Examining Tithing Deceptions

One of the most consistent falsehoods in churches today is that you are obligated to "pay tithes." There are no such instructions anywhere in God's Word. The purpose of this Blog is to examine false doctrines in today's teachings on tithing. Anyone claiming that a Christian must tithe is teaching a falsehood. "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." - Acts 17:11

Friday, June 14, 2024

IMPORTANT FACTS CONCERNING TITHING AND THE BOOK OF MALACHI; obeying Malachi 3:10 is impossible for a New Testament Christian

IMPORTANT FACTS CONCERNING TITHING AND THE BOOK OF MALACHI; obeying Malachi 3:10 is impossible for a New Testament Christian.

>> 1. The tithe to be brought to the temple storehouse was 1/10 of the original tithe (not the whole tithe) which had to be delivered to the temple storehouse in Jerusalem only by a Levite accompanied by a priest descended from Aaron;

Nehemiah 10:38 - "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."

>> 2. Ninety percent of the tithe was not delivered to the temple storehouse, but was sent to the Levitical cities;

Nehemiah 10:37 - "And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage."

>> 3. The call to tithe, to whom Malachi was addressing, was to the nation of Israel and the corrupt priesthood of the nation. There is no mention in the Book of Malachi of the New Testament church being addressed or commanded to tithe anything to anyone;

Malachi 1:1 - "The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi." Malachi 1:6 - "A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?" Malachi 2:1 - "And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you."

>> 4. Tithing was a national requirement on the nation of Israel, tithing was never commanded on any individual or individual's income;

Malachi 3:9 - "Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation." The man robbing God, referred to in Malachi 3:8, was a corrupt priest named Eliashib identified in Nehemiah 13:4-5 - "And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:..." That is to say the man mentioned in Malachi 3:8 is identified in Nehemiah 13:4-5 as Eliashib the priest who was conspiring with a man named Tobiah to rob the temple storehouse of the tithe of the tithe and placing the tithe of the tithe in an improper chamber they were using to store the stolen tithe;

Nehemiah 13:4-5 - "And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests."

>> 5. The tithe being referred to by Malachi came from Israeli farms and herds, from farmers and ranchers, and was limited by God to agricultural products only and their derivatives such as wine and olive oil;

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.

In the above verses, NOT ONE mentions a tithe in the form of money (gold, silver, shekels, mites, coins, etc.). Fruits, vegetables and clean animals WERE NOT THE CURRENCY in Israel during the writing of scriptures; neither in Old or New Testament times. They possessed and used money much as we do today as their currency; see Genesis 23;12-16, Exodus 38:28, Exodus 38:29, Leviticus 5:15, Leviticus 27:3, Leviticus 27:4, Leviticus 27:5, Leviticus 27:6, Leviticus 27:7, Leviticus 27:16, Numbers 3:47, Numbers 3:50, Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 12:41-42, Acts 8:20.

>> 6. Malachi 3:10 can only be obeyed and fulfilled by and via the Law of Moses, not by any New Testament promise or command. Malachi 3:10 is a command to tithe under the law of Moses, not under the New Testament. There is is NO CONTINUATION of Malachi 3:10 into the New Testament. No one can obey or fulfill Malachi 3:10 under the New Testament;

Malachi 3:7 - "Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances [Law of Moses], 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?" 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." New Testament Christians are not under the Law of Moses and have no command to tithe;

Romans 6:14 - "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

Acts 15:24 - "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:"

Hebrews 7:18 - "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment [Law of Moses] going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof."

>> 7. The common people, i.e.; non Levites, were forbidden to bring a tithe to the storehouse;

Only the Levites were permitted to bring the tithe of the tithe to the storehouse, anyone else doing so faced the death penalty; in the clear context of tithing Numbers 18:21-23 says this; "And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, AND DIE. But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance."

CONCLUSION;

No scripture in the Book of Malachi instructs a Christian to tithe. In fact, Malachi's description concerning tithing and where the tithe of the tithe was to be delivered to, and the requirement to do so under the Law of Moses makes it IMPOSSIBLE for a New Testament Christian to obey Malachi 3:10. There is no temple storehouse to take any tithe to. Additionally; the Bible does not describe a New Testament church as a "storehouse to be tithe to."

NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHES ARE NOT STOREHOUSES FOR THE TITHE, NEITHER ARE THE BANK ACCOUNTS OF CHURCHES, PASTORS OR OTHER MINISTERS.

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Thursday, June 13, 2024

CONFUSION OVER THE BOOK OF MALACHI

CONFUSION OVER THE BOOK OF MALACHI

>> The False Claim;

The book of Malachi, in particular Malachi 3:10, was written to command and instruct all people, including New Testament Christians to tithe (hand over ten percent of their income) to a church or other ministry. Everyone must tithe money to the church because Malachi 3:10 tells us to do.

>> The Truth;

The Book of Malachi was written to the Nation of Israel (Malachi 1:1), in particular to Israel's corrupt priesthood (Malachi 1:6, 2:1) who were stealing from and neglecting the Temple of God in Jerusalem. Malachi clearly states who he is addressing, and it is not the New Testament Church. The Book of Malachi was addressing the Nation of Israel under the Law of Moses, in particular Malachi is addressing the disobedience and sins of the Levite Priesthood in regards to the Temple in Jerusalem.

>> The Facts;

Most all, if not all tithing teachers refer to Malachi 3:10 as their "go to scripture" that they claim instructs a Christian to tithe. By "tithing" they clearly mean "handing over ten percent of your income to the church or a ministry." This claim is made even in the fact of Malachi giving no such command, and in detail stating who he is in fact addressing and what he is speaking of.

Malachi 3:10 reads...

"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."

Why was this commanded in Malachi? The reason is that the tithe of the tithe was not being delivered to the Temple storehouse as it should have been;

Malachi was addressing the corrupt priesthood of his era (Malachi 1:6, 2:1) who were in disobedience to God's commands. By doing so, by robbing God, they were once again placing the entire nation of Israel in peril of judgment and destruction a mere 30 years after they had began to return from their exile in Babylon (now the Medo-Persian empire). The Medo-Persians, led by King Cyrus II, invaded Babylonia from the east in June of 539 B.C. and captured its capital, Babylon, in July of the same year. In biblical chronology, this occurred near the end of the Babylonian exile of the Jews. God warns of the judgment...

Malachi 2:3 - "Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it."

Note the phrase "and one shall take you away with it." ...a warning of once again being taken into captivity and exiled from the Land of Israel into slavery.

As historians have noted, and as recorded in the Bible;

"Before the Babylonian exile even began, God told Jeremiah that Judah would “become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years” (Jeremiah 25:11). Ezra and others recorded that “in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia [539 B.C.], in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus” (Ezra 1:1), and Cyrus allowed all the Jews to return to Judah. Not only did Cyrus release the Jews, but he also returned the stolen temple articles and paid for the Jews’ rebuilding efforts from the royal treasury (Ezra 6:4-5). This was a monumental time in Israel’s history, as Jerusalem and the temple were rebuilt and the Law was reinstituted."

In these verses Malachi makes record of God's indictment of the corrupt priests of Israel...

Malachi 1:6-8 - "A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts."

Who was the man who was robbing God being referred to here?...

Malachi 3:8-9 - "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation."

Answer; the corrupt priests of Israel as stated here...

Malachi 2:1-2 - "And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart."

>> Apply All or Apply None;

If you are claiming that Malachi 3:10 refers to the New Testament church then you must also apply all of the Book of Malachi to the church. This is why...

1. Malachi clearly states that he is addressing the Nation of Israel who are under the Law of Moses; 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."

2. James wrote this; James 2:10 - "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

3. Paul wrote this; Galatians 5:3 - "For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law." "circumcised"... in context; keeping the Law of Moses.

Therefore, if Malachi 3:10 is to be applied to New Testament Christians, THIS also must be applied to New Testament Christians...

THIS - Malachi 2:2-3 - "If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it."

THIS - Malachi 2:8-9 - "But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law."

THIS - Malachi 2:12 - "The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts."

THIS - 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?" "mine ordinances" ...ergo; Return to the Law of Moses.

THIS - 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."

Malachi was instructing tithing PURSUANT TO AND UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES (Malachi 3:7, Malachi 4:4), yet the Bible tells us that New Testament Christians are NOT under the Law of Moses...

Romans 6:14 - "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace."

Romans 10:4 - "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

CONCLUSION;

It is without a doubt that Malachi, in particular Malachi 3:10, was written to the corrupt priests of Israel and to the people of the Nation of Israel, not to the New Testament Church, not to New Testament Christians. New Testament Christians have no command or instructions to tithe anything to anyone...

Hebrews 7:18-19 - "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."

Disannulling;

Greek;

Original: ἀθέτησις

Transliteration: athetēsis

Phonetic: ath-et'-ay-sis

Definition: From G114; cancellation (literally or figuratively): - disannulling, put away, ended.

> Footnotes;

1. The tithe that was to be brought (transported, bring, Malachi 3:10) to the Temple storehouse in Jerusalem was limited to 1/10th of the tithe; Nehemiah 10:38 - "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."

2. Only the Levites were permitted to bring the tithe of the tithe to the storehouse, anyone else doing so faced the death penalty; in the clear context of tithing Numbers 18:21-23 says this; "And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, AND DIE. But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance."

3. For details of the robbery and neglect of the Temple in Jerusalem BY ISRAEL, NOT BY THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH, see Nehemiah chapter thirteen which gives us details of the situation Malachi is speaking of such as these (Nehemiah 13 will help you understand in proper context the Book of Malachi)...

>> Was allied unto Tobiah, And he had prepared for him a great chamber - Nehemiah 13:4-5 - "And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests."

Note; the "great chamber" was the location where they were storing the stolen tithe (the tithe of the tithe) which was not being placed in the proper Temple Storehouse for the use of the singers, porters and priests on duty in the Temple. Look closely; "HE [Eliashib] had prepared for HIM [Tobiah] a great chamber;" ...that is not a reference to the proper Temple Storehouse where the tithe should have been stored. He, Eliashib, was the man robbing God referred to 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." ...The "God robber" in Malachi 3:8 IS NOT A NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIAN WHO IS NOT TITHING; see Malachi 2:1.

>> That did the work, were fled every one to his field - Nehemiah 13:10-11 - "And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place."

>> Why is the house of God forsaken? - Nehemiah 13:7-11 - "And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense. And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place."

>> What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? - Nehemiah 13:16-18 - "There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath."

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Friday, May 31, 2024

WHO WAS MALACHI 3:10 WRITTEN TO?

WHO WAS MALACHI 3:10 WRITTEN TO?

> This is who...

The Book of Malachi was written to the people of Judah, or the remnant of Israelites who returned from Babylonian captivity between 440 and 400 BC. The book's name comes from the Hebrew word Mal'akiy, which means "my messenger", and the book states that it contains "the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi" - Malachi 1:1.

Written to...

1. The Nation of Israel and corrupt priests. - Malachi 1:1, Malachi 1:6

2. The Priests of Israel. - Malachi 2:1

3. Priests who are cursed. - Malachi 2:2

4. Priests who have departed out of the way of the Lord. - Malachi 2:8

5. Priests who do not glorify God. - Malachi 2:2

6. Priests who's blessings are cursed. - Malachi 2:3

7. Priests who's seed is corrupt. - Malachi 2:3

8. Priests who will be shamed with dung on their faces. - Malachi 2:3

9. Priests under judgment. - Malachi 3:5

10. Sorcerers. - Malachi 3:5

11. Adulterers. - Malachi 3:5

12. Oppressors of working people. - Malachi 3:5

13. False swearers. - Malachi 3:5

14. Priests who oppress widows. - Malachi 3:5

15. Priests who oppress orphaned children. - Malachi 3:5

16. Priests who refuse to help a stranger in need. - Malachi 3:5

17. Priests who have no fear of God. - Malachi 3:5

18. Priests who are stealing the tithe of the tithe from God. - Malachi 3:8, Nehemiah 10:38, Nehemiah Chapter 13

19. Priests who are wicked. - Malachi 3:15

20. Priests who are under the Law of Moses - Malachi 4:4

>> NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

If Malachi 3:10 was for the New Testament church it would be found in the New Testament. It's found NOWHERE in the New Testament.

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Wednesday, May 29, 2024

FURTHER TWISTING OF HEBREWS 7:8

FURTHER TWISTING OF HEBREWS 7:8

There are claims coming from false and deceptive tithing teachers that Hebrews 7:8 says that Melchisedec (on behalf of Jesus) continues to receive tithes in heaven. Hebrews 7:8 reads...

"And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth."

This claim is not only false and deceptive, not to mention obvious twisting of scripture, it's utterly ridiculous and foolish. Here are the reasons such a claim is false and misleading;

1. What does Jesus or Melchisedec need with your tithes in heaven? Do they need to be supported by tithes in heaven? Obviously not. What would be the purpose? Tithes that God commanded were established to support the Tribe of Levi, the poor, the needy, widows, orphans, the festival attender, the stranger in the land, etc. Is Jesus and Melchisedec poor, a widow, an orphan, a Levite priest, the needy, in need of support at a Jewish festival? Are they strangers in heaven? Most definitely not. They do not need your tithe, are not asking for your tithe and are not receiving tithes in heaven or anywhere else. (ref. Deuteronomy 14:27-29, Numbers 18:20-24)

2. How does your tithe get to Jesus or Melchisedec who need your tithes in heaven? Apparently it gets there via the church's bank account, and ultimately through the pastor's bank account. That doesn't sound like "in heaven."

3. Nowhere in the Bible is it stated that Jesus or Melchisedec receives your tithes in heaven...NOT A SINGLE VERSE CONFIRMING SUCH A FOOLISH CLAIM.

4. Proper context; The word "THERE' in Hebrews 7:8 clearly refers to the tithing that was recorded by Abraham to Melchisedec, and is pointed out in these verses just above Hebrews 7:8...

Hebrews 7:2 - "To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;"

Hebrews 7:4 - "Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils."

Hebrews 7:6 - "But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises."

The "THERE" in Hebrews 7:8 is clearly referring to scripture just above Hebrews 7:8, that of Hebrews 7:2, Hebrews 7:4 and Hebrews 7:6 recording Abraham's tithe to Melchisedec.

It can be stated this way...

THERE in Hebrews 7:2, THERE in Hebrews 7:4, THERE in Hebrews 7:6 it is recorded that "he [Melchisedec] receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth."

5. And what of the "HERE" in Hebrews 7:8? Who are the "men that die" being referred to and the subject of attention, who are these men?...answer; the Levites; Hebrews 7:9 - "And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham." ...and; Hebrews 7:10 - "For he [Levi] was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him." The HE in Hebrews 7:10 is a reference to the Levites yet to be born present by way of being in the loins of Abraham. (Consider studying the Biblical subject of Federal Headship). The concept; "HERE, present tense, in Abraham's loins..."

Both HERE and THERE (Hebrews 7:8) refer to the Levites in the Loins of Abraham recorded paying tithes to Melchisedec in Genesis 14:18-20;

"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all."

"HERE" and "THERE" do not refer to any current ongoing heavenly event.

>> CONCLUSION; "THERE" in Hebrews 7:8 does not refer to Jesus or Melchisedec in heaven collecting money tithes or any tithes from anyone.

Ref;

HERE (Greek)

Original: ὧδε

Transliteration: hōde

Phonetic: ho'-deh

Definition: From an adverb form of G3592; in this same spot, that is, here or hither: - here, hither, (in) this place, there.

THERE (Greek)

Original: ἐκεῖ

Transliteration: ekei

Phonetic: ek-i'

Definition: Of uncertain affinity; there ; by extension thither: - there, thither (-ward), (to) yonder (place), here.

If you will notice, both the Greek words ὧδε (hōde) and ἐκεῖ (ekei) can be translated as "HERE" or "THERE." They mean the same basic thing. If you were looking for something, I could say to you, pointing to what you are looking for "It's over here," or I could say "It's over there."

Those two Greek terms can also be used as "one thing is here, the other thing is over there" indicating two different things or events. HERE; Levites in the loins of Abraham. THERE; Abraham and Levites paying tithes to Melchisedec.

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Monday, May 27, 2024

PROPER CONTEXT

PROPER CONTEXT

Malachi 3:10 must be understood in the context of the whole third chapter of the Book of Malachi, which must be understood in the context of the whole Book of Malachi, which must be understood in the context of the Law of Moses, which must be understood in the context of the whole Bible, and must be understood by who Malachi is addressing, which is the Nation of Israel, which must be understood in context of what was happening in Israel when Malachi wrote the Book of Malachi, a nation who has returned back to disobedience to God's Law and facing judgement and punishment.

To claim that Malachi 3:10 is addressing the New Testament church and instructing the New Testament church to hand over ten percent of their monetary income to a church organization or a minister is clearly taking scripture out of context and twisting scripture to instruct something it is not instructing.

Malachi 3:10 does not instruct New Testament Christians to hand over ten percent of their income to anyone. Malachi 3:10 was written to the Nation of Israel; the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who were under the Law of Moses.

Malachi 3:10 promises nothing to the New Testament church and it requires nothing from the New Testament church.

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A FEW BIBLICAL FACTS ABOUT MALACHI 3:10

A FEW BIBLICAL FACTS ABOUT MALACHI 3:10...

> Was written to corrupt Levite priests, not New Testament Christians. Ref. Malachi 2:1, Malachi 2:7-8.

> Was written to the Nation of Israel, not the New Testament Church. Ref. Malachi 1:1.

> Was commanding 1/10th of the tithe to be brought to the temple storehouse in Jerusalem, not 1/10th of a New Testament Christian's money income to a church. Ref. Nehemiah 10:38.

> Cannot be obeyed or accomplished except under the Law of Moses. Ref. Malachi 3:7.

> Was commanding 1/10th of 1/10th of the agricultural products of the Land of Israel to be brought to the storehouse in Jerusalem, not 1/10th of a New Testament Christian's income brought to a church. Ref. Nehemiah 10:38, 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.

> Was indicting and exposing corrupt Levite priests for failing to bring to the storehouse in Jerusalem 1/10th of 1/10th of the agricultural products of the Land of Israel, not New Testament Christians for not handing over 1/10th of their income to a church. Ref. Malachi 3:7.

> Was commanded to Israeli Levites, not New Testament Christians. Ref. Malachi 2:1, Nehemiah 10:38.

> Was ended in Hebrews 7:18, and was never a command to New Testament Christians. Ref. Hebrews 7:1-18

> Was never an excuse or legitimate reason for any New Testament ministry, minister or anyone else to demand or take from any New Testament Christian 1/10th of their income. Ref. Malachi 2:1, Hebrews 7:18.

> Was written to disobedient Levite priests, not to New Testament Christians. Ref. Malachi 2:1, Malachi 3:7.

> Was written to those robbing God of the tithe of the tithe that belonged in the temple storehouse in Jerusalem, Israel, not New Testament Christians. Ref. Malachi 3:8.

> Was written to the cursed under the Law of Moses, not to New Testament Christians who are redeemed from the curse of the Law under the New Testament. Ref. Malachi 3:9, Galatians 3:13.

> Was written to unrighteous wicked Levite priests who refused to serve God, not New Testament Christians. Ref. Malachi 3:18.

> Was written to those of the Israeli priesthood who are sorcerers, adulterers, false swearers, those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, the fatherless and they that turn aside the stranger from his right, and do not fear the LORD of hosts, not New Testament Christians. Ref. Malachi 3:5.

> Was written to those who's blessings are cursed, not New Testament Christians who are not cursed and are redeemed from the curse. Ref. Malachi 2:2, Galatians 3:13.

> Was referring to the legalistic system of tithing under the Law of Moses, not freely giving under the New Testament. Ref. Hebrews 7:5, Numbers 18:24, 2 Corinthians 9:7.

> Is used by liars, con artists, thieves, the incompetent, the ignorant and deceived false teachers in order to steal 1/10th of their income from New Testament Christians with a fraudulent unbiblical fake tithing system never commanded by God. Ref. 1 Timothy 3:3, 1 Timothy 3:8, Titus 1:7, Titus 1:11, 1 Peter 5:2, 1 Timothy 6:5, 2 Peter 2:1-3.

> Concept - 2 Peter 1:20 - "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." Scripture is to be interpreted by scripture, interpreting scripture as explained by all other scripture.

>> THESE ARE THE FACTS ABOUT MALACHI 3:10, THE FACTS TITHING TEACHERS IGNORE AND HIDE FROM GULLIBLE CHRISTIANS BEING ROBBED OF THEIR INCOME.

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Wednesday, April 10, 2024

COMMANDMENTS OF MEN REPLACING THE TRUTH OF GOD'S WORD

A common mistake (or deliberate deception) of false tithing teachers, made also by tithers, is replacing facts clearly stated in God's word as to what Biblical tithing is with their own commandments of men. Or, as Jesus said...

Matthew 15:9 - "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

And...

Mark 7:13 - "Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye."

This is a danger with any Biblical subject, and is seen blatantly consistent in the false teachings regarding tithing.

SOME COMMON REPLACEMENTS

Here are some common and typical replacements tithing teachers insert in order to deceptively convince their followers to hand over ten percent of their income to them;