Biblical tithes were not received as money and there's ample evidence money was used during those times. The ceremonial and civil ordinances that facilitated biblical systematic tithing are now obsolete and only included produce and livestock as tithe items, not money. There was never a tithe collected on earned wages so the question of gross vs. net of a paycheck is a moot point. Malachi 3 was specifically directed towards the Levitical Priests (see Malachi 2:1), not to all of Israel, not beyond Israel, and has no reach to anyone today. Notice the reference to bring (not pay) the tithe. That's because the Levitical Priests brought tithe items from the Levitical cities to the temple storehouse. Notice the reference to "food" in my house. That's because tithes were not collected as money, only as produce and livestock. Notice the reference to the "floodgates of heaven". That's a reference to rain, not money. There is no biblical promise of a monetary blessing for giving money to a religious institution or any biblical curse for not doing so. We are free to give without limits, money or otherwise, but not bound to pay as many would have us believe. Blessings in your giving!
If you look up the history of how tithe of paycheck came about, it was basically a fundraiser created by catholic church and soon other churches decided to do it too. Tithe in Malachi was food grown to feed needy. We lost a new car because we couldn’t pay car note because we were paying tithes. We thought if we didn’t pay tithes we would be robbing God. We believe in giving, not tithing anymore.
Thank you for the reply! Recently I have looked further into this and am starting to see the argument against tithing & just in offering. Still praying on it to let the Holy Spirit guide me but I am open to it! None the less I do believing giving to support the saints of the church & believing God will direct anything given to the body of Christ to edify the body of Christ!
Thank you sir and great question. In the same chapter of Malachi God says something really interesting right before he scolds the priests he says in verse 6 "6 For I the LORD, I change not;" He has always required a tithe ever since Numbers 18 to support the priests and levites and that carries into the New Testament. Also a dialogue in the New Testament with Jesus and the Pharisees, when they ask him if its right to give Tax to Caesar (again speaking about money) Jesus responds in Matthew 22:21 saying "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."
Just to share another point of view... Malachi chapter 3 is specifically directed at the Levitical Priests so the tithing indictments mentioned therein cannot by universally applied historically or currently. Here's a few reasons why... 1. In the first few verses of the book of Malachi the “children of Israel” are addressed in a generic sense. However, since the Levitical Priests were technically also “children of Israel” it’s possible that the passage could have been directed to them exclusively. In Malachi 1:6 and again in Malachi 2:1 the indictments are clearly and specifically directed towards the Priests. From that point forward there is no clear change in the direction of focus for whom those indictments are made. As such, it would seem that the indictment to “bring the whole tithe into the storehouse” was actually directed towards the priests. We see no clear change in focus from the Priests for the indictment of “robbing God” so it is reasonable to assume that the indictment could very well have been directed toward the Priests specifically, rather than the entire nation of Israel. 2. There are reasons to believe that the Levitical Priesthood were the only ones actually allowed in the temple storehouse. Non-Jews were permitted the 'ezrat ha-nashim (the forecourt of the Temple); most Jews were permitted in the 'azarah (inner courtyard); only the priests and Levites were permitted in the heychal (inner court or sanctum); and only the High Priest could enter the kodesh kodashim (Holy of Holies). If only a select people were allowed in the storehouse, then Malachi 3:10 cannot be universally applied. It was the Levites, not all of Israel, who were to “bring up the tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse” (Nehemiah 10:38). Therefore, it would seem that Malachi 3:10 was not directed at any others besides the Priests at the time which would further weaken the argument that tithing is to be universally applied today. 3. Since the biblical tithe had nothing to do with paying money from monetary earnings there is no biblical reason to think that if anyone gives money to the church they will be monetarily blessed in return or otherwise cursed. 4. It’s possible that what was happening at the time was that the Priests weren’t bringing the proper quantity and/or quality of tithe items (produce and livestock) to the temple as directed, perhaps keeping the best elements of their portion of the tithe for themselves. God could be indicting the Priests, through the prophet Malachi, to properly execute their part of the system, which included bringing proper sacrifices (quality livestock) and food (produce) that provided sustenance for temple workers. Only the Priests were allowed to conduct sacrifices. 5. The “floodgates of heaven” has nothing to do with monetary blessing. We first find this same term used by God back in Genesis 7:11 where the windows of heaven were open and rain contributed to the flood, as the fountains of the deep were broken open. In Genesis 8:2 it says the windows of heaven were stopped and the rain from heaven was restrained. Isaiah 24:18 also mentions the windows from on high; this phrase is consistently used for rain water. In Deuteronomy 28:12 it reads “The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. In Genesis it was a judgment. In Malachi 3 it was to be a blessing - rain on their crops. The nation lived in large part by their agriculture (Husbandry) and depended upon the rain. God's blessing had to do with the provision of water; no rain and they couldn’t produce adequate crops or sustain livestock. Perhaps this passage is emphasizing that if the Priests mishandled their tithes, which was part of the blessing in the Mosaic covenant, a curse would be put on them. The ground would not yield food because it would be deprived of rain which of course would be a detriment to all of Israel. 6. There is no specific indictment for the entire nation of Israel to tithe as only the products of farmers and herdsmen were accepted as tithes. There is no mention of merchants, tradesmen, carpenters etc… ever bartering their crafts or services as a form of tithing or giving a tenth of their earned monetary wages. Therefore, it is unreasonable to conclude that Malachi 3:8-12 applies to the entire nation of Israel. As such it’s also unreasonable to conclude that it applies to us today either. 7. The book of Malachi was written at the time of Mosaic law in Israel. These laws supported a system of atonement that is now obsolete in the Christian faith as we (Christians) are now under grace, provided by the blood of Jesus. 8. The word “food” in Malachi 3:10 literally means food. There is no reason to substitute a metaphor for “spiritual food” such as scriptural teaching, which is common in many modern-day churches. Again, it’s likely that the Priests were indicted to not compromise the quality or quantity of food (produce, grain etc…) that was to be brought to the temple storehouse.
@@markb7067 Interesting point of view and a more detailed answer. So if I understand correctly, Old Testament Priests are being addressed, not New Testament Saints. Another interesting point you made was: _"...There is no mention of merchants, tradesmen, carpenters etc… ever bartering their crafts or services as a form of tithing or giving a tenth of their earned monetary wages."_ If that statement is true and modern day saints are tithing from their income, where in the Bible are they instructed to do so? Where did the law change from Israelites bringing crops and livestock to their priests to Saints bringing money to their church? 🤔
@@lloydtucker5647 You're right. Monetizing the tithe is a man-made invention. Nowhere in the bible was there ever a tithe received from earned wages, New Testament, or Old, and there's ample evidence money existed during those times. A possible reason for this is that the primary purpose in the biblical systematic tithe(s) was to share in the land (that which the land produced) and it makes sense that tithe items were limited to products of the land, that which was brought forth by God, such as produce and livestock from within the Holy Land. Nothing man can produce (such as money) can be considered Holy, only that which God produces can. This is an inconvenient truth for those who advocate that systematic tithing is still a biblical requirement. Nowhere in the bible were the tithe ordinances amended to include monetary wages. In my opinion, there was another purpose in limiting tithe items as products from the land. Otherwise, there is a notion that money and God are equally esteemed, that somehow money can be considered Holy, which of course is an insult to God's deity. Money is a useful tool in this life, but that's all it is. Certainly, we should give money to support worthy causes and those in need. I'd even go as far as to say that should be a strong motive for one to earn money. Giving produces fulfillment and fulfillment produces gratitude. This is echoed in scripture quite clearly. It's more blessed to give than to receive. However, choice is a primary component of love, and if we are not presented the choice to give then we aren't really giving at all. We're paying. God isn't the God of money, he's the God of love. Blessings in your giving!
Can the 10% be given to the people in the streets instead as long as I don’t keep it 🤔 Because that would be helping out our neighbor something God would be pleased with.
Great Question! The Old Testament addressed this issue with the Levites. There were 3 types of tithes and one of them specifically was the "Poor Tithe" to help widows, homeless, & children with no parents. You can find that in the book of Numbers 18 I believe. While your thought isn't bad and has great intentions! God did specifically say bring the tithes into HIS storehouse. Meaning bring it to the church and the church would be made available to help the poor if needed. If you wanted to give after you gave your tithe by all means do it. Give the honor and glory to God but before you give to the poor...Give what belongs to God first.
Let this be a supplement answer and encourage you to still help the poor if you can! Psalms 41: 1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Blessed he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.✻ ✻
@@InsideMario thanks for taking the time to explain brother. Matthew 25 reminds me of helping the ones in need. I didn’t really understand the 10% but now I have a better understanding . Thanks again. Matthew 25:43-45 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
