His messenger to prepare the way, and the Lord will “suddenly come to His temple.” Dr. Holt explains that the question is not whether God’s justice will come, but when. Like a refiner’s fire, God purifies His people, and at the cross the judgment our sins deserved was poured out on Christ. Delayed justice, he reminds us, is not justice abandoned.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did the people think God ignored evil? Because the wicked seemed to prosper while the faithful suffered. They mistook God’s patience for indifference.

2. What was God’s answer? That He would surely come — first through His messenger, then in person. His justice is certain, even when it seems delayed.

3. How does the cross relate to God’s justice? At the cross, the judgment our sins deserved fell on Christ instead. God’s justice was fully satisfied there for all who trust in Him.

“Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight.” — Malachi 3:1 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Malachi Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

Can a person actually rob God?

In Malachi 3:8-12, God makes a startling charge against His people: they have robbed Him. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt explains what that means — and what the Bible really teaches about giving.

God’s people had been withholding their tithes and offerings, giving Him their leftovers instead of their best. God calls this robbery. But then He does something unusual: He invites them to “test” Him — to give faithfully and watch Him pour out blessing. Dr. Holt explains the heart of biblical giving: it is not about hoarding God’s gifts but pouring them out for His kingdom. He even shares how his own church’s mercy fund grew rather than shrank as they gave more generously.

Questions this study answers:

1. How can someone “rob” God? By withholding from Him what is His and giving Him our leftovers instead of our best. God calls that withholding a kind of robbery.

2. What is a tithe? The word means “a tenth.” In the Old Testament, God’s people returned a portion of what He had given them as an act of worship and trust.

3. What does God invite His people to do? To test Him — to give faithfully and see how He provides. True giving pours out God’s gifts for others rather than hoarding them.

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” — Malachi 3:10 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Malachi Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

Is serving God really worth it?

In Malachi 3:13-18, God’s people grumble that serving Him is useless — they see no payoff. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt answers a question every believer feels at some point: is faithfulness worth it?

The people complained that the proud and wicked seemed to prosper while the godly gained nothing. Dr. Holt explains that our circumstances are not the measure of God’s love. God keeps a “book of remembrance” of those who fear Him, and He calls them His treasured possession — His “jewels.” One day the difference between those who serve God and those who do not will be plain for all to see, even when it is hidden now.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did the people think serving God was useless? Because they measured God’s love by their circumstances, and the wicked seemed to prosper. They mistook outward comfort for God’s favor.

2. How does God see His faithful people? He calls them His “jewels” — His treasured possession — and records them in a book of remembrance. They are precious to Him even when overlooked by the world.

3. Will the difference between the godly and the wicked ever be clear? Yes. Though it is often hidden now, God promises a day when all will see the difference between those who serve Him and those who do not.

“‘They shall be Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.’” — Malachi 3:17 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Malachi Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.

How does the Old Testament end?

In Malachi 4:1-6, we reach the very last words of the Old Testament — and then God falls silent for some 400 years. In this study, Dr. Toby Holt shows how the Old Testament closes with both warning and hope.

Malachi describes a coming day of judgment that will burn up the proud like stubble, but for those who fear God’s name, “the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.” Dr. Holt explains that this points ahead to Jesus Christ — His first coming and His return. God also promises to send “Elijah,” whom Jesus later identifies as John the Baptist. After Malachi, heaven goes quiet until God speaks again through His Son — the calm before the greatest storm in history.

Questions this study answers:

1. Why did God go silent for about 400 years after Malachi? Because He had said all that was needed until the coming of His Son. The long silence was the hush before God’s greatest act in Christ.

2. Who is the “Sun of Righteousness”? It is a picture of Jesus Christ, who rises with healing for His people. Malachi’s final hope points directly to the Savior.

3. Why did God promise to send “Elijah”? Jesus explained that this pointed to John the Baptist, who came in the spirit of Elijah to prepare the way for the Lord.

“But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.” — Malachi 4:2 (NKJV)

Speaker: Dr. Toby Holt is the President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, a Reformed seminary in Colorado Springs. He is known for clear, down-to-earth Bible teaching, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio.

Listen and go deeper: This sermon is part of the Malachi Explained study from New Geneva Theological Seminary. Find more verse-by-verse teaching across the Bible at newgeneva.org. To support this teaching ministry, visit newgeneva.org/give.