The Strand Study Bible

MALACHI MALACHI 3:6 Because G O D is “immutable” ( Psa 139:24/Jms 1:17 , Heb 13:8 and Heb 9:14 ), what He says He will do He does; for God never differs fromHimself. He may on occasion alter His dealings with men in a dispensational sense, but His Divine character remains constant. This is never more true than it is concerning the doctrine of salvation (Titus 1:2 and Jn 3:16-18 & 6:35,37 & 10:27-29). Look around you –every person that has ever gotten saved is a reminder of the never-changing ( I change not ) eternally immutable God. For every believer you meet got saved the same way –by grace through faith in the LORD JESUS CHRIST ( Acts 4:12 and I Pet 1:10a,b -12).Thus, in order to witness the glory of God on earth (Isa 6:3) and appreciate the eternal immutability of God, all one must do is observe the grace of God in other believers . 3:7 Every member of God’s family ( ye sons of Jacob - vs 6) ought to know to finish the race they started the moment they were saved (3:6-18). Serving God must not become an option ( Wherein shall we return ), be it financially (vs 8 and I Cor 9:1-14) or socially (vs 14-15). God’s people must stop weighing whether it “pays” to serve God or not (I Cor 15:58). 3:8 God’s will for our life is that we “tithe” (Exo 23:19, Lev 27:30 and I Cor 9:1-14) and give from our heart a willing “offering” ( Exo 35:5,21-22,29 ). God then chooses to take what we “owe” Him, and give it to those whom He has called to do His work (Num 18:21-24). According to both the Old (Lev 27:30- 3 2) and New Testaments (Lk 11:42), the tenth of all produce, flocks, and cattle was commanded to be set apart for God (who, strictly speaking, was the owner of the land and the producer of the ground). To withhold the tenth from God was to renounce His sovereign authority and to defraud Him of what was rightfully His. Although the law did not specify the various fruits and trees that were to be tithed upon, the Maaseroth included everything edible (Mt 23:23). Concerning the tithing of animals, the law stated that every tenth beast (whether good or bad), that passed under the staff when the shepherd counted his flock, was to be set apart for the LORD (Lev 27:32-34). This law forbids any attempt to substitute one animal for another. Even if the person offering the animal wished to give God a “better” animal than the one that had passed under the staff, he was not allowed to substitute it (Lev 27:9-10). 3:10 According to the Bible, there were two kinds of tithes ( all the tithes ): 1. The Yearly Tithe (Exo 22:29-30 & 23:16,19 & 34:26, Lev 27:30-34, Num 18:20-32, Deut 12:5-7,17-18 & 14:22,27 & 15:19-22 & 26:1-11 and Neh 10:34-39 & 12:44). Those who tithed the Yearly Tithe were to do three things with their tithe: * They were to bring their Yearly Tithe to a certain location, i.e., a central place of assembly (Deut 12:5,6,11,18). According to the Bible, the central place of assembly (for most of the OT and a part of the NT) was the Tabernacle (Temple). The Temple is where God’s presence dwelt. Today God’s presence does not dwell in a tabernacle made with human hands, but in the body of every believer (I Cor 3:16-17 & 6:19-20). Therefore, the tithe belongs where believers are assembled (which, today, is the local church - Heb 10:25). Elmer Towns in Tithing is Christian notes: 1449 * They were to reap the benefits of their Yearly Tithe (Deut 12:6-7,17-18). According to the Word of God, the LORD allowed those who tithed to partake of their tithe, by allowing them to use it as they saw fit (Deut 14:22-26). Today, God’s people are afforded the same privilege, as they are allowed to vote within their church to purchase a bus, new carpet, padded pews, air conditioning, etc. The truth is, as long as the needs of God’s men are being met, those who tithe can then designate the rest. * They were to rejoice in the fact that they could give the Yearly Tithe (Deut 12:7,12,18 & 14:24-26 & 26:10-11). According to the Bible, those who gave the tithe were glad they could give because they were able to care for the physical needs of God’s men (Deut 12:19). It is a Biblical principle: Those who take care of the men of God physically with their tithes will be cared for spiritually by pastors who will preach the Word of God to them (Heb 13:7,17). Romans 15:25-27 tells us that we who are fed spiritually by the Word of God are debtors to those who feed us. 2. The Year of Tithing (Deut 14:28-29 & 26:12-14) According to the Bible, the Year of Tithing took place every third year and required the people of God to give a second tithe so that those outside the Tabernacle (such as, the poor, the stranger, the fatherless, the widow, and the local Levite) were cared for. Although the NT Christian is not required to give this second tithe (I Cor 9:13-14), we, who are willing to follow the biblical principle, can give an extra 3% each year and designate it for others outside of the church. Wednesday night (Other’s Offering) would be a good time to practice this principle. 3:16 God promises to remember those for the future (vs 17-18) who have feared Him in the past. Those within the Church who long to become CHRIST’S most treasured possession ( jewels ) must first learn to “fear” Him ( Prov 1:7 ). 3:17 God promises to spare (pick) those who feared Him during their lifetime (vs 16) and allow them to rule and reign with Him ( Rev 11:15 ) during the Kingdom (Isa 40:10 & 62:11 and Dan 12:3). Only those who “ fear ” God (vs 18) will be allowed to return during the Millennium and “ discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not ” (rule and reign with CHRIST – Mt 20:1,11 , I Cor 3:13 b and Rev 2:4 ). 3:18 Only those who feared God will be allowed to return during the Millennium and “discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not” (to rule and reign with CHRIST – Mt 20:1,11 , I Cor 3:13b and Rev 2:4 ). Where should tithes and offerings of believers go? Logic alone would suggest that people contribute to the local church where they are fed spiritually. A local church is God’s plan of evangelism. It is the only organization He established. Just as God did not allow giving to other places than the one He designated in the Old Testament, God wants gifts to go to His organization in the New Testament. Programs which reach beyond the local church can be supported by funds channeled through the local church. 1

1 Towns, Elmer. Tithing is Christian , Lynchburg, VA, Church Growth Institute, 1985. Print.