The Authority Of Covenant | How Tithe & Offering Demonstrates Your Trust | Abundant Life Church

[@markb7067]

The tithe indictment in Malachi 3 can't be universally applied either historically or currently. Some of the reasons why are as follows.
1. In the first verse of the book of Malachi the “children of Israel” are addressed in a generic sense. However, since the Levitical Priests were technically also “children of Israel” it’s possible that the passage could have been directed to them exclusively. We see that in Malachi 1:6 and again in Malachi 2:1 the indictments are clearly and specifically directed towards the Priests. From that point forward there is no clear change in the direction of focus for whom those indictments are made. As such, it would seem that the indictment to “bring the whole tithe into the storehouse” was actually directed towards the Priests. We see no clear change in focus from the Priests for the indictment of “robbing God” so it is reasonable to assume that the indictment was directed toward the Priests specifically, rather than the entire nation of Israel.
2. There are reasons to believe that the Levitical Priesthood were the only ones actually allowed in the temple storehouse. Non-Jews were permitted the 'ezrat ha-nashim (the forecourt of the Temple); most Jews were permitted in the 'azarah (inner courtyard); only the priests and Levites were permitted in the heychal (inner court or sanctum); and only the High Priest could enter the kodesh kodashim (Holy of Holies). If only a select people were allowed in the storehouse, then Malachi 3:10 cannot be universally applied. It was the Levites who were accompanied by a Priest, not all of Israel, who were to “bring up the tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse” (Nehemiah 10:38). Therefore, it appears evident that Malachi 3:10 was not directed at any others besides the Priests at the time which would further weaken the argument that tithing is to be universally applied today.
3. Since the biblical tithe had nothing to do with paying money from monetary earnings there is no biblical reason to think that if anyone gives money to any church they will be monetarily blessed in return or otherwise cursed.
4. It’s possible that what was happening at the time was that the Priests weren’t bringing the proper quantity and/or quality of tithe items (produce and livestock) to the temple as directed, perhaps keeping the best elements of their portion of the tithe(s) and offerings for themselves. It’s reasonable to assume that God was indicting the Priests, through the prophet Malachi, to properly execute their part of the system, which included bringing proper sacrifices (quality livestock) and food (produce) that provided sustenance for temple workers and for ceremonial sacrifices. Only the Priests were allowed to conduct sacrifices.
5. The “floodgates of heaven” has nothing to do with monetary blessing. We first find this same term used by God back in Genesis 7:11 where the windows of heaven were open and rain contributed to the flood, as the fountains of the deep were broken open. In Genesis 8:2 it says the windows of heaven were stopped and the rain from heaven was restrained. Isaiah 24:18 also mentions the windows from on high; this phrase is consistently used for rain water. In Deuteronomy 28:12 it reads “The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. In Genesis it was a judgment. In Malachi 3 it was to be a blessing - rain on their crops. The nation lived in large part by their agriculture (Husbandry) and depended upon the rain. God's blessing had to do with the provision of water; no rain and they couldn’t produce adequate crops or sustain livestock. Perhaps this passage is emphasizing that if the Priests mishandled their tithes, which was part of the blessing in the Mosaic covenant, a curse would be put on them. The ground would not yield food because it would be deprived of rain which of course would be a detriment to all of Israel.
6. There is no specific indictment for the entire nation of Israel to tithe as only the products of farmers and herdsmen were accepted as tithes. There is no mention of merchants, tradesmen, carpenters etc… ever bartering their crafts or services as a form of tithing or giving a tenth of their earned monetary wages. Therefore, it is unreasonable to conclude that Malachi 3:8-12 applies to the entire nation of Israel. As such it’s also unreasonable to conclude that it applies to us today either.
7. The book of Malachi was written at the time of Mosaic law in Israel. These laws supported a system of atonement that is now obsolete in the Christian faith as we (Christians) are now under grace, provided by the blood of Jesus. Biblical, systematic tithes were facilitated by ceremonial and civil ordinances that are now obsolete.
8. The word “food” in Malachi 3:10 literally means food. There is no reason to substitute a metaphor for “spiritual food” such as scriptural teaching, which is common in many modern-day churches. Again, it seems that the Priests were indicted to not compromise the quality or quantity of food (produce, grain etc…) that was to be brought to the temple storehouse.
9. Notice how the text reads “bring the whole tithe” in Malachi 3:10. This implies that only a part of what was submitted as tithe items was selectively brought to the temple. It was upon the Levities and the Levitical Priest(s) to “bring” the tithe items from the Levitical Cities to the temple. It makes sense then that Malachi 3:10 was directed towards the Levitical Priests exclusively.
10. There's no way all of the Levitical tithes from the nation of Israel could fit in the temple storehouse. Israelite farmers brought their tithes to the Levitical cities. 1/10th of the Levitical tithe was distributed to the Priests. It would be upon the Priest to bring the sacrifices and tithe items to the temple storehouse.