Malachi 3:8-10
Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The surprising depth here is that "robbing God" isn't just about withholding money; it's about fundamentally disrespecting His ownership of everything. Their question, "Wherein have we robbed you?", reveals they saw tithes and offerings as mere transactions, failing to grasp that these gifts were an acknowledgment of God's sovereignty over their entire lives and resources.
The people are questioning God's justice and fairness, asking "How have we wronged you?" Malachi, acting as God's spokesperson, directly confronts them with their ongoing failure to bring their tithes and offerings to the temple. This failure meant the priests and Levites weren't being supported, disrupting the worship and service of God.
Malachi opens with a rhetorical question that stops you in your tracks. It’s not a question about accidentally taking something, but a deliberate act of theft. But how can you possibly 'rob' God?
The prophet Malachi uses a powerful, almost shocking image: 'Will a man rob God?' The intensity of this question highlights the severity of the people's actions. They weren't just careless; they were actively withholding what belonged to God.
It's More Than Just Money
The text specifies how they were robbing God: 'In your tithes and offerings.' This wasn't about small, insignificant amounts. These were portions of their livelihood, designated for God's service and the support of His ministers, the priests and Levites.
A Question for Our Hearts
God uses this strong language to shake His people out of complacency. He appeals to their basic understanding of fairness and justice. Even the ungodly would likely find the idea of robbing God absurd, yet here the people of God were guilty of it. It challenges us to consider if we've become desensitized to giving God what is due to Him.
The people, perhaps genuinely bewildered or defiantly ignorant, ask, 'How have we robbed you?' God's answer is simple, yet profound: 'In your tithes and contributions.'
The 'robbery' wasn't some grand theft, but a failure in their covenant responsibilities regarding the designated portions of their harvest and livestock.
What Were Tithes and Offerings?
Understand the original words
qaba' · Hebrew Verb
The act of stealing or defrauding. In a theological sense, it refers to withholding what rightfully belongs to God, whether it be worship, obedience, or resources.
ma'aser · Hebrew Noun
A tenth part of one's increase, dedicated to God as a recognition of His ownership of all things and for the support of His service and house.
terumah · Hebrew Noun
An offering or portion set apart for a sacred purpose; often refers to gifts or contributions given to God to honor Him.
arar · Hebrew Verb/Noun
A state of divine judgment or removal of favor due to disobedience. It represents the judicial consequence of breaking God's covenant.
Malachi's sharp rebuke about withholding tithes and offerings highlights a recurring problem in Israel's history, especially after the Temple's destruction and rebuilding, showing how easily people can fall back into neglecting God's commands when spiritual fervor wanes.
c. 1400 BC
Mosaic Law Established
God institutes the system of tithes and offerings as part of the Law given through Moses, dedicating these portions to the support of the Levites and priests, and the service of the Temple.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians conquer Judah, destroy Solomon's Temple, and exile much of the population, disrupting the regular worship and tithing system.
c. 515 BC
Second Temple Completed
After the return from Babylonian exile, the Second Temple is dedicated, marking the reestablishment of central worship and the potential for the tithing system to resume.
c. 432 BC
Nehemiah Addresses Tithing Issues
Upon returning to Jerusalem, Nehemiah finds that the people and Levites have again neglected their responsibilities regarding tithes and offerings, requiring reforms.
This passage details the divine command for tithing, establishing that the tenth is holy to the Lord and meant for His service, directly paralleling Malachi's accusation that withholding it is robbing God.
Numbers 18:21-24This section explains the purpose of the tithe – it was given to the Levites for their service in the tabernacle. Malachi's message highlights that failing to provide these tithes meant failing to support God's appointed workers and thus robbing God Himself.
Nehemiah 13:10-14This passage recounts a similar situation in Nehemiah's time where the people had failed to provide tithes and offerings, causing the Levites to leave their service. It shows this was a recurring issue of neglecting God's provisions for worship.
Romans 2:22Paul links sacrilege (robbing God) with other sins, implying it's a serious offense against the divine order. This shows that the concept of 'robbing God' extended beyond the Old Testament's specific laws about tithes.
1 Corinthians 16:2Paul instructs believers to set aside money for the poor saints on the first day of the week. This connects the principle of giving a portion for God's purposes and kingdom work to the New Testament, showing the ongoing relevance of stewardship.
bensonMalachi 3:8: "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings."
Malachi 3:8-9 . Will a man rob God — Grotius reads, “Would any one dare to rob his judges as ye have robbed me?” the word rendered God sometimes meaning judges or magistrates. Some others render the clause, Is it right that God should be robbed (or defrauded) by man? Here God gives them an answer to their question in the foregoing verse, Wherein shall we return; or, repent…
clarkeMalachi 3:8: "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings."
Will a man rob God? - Here is one point on which ye are guilty; ye withhold the tithes and offerings from the temple of God, so that the Divine worship is neglected.
The surprising depth here is that "robbing God" isn't just about withholding money; it's about fundamentally disrespecting His ownership of everything. Their question, "Wherein have we robbed you?", reveals they saw tithes and offerings as mere transactions, failing to grasp that these gifts were an acknowledgment of God's sovereignty over their entire lives and resources.
The people are questioning God's justice and fairness, asking "How have we wronged you?" Malachi, acting as God's spokesperson, directly confronts them with their ongoing failure to bring their tithes and offerings to the temple. This failure meant the priests and Levites weren't being supported, disrupting the worship and service of God.
The people are questioning God's justice and fairness, asking "How have we wronged you?" Malachi, acting as God's spokesperson, directly confronts them with their ongoing failure to bring their tithes and offerings to the temple. This failure meant the priests and Levites weren't being supported, disrupting the worship and service of God.
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A Pattern of Neglect
This wasn't just about giving money; it was about acknowledging God as the source of all their provision and honoring His appointed system of worship and support. By withholding these, they weren't just shortchanging the Levites and priests; they were shortchanging God Himself. The commentaries highlight that this could involve the people not giving enough, or the priests mismanaging what was given.
Present-Day Parallel
While we no longer operate under the Mosaic Law's specific tithe system, the principle remains: God calls us to generously support His work and generously provide for those who minister His Word. The question is whether our giving is a cheerful acknowledgment of His sovereignty or a grudging obligation.
otsar · Hebrew Noun
A designated place in the temple complex where tithes and offerings were stored for the maintenance of the Levites and the poor.
bachan · Hebrew Verb
To challenge or examine God's faithfulness, often by obeying His commands to see Him fulfill His promises. It is an invitation to witness God's intervention.
arubbah · Hebrew Noun
A metaphor for God's divine provision and intervention from heaven, where He releases the resources of His kingdom to bless His obedient people.
berakah · Hebrew Noun
A favorable decree or the manifestation of God’s goodness, provision, and presence in the lives of His people.
c. 400 BC— this verse
Malachi Prophesies
Malachi delivers God's message to the post-exilic community, confronting them about their spiritual apathy and specifically their failure to bring proper tithes and offerings to the restored Temple.
"Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that…" — The surprising depth here is that "robbing God" isn't just about withholding money; it's about fundamentally disrespecting His ownership of everything. Their question, "Wherein have we robbed you?",…
