Malachi 3:8–9

The Jews had taken for their own use the tithes and offerings that were the Lord's by right. The portions of the priests and Levites, prescribed by the law (Num. 18:8-24), were not forthcoming. It was a grave omission on the part of the Jews; more, they were defrauding God deliberately. The priests and Levites were the direct sufferers, but the Lord counted it an offence against Himself. Whatever they themselves may have thought of their ways, this was God's view.

The tithes and offerings were God's, though they were the portion of the priests. By cheating the priests of what was justly theirs, they robbed God, and lost the blessing.

They could not escape the truth of such a charge. Through Moses the Lord had laid down the most detailed directions about tithes and offerings, so they could not help knowing whether they had kept them... They knew exactly what was required of them, and they had no excuse for their disobedience. They might have told themselves it did not matter, but their thoughts were not the thoughts of God.

They were morally insensible and spiritually blind. They were satisfied with a correct position and with outward religious observance. So they felt nothing of their low condition, and were blind to all that the Lord was for them. If God reminds them of His love, they say, "How have You loved us?"... If God charges them with robbery, they say, "How have we robbed You?"... If He begs them to return to Him, they say, "How shall we return?"

The Jews had become absorbed in building up their own assets and were neglecting the things of God. They had not had it so good for a long time!... This sudden wealth led them to rob God, by denying Him what was His right out of their possessions. The truth was that the Levites who did the work of God depended on support from the rest of the people. The house of God and all its needs also depended on the offerings of the people. So also in our day. And as then, when the giving of tithes and offerings shrank, the Lord's servants felt it and His work slowed.

The human conscience can easily grasp the full amount of a human claim, and can easily take note of any interference with it. How often may we have wronged God in His holy things without ever recording it on the conscience — indeed, without being able to detect it. It is not so when man's rights are in question... A man could not "in ignorance" tell a lie, swear falsely, commit an act of violence, deceive his neighbour, or find something lost and deny it.

But, strange to say, while God was deeply conscious of it, they were not in the least. He had lost their hearts and their offerings. By robbing Him of what was due to Him, they had forfeited His blessing that makes rich, and to which He adds no sorrow... God appeals to the heart, and pleads to possess it as One who has a right to it.

We are not under law, but under grace, and so we have no such rules about what we are to give to the Lord. But may there not be some very valuable instruction for us in these solemn words? Is it not true that all we are and have belongs to Him who has redeemed us by His precious blood?... Let us not be afraid even of figures, asking ourselves, if we need to, "How much of our income have we given for the Lord's use?"

Doesn't it sound like an extraordinary thing to say — robbing God? It certainly does. Yet it was true. The Jews had taken for their own use the tithes and offerings that belonged to the Lord by right. The portions the law set aside for the priests and Levites (Num. 18:8-24) never came in. It was a serious failure on the part of the Jews. Worse, they were cheating God on purpose. The priests and Levites were the ones who suffered directly, but the Lord counted it an offence against Himself.

They could not escape the truth of such a charge. Through Moses the Lord had laid down the most detailed directions about tithes and offerings, and they could not help knowing whether they had obeyed them... So they knew exactly what God asked of them, and they had no excuse for their disobedience. They might have told themselves it was a matter of no importance, but their thoughts were not the thoughts of God.

They had to be told that they had held back "tithes and offerings", so that what should have gone to God had been spent on themselves. This is what brought a curse on them under God's government... Their practice was to give first place to their own things, and then give God whatever was left over.

The Jews had become absorbed in building up their own assets and were neglecting the things of God. They had not had it so good for a long time!... This sudden prosperity was what led them to rob God. They denied Him His right to their possessions. The truth was that the Levites who did the work of God depended upon support from the rest of the people... And as then, when the giving of tithes and offerings dropped, the Lord's servants felt it and His work was held back.

The tithes and offerings were God's, though the portion of the priests. Defrauding the priests of their just due, they robbed God, and lost the blessing. When they are at last restored to their country, with the law written on their hearts, they will bring all the appointed offerings. The priests will then be provided for, and they will cause the blessing to rest in their houses.

They will humble themselves; they will trust Him; and all nations shall call them blessed. "For you shall be a delightsome land" — which they have never been since this was written.

It is strange that even people who know the truth well... fall back on this verse and claim that it still binds believers and should be practised among them... True Christian giving must come not by law but through grace, under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The same is true of everything else in the life and service of a true believer. Nowhere in the New Testament is there anything said about tithing.

We are not under law but under grace, so we have no set rules about what we are to give to the Lord. But may there not be some very valuable instruction for us in these solemn words?... Let us not be afraid even of figures, asking ourselves, if need be, "How much have we given of our income for the Lord's use?"... would not many of us have to own that the Lord might also have a controversy with us?