Restoring the Hearts of Families
- Christopher Reeves
- Feb 2
- 3 min read

The last prophecy of the of the Old Testament is found at the very end of the book of Malachi. Its positioning at the end of the Hebrew Scriptures gives it special significance. God is telling His people to remember and keep His teaching, and then to turn their hearts to teach their children. This was God’s intended pattern for families. And as they would restore their hearts to do this, there would be healing and reconciliation.
“Be mindful of the Teaching of My servant Moses, whom I charged at Horeb with laws and rules for all Israel. Lo, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the coming of the awesome, fearful day of the LORD. He shall reconcile parents with children and children with their parents, so that, when I come, I do not strike the whole land with utter destruction” (Mal 3:22-24 JPS).[1]
The New American Standard Bible says, “He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers.” And in the Message Bible, “He will convince parents to look after their children and children to look up to their parents.” Also, a Jewish teacher named Rashi proposed, “that he may turn the heart of the fathers back to the Holy One . . . through the children. He will say to the children affectionately and appealingly, ‘Go and speak to your fathers to adopt the ways of the Omnipresent.’ So, we explain, ‘and the heart of the children through their fathers.’”[2]
Throughout the book of Malachi, God is focused on restoring the hearts of His children to Himself as their Father. He speaks of the restoration of the marriage covenant. And at the end of the book, He is emphasizes restoring the hearts of parents and their children.
Malachi’s prophecy was quoted in reference to John the Baptist in Luke 1:15–17. However, this prophecy also refers to “the day of the Lord,” pointing to the time of Jesus’ return. In both cases the restoration of families is of vital importance.
Parents were always expected by God to love Him, love each other, and pay attention to keep His words. They were expected to love and impart His teaching to thei
r children. Children were to honor their parents, keeping the instruction of their father and mother. This relational commitment is emphasized throughout the Hebrew Scriptures and again in the New Testament. Our Heavenly Father’s plan for families has never changed, as the Holy Spirit reminds parents to love each other and to nurture in their children the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph. 5:25–6:4).
Lord, we ask your blessing to rest on every family that walks obediently to your relational commands. And help those who find these things new and unfamiliar. Strengthen every parent to love each other in the way you teach us, and to take on the mantle of teaching their children in Your ways. May your peace rest on each home.
[1] Note that the Hebrew Scriptures do not make a chapter break in the book of Malachi at the end of chapter three. In Christian Bibles this passage would be found in chapter four, versus three through six.
[2] Rashi on Malachi 3:24, Abraham Cohen, Soncino Press, 1948




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