Q & A Series:
Is the ‘tithe’ in Malachi 3:6-12 applied to the Levitical priest?
By Craig Bluemel
Original Message -----
From: John
To: Craig
Subject: Q & A – Is the ‘tithe’ in Malachi 3:6-12 applied
to the Levitical priest?
Hey Craig,
Hope you continue to
seek God first in all that you do!
I had a question. Malachi 3:6-12 is often the favorite verse
of minister’s to guilt their congregations into tithing. My reading of these
verses tells me that the context of these verses is that the Priests were not
tithing properly sometime around 435 BC after Nehemiah’s rebuilding
program. The priests were using sick
and lame animals instead of unblemished healthy ones.
It is my understanding
that the tithes at this point were given back to the poor and infirm so the
priests in effect were reneging on the responsibility to care for the
destitute.
What is your sense here?
Can you also suggest
some good Internet sites to assist the deepening of my Bible study?
John
Craig’s Answer:
Hi John,
I agree with you
brother, that tithing in Malachi is specifically to the Levites. I address this issue in great detail in my
series about tithing, which I have provided you the links to below:
Tithing
Part 1: TITHING: New Testament
Practice or Old Testament Bondage?
Part 2: TITHING: Giving God's
Way
Part 3: TITHING: Supplemental
Scriptures on New Testament Giving
Part 4: TITHING: Abraham's
Tithe Prefigures Giving from the Heart
Part 5: TITHING: Q & A
Series - Does Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek justify church tithing?
I give you the
contextual; historical setting of Malachi, and how the Levitical “tithe” was to
be distributed amongst the poor, stranger, widow, etc.
I hope this helps. I’m buried in email questions, so I have to
keep this brief, but it is good hearing from you again.
Love in Jesus,
Craigo
The
Bible Answer Stand Ministry
1 Peter 3:15 Always
be ready to give reasonable justification to anyone who asks you for an
explanation of the hope that is within you,
but do it considerately and courteously.
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