January 14, 2007
G. Manning – My five-year-old son was proud that he had graduated from bow ties to a necktie just like Dad’s. But one Sunday morning, with his hand clutching the tie tightly, I heard this panicked whisper: “Dad, why did the pastor say they’re going to collect the ties and offering?”
Mal 3:7 - 11
Mal 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?
Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Mal 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Mal 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. {pour...: Heb. empty out}
Mal 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. {destroy: Heb. corrupt}
Definition:
Francisco De Jesus The practice of giving a tenth of one’s property or produce to support religious institutions or the priesthood. It is an ancient practice, widespread in antiquity and found in Judaism as well as in surrounding cultures of the ancient Near East.
Ge 14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale.
Ge 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
Ge 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
Ge 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
The tithe was one of the tributary (offshoot) offerings imposed on Israel. There were strict regulations pertaining to the tithe (Lev. 27:30-33; Num. 18:21-32; Deut. 14:22-29; 26:2-15). All crops and the increase in cattle were subject to the tithe. The tithe of grain and fruit could first be exchanged for silver, but the Israelite was required to add 20 percent of the market value before taking the silver to the temple. He was not permitted to redeem the tithe of the herd or flock.
Thomas Baird the nation of Israel was in a great spiritual decline.
The reconstruction of the Temple had been completed and corruption had entered into it.
Malachi said
“you offer polluted bread upon the altar”
Corruption was wide spread.
divorce had become a normal thing.
The nation as a whole was in great spiritual decline.
It was stated in a pole a few years ago that on average 90% of the Work done in the Churches in our country today, 90% of the work is done by 20% of the people.
It was also stated that 90% of the tithes and offerings were given by 20% of the people.
In verse 7 God is saying to the nation of Israel,
You have broken the law,
You have failed to keep the commandments that I have given to you.
You have done this for a long time, even from the time of your fathers.
We can see here that God is not talking to the people as individuals but as a nation.
“ I have commanded you to do something and you have failed to do it and because of this, if you will return to me,
If you will obey me, If you will start back in obedience, I will return to you.”
NT concept of Giving
Francisco De Jesus This young man came to Jesus in search of heaven, and asked Jesus what he had to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus’ response was to explain that he must first follow the basic laws of God — the ten commandments. The young man replied that he had kept all of the commandments from his youth. And then Jesus completely astounded him by saying, “Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21). The Bible sadly reports, “When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.”
Hans A. Nikoley
Is tithing to be practiced by the N.T. Christian?
Abraham Commenced it (Ge. 14:18-20).
Jacob Continued it (Ge. 28:20-22).
Moses Confirmed it (Le. 27:30).
Malachi Commanded it (Mal. 3:10).
Jesus Commended it (Mt. 23:23).
God Commissioned it (1 Co. 9:14).
Paul Conformed it (1 Co. 16:2).
1. Requirements of Giving vs 10
Mal 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.
Michael Morrison - Tithes
Tithing was required on flocks: "every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod"3 (Lev. 27:32).
"A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord" (Lev. 27:30).4 The tithes and firstfruits belonged to God, and he gave them to the Levites (Num. 18:12-13, 21, 24). They could keep 90 percent of what they were given, but had to give 10 percent as an offering (verses 26-32).
Tithing was done in the days of Hezekiah (2 Chr. 31:5-6), Nehemiah (Neh. 10:35-39; 12:44) and Jesus (Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42). In Malachi’s day, tithing was required (Mal. 3:8-10), and physical blessings were promised for obedience, just as physical blessings were promised for obedience to the old covenant.
In the new covenant church, there are financial needs -- to support the poor, and to support the gospel by supporting those who preach it. Christians are obligated to give financial support for these needs. Let’s see how Paul explained this obligation in his second letter to the Corinthians.
Paul describes himself as a minister of the new covenant (2 Cor. 3:6), which has much greater glory than the old (verse 8). Because of what Christ did for him in the new covenant, Christ’s love compelled Paul to preach the gospel, the message of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:11-21).
Paul told the Corinthians that they had a duty to give something in response to what they had been given. This response comes in terms of morality (6:14-7:1), which the Corinthians had done (7:8-13), and in terms of affection, which the Corinthians had also done (7:2-7), and in financial generosity
2. Results of giving vs. 12
Genia Opal – Our seven year old daughter had just received $2 for her memory work in Sunday School. After the morning service, the pastor’s wife congratulated her.
Our daughter proudly announced, “And I put it all in the morning’s offering!” “My how wonderful!” the pastor’s wife exclaimed. “I’m sure God will be pleased.” “Yes,” the child replied, “now maybe God will let me do some of the things I want to do!”
Mal 3:12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
JWN - V. 12. All nations-All that are about you. A delightsome land-The revival of religion in a land, will make it delight-some, both to God, and to all good men.
Moorison - Under the old covenant, tithing was required for the support of the old covenant ministers. The Israelites were required to give 10 percent -- and their blessing was only a physical one! Christians in the new covenant have much better blessings -- spiritual ones. How much more willingly ought we to give in thankfulness for the eternal blessings we have in Christ Jesus?
The Israelites were commanded to give 10 percent under a covenant that could not make them perfect (Heb. 7:19; 9:9). How much more joyfully should we give to God under the new covenant? We have the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which does cleanse our conscience (9:14). And yet it seems that in America today, even though we have so much more than the Israelites did, people give on average less than half the percentage the Israelites did. Many people today give less to the church than they spend on luxury items. Some people simply cannot give very much, but many people could if they wanted to. God calls on us to examine ourselves, to examine our priorities, and to be generous.
The old covenant gave us condemnation; the new covenant gives us justification and peace with God. How much more should we be willing to give freely and generously so God’s work can be done in the world -- to proclaim the gospel, to declare the new covenant ministry that gives us true life, and gives that message of life to others?
When it comes to money, the real question is, Is your heart in the gospel of Jesus Christ? Are you putting your money where your heart is? You can tell where your heart is by seeing where you are putting your money. "Where you treasure is, there will your heart be also," Jesus said (Matthew 6:21).
The Layman’s Bible Resource by Gregory Hampton
Giving
Liberal- To be generous, openhanded, bountiful.
Honor- To show great respect and esteem.
Tithe- A tenth part paid in kind or money.
• Proverbs 3:9, 10
What must we do in order for God to bless us with plenty?
Pr 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Pr 3:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
• 2 Corinthians 9:7 Matthew 10:8
Why is the attitude of our heart in giving important?
2Co 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Mt 10:8 …freely ye have received, freely give.
• Proverbs 28:27 Luke 6:38
Can we out give God?
Pr 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Lu 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
• Luke 21:1-4
What is Christ telling us here?
Lu 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
• Lu 21:2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
• Lu 21:3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
• Lu 21:4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
• Matthew 6:1-4
What about our motive in giving?
Mt 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. {alms: or, righteousness} {of your: or, with your}
• Mt 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. {do not...: or, cause not a trumpet to be sounded}
• Mt 6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
• Mt 6:4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Promises for the liberal giver-
Psalm 41:1 Proverbs 11:25
Luke 6:38 Isaiah 58:10
Proverbs 3:9,10 Proverbs 22:9
Elmer Towns –
WHY GOD WANTS YOU TO BRING IT
1. To worship God with your money.
2. To grow spiritually by giving.
3. To overcome greed.
4. To expand to others.
5. To be accountable.
6. To give your whole self with your money.
