THE MISUSE OF MALACHI 3:10; THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN
Tithing teachers often claim that the "windows of heaven" in Malachi 3:10 refers to God pouring down money, expensive homes, expensive cars and a list of material items "if you tithe." As seen below in a careful study of the Hebrew words used in Malachi 3:10 and in proper context of Malachi 3:11 which states that the results of the windows of heaven opened would be the following...
1. "neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field" ...that is to say their agricultural produce would not die, rot and fall to the ground due to a lack of water. This is a clear reference to the results of an abundance of water being supplied by God.
2. The other blessing was stated as a form of divine protection from crop destruction by the devourer, or locust destroying crops; "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground."
In Malachi 3:11, who or what is “the devourer”? A devourer might be anything that devours crops in the farm, e.g.; locusts, worms etc., but usually refers to locust.
In Exodus, locusts were the 8th of 10 plagues inflicted on Egypt, where the Israelites were enslaved. “They will cover the face of the ground so that it cannot be seen. They will devour what little you have left after the hail, including every tree that is growing in your fields."
From March to October 1915, a plague of locusts stripped areas in and around Israel of almost all vegetation. This invasion of "biblical proportions" seriously compromised the already depleted food supply of the region.
In 2013, Haaretz (an Israeli newspaper) reported;
"Israel Sprays Crops Across Negev in Battle Against Locust Plague. Agriculture Ministry spraying pesticides to try and save crops from what it has defined as 'medium-size' swarm; insects covered nearly 2,000 acres of desert overnight."
As in Genesis 7:11 and Genesis 8:2, Malachi 3:10 refers to WATER from the windows of heaven, water provided by God in Malachi 3:10 resulting in the promise in Malachi 3:11 for crop growth and a healthy abundant harvest, not "windows of heaven" pouring out private jets, a Rolls Royce, mansions, multi million dollar homes and multi million dollar bank accounts "if you tithe to your favorite minister."
COMPARISON OF THREE SCRIPTURES USING THE PHRASE "WINDOWS OF HEAVEN."
The exact same phrase "windows of heaven" is used in all three verses...
>> Genesis 7:11 - "windows of heaven" ...were opened, resulting in the flood of Noah.
Genesis 7:11 - "In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened."
Hebrew;
"windows"
Original: ארבּה
Transliteration: 'ărubbâh
Phonetic: ar-oob-baw'
Definition: Feminine participle passive of H693 (as if for lurking); a lattice ; (by implication) a window, dove cot (because of the pigeon holes), chimney (with its apertures for smoke), sluice (with openings for water): - chimney, window.
Hebrew;
"of heaven"
Original: שׁמה שׁמים
Transliteration: shâmayim shâmeh
Phonetic: shaw-mah'-yim
Definition: The second form being dual of an unused singular; from an unused root meaning to be lofty ; the sky (as aloft ; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve): - air, X astrologer, heaven (-s).
Hebrew;
"were opened"
Original: פּתח
Transliteration: pâthach
Phonetic: paw-thakh'
Definition: A primitive root; to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically to loosen, begin, plough, carve: - appear, break forth, draw (out), let go free, (en-) grave (-n), loose (self), (be, beset) open (-ing), put off, ungird, unstop, have vent.
>> Genesis 8:2 - "windows of heaven," resulting in the flood of Noah.
Genesis 8:2 - "The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;"
Hebrew;
"windows"
Original: ארבּה
Transliteration: 'ărubbâh
Phonetic: ar-oob-baw'
Definition: Feminine participle passive of H693 (as if for lurking); a lattice ; (by implication) a window, dove cot (because of the pigeon holes), chimney (with its apertures for smoke), sluice (with openings for water): - chimney, window.
Hebrew;
"of heaven"
Original: שׁמה שׁמים
Transliteration: shâmayim shâmeh
Phonetic: shaw-mah'-yim
Definition: The second form being dual of an unused singular; from an unused root meaning to be lofty ; the sky (as aloft ; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve): - air, X astrologer, heaven (-s).
>> Malachi 3:10 - "windows of heaven"
Malachi 3:10 - "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."
Hebrew;
"windows"
Original: ארבּה
Transliteration: 'ărubbâh
Phonetic: ar-oob-baw'
Definition: Feminine participle passive of H693 (as if for lurking); a lattice ; (by implication) a window, dove cot (because of the pigeon holes), chimney (with its apertures for smoke), sluice (with openings for water): - chimney, window.
Hebrew;
"of heaven"
Original: שׁמה שׁמים
Transliteration: shâmayim shâmeh
Phonetic: shaw-mah'-yim
Definition: The second form being dual of an unused singular; from an unused root meaning to be lofty ; the sky (as aloft ; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve): - air, X astrologer, heaven (-s).
THE BLESSING FROM THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN ('ărubbâh shâmayim shâmeh) RESULT IN...
Malachi 3:11 - "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."
The promise in Malachi 3:11 is to the Nation of Israel under the Law of Moses for abundant crops, not privates jets for New Testament "tithers." Tithing teachers often "spiritualize" Malachi 3:10 in order to attempt to claim that the "windows of heaven" will open for the tither and pour out anything the tither desires...if they tithe enough money to the tithing teacher or their organization. This false claim is not only a misuse of Malachi 3:10, but also a blatant attempt to twist scripture, take scripture out of proper Biblical context and deceive Christians into handing over ten percent of their income to the tithing teacher. The Bible warns us...
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they draw to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto MYTHS." - 2 Timothy 4:3
And...
"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." - Deuteronomy 4:2
Additionally...
Context of Malachi 3:10...
"ye" - Levite Priests; Mal. 1:1,6-7; 2:1
"tithes" - agriculture and agricultural food by-products; Lev. 27:30; Deut. 12:17
"storehouse" - structure attached to the Temple in Jerusalem: 1Ki. 6:1-7
"house" - Temple in Jerusalem; 2Chr. 6:5-6
"windows of Heaven" - clouds; Gen. 7:11-12; 8:2
"blessing" - rain; Gen. 7:11-12; 8:2
Conclusion: Malachi is not saying to tithe money at your local church. It is speaking of agricultural tithes required by Law.