And now, O priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to my name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; indeed I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung upon your faces, the dung of your offerings, and I will put you out of my presence.
So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may hold, says the Lord of hosts. My covenant with him was a covenant of life and peace, and I gave them to him, that he might fear; and he feared me, he stood in awe of my name.
True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
But you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you have not kept my ways but have shown partiality in your instruction. (Malachi 2:1-9)
I believe this passage in Malachi is one of the most significant in Scripture related to the lifestyle of a Christ follower. The book of Malachi exposes one of Israel’s greatest spiritual crises — the corruption of the priesthood. God’s priests had lost their fear of the Lord, diluted His truth, and turned ministry into self-promotion. Yet, out of judgment comes a call: God will raise up a remnant priesthood who will honor His name once again.
This is not just for Old Testament Levites. According to 1 Peter 2:9, we are a royal priesthood. Every believer is called to represent God before the world and the world before God. In a generation plagued by compromise, God is restoring priests who reflect His purity, reverence, and truth.
They Take God’s Honor to Heart (Malachi 2:2–3)
“If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings.”
Remnant priests are consumed with giving glory to God — not building their own brands and using Him merely for His blessings.. They understand that to misuse God’s name is to invite His discipline. Scripture says God will expose leaders who handle His name lightly. Many public scandals in the church are not random — they are God purging His house. True priests live to exalt Him, not themselves, and their private devotion carries more weight than their public platform.
They Impart Life and Peace (Malachi 2:5)
God’s covenant with Levi was one of life and peace. “Life” speaks of spiritual vitality; “peace” (shalom) speaks of wholeness and harmony. Faithful priests release both wherever they serve. When they preach, counsel, or lead, people are restored. When they pray, atmospheres shift. The chaos in our culture mirrors the shallowness of our pulpits. As Charles Finney warned, when the conscience of the nation decays, the church’s voice is at fault. The remnant priest becomes a conduit of divine life and peace.
They Walk in the Fear and Awe of God (Malachi 2:5)
Levi “stood in awe of God’s name.” The fear of the Lord is not terror—it’s trembling reverence. It shapes how we speak, lead, and even think. Many today treat holy things casually, using Jesus’ name without weight or wonder. The remnant priest wakes each morning with holy awe, aware that every word and action reflects heaven’s King. Proverbs 9:10 reminds us: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. True wisdom flows from holy fear.
They Are Saturated in the Word of God (Malachi 2:6)
“True instruction was in his mouth.” The remnant priest feeds on the Word until it becomes part of his spiritual DNA. Like Ezekiel, he eats the scroll before he preaches it. The modern church has shifted from theology to therapy, but the remnant returns to truth. They spend more time in Scripture than on social media. They don’t parrot cultural talking points—they proclaim divine revelation. The Word they’ve internalized becomes the Word they release.
They Guard Their Speech (Malachi 2:6)
“No wrong was found on his lips.” The priest’s mouth was never meant for gossip, slander, or idle chatter. Godly leaders understand that words create atmospheres. Paul warned, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but only what builds up” (Ephesians 4:29). A remnant priest speaks life even when confronting sin. Their restraint (even on social media) reveals maturity, for as James wrote, the one who controls the tongue is perfect in all ways. Their silence carries as much weight as their sermons.
They Walk Uprightly and Lead Others to Repentance (Malachi 2:6)
“He walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and turned many from iniquity.” Remnant priests live in His presence and provoke others to go higher. Their very lives provoke conviction. They carry a passion for lost souls and bring many to righteousness. At life’s end, only the lives we have touched for Christ will follow us into eternity.
They Protect Knowledge and Teach the Truth (Malachi 2:7)
“The lips of a priest should guard knowledge… for he is the messenger of the Lord.” The remnant priest sees doctrine as sacred trust. They guard orthodoxy in an age of deconstruction. They know the foundations of the faith—the Gospel, the creeds, and the authority of Scripture—and they teach it with clarity. As Jude wrote, they “contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.” These priests are divine messengers. They were not merely born—they were sent. (2 Timothy 1:9)
Their Teaching Does Not Cause Others to Stumble (Malachi 2:8)
“You have caused many to stumble by your instruction.” False teaching destroys more than it deceives—it multiplies rebellion. The remnant priest refuses to replace theology with political ideology, dead religion and human tradition. Jesus condemned religious leaders who shut the kingdom in people’s faces (Matthew 23:13–15). When leaders fail to preach the full council of God as revealed in the Sacred text, disciples stumble. The priest’s teaching is not manipulative, manufactured by men or partisan—it is Christ-centered, and manifests the truth, character and holiness of God
They Do Not Corrupt God’s Covenant (Malachi 2:9)
“You have corrupted the covenant… and shown partiality in your instruction.” To corrupt the covenant is to twist Scripture to justify sin. Today many reinterpret the Bible to affirm what God forbids—calling rebellion love and compromise compassion. When parents or pastors revise God’s Word to appease people, they betray their calling. The remnant priest refuses to edit the Bible. They preach truth even when it costs relationships, reputation, or revenue. Their allegiance is to the covenant, not to consensus.
They Are Judged by the Eternal Impact of Their Lives (Malachi 2:9; 1 Corinthians 3:10–14)
God told Israel’s priests, “I will make you despised and abased before all people.” Those who distort truth will be exposed—if not now, then before Christ’s judgment seat. Paul said our works will be tested by fire to reveal what sort of material we built with. The remnant priest lives with eternity in view. They seek not accolades from the public but divine approval. Their reward will not be measured in online followers, but in faithfulness.
Five Final Takeaways for the Remnant Priesthood
- Take His name seriously—honor it with your life, not just your lips.
- Guard your heart and your doctrine—truth is sacred trust.
- Walk in holiness, not hypocrisy—your life preaches louder than your sermons.
- Fear God, not man—you’re not called to be popular but prophetic.
- Remember: we are called to carry the Name of God (Exodus 20:7)-hence we don’t merely represent ourselves in this life.
Closing Exhortation
God is purifying His house and restoring a remnant priesthood—not perfect, but pure; not always famous, but consistently faithful. These priests carry the fire of consecration, the weight of truth, and the fragrance of Christ. They stand between heaven and earth to intercede, instruct, and inspire. The question remains: Will you be among them?
Joseph Mattera is an internationally known author, futurist, interpreter of culture and activist/theologian whose mission is to influence leaders who influence nations. To order one of his books or to subscribe to his weekly newsletter go to www.josephmattera.org.
