Tithes and Offerings

"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings." (Malachi 3:8)

Offering/offerings are listed hundreds of times in the Old Testament yet only 14 times in the New Testament. In context, offerings were made as a sacrifice for sins. The Old Testament saints offered their material goods because the Law required them to do so as a price for sins.

"For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14-18)  "Now where there is remission (forgiveness of sins and lawless deeds) of these, there is no longer an offering for sin".  "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, 'Behold, I have come- in the volume of the book it is written of Me- to do your will, O God.' " (Hebrews 10:5-7)

So, what offering does God want from us (the church)? Paul said, "that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the OFFERING OF THE GENTILES might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:16)

"....that they may offer to the Lord an OFFERING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the Lord,"(Malachi 3:3,4).

Since the Old Testament saints "robbed" God by offering defiled food on His altar (blind, lame and sick animals in Malachi 1:7,8), let us present ourselves willingly to do His Word and will. They robbed God by holding back the best for themselves. They robbed God by binding His hands to give to them what obedience brings- experiencing the fullness of who He is, now to us in Christ Jesus!

We should resist the temptation in our souls to offer less than what He is requesting from us. Jesus said, "so likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."(Luke 14:33)
The OFFERING is you in Christ Jesus!