The Lord commends the behavior of Levi. He is not referring to the whole tribe, of course, because these very priests to whom He speaks so severely were of that favored tribe. He refers to a remnant of Levi, like the sons of Levi in Exodus 32:26–29, and Phinehas in Numbers 25:7–13. But there were many of that tribe who were as evil as the rest of Israel, yet they were supposed to be teaching the nation the laws of the Lord.

In Malachi 2:6 we read, “The law of truth was in his mouth, and injustice was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and equity, and turned many away from iniquity.” Those faithful men of Levi followed the Lord, and their influence over others was valuable. They turned many away from the ways of evil. The principle of Levi’s position is outlined in verse 7. The Hebrew priesthood had access to the holy documents of the Scripture. These were not available to the rank and file of the people, but they should have been able to benefit from instructions from the priests of the Lord.

“‘But you have departed from the way; you have caused many to stumble at the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,’ says the Lord of hosts” (v. 8). Just as the faithful of Levi exercised a beneficial influence on the people of Israel, so the wicked of that tribe of Jehovah’s servants exercised a pernicious influence on them. The effect of one man’s evil may be great, but it is also true that the influence of one godly, devoted life may have rich consequences for eternity. So we are to labor on, not to be weary in well-doing, for we shall reap in due time if we do not faint on the way.