Prophecy (433-424 B.C.)
Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come, says the Lord. Malachi 3:1 (NIV)
Fulfillment
Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry
In the temple courts [Jesus] found men selling cattle, sheep and doves . . . So he made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple . . . He said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” John 2:14-16 (NIV)
End of Jesus’ Ministry
And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.” Matthew 21:12-13 (NASB)
Comment
Shortly after Jesus started His ministry, He entered the temple in order to rebuke those who were using it as a place of business. This was predicted by Malachi. Jesus also entered the temple at the end of His ministry after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The religious leaders did not honor the temple as a place of worship, and they did not care that they were displeasing God. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy.