Also there are evidences that the words written in the book of Malachi are not referring to the tithes payable by the people, but to the tithe payable by the Levites.
The words of Yahweh at Malachi seems not to be rebuking the people, but rebuking the Levites.
Whenever tithing doctrines/statutes of sons of men do copy the words of the scriptures in order to point this verse at the people, they would be pointing at themselves, because who so ever claim to be pastors [an equivalent of the Levites today], are the ones whom the words at Malachi would be rebuking.
Malachi wouldn't be rebuking the "people", he would be rebuking the "Levites"[pastors].
Because the only ones ever authorized to receive tithes were the Levites,
As it is said in a certain place:
Those who minister for the people in the Temple: [The Levites] in these days pastors as claimed by the pastors were not offering a heave (best) offering to the High Priests. The Levites were giving the blemished (worse part) of the increase to the Temple Priests. They were not good stewards of the goods that the Most High entrusted to them.
Today there would be no equivalent of a High Priest. Iesus Kristu (Yahshua) is the High Priest. (Heb.)
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Num - And Yahweh spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Ishrael.
Num - And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Ishrael for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
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The Levites, in turn, were to give a tithe of their tithe, to provide for the priests. All priests were Levites, but not all Levites were priests. The priests were to receive the best tenth of the Levites tithe.
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Num - But the tithes of the children of Ishrael, which they offer as an heave offering unto Yahweh, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Ishrael they shall have no inheritance.
Num - And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying,
Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Ishrael the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering (the best tenth to be given to the Levite Priests) of it for Yahweh, even a tenth part of the tithe.
Num - And this your heave offering (best tenth) shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.
Num - Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto Yahweh of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Ishrael; and ye shall give thereof Yahweh's heave offering to Aaron the priest.
Num - Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of Yahweh, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.
Num - Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress.
Num - And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Num - And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Ishrael, lest ye die.
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Mal - 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 Yahweh of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
Mal - Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of Yahweh is contemptible.
Mal - 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 Yahweh of hosts.
This message has been edited by Zsafira, 06-01-2005 04:25 PM