Read Malachi Again

Read Malachi Again
by Ronald W Robey
(written February 17, 2019)

Does your church teach you that, as a member of the congregation, God requires you to tithe to the House of God? Does your Pastor use Malachi 3;8-10 to show you that you are a thief if you don’t give ten percent of your monetary income to the House of God?

What would you say if I told you your pastor has been teaching that passage in Malachi wrong? What if I told you that God does not require you to give a tenth of your monetary income to the House of God?

Would you be willing, with a mind to see, read, and know the truth, to open your Bible and compare what I am about to show you concerning the command given in Malachi?

First, let us look at Malachi 3:7…

Malachi 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

In Malachi 3:7, God is calling for a return to His ordinances. Are you aware that God’s ordinances say that

a) God’s tithe is to be agricultural, not monetary?

Leviticus 27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD.
Leviticus 27:31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
Leviticus 27:32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.
Leviticus 27:33 He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.

b) the congregation is forbidden to tithe to the House of God?

Numbers 18:21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Numbers 18:22 Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.

This means that, contrary to what has been preached concerning tithes for many years is wrong. Malachi is not saying to tithe money. Nor is he telling the congregation to tithe to the House of God.

The ordinances say that the congregation is to give the tithe to the bloodline descendants of Levi, and that the bloodline descendant of Levi is to take a tithe of the tithe to the House of God.

Nehemiah 10:29 They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;

Nehemiah 10:37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.
Nehemiah 10:38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

That’s right…only a tithe of the congregation’s tithe (1%) was to go to the House of God…and it was only the Ministerial Staff (the bloodline descendants of Levi) that were required to tithe to the House of God.

Malachi would not have told people to return to the ordinances in verse 7 and then turned around and told them to transgress the ordinances in verse 10.

Malachi was not speaking to the congregation! They were not allowed to tithe to the House of God by Law. Pastors have been preaching Malachi wrong for many years, and because the congregation doesn’t study properly, they never realize that they are not required by God to tithe money. Nor does God require them to tithe to the House of God.

So, if Malachi was not speaking to the congregation, who was he speaking to?

The answer can be found in the previous two chapters of the Book. From the very first verse, we discover that Malachi was sent to give a message to Israel.

Malachi 1:1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

As we read a little further down in the chapter, we find that Malachi was sent specifically to the Priests of Israel. They had robbed God by removing tithes and offerings from the storehouse and replacing them with unacceptable and unclean offerings.

Malachi 1:6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
Malachi 1:7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

In the second chapter, Malachi tells the Priests that he has a command for them.

Malachi 2:1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.

However, if you read the entire second chapter you will discover there is no command given to the Priests. The command is not given until chapter 3. That’s right…”Return unto Me”.

Again, God was calling for the Priests to return to His ordinances and to bring the tithes they had stolen back into the storehouse where they belonged.

If you still want to obey Malachi 3:10, you can’t…for two reasons.

1. The House of God that God said His tithe was to be taken to was destroyed in AD 70.

2. The Law said a Priest from the Aaronic bloodline must be present at the time the congregation gives their tithe. There is no Aaronic Priesthood today. That ended when the House of God was destroyed in AD 70 and the Priests and Levites scattered.

So, now you probably want to know…”How do we keep our place of meeting in operation if not by tithes?” The answer is simple…Voluntary, free-will contributions made by the members. No need to lie to them about a monetary tithe that God never authorized, nor commanded in His word. Teach them to love God and to have a love for the things of God. If they love God, they will give toward meeting needs.

They may even give more, since they will be giving out of love rather than out of guilt.

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One Step Closer to Hell

One Step Closer to Hell
by Ronald W Robey
(written February 04, 2019)

When you give ten percent of your money in response to a monetary tithe requirement sermon preached at the church you are a member of, you are participating in assisting your pastor on a journey to an eternity without Christ.

Don’t believe me? You should. You see, the Bible supports what I just said in the above paragraph. Want proof? Okay…

1 Corinthians 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

In 1 Corinthians 6, the apostle Paul wrote that extortioners will not inherit the Kingdom of God. There’s the proof. When a church member yields to the monetary tithe requirement doctrine preached by their pastor, their pastor becomes an extortioner.

Black’s Law Dictionary, 8th Edition defines extortion as:

“The obtaining of property from another, with his consent, induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear, or under color of official right.”

If you study God’s ordinance concerning His commanded tithes, you will discover that the only people God authorized to be recipients of His commanded tithe are:

a) the Levitic tribe in the land of Canaan (Numbers 18:21-26)
b) widows in the land of Canaan (Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 26:12)
c) orphans in the land of Canaan (Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 26:12)
d) foreigners in the land of Canaan (Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 26:12)

That’s right…only four classes of people were authorized by God to receive God’s commanded tithes…all of them living in the land of Canaan. Notice…

Deuteronomy 12:10 But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety;Deuteronomy 12:11 Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:

And where is the place that God would choose to cause His name to dwell there? The place is the city of Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 6:5 Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:2 Chronicles 6:6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

But, didn’t God authorized to take His tithe too? Absolutely not!

Psalm 147:19 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.Psalm 147:20 He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.

In the above verses, the psalmist lets the reader know that the commandments given to the children of Israel were not given to any other nation. Those commands were for the children of Israel alone.

In Acts 15, religious leaders were demanding that Gentile Believers be made to keep the Law of Moses.

Acts 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
Acts 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
Acts 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;Acts 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

The apostles and the Holy Ghost determined that the Law given to Israel was not to be imposed upon Gentile Believers in Christ Jesus.

God NEVER authorized pastors living outside of Canaan to collect tithes in His name. He never amended His agricultural tithe requirement to a monetary tithe requirement. When pastors use God’s word to make their religious institution a Tithe Collection Agency…when preachers use God’s word to make themselves Tithe Collection Representatives…they teach man-made commandments as if they are God-ordained doctrines.

Jesus Christ has something to say about such pastors…”But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

Revelation 21:8 tells us that all liars will have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.

Each time your pastor lies about God requiring the congregation to tithe their monetary income to the House of God, your pastor takes a step toward hell. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 tells us that extortioners will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Each time you yield to your pastor’s doctrine of a monetary tithe requirement…you help your pastor get another step closer to Hell.

And if you are helping your pastor get closer to hell, that can only mean that you are walking toward hell yourself. Revelation 22:15 says those who love lies will not be in God’s eternal Kingdom.

If you are saved and love your pastor, you won’t want to see him end up in Hell. Nor will you want to be an active participant in helping him go further down the road to Hell. The solution is simple…stop yielding to the monetary tithe requirement lie. Teach others not to yield to it as well. Let your pastor know you love him too much to see him go to hell. Tell him to stop lying to you and to preach the word of God rather than man-made commands that contradict the word of God.

The eternal destiny of your pastors may be in your hands. What will you do?

 

Where Do I Tithe?

Where Do I Tithe?
by Ronald W Robey
(written February 12, 2019)

I am given $621 a month by my government. That is my Disability Income.

Using God’s word as my tithe calculator, I have figured that I owe exactly $0.00 in tithes this month and 384 times that for the last 32 years as back tithes.

That comes to a whopping $0.00.

I am prepared to pay this months tithe and all back tithes I have missed for the last 32 years. Who do I write the tithe check to?

 

A Cursed Nation

A Cursed Nation
by Ronald W Robey
(written February 08, 2019)

When Malachi is read in context, the entire nation was cursed with a curse because of the actions of the Priests of God’s House.

Sadly, our nation may also be “cursed with a curse” because of the actions of Pastors and church leaders throughout the land.

Instead of preaching the word of God, (2 Tim. 4:2-4) many pastors are preaching sermons of their own device…fables.

Malachi was a rebuke and admonition to the Priests of Israel, (1:6-7; 2:1; 3:6-10) Yet, pastors are handling the word of God deceitfully, preaching to their congregations that God is rebuking the congregation in that passage.

In Malachi 3:7, Malachi was calling for a return to the ordinances of God. The ordinances of God said…

a) God said that tithes are to be agricultural…not money. (Lev. 27:30-33)

b) Tithes are to be given to Levites in the land of Canaan…not to preachers in lands outside of Canaan. (Num. 18:31-26; Deut. 12:10-11)

c) The congregation could not approach the House of God with their tithes. (Num. 18:21-22)

Malachi could not have been speaking to the congregation in verses 8-10. He had just said to return to the ordinances in verse 7. He would not have told them to return to the ordinances in verse 7 and then turned around and told them to transgress the ordinances. in verse 10.

Nor could Malachi have been instructing anyone to tithe money to the House of God in verses 8-10. Again, Malachi had just said to return to the ordinances in verse 7. He would not have told anyone to return to the ordinances in verse 7 and then turned around and told them to transgress the ordinances in verse 10.

It is nothing short of deception to use Malachi 3:8-10 as “proof-text” that the congregation is to tithe to the House of God and that God’ requires a tenth of man’s money. Perhaps, if pastors would preach the word as it is written, God will truly bless this nation.

 

Who Invented the “Principle” of Tithing?

Who Invented the “Principle” of Tithing?
by Ronald W Robey
(written February 05, 2019)

Who made Abram’s tithe a “principle”?

And, have they truly made Abram’s tithe a principle? Or, have they invented principle that has nothing to do with Abram’s tithe?

1. Abram tithed war spoils, not his monetary income. Nor did Abram tithe his employment wages.
2. Abram gave tithes to a king of an earthly kingdom.
3. Abram is only recorded as having tithed one time in his lifetime.

Contrast that with the alleged “principle” that is taught today…

a) Christians are told to tithe their money
b) Christians are told to tithe to their local church
c) Christians are told to tithe paychecks; Social Security Benefits; inheritances, etc. for the rest of their lives.

When comparing today’s “tithe principle” with the tithe given by Abram, it is clear that the two are not the same.

So, the question remains, “Who invented the “Principle” of tithing?”…

…and, “Why?”

 

Was Abram’s Tithe Expected of Him?

Was Abram’s Tithe Expected of Him?
by Ronald W Robey
(written January 01, 2019)

According to ancient history, tithing of war spoils to kings and gods was practiced as early as 285 years prior to the account in Genesis 14.

We see in the Genesis text that Melchizedek lived in Salem. Melchizedek left Salem and traveled to Shaveh, which indicates an expectation.

Bera king of Sodom also traveled to Shaveh…again, showing an expectation.

Why would these two kings travel to Shaveh if not expecting something?

Could it be that both Bera and Melchizedek were hoping to receive the customary tithe from war spoils recovered in battle, but since that customary tithe was given to Melchizedek, Bera settled for pleading for the people?

Genesis tells us that Shaveh was also known as “the valley of the kings”. This would indicate it being a place where kings assembled for a purpose. If the purpose was in hopes of receiving the customary tithe of war spoils, then it would stand to reason that Abram tithed due to expectancy.

I once read a book, “The Struggle of the Nations”, written in the mid 1890’s by Gaston Maspero, Professor at Oxford University. In his book, Maspero explains that that geographical location of the world had been observing the war spoil tithe to kings, mentioning Thutmosis III, (1481-1425 BC) whose god was a sun god, receiving tithes of war spoils, as had been practiced by the Assyrians and Babylonians for at least eight hundred years.

One thing is for certain. The three men, (Abram, Bera, and Melchizedek) traveled to the valley of the kings for a reason. Abram lived on the West side of the Dead Sea and could have traveled South from Hobah (where he had rescued his nephew Lot and recovered the stolen goods) to his home in Mamre, keeping the spoils for himself.

But instead, he traveled South-East to the Eastern side of the Dead Sea to the valley of the kings. This gives indication that Abram was expected to travel that direction for the purpose of meeting other kings for that purpose of giving the customary tithe of the spoils. This gives more credence to the Historical books written that describe victorious soldiers tithing war spoils long before Abram tithed war spoils to Melchizedek.

 

Artistic License

Artistic License
by Ronald W Robey
(written February 02, 2019)

Many in our churches today are under the impression that tithes are supposed to be given because even though monetary tithes are not required in the Bible, God did command tithing. They argue that, “Monetary tithing is simply based on Biblical teaching.”

Most lies taught in religious institutions are based on biblical teachings. Is God’s church supposed to be built on truth, or lies?

In movies, the phrase “based on” means that the story being told is about actual events that have taken place and/or the story is from a book that was written, but that the producers of the movie have taken “artistic license” with the event or book they are re-telling.

For example: In the most recent “Left Behind” movie starring Nicholas Cage, the producers took artistic license and had Raymie Steele disappear in his sisters arms at a local mall in the town where the Steeles lived. However, in the book that inspired the movie, Tim LaHaye and Jerry B Jenkins reveal that Raymie was home in bed when the Rapture took place, and Chloe was in college in another State.

Artistic License is nothing more than changing what was written or said into something it never was. When artistic license is accepted, it takes the focus of what was actually written and places it on something entirely different.

So it is with many who are commissioned to preach God’s word. They will stand behind the sacred desk, read a few verses from the Bible, and then take “artistic license” with the verses they have just read.

They will read verses from Malachi, words directed specifically at the priests in Israel, and specifically about agricultural tithes, and then preach that Malachi is speaking to people in an entirely different location on Earth and about monetary tithes.

Who authorized them to use “artistic license” when preaching God’s word? God sure didn’t. The apostle Paul, admonished the young evangelist Timothy, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Tim. 4:2-4)

When “artistic license” is taken with the word of God, the teaching becomes nothing more than “fables” that contradict sound doctrine.