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1. Malachi 3: 6-12

Malachi chapter three, has been used and misused by many preachers[1] As onecommentary aptly notes, the major purpose of the prophets message was to rekindle thefires of faith in the hearts and minds of a discouraged people[2]

The fact that the Jews were withholding the tithes was an indication of a greater disobedienceto the nation. The main purpose of this section is a cal l to repentance which Malachi then

applies to the specific problem of tithing. In spite of peoples sins, God loved them andpatiently waited graciously unto his people; but the exercise of his grace is conditioned upona proper attitude of mind and heart on the only one who does not change. The sons of Jacob,likewise, failed to Change by fail ing to repent of their sin.[3]

The text begins with the shift in its addresses; the prophet is now addressing Israel not justthe priest. Also, the question arises to which tithe to which tithe Malachi is referring? Is hemaking reference to one specific tithe, or is he referring to all the tithes in the Pentateuch?Most likely, Malachi has in mind the law in Numbers 18:21, not Deuteronomy 14:22-29 inDeuteronomy 14:22-27, the tithe was to be brought to Jerusalem, and the people were tocelebrate with the priests. The people were the partakers in the feast, and the tithe still

belonged to the people. In Malachi 3, the tithe is to be brought in to the storehouse

When faced with the charge that they had been robbing God the people would naturally ask,How have we robbed God? This may indicate that the priests were not fulfilling their task ofinstructing the people in the law (malachi2:6, 8) and the people were destroyed for lack ofknowledge (Hosea 4; 6). The answer is in tithe and offerings. The prophet tells the sons ofJacob to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. While this could be referring to the idea thatsome people were tithing and others were not, it most likely means that the people weregiving, but holding back the full amount required. The offer to test God and the rewardoffered to the obedient Israelites if they gave their tithes and offerings also needs to beexplained. It is unusual (though not un heard of) in the Old testament for someone to test God.Burtons warning should be heard when he says: there is a greater danger in testing Godwhen our hearts are not right Malachi 3:15[4] But Malachi does not state this testing inuniversal terms, but limits it to the current situation by the phrase test me now in this in themiddle of Malachi 3:10

The promised reward is threefold: the window of heaven will be opened; God will prevent thedevourer; and the vines will not cast their fruit. The first promise is of rain, second will keepthe pest from destroying peoples crops; the third promise is of abundant crops. Aldenobserves that: since he was dealing with an agrarian society, the blessing had to do withcrops and the like.[5] Smiths corrective should be noted as well: It may be that this messagein Malachi should be understood as one time, special act on Gods parts to renew the fire offaith in an age of scepticism and indifference.[6]

If so, then this is not an open-ended promise to bless in material way anyone and everyonewho tithes his possession.

Conclusion

While 2 Chronicles 31 did not add significantly to our discussion, and Amos 4 was found toanticipate the thrust of Jesus word in Mathew 23:23, and Luke18, Nehemiah 10: 32-39 thenraised some issues that are indicative of the problems that occur when the mosaic law is broughtinto the new covenant era without adequate consideration being given to the question of how thelaw was used and what its purpose was. The discussion of Malachi 3:6-10. Surfaced similarproblem and, at least, demonstrated that the passage cannot legitimate be used to argue for thecontinuation of tithing into the New Testament. Passage that discusses tithing in the NewTestament must now be examined to see if the command to tithe continues into new covenantperiod.

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[1] Franz Delitzsch and Carl F. H. Henry, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament, vol. 2,trans. James Martin (Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark, 1989), 462.

[2] Raymond Calkins, The Modern Message Of The Minor Prophets (New York: Harper, 1947),135.

[3] Smith, Micah Malachi in TheBroadman Bible Commentary, 331-332.

[4] Burton I. Goddard, Malachi in TheBiblical Expositor: The Theme of the Great Bookvol. 12,ed. Carl F. Henry (Philadelphia: A. J. Holman, 1960), 385.

[5] Robert I. Alden, Malachi in Expositors Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 721.

[6] Smith, Micah Malachi in TheBroadman Bible Commentary, 334.