"You Have Robbed Me"

[Chad]

Malachi 3:7-12

7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

KJV Commentary

Verse 7
The problems that the nation is experiencing are not of recent derivation. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. In light of their long-standing need, God invites them to Return unto me (i.e., repent of your sins) and promises I will return unto you (i.e., in blessing instead of promised judgment).

Verse 8

The people's incredulous question gives God through His prophet the occasion once again to spell out their sin in specifics. Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. Is it possible that finite man could rob the infinite God? Predictably, the people dispute God's indictment: But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? Jehovah patiently and relentlessly answers: In tithes and offerings—they have done what no man should presume to attempt, namely, to defraud God in the tithe and heave offering.

The specific nature of their offense could have taken three formats:

(1) not paying their tithes and offerings at all;

(2) withholding a part of their tithes and offerings because of the hard times that were upon them (cf. 3:11); or

(3) not paying their tithes into the house of God as they should.
​

The payment of tithes and offerings was a recognition of their subjection to God and a recognition that God owned them and all that they had. To withhold the tithe is to renounce the sovereign authority of God and to be guilty of the same sin as Lucifer in the beginning—a failure to recognize the sovereignty of God and be in subjection to Him.

Verse 9

Such a serious offense demands a commensurate punishment. That is now spelled out: Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. In seeking to rob God, they actually robbed themselves of God's blessing and made themselves the recipients of a curse. They experienced lack of harvest and famine (cf. 3:11)—just punishment in kind. The word “robbed” occurs in participial form, indicating that they were still in the process of robbing or defrauding God. The sin was not occurring in isolated instances, for it was manifested by even this whole nation. The whole nation did not recognize its obligation incumbent upon them because of the love He had bestowed upon them in choosing them for His own (cf. 1:2-3).

The reason why the people were to bring all the tithes into the storehouse was so that there may be meat in mine house. The Levites and priests were supported by the tithes and offerings brought into the storehouse. These offerings primarily took the form of meat (food) that was used by the Levites and priests for their living. And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts; the First Person of the Trinity issues a challenge for the people to attempt to outgive Him by their giving. If I will not open you the windows of heaven—a figure denoting a copious supply of blessing so that it flows down from heaven like a pouring rain (cf. II Kgs 7:2). And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it—hyperbole, the thought is that God will provide a superabundance. The blessings of God would come not because God got 10 percent of their wealth, but because in giving the tithe they were in the place of obedience and subjection to God. The outward sign of their obedience and subjection to God was the giving of the tithe. The principle holds true for today. God blesses His children not because they give 10 percent (or more), but because in their cheerful giving in keeping with the measure that God has blessed, they are giving testimony of their obedience, subjection to, and dependence upon God.

Verse 10

What must be done? They must be obedient in the specific in which the disobedience lies: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse. The word all is emphasized, indicating that this was the primary area of fault—they were withholding that which rightly belonged to God for what seemed good reason to them, economic hard times (cf. 3:11). They are to stop withholding the tithe and bring it all … into the storehouse.

Feinberg summarizes the tithes which were incumbent upon Israelites:

(1) the tenth of the remainder after the firstfruits were taken, this amount going to Levites for their livelihood (Leviticus 27:30-33);

(2) the tenth paid by Levites to the priests (Numbers 18:26-28);

(3) the second tenth paid by the congregation for the needs of the Levites and their own families at the tabernacle (Deuteronomy 12:18); and

(4) another tithe every third year for the poor (Deuteronomy 14:28-29)” (The Minor Prophets, p. 263).
​

These were the tithes that the people of the prophet's day were withholding from and hence robbing God (cf. Neh 13:10). The offerings were separate from the tithes. Feinberg notes: “The offerings in Israel were the firstfruits, not less than one-sixtieth of the corn, wine, and oil (Deuteronomy 18:4)” (page 265).

It is interesting to note that tithes are never mentioned in the New Testament. Though the fact of tithing does antedate the Mosaic law (cf. Gen 14:18-20; Heb 7:9), the New Testament measure for giving is summed up in I Corinthians 16:2; “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.…” The New Testament teaching of giving is that it is to be regular (“Upon the first day of the week”), all-inclusive (“let every one of you”), systematic (“lay by him in store”), and proportionate (“as God hath prospered him”).

Nowhere in the New Testament is it suggested that the believer is to give 10 percent of his income, though in view of the Old Testament example that is probably a good place to begin. The measure is “as God hath prospered him.” It is possible that one could give 10 percent and still rob God, if God had prospered him greatly. The New Testament is more concerned with the motive in giving. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (II Cor 9:6-7).

The storehouse, contrary to much popular preaching on the subject, is not the local church (which in no sense was in existence at that time or the subject of prophecy). When one understands the nature of the tithes and offerings (see earlier), he understands that the storehouse is a reference to the chambers in the Temple where the tithes were brought (cf. Neh 10:38; 13:12). There is the principle of bringing the tithes and offerings to the house of God to support the work of God, and in that sense believers today should bring their tithes and offerings to the local church of which they are members to support the work of the Lord in and through that local church. There is nothing in this verse, however, which would limit their giving to the local church.

There is no reason why believers today cannot support with their gifts ministries of the Lord that are carried on in avenues other than their own particular local church. Each believer is independently accountable to God for the allotment of the money God entrusts to him.

Verse 11

The blessings described in a general way in verse 10 are individualized in this verse. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes. The devourer (Heb <akal,></akal,> i.e., to eat, consume, devour) was a name given to the locust because of his insatiable appetite. God will withhold the devourer, with the result that he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts. God promises that the vineyards will not cast (Heb shakal, i.e., to miscarry) or drop off their grapes before they ripen.

In the prophet's day, the land was apparently experiencing a locust plague and a blight that caused the grapes of the vineyards to fall off before they ripened. No wonder they were tempted (and yielded) to withhold a part of their tithes. Tithes and offerings are a matter of faith. God promises that if His people will respond to such crises in faith and continue to give their full tithe, He will more than make it up to them. However, if they wish for God to open His storehouse, they must first open theirs in faith. God's blessing is directly proportionate to the obedience on the part of His child—that principle still holds true today.

Verse 12
The sin of withholding the tithe from God had assumed national proportions (cf. vs. 9). Now, if obedience will assume national proportions, there will be national blessing and national prominence. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.

If Israel will be obedient to God in the matter of the tithe, two blessings will follow:

(1) all nations will call Israel blessed and
(2) its land will be a pleasure to everyone (cf. Zech 7:14; 8:13, 23).

These blessings are absolutely certain responses to obedience because they depend not upon man, but upon the Lord of hosts (the First Person of the Trinity).

Matthew Henry Commentary

The men of that generation turned away from God, they had not kept his ordinances. God gives them a gracious call. But they said, Wherein shall we return? God notices what returns our hearts make to the calls of his word. It shows great perverseness in sin, when men make afflictions excuses for sin, which are sent to part between them and their sins. Here is an earnest exhortation to reform. God must be served in the first place; and the interest of our souls ought to be preferred before that of our bodies. Let them trust God to provide for their comfort. God has blessings ready for us, but through the weakness of our faith and the narrowness of our desires, we have not room to receive them. He who makes trial will find nothing is lost by honouring the Lord with his substance.

Useful articles to read:
Tithe and Offerings | Stewardship & Tithing
If you have a lot of debt, can you temporarily stop tithing while paying off the debt?

 

[stephen]

http://www.talkjesus.com/bible-study-hall/20671-am-i-thief.html

Certainly Not

 

[jiggyfly]

This study on Malachi Chapter 3 is taken completely out of context. If everyone would read chapters 1 and 2 before hand they would realize that Malachi is addressing the priests not the people. It was the priests that were robbing God and offering up lame sacrifices.

Malachi is probably one of the most misunderstood, misinterpreted, misrepresented and misused scriptures. Most people think that Malachi is just about tithing and understandably so, that's how it is generally used. But it really is about much, much more than Israel's levy (the tithe).

 

[Brother Mike]

Here we go again.

Well, Dear Brother Jiggyfly.

I suppose that this scripture won't apply also. I mean, if you read the rest of the chapter then it could be taken totally out of context.

Deu 5:19 Neither shalt thou steal.

God was talking to those in Deuteronomy coming out of Egypt, Heck they did not even know Jesus. So you be the get away driver, and I'll grab the bags.

Well, a tenth goes to the house that feeds you, so there may be meat in my house. Funny how things like Latter rain, really meant real rain in some places, but had a equal counter part in the Spiritual. Of course these spiritual compared to the natural run exactly paralleled to each other in many places of the Bible. Sword, word of God, or weapon? The list goes on.

Luk 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

Oh, here we see the Word compared to meat, or food. Um... let their be meat in my house. ummm.... God called it stealing to hold back the tenth.... ummm. Good enough for me, Pay your tithe!!!


Jiggyfly quote:

If everyone would read chapters 1 and 2 before hand they would realize that Malachi is addressing the priests not the people.

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

I can ask Jesus that you not be included with the rest of us if it will make you feel better. That way you won't be responsible for all the money you stole.

God Bless Brother!!!! and your right.

Jesus Is Lord.

 

[jiggyfly]

Well, Dear Brother Jiggyfly.

I suppose that this scripture won't apply also. I mean, if you read the rest of the chapter then it could be taken totally out of context.

Deu 5:19 Neither shalt thou steal.

God was talking to those in Deuteronomy coming out of Egypt, Heck they did not even know Jesus. So you be the get away driver, and I'll grab the bags.

Well, a tenth goes to the house that feeds you, so there may be meat in my house. Funny how things like Latter rain, really meant real rain in some places, but had a equal counter part in the Spiritual. Of course these spiritual compared to the natural run exactly paralleled to each other in many places of the Bible. Sword, word of God, or weapon? The list goes on.

Luk 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

Oh, here we see the Word compared to meat, or food. Um... let their be meat in my house. ummm.... God called it stealing to hold back the tenth.... ummm. Good enough for me, Pay your tithe!!!


Jiggyfly quote:

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

I can ask Jesus that you not be included with the rest of us if it will make you feel better. That way you won't be responsible for all the money you stole.

God Bless Brother!!!! and your right.

Jesus Is Lord.

Well Mike, first off I will ignore your mockery at the end of your post. I see that you don't have a problem acknowledging the priesthood of every believer under the new covenant, which is fantastic, I applaud you. But since we are now talking comparatively between Old covenant and New covenant worship, let's try it more collectively rather than in piece or part.

When God states " that there might be meat in my house" what house do you suppose He is referring to? I say within the context and the parameters of old covenant worship it is the temple in Jerusalem. So with that said, where or more importantly what is the temple in the new covenant? I'm sure that some believe (out of ignorance) that the church building is now God's house or temple but the scriptures directly refute this completely.

John 4:21-24
21*Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22*Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23*But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24*God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

 

[jiggyfly]

The reason why the people were to bring all the tithes into the storehouse was so that there may be meat in mine house. The Levites and priests were supported by the tithes and offerings brought into the storehouse. These offerings primarily took the form of meat (food) that was used by the Levites and priests for their living. And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts; the First Person of the Trinity issues a challenge for the people to attempt to outgive Him by their giving. If I will not open you the windows of heaven—a figure denoting a copious supply of blessing so that it flows down from heaven like a pouring rain (cf. II Kgs 7:2). And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it—hyperbole, the thought is that God will provide a superabundance. The blessings of God would come not because God got 10 percent of their wealth, but because in giving the tithe they were in the place of obedience and subjection to God. The outward sign of their obedience and subjection to God was the giving of the tithe. The principle holds true for today. God blesses His children not because they give 10 percent (or more), but because in their cheerful giving in keeping with the measure that God has blessed, they are giving testimony of their obedience, subjection to, and dependence upon God.

According to the old covenant ordinances concerning tithes and offerings, the people did not take their tithe or offerings and put them into the temple. But rather the portion of the tithe that was not consumed by the tither's household was delivered to the Levites for inspection and approval, the same is true of the offerings. Once approved the priest would receive what was offered and and prepare it. The priest then took his allotted portion and offered the appropriate sacrifice on the altar and then carried the remainder into the temple and stored it into the proper rooms for later distribution to widows, orphans and foreigners. The priests were the recipients of this rebuke not the people.

Malachi 3:1-5
1*“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord Almighty. 2*“But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal or like a strong soap that whitens clothes. 3*He will sit and judge like a refiner of silver, watching closely as the dross is burned away. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold or silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. 4*Then once more the Lord will accept the offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as he did in former times. 5*At that time I will put you on trial. I will be a ready witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,” says the Lord Almighty.

Mark 12:38-40
38*Here are some of the other things he taught them at this time: “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they love to parade in flowing robes and to have everyone bow to them as they walk in the marketplaces. 39*And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and at banquets. 40*But they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property, and then, to cover up the kind of people they really are, they make long prayers in public. Because of this, their punishment will be the greater.”

 

[Brother Mike]

Well, OK.

Me Mock? I am just trying to help you. I don't try to look for loopholes in the Word of God. I Remember a few post about people have a long page of scriptural evidence that it's OK to Smoke dope.

There are Books with long explanations of why their are no Acts of the Apostles today, backed by lots of Scriptures. Anything to come up with a reason not to stand in faith.

Books Written how God just answers prayer in some strange alien way we will never understand because his ways or so above ours. More excuse's to be ignorant of the will of the Lord, and not asking for wisdom about situations in faith.

This no fault attitude in the church today, we are not responsible for anything, nothing is required of us. God does what he wants. If God wants to murder a loved one in a car crash, or break us financially so that we can build character then who can stop God? I mean he gives rain to the unjust and just, God gives and God takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord, after all, he took your loved one and caused a bunch of grief for the evil he saw ahead in that persons life.

The Best one I have heard from a Pastor trying to console someone is that God wanted their Little child in the heavenly quire.

If he Word says it, Then I believe it. I don't look for ways not to use my faith. If God said not tithing is stealing, then Why would he change his mind. He is not a respecter of persons. We are suppose to be the greatest witness the earth has ever seen, being filled with the Holy Ghost.

So, If my post sounded a little like mocking, Please do forgive me. I had fun typing it though..

God Bless. I don't think we are going to see each others point, even 20 pages latter of scriptures and lots of typing.

Jesus Is Lord....

 

[Coconut]

Well, Dear Brother Jiggyfly.


I can ask Jesus that you not be included with the rest of us if it will make you feel better. That way you won't be responsible for all the money you stole.

God Bless Brother!!!! and your right.

Jesus Is Lord.

So, If my post sounded a little like mocking, Please do forgive me. I had fun typing it though..

Mike, your sarcastic accusation against this brother, albeit sugar coated with 'God bless you' and a glib 'forgive me' doesnt excuse you.

This no fault attitude in the church today, we are not responsible for anything, nothing is required of us.

You said it, so I dont have to.

 

[Brother Mike]

ok

Dear Sister, I just stated what This brother believes. I gave scripture to the contrary. If you read the whole thread again, you will see my point, even if you agree or not. I do see his point, and understand what direction he is coming from. That does not mean I agree.

My Brother Jiggyfly does not see a connection between then and the things to come. I see a clear connection and do give God what is rightfully His.

I see God as never Changing, I also read the bible more simplistic than Brother Jiggyfly. If God calls holding back the tithe as stealing, then I don't need to hunt a bunch of scriptures to avoid giving What belongs to God.

The Meat in my house was refereed to by Paul as the Word. Our Pastors today and the Church we go to is were we get feed meat or milk. We are not to muzzle the ox that feed us.

Now the question is do we owe God ten percent. Once again, I accept What God said about holding back the tithe as we reign in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus. How much more should we be supportive of the church and faithful with the tithe under this much better Covenant?

You may think I attacked Jiggyfly. He is a pretty amazing with his use of scriptures, and I see a clear evidence that we better tithe where he does not. You missed all the other post on other threads we batted back and fourth on this, you just came in the middle with no knowledge of where this had really left off.

I could have gave a ton of scriputres, like I already have with Jiggyfly, but I decided a dead horse is, well........ dead. So I wanted a more light hearted approach as there is nothing I can do to change his mind.

You need not to take things so seriously, and try not to get upset. Someone out there is battling the tithing question, and if Jiggyfly or myslef and others can give them the direction they feel is right for them, then it's all the better.

God Bless you...

Jesus Is Lord.

 

[Brother Mike]

To Bother Jiggyfly

It would seem my response to your post was not appropriate. In my post I stated I had fun typing something to you that was considered mockery.

I had no intention of trying to offend you, and tried to keep it light. We are simply not going to agree on the tithing issue.

With that said, I should have been more mature about my post. Looking at it now, I can see that I was clearly wrong, and should have respected your belief on the tithe.

I would like to say that I am sorry for my careless wording, and ask you to forgive me for not being considerate and not responding in a manner that would not have offended.

Once again, I am sorry, and will try not to be so careless in the future.

Jesus Is Lord.

 

[jiggyfly]

Hey Mike, thank you for the apology and I assure you I was not offended and I hope no one else is either but don't be mistaken, this is not condoning your behavior. I will say that I had already decided to refrain from answering your posts concerning the tithe, I agree with you, we don't agree in many areas concerning the scriptures and the christian faith. Believe me, I understand and that's why I am sticking to my decision in refraining from answering your posts concerning these issues. I hope your not offended but it's a time management thing, I maybe wrong but I don't see any fruitfulness in hashing this out with you. God bless

 

[Janette]

The children are free

When men of God were bought out of Egypt as slaves, then was the time for contractual obligation in corporeal funds. Then was the age of agreement and treaty.

But we are now more than that people. They were one example, but we are the realization. Such a great price was paid for us. We may never fully grasp it in life. It was *so* important to our Father that we be free that He sent His son to take our place in slavery - that He would *become* the very Sin to which we were enslaved, that we might become the Righteousness of God.

We are beloved. The servants are now the adopted heirs. Our Father God loved us so much He sent His beloved son to die for us. Our Brother Christ loved us so much that He laid down that life for us.

We are the kings that He is King of, and the lords He is Lord of.
If it were not so, He would have told us.

This world has been given to us by our Father. He does not require that we return even a 10th of it to Him or his "agents." If one is doing work that you believe sustains the Body of Christ, and you are guided by Spirit to finance it, then do so.

But do not place yourself or your fellow Christians under a re-activated Law that Christ *died* to complete for you. Our portions were paid --- IN FULL --- by His blood. What aspect of His sacrifice was incomplete such that you *dare* to say that *you* still owe Heaven anything?

This lesson was a harsh one. It was one of the few times in the Bible that Jesus demotes Peter back to the name "Simon." If you look up the others, you will find that they all fall at absolutely *pivotal* moments (and very important lessons) in the unfolding of the Gospel.

There is precious little I may add to the Lessons of our Master, so I simply quote it:

------

24And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money [for the Temple] came to Peter, and said, "Doth not your master pay tribute?"

25 He saith, "Yes." And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, "What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? Of their own children, or of strangers?"

26Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, "Then are the children free."

27 "Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee."

If you choose to belong under the authority of a church that will be offended by your lack of tithes, then tithe to them or leave them. But understand you choose to obey them, not the Lord.

------------------------------------------

It was never about the money anyway:

But "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone (Mt. 23:23)."


It was *never* about what you give or how much you give, but the Spirit with which you give. If it is a burden or stumbling block to you then *don't* do it. If it brings you closer to God to contribute financially then by all means do so. Do it without damaging yourself or your family, without going into debt (it is forbidden even in the Torah to borrow to pay a tithe), and without regret. The Lord loves a cheerful giver, not a taxated slave.

 

[Brother Mike]

Praise God.

Thank you brother Jiggyfly. I was careless with my words. We are not going to agree, and I meant it in fun as I did not want to load a bunch of scripture and repeat myself from the other post.

I love you Brother, and feel bad about posting that silly stuff. I think that the issue is clear. We must follow our heart and be convinced about how we follow God. I am in complete agreement that nobody should be in bondage to come up with ten percent of what they make and give it to God. Nobody should be in condemnation for not doing so. Thank you brother for you kind response. We do agree with a lot of other things, and should be focused on those.

Janette; I did not mean to overlook you post. I feel that it is scriptural to tithe. I liked your reasoning though, if you don't feel it is scriptural to tithe, make sure it's not about the money or lack of money, but make sure you are going by faith on what you believe the scripture says. God should come first in any event.

God Bless everyone. This has been humbling and the flesh had to be beat back some. Bad flesh, bad flesh.....

Jesus Is Lord.