God is dealing with the priests and their failings in the day of Malachi. In the chapter 1 he dealt with their failings at the altar of sacrifice. In the verses before us He deals with their failing as teacher of the people. There is a parallel between the priests as a teacher and the New Testament minister. the duty of sacrifice is gone, fulfilled by Christ at the cross, but the duty of teaching remains. "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ," Acts 5:42. "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach," 1 Timothy 3:2. "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient," 2 Timothy 2:24. The failings of the priests as teachers need to be considered by ministers today lest they fail in the same manner.