Having exhausted the New Testament scriptures on tithing we should now
consider if the prophetic scriptures enforce the concept of 'Christian
tithing'.


Let us consider Malachi chapter 3.

Mal 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. :9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. :10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And prove Me now in this" Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such a blessing, That there will not be room enough to receive it. :11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the LORD of hosts; :12 And all nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land," Says the LORD of hosts.

It is interesting to also consider Amos chapter 4.


    Amos   4:1   Hear this word, you cows of Bashan, who are
                 on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the
                 poor, who crush the needy ....

            :4   "Come to Bethel and transgress, at Gilgal
                 multiply transgression; bring your sacrifices
                 every morning, your tithes every three days.
            :5   Offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven,
                 proclaim and announce the freewill offerings;
                 for this you love, you children of Israel!"
                 Says the Lord GOD.
            :11  "I overthrew some of you, as God overthrew
                 Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a
                 firebrand plucked from the burning; yet you
                 have not returned to Me," Says the LORD.
            :12  "Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel;
                 and because I will do this to you,
                 prepare to meet your God, O Israel!"
 

In these verses quoted from Amos oppressing the poor and needy was
considered worthy of death despite obedience to the law of tithing.


[ NB: It should be noted here that some translations incorrectly
      render the Hebrew word for 'days' mentioned in Amos 4:4 as
      'years'. ]




Prophetic scriptures are usually directed toward two audiences. The
audience of that day and to those living in the 'later days'. For
this reason the message of Malachi 3:8-12 is couched in terminology
which is in accordance with the requirements and promises of the
Old Covenant.

However, it would be WRONG to take the raw literal
meaning of such Old Testament prophetic verses and
utilise them to establish New Testament doctrine!

If one wishes to establish doctrine or determine
prophetic warnings from prophetic scriptures one
must be careful to take into account biblical
symbolism and spiritual equivalents, as well as
the overall 'spirit' of the New Testament.

Malachi 3:8-12 is discussed further in the next page.