3 Nephi 24

Chapter Overview

What happens in 3 Nephi 24

Christ quotes the words of Malachi 3 in full, because the Nephites did not have them. These prophecies include the Lord's coming to His temple, the call to pay tithes, and the promise that a book of remembrance is kept for those who fear the Lord.

Scripture

The Lord's messenger and His coming to the temple

Study note

Christ quotes Malachi's prophecy of a messenger who will prepare the way, followed by the Lord coming suddenly to His temple. He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. This prophecy, fulfilled in part by John the Baptist, also points to latter-day temple preparation and purification.

1 And it came to pass that he commanded them that they should write the words which the Father had given unto Malachi, which he should tell unto them. And it came to pass that after they were written he expounded them. And these are the words which he did tell unto them, saying: Thus said the Father unto Malachi—Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts.

2 But who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like fuller's soap.

3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger, and fear not me, saith the Lord of Hosts.

6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

The call to return to God through tithes and offerings

Study note

Through Malachi, Christ invites His people to 'return unto me, and I will return unto you.' He identifies withholding tithes as robbing God and promises that those who bring their tithes will be blessed with abundance. The promise to 'open you the windows of heaven' is one of the most quoted blessings in scripture.

7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of Hosts. But ye say: Wherein shall we return?

8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say: Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9 Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the fields, saith the Lord of Hosts.

12 And all nations shall call you blessed, for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of Hosts.

The book of remembrance and the distinction between righteous and wicked

Study note

Some have complained that serving God is in vain, seeing the wicked prosper. But God assures them that a book of remembrance is written for those who fear Him and speak often one to another. They will be His jewels in the day He comes, and then shall the righteous and wicked clearly be distinguished.

13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say: What have we spoken against thee?

14 Ye have said: It is vain to serve God, and what doth it profit that we have kept his ordinances and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts?

15 And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.

16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard; and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

18 Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Key Themes

Themes in 3 Nephi 24

The Lord's coming to His temple to purifyReturning to God through obedience and tithingGod's promise to open the windows of heavenThe book of remembrance for the faithfulThe ultimate distinction between righteous and wicked

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

3 Nephi 24:1-18 Malachi 3:1-18

Christ quotes Malachi 3 in its entirety, giving the Nephites access to these crucial latter-day prophecies.

3 Nephi 24:1 Mark 1:2

Malachi's prophecy of the messenger preparing the way is quoted in Mark as being fulfilled by John the Baptist.

3 Nephi 24:2-3 Hebrews 12:29

The Lord as a refiner's fire parallels the epistle to the Hebrews' declaration that 'our God is a consuming fire.'

Apply This Today

Living 3 Nephi 24

Malachi's invitation -- 'Return unto me, and I will return unto you' -- is among the most hopeful promises in scripture. The command to tithe is a test of trust: can we give back to God and believe He will provide? His promise to open heaven's windows is an invitation to prove Him and discover His faithfulness firsthand.

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