Tithing: Malachi and the Lord's List of Charges Against Israel

Malachi Chapter 1

1-5 Great ingratitude and arrogance.

6 Insolence, rebellion, contempt, neglect and hypocrisy of the priesthood.

7 Contempt, greed, disobedience to Law, creating law unto themselves; deeds reveal their hearts.

8 Offered unacceptable sacrifices; lowered God's standards; they think it's okay to serve God part-way, and make up other rules as it suits them.

9 Priests are deceptive, to people and to God, which causes evil to come upon the peopl, since they are covetous and wicked.

10 The Levites didn't do their jobs; thought God either wouldn't see or wouldn't care; God rejects them and their offering.

11 Because of the rebellion of both the people and the priests, God rejects His favored nation and promises to make His name great among the Gentiles, who will offer a pure offering. He foreshadows an end to all these legal ceremonies by Christ's sacrifice alone.

12 Neglect by both priests and people, disobedience, impiety, contempt of God and covetousness.

13 Laziness, pride in service, lukewarmness, greedy, keeping the best for themselves.

14 Lying, breaking of vows, lack of fear of the Lord.

Chapter 2

1 Rebukes the priests.

2 God threatens to continue and increase the curse if they continue to refuse to hear, take to heart, and give glory to Him.

3 God promises lack, regardless of their actions, and promises filth and shame as consequences of their disobedient feasts.

4 God upholds the rightness of His covenant while rejecting those that abuse it.

5 God reminds them of His promise of life and peace to Levi.

6 Compares the current priesthood to righteous Levi, who spoke the truth, had it in his heart and taught it to others.

7 Priests reproved for not being righteous representatives of the Lord.

8-17 Priests are stumbling blocks and have corrupted the Law.