Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ Malachi

[Blount]

" 'Bring all the tithes in the store house that there may be meat in my house and prove me now herewith,' Saith the Lord of hosts, 'that I will open up to you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there should not be room enough to receive it.' " Where is this blessing?

[jimwalton]

We have to be open to the possibility that this promise was for them, in their particular context, and not so much for us. In the Church Age, we are no longer under the law of tithing requirement (which I know is still much debated in Christian circles). Nowhere in the NT is tithing either required, mandated, or even renewed. Possibly the specific promise of Mal. 3.10 is for those people to whom it was written.

In principle, and in a proverbial sense, however, the promise still applies to us. Generally speaking, as we are faithful to God in love and obedience, he will be faithful to us in blessing. Generally speaking, like a proverb (We know that a stitch in time doesn't always save nine, but generally it's true). But we are never to think of our relationship with God as a guaranteed input-output machine: all we have to do it tithe and we can guarantee (in other words, God will be obligated to us) God's blessing. Life doesn't work according to the retribution principle, so it's a proverb, a generality, not a promise/obligation on God's part. For them, it was, because God initiated it and promised it. For us, different scenario.

[Wright and Right]

Jim, there is one place where Jesus backed up tithing: Matthew 23:23. So it's pretty clear.

[jimwalton]

You're right, Tom. Jesus does back up tithing in Mt. 23.23. But what does that make pretty clear? To me it's clear that the greater blessing will accrue in following the greater matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Are you saying that Mt. 23.23 proves that the blessings of Mal. 3.10 were not for Malachi's era only? If so, I'm not sure I'm seeing that connection. Jesus' point is the scrupulous tithing will not bring blessing by itself.

[Wright and Right]

I am not saying there is a connection between those two verses, Jim, other than the whole counsel of the Word concept. Just clear that tithing is commended in the NT, and by Jesus - in the proper context of keeping focused on the greater things of justice, mercy and faith.

I agree with most of what you said, with that exception. The question I had to answer many years ago is: Does God still honor the tithe? And I'd have to say yes. Do we earn our salvation by tithing or, as you said, make God obligated to bless us? Absolutely not.

And to address the original question: Where is the abundant blessing promised in Mal 3:10? The question lies in God's ability to multiply our meager resources, guard our health, bless our comings and goings, give us unexpected favor in a financial situation - basically, to provide for us in ways that we can't yet even anticipate asking for. True riches are Kingdom riches and they cannot be measured is strict dollars & cents.

[jimwalton]

OK, Tom, I accept that. I just wasn't sure what you meant by "So it's pretty clear." Mt. 23.23 is the ONLY place in the NT where tithing is commended, but once is good enough, and from the lips of Jesus seals it. You can't get any more authoritative than that.