As littledavid mentioned in the post on popular phrases, there are verses that are taken out of context.
Malachi 3:8-10
Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say, Wherein have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings.
you are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and prove me now herewith, says 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.
Look at the whole book. It is written to Israel. In fact, it ends with the statement "remember the law of moses." Notice the promise of blessing when they keep this part of the Law. The health and wealth prosperity teachers and preachers use this verse all the time, out of context.
Let's look at one from the New Testament.
I Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, you also do the same thing.
2 on the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
3 And when I come, whoever you will approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
Paul doesn't appeal to the tithe anywhere in his letters. Here it is "as God has prospered." For some, that could be 1 percent. For others, it could be 50 percent. God knows. But notice where this collection is going? It isn't the "local church"! It is going to Jerusalem. This is the same collection mentioned in II Corinthians chapters 8-9. Paul devotes two whole chapters to a collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem.
Certainly, we can draw principles from the Scriptures. But the command and the promise of blessing and the threat of cursing in Malachi is not for the Body of Christ. The passages in I Corinthians 16 and II Corinthians 8-9 contain principles we can apply. But we are in no way bound to take our offerings to Jerusalem.
But these two passages are more in keeping with the New Testament emphasis on giving.
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good to all , especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10
Let the one who steals, steal no more: but rather let that one labor, working with the hands the thing which is good, to share with those who have need. Ephesians 4:28
Luke 18:12 is an interesting verse. It's the Pharisee and the tax collector. Note what it says. 18:9 " And he spoke also this parable to certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others." The pharisee is bragging in his prayer.
"I thank you, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess."
What was the tax collector's attitude? "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but was beating on his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. " We might say that the tax collector said, "God, reconcile me" or "make atonement for me." The Pharisee knew that the temple was where the sacrifices for sin were made. So did the tax collector. But their attitudes were totally different. The pharisee trusted in his own works. The tax collector was trusting, not in himself, but in that God ordained sacrifice that was oftentimes laid on the altar in the temple.
Are we boasting in tithing which was God given under the law? Are we boasting in any works of the Law?There has been a complete transformation. As Hebrews declares, the sacrifices have been done away with, replaced by the once for all sacrifice of Christ. The priesthood of Aaron and Levi has been done away with, replaced by Christ, who was both priest and sacrifice. The temple is gone, replaced by that spiritual house of Christ, even of God (Hebrews 3:6, 10:21).
May we boast and glory in Christ, even His cross (I Corinthians 1:31, Galatians 6:14).
Romans 10:1Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is for their salvation. 2For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge. 3Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.
