GOD'S CONVERSATION WITH ISRAEL
Did you know that God had a conversation with the Nation of Israel concerning tithing, and in particular about Malachi 3:10? In fact, God did, and it's found in Malachi 3:6-10. The topic of the conversation, among other important points is HOW TO PROPERLY OBEY MALACHI 3:10 IN A GODLY RIGHTEOUS MANNER.
In the conversation God instructs Israel as to how to obey Malachi 3:10. Here is the conversation...
>> To begin, God says;
>> Malachi 3:6 - "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
In Malachi 3:6 God is clearly and directly addressing the Nation of Israel, the "sons of Jacob," not the New Testament Church, as also noted in Malachi 1:1; "The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi." NOTE: TO ISRAEL. In Malachi 2:1 God also clarifies that He is addressing the Priests of the Nation of Israel; Malachi 2:1 - "And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you." Malachi 2:1 designates who God is focusing on; the Priests of Israel and their corrupt behavior, not the New Testament Church.
>> Next;
>> Malachi 3:7 - "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?"
In Malachi 3:7 God makes two statements, then a command to return to Him, with a promise that He will return to the people of Israel if they do return to Him. God then quotes a question from the people of Israel; "But ye said, Wherein shall we return?" God has answered the people Israel with a question, a statement of fact, then quoting a question from Israel, then His answer to the question is in Malachi 3:8;
"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." - Malachi 3:8. God tells the nation of Israel that they have robbed Him by not bringing the proper offerings and the "tithe of the tithe" (one tenth of the tithe, not the whole tithe) to the Temple Storehouse in Jerusalem, as detailed in the Book of Nehemiah;
Nehemiah 10:38-39 - "And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house. For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God."
>> Next;
>> In Malachi 3:9 God warns Israel as to what the consequences will be for violating His tithe ordinances which are found in the Law of Moses -- these are the consequences;
"Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation."
It is clear that God is instructing the Nation of Israel to comply with Malachi 3:10 based on, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH the Law of Moses. In other words, the people, the Israelis, CANNOT act on Malachi 3:10 in just any manner they desire or see fit to do, they MUST comply with Malachi 3:10 based on God's Law, His ordinances, the Law of Moses, as stated in Malachi 4:4;
"Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments."
And, again, as stated in Malachi 3:7; "Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them"
GOD'S ORDINANCES
In God's Ordinances, God makes it very clear that the tithe of the tithe to be brought to the Temple Storehouse is to consist of agricultural items only, as seen in multiple scripture verses; The following scriptures require that the tithe of the tithe brought to the storehouse, and the tithes that are brought to the Levite cities must be limited to agricultural produce only; fruits, vegetables and clean animals from the Land of Israel;
Lev. 27:30, 32, Num. 18:27, Num. 18:28, Deut. 12:17, Deut. 14:22, Deut. 14:23, Deut. 24:21, Deut. 26:12, 2 Chron. 31:5, 2 Chron. 31:6, Neh. 10:37, Neh. 13:5, Mal. 3:10, Matt. 23:23, Luke 11:42.
IT COULD NOT BE CLEARER THAT MONEY FROM INCOME MUST NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE ITEMS OF THE TITHE. In other words, God means what He says, and He says what He means, and we are NOT to change what He says OR ADD TO IT;
> Proverbs 30:6 - "Do not add to His Words, lest He reprove you and you be found a liar."
> Deuteronomy 12:3 - "See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it."
> Isaiah 8:20 - "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."
CONTEXT
Malachi 3:10 must be understood, interpreted, complied with and based on Malachi 3:6-9 and on the WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD;
2 Peter 1:20-21 - "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
THE BOTTOMLINE
In teaching on Malachi 3:10 (the flagship "go to scripture" for many tithing teachers), tithing teachers completely ignore that God is ONLY INSTRUCTING TITHING based on, and in compliance with the Law of Moses. To attempt to "tithe" based on Malachi 3:10 outside of the Law of Moses is sin. Or, as the Apostle John points out; 1 John 3:4 - "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
PAYING A TITHE IN THE FORM OF MONEY IS A VIOLATION OF THE LAW OF GOD AND IS SIN.
To state it simply; one can ONLY be obeying Malachi 3:10 if one is doing so based SOLELY ON THE LAW OF MOSES WHICH ARE GOD'S ORDINANCES. God's ordinances do not include the tithing of money from income. TITHING TEACHERS WHO INSIST THAT YOU TITHE MONEY ARE TEACHING THEIR FOLLOWERS TO VIOLATE THE WORD OF GOD.
Tithing, as referred to in Malachi 3:10 was a matter of (governed by) The Law of Moses, NOT BY THE TRADITIONS AND FAlSE DOCTRINES OF MEN;
Hebrews 7:5 - "And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:"
THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH
In the New Testament no Apostle ever instructed tithing, asked for a tithe, rebuked any person or church for not tithing, or received a tithe. Not one of them. The early church seen in the Book of Acts NEVER tithed. We have NO record of them doing so. In fact, The Book of Acts records this...
"Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:" - Acts 15:24
And, Hebrews 7:18 CLEARLY speaking of tithing, puts an end to tithing...
Hebrews 7:18 - "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof."
THE PURPOSE OF THE CONVERSATION
In God's conversation with Israel concerning Malachi 3:10 we read clear instructions on how Malachi 3:10 is to be properly obeyed, properly acted on.
In their conversations with their followers, tithing teachers dishonor God and teach disobedience to God's Law, they teach a perverted false approach to Malachi 3:10 not taught in scripture. But, you might say "we are not under the Law of Moses," and by saying so you are correct, that is why Malachi 3:10 does not apply to, and is not addressing the New Testament church. The New Testament church is not the Nation of Israel, is not under the Law of Moses and has no place and no one to tithe to. The New Testament church has no command to tithe anything to anyone.
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