Why Context is Important

Why Context is Important
by Ronald W Robey
(written November 23, 2020)

Why context is important…

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith 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.

How can anyone say that Malachi 3:10 is instruction for Christians to tithe, when Malachi 1:1 says that Malachi is speaking to Israel, not Christians?

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

How can anyone say that Malachi 3:8-9 is an accusation against Christians, when Malachi 1:6-14 says that Malachi is accusing the Priests of Israel?

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.
Malachi 1:8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 1:9 And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 1:10 Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
Malachi 1:11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts.
Malachi 1:12 But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.
Malachi 1:13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.
Malachi 1:14 But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

How can anyone say that Malachi 3:10 is instruction for Christians, when Malachi 2:1 says that the command is for the Priests of Israel?

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

How can anyone say that Malachi 3:10 is instruction for the saved in Christ, when Malachi 3:6 reveals that Malachi is speaking to sons of Jacob?

Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

How can anyone say that Malachi 3:10 is saying to tithe money, when Malachi 3:7 is calling for a return to God’s ordinances and God’s tithe ordinance said that tithes are to be agricultural, not monetary?

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?

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 27:32 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.

How can anyone say that Malachi 3:10 is instruction for the congregation to bring their tithes to the House of God, when Malachi 3:7 is calling for a return to God’s ordinances and God’s tithe ordinance said that the congregation is not to go near the House of God with their tithes?

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.

How can anyone say that Malachi 3:10 is instruction for the congregation to bring their tithes to the House of God, when Malachi 3:7 is calling for a return to God’s ordinances and God’s tithe ordinance said that God only commanded the Levitic tribe to 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.

How can anyone say that Malachi 3:10 is instruction to take tithes to a church building, when Malachi could not have been speaking of a church building since church buildings never existed in Malachi’s day?

How can anyone think that Malachi is speaking of taking tithes to religious institutions around the world, when God makes it clear in His tithe ordinance that the place to take His tithe is in the land of Canaan?

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:

I suppose when one isolates Malachi 3:10 from its context, one could easily be deceived into believing that Malachi 3:10 is saying anything but what Malachi is actually saying.

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye (Priests of Israel; Malachi 1:1,6-14;2:1) all the tithes (agricultural tithes; Leviticus 27:30,32) into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, (Temple in Jerusalem; Deuteronomy 12:10-11; 2 Chronicles 6:5-6; 1 Kings 6) and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, (rain; see Genesis 7:11-12; 8:2) that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

That’s why reading Scripture in context is important.

 

Covenanting to be Deceptive and to Deceive

Covenanting to be Deceptive and to Deceive
by Ronald W Robey
(written August 23, 2020)

From the Book, “Storehouse Tithing” by James Andrew Hensey, ©1922, p.5:

“Dedication

To the Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, the Mother of Storehouse Tithing, which, when man’s devices failed, took God at His word: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse”; thereby not only perpetuating her own ministry but promising to lead the whole church back to the Divine plan, this book is affectionally dedicated.”

The author attributes the origin of the doctrine that giving a tenth of ones monetary income to the House of God to the Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1895.

The WCME church was going under due to a financial debt that was more than $80,000 that they just could not seem to meet. That is, not until four families agreed to “bring Gods tithe into the storehouse,” and wrote up a “covenant” for all members of the church to enter into if they wanted to.

The four families were,

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Fraser Clark; (at whose home the families met)
Reverend and Mrs. J.W. Magruder;
Mr. and Mrs. W.D. Yerger;
and Mr. and Mrs. William G. Roberts.

The families spent the afternoon discussing how to get out of the great debt that the church was in and were about to go to their respective homes, when William G. Roberts suggested that they all try “God’s Plan: Tithing”.

Each family said they had been giving a tenth of their monetary income to God; part of the tenth to the church, and part to charities. William suggested bringing “the full tenth into the storehouse,” and suggested that they all covenant with him in “God’s Financial Plan for the church” that he was willing to enter himself. And their “covenant” worked.

By 1922, more than 400 members of the WCME denomination had signed this covenant to bring the full tithe into the storehouse, and the church made its way out of debt. The problem? Bringing a tenth of monetary income to the House of God was NEVER “God’s Financial Plan for the church.”

The Bible tells us that the command to tithe was given to the nation of Israel, not to the New Covenant church. Eleven of the twelve tribes of Israel were commanded to give a tenth of their agricultural increase to the twelfth tribe, (the Levitic tribe) for two reasons…

1. Because while the eleven tribes had been given a land inheritance in the land of Canaan, the Levitic tribe was not given a land inheritance. The tithe of the land of Israel was to be their inheritance.
2. The tithe of agricultural increase was due the Levitic tribe for their service in the Tabernacle, and later, the Temple.

As aforementioned, the commanded tithe was to be given to the Levitic tribe from the agricultural increase of the other tribes. This mandate is found in Leviticus 27:30,32.

The eleven tribes were not to take their tithes to the House of God, but were to take their tithes to Jerusalem to give to the Levitic tribe there in Jerusalem. This mandate can be found in Deuteronomy 12:10-11, with Jerusalem being named as the location in 2 Chronicles 6:5-6.

A Priest from the biological bloodline of the Levite Aaron was to be present at the time that the eleven tribes gave their tithes to the Levitic tribe. This mandate can be found in Numbers 18:24-28 & Nehemiah 10:29,37-38.

There is not one verse in the entire Bible that says that God requires man to give a tenth of his monetary income to the House of God. Even the Lord Jesus Christ knew that His Father did not require tithes of monetary income, and demonstrated so in the Gospels on more than one occasion. (reference: Matthew 17:24-27; Luke 12:33; 22:36)

The Bible proves that the men of Wesley Chapel Methodist Episcopal church did not enter into a covenant to observe “God’s Financial Plan for the church,” but entered into a covenant of deception and to deceive others.

 

God’s Tithe: Where to Take It

God’s Tithe: Where to Take It
by Ronald W Robey
(written November 08, 2020)

God never said that people all over the world are requried to tithe. Nor did God ever say that His tithe is to be taken to a man-made structure referred to as a church building. Nor did God ever say that His tithe is to be stored in a church bank account.

The Bible names only one man-made structure and one geographical location in the entire world where God’s tithe was to be stored…

…the Temple in Jerusalem.

The Location:

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:

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.

The Structure:

1 Chronicles 17:4 Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:
1 Chronicles 17:5 For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.
1 Chronicles 17:6 Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?
1 Chronicles 17:7 Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel:
1 Chronicles 17:8 And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.
1 Chronicles 17:9 Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,
1 Chronicles 17:10 And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the LORD will build thee an house.
1 Chronicles 17:11 And it shall come to pass, when thy days be expired that thou must go to be with thy fathers, that I will raise up thy seed after thee, which shall be of thy sons; and I will establish his kingdom.
1 Chronicles 17:12 He shall build me an house, and I will stablish his throne for ever.

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith 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.

 

Settled in My Heart

Settled in My Heart
by Ronald W Robey
(written November 19, 2019)

Psalm 119:89 LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.In Leviticus 27:30,32 God said His tithe is to be agricultural. It is settled.

In Leviticus 27:34 God said that He gave the command to tithe to Moses for the children of Israel. It is settled.

In Numbers 18:21 God said the tithe is to be given to the Levitic tribe because they have no inheritance among the other eleven tribes of Israel. It is settled.

In Numbers 18:22 God said the congregation is not even to go near the House of God with their tithes. Nehemiah 10:29,37-38 re-affirms this command. It is settled.

In Deuteronomy 12:10-11 God said that the place to take tithes would be a place in the land of Canaan that He would choose. In 2 Chronicles 6:5-6 we learn that the place God chose was the city of Jerusalem. It is settled.

In Deuteronomy 14:22-26 God said that a second tithe is to be taken to Jerusalem and eaten before the Lord. It is settled.

In Deuteronomy 14:27 God said not to fail to give the Levite his tithe. It is settled.

In Deuteronomy 14:28-29 God said to give a tithe to Levites, to widows, to orphans, and to foreigners in the land of Canaan every third year. It is settled.

In Deuteronomy 26:12-17 God said to give a tithe to Levites, to widows, to orphans, and to foreigners in the land of Canaan every third year. It is settled.

Not once in the word of God does God tell man to give Him tithes of his monetary income.

God’s word is for ever settled in Heaven. It is also for ever settled in my heart. Is it settled in your heart? or have you rejected it?

 

They Don’t Believe God’s Word

They Don’t Believe God’s Word
by Ronald W Robey
(written October 11, 2020)

Read the account of Abraham giving tithes to Melchizedek in Genesis 14:13-24 carefully. As you read the account, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does the text of Genesis 14 say that God commanded Abraham to tithe?

2. Does the text of Genesis 14 say that Abraham was commanded by God to tithe money?

3. Does the text of Genesis 14 say that Abraham tithed money?

4. Does the text of Genesis 14 say that Abraham tithed his own property and/or assets?

If you are honest with the text and the questions, you will answer “NO” to all four questions.The Bible does not record a command to tithe until God gives that command to the children of Israel in Leviticus 27:30-34…

…and the commanded tithe is to be agricultural, not monetary.

Not only does the Bible not say that Abraham was commanded by God to give Melchizedek monetary tithes, but the Bible does not say that God commanded the children of Israel to give Him monetary tithes. Further, the Bible does not say that the saved in Christ Jesus are required to give Him tithes of money.

It appears that teachers of the monetary tithe requirement have their audiences believing anything but Gods word when it comes to the topic of tithes.

 

Do You Really Love God?

Do Your Really Love God?
by Ronald W Robey
(written September 19, 2020)

If one says he loves God, then that one should also love Gods word.

1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

According to the Bible, those that love God will keep His commandments. Interestingly, concerning Gods tithe,

a) His commandments do not say His tithe is to be monetary, but agricultural. (see Leviticus 27:30,32)

b) His commandements do not say that tithes are to be observed all around the world, but in the land of Canaan. (see Deuteronomy 12:10-11)

c) His commandments do not say that the congregation is to take their tithes to the House of God, but that the congregation is not to even approach the House of God with their tithes. (see Numbers 18:21-22)

d) His commandments do not say to give tithes to pastors, but to give tithes to the Levitic tribe in Israel, to widows, to orphans, and to foreigners in Israel. (see Deuteronomy 14:27-29)

I do not yield to calls for monetary tithes to be given simply because

a) I love the word of God and
b) I love the God of the word.

Those that love God should agree with His word and should reject doctrines that contradict His word.

Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 Corinthians 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

 

What God Has Spoken

What God Has Spoken
by Ronald W Robey
(written September 18, 2020)

In Matthew 4:4 Jesus said that man is to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Leviticus 27:30, which says that Gods tithe is to be agricultural was spoken by God. Insisting that Gods tithe is money contradicts Leviticus 27:30.

Numbers 18:21-22, which says that the congregation is not to approach the House of God with their tithes was spoken by God. Insisting that members of the congregation are to take their tithes to the House of God contradicts Numbers 18:21-22.

Are you living by what God has spoken? Or are you instead living by what your pastors have spoken that contradicts what God has spoken?

Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

 

Just Seven Verses

Just Seven Verses
by Ronald W Robey
(written September 17, 2020)

If only people would pay more attention to what is written in their Bibles when they read them, they would discover that God never told the congregation to tithe to the House of God.

As a matter of fact, just seven verses in the Bible reveal that God decreed that the congregation is not to take their tithes to the House of God, but to the city of Jerusalem.

Will your Pastor preach this biblical fact?

Ref:
Deuteronomy 12:10-11
Numbers 18:21-22
Nehemiah 10:29,37-38

 

Whose “Servant” Are You?

Whose “Servant” Are You?
by Ronald W Robey
(written September 15, 2020)

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Gods word says that His commanded tithe is to be one-tenth of agricultural crops, and the tenth animal from the flocks and herds to pass under the rod. (Leviticus 27:30,32)Many pastors today teach that Gods commanded tithe is to be one-tenth of mans employment wages and/or government benefit checks and/or other household monetary income. (no Scripture supports this)

Many today are made to believe that their “tithe” is for the furtherance of the Gospel, and to advance Gods Kingdom on Earth.

The problem? The monetary tithe requirement doctrine is a lie. It contradicts what the Bible says that Gods commanded tithe is to be. So, don’t fool yourself. Your “tithe” is not helping the Gospel. Nor is it advancing Gods Kingdom. (Jesus said His Kingdom is not of this world; John 18:36)

God is not in a lie. Nor is His Kingdom financed through lies.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

You may think you are doing many wonderful works with your tithe. However, you can’t serve God while walking in opposition to what He has declared in His word.

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

 

Relationship, Not Rebellion

Relationship, Not Rebellion
by Ronald W Robey
(written September 04, 2020)

What a pastor preaches in the sanctuary is always a reflection of his relationship with the Lord.

So many pastors today preach Malachi 3:8-10 as instruction for the congregation.

So many pastors today preach Malachi 3:10 as instruction for monetary tithing.

So many pastors today preach Malachi 3:10 as a means of accusing church members of robbing God if they fail to tithe.

So many pastors today preach Malachi 3:10 as a means of bringing church members under condemnation if they fail to bring tithes of their monetary income to the local church.

So many pastors are guilty of handling the word of God deceitfully in order to acquire funding for their church buiding operations.

2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

2 Corinthians 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

The Book of Malachi was not written to the saved in Christ Jesus. It was written to Israel. Specifically, the Priests of Israel.

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

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.

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

The Book of Malachi is not speaking of monetary tithes. It is speaking of the agricultural tithes required in the ordinances that God gave to the children of Israel.

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?

Gods tithe ordinance states that His tithe is to be agricultural in its content, 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 27:32 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.

Gods tithe ordinance also states that the congregation is not to approach the House of God with their tithes.

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 is reaffirmed in the Book of Nehemiah.

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.

Since Malachi was calling for a return to Gods ordinances; since the ordinances said that Gods tithe was agricultural and not money; since the ordinances said the congregation is forbidden to even go near the House of God with their tithes, the prophet Malachi cannot be telling the congregation to “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse.” Nor can he be telling anyone to tithe money.

It’s time pastors reflect a relationship with God rather than a heart for money. Relationship requires loving Gods word, not departing from Gods word. Departing from Gods word is rebellion.