The Book of Malachi was written after the Babylonian captivity of the Jews, probably between 440 and 400 BC. It is the last book of the Old Testament and consists of dialogues between God and Israelites. Today’s reading is a reminder that everyone is accountable for their actions. It seems very fitting that Malachi, which means "messenger", should come directly before the gospels, which will introduce John the Baptist, the last of the prophets before Jesus who - like Malachi - would foretell his coming.
Just before today’s gospel reading, Jesus has pointed out the poor widow who gave everything she had to the temple (Luke 21:1-4). There is a stark contrast between her action and the attitude of the people who are admiring the riches of the temple. This temple was of prime importance to the Jewish people. It was the house of God and all the ceremonies of Jewish worship were celebrated there. Jesus, however, is telling his audience that all this magnificence will be gone. By the time Luke was writing in about 85 BC, this event had already taken place with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 by the Romans. More important, however, was the fact that when Jesus made the prediction he was also coming near to his own destruction, his death on the cross. However, when he rose from the dead, he would be the new temple, and there would be no need for any other. Because of this, his presence with his faithful will be enough even when things seem very dark.