Return to Return: Tithe and Offering

Background

Zerubbabel returned and rebuilt the temple in 516 B. C. E.

Ezra the priest returned and rebuilt the temple worship, esuring the obedience of the law of Moses in 458 BCE.

Nehemiah returned and rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem in 445 BCE.

In the absence of their leaders:

The priests returned to unfaithfulness: dishonor God in sacrifice 1:6-14; neglect teaching the law 2:10-16.

The people returned to idolatry, 2:10-16

S

Structure

3:10-12 is an answer to the prophetic call for the people: “Return to Me, and I will return to you” v. 7.

Rhetorical question is poised for the answer: “Will a man rob God?” and the people ask: “How have we robbed God?” Two words are used to reply the “how”: Tithe and offering

Tithe: a tenth part of one’s possession given to God, confirming God’s ownership of everything, and affirming the covenant relationship: “The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants” (). “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord” (). Also “the entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord” ()

“The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants” ().”

“a tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord” (). Also “the entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord” ()

Offering: a voluntary gift based on one’s relationship with God

The way the people robbed God shows that the call to return happens in the covenant relationship: “I will be their God, they shall be my people.”

The people turned their back on God by robbing God—not turning tithe and offerings to God.

Thus, returning to God involves returning tithe and offerings in a way that pleases God.

Therefore, bringing tithe and offering to God’s storehouse, “my house” is significant.

Returning or Repentance

It is an absolute neccessity before sins can be forgiven.

What sins did the people commit that they should return to God?

Robbing God

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 32: Micah–Malachi Comment

The specific way these people were robbing God in Malachi’s day was in tithes and offerings.

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 32: Micah–Malachi Comment

Raymond Calkins, writing on The Modern Message of the Minor Prophets (140), spoke about the people of Malachi’s day in words that are still true, “The loose way in which many members wear their plain obligations to the church … is a scandal which enormously weakens its influence. Desultory church attendance, neglect of public worship, failure to identify oneself with the church’s work and mission in the world, niggardly gifts, lack of all personal interest and loyalty: these are ways in which the laity of today rob God of the honor to which He is entitled” (140).

The New American Commentary: Haggai, Malachi (1) Blessing from Heaven (3:10b)

The verb used here, bāḥan, also occurs in twenty-nine verses. In nineteen of those, God is testing man, often his heart (lit. “kidneys”) or mind (1 Chr 29:17; Jer 11:20; 12:3; 17:10; 20:12; Pss 7:9; 17:3; 26:2; Prov 17:3). Though the word usually has a “theological” sense, according to Brensinger, in cases where this is lacking (Gen 42:15–16; Job 12:11; 34:3; Ezek 21:13 [18]) “the key concern involves evaluating the dependability of something.”45 In Ps 95:9 it is used of man testing or provoking God, but only in parallel to nāsâ. It also has this sense in Mal 3:15, where it probably was used instead of nāsâ because bāḥan had been used in v. 10. The NIV translation “test me in this” is literal and urges or commands the Judean community to give God the opportunity to prove his faithfulness in response to their faith.

The New American Commentary: Haggai, Malachi (1) Blessing from Heaven (3:10b)

The others are nāsâ and ṣārap

Application

Returning to God involves bringing a proper worship in God’s house

or Returning to God results in returning God’s requirements—tithe and offerings.

Repentance leads to reproduction or recommitment.