Malachi 3:10
Verse
Context
Robbing God
9You are cursed with a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing Me. 10Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure. 11I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your land, and the vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the LORD of Hosts.
Sermons







Summary
Commentary
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
Mal 3:10. "Bring ye all the tithe into the treasure-house, that there may be consumption in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith Jehovah of hosts, if I do not open you the sluices of heaven, and pour you out a blessing to superabundance. Mal 3:11. And I will rebuke the devourer for you, that he may not destroy the fruit of your ground; and your vine will not miscarry in the field, saith Jehovah of hosts. Mal 3:12. And all nations will call you blessed; for ye will be a land of good pleasure, saith Jehovah of hosts." In Mal 3:10 the emphasis lies upon kol: the whole of the tithe they are to bring, and not merely a portion of it, and so defraud the Lord; for the tithe was paid to Jehovah for His servants the Levites (Num 18:24). It was delivered, at least after the times of the later kings, at the sanctuary, where store-chambers were built for the purpose (cf. Ch2 31:11.; Neh 10:38-39; Neh 12:44; Neh 13:12). Tereph signifies here food, or consumption, as in Pro 31:15; Psa 111:5. בּזאת, through this, i.e., through their giving to God what they are under obligation to give Him, they are to prove God, whether in His attitude towards them He is no longer the holy and righteous God (Mal 2:17; Mal 3:6). Then will they also learn, that He causes the promised blessing to flow in the richest abundance to those who keep His commandments. אם לא is not a particle of asseveration or oath (Koehler), but an indirect question: whether not. Opening the sluices of heaven is a figure, denoting the most copious supply of blessing, so that it flows down from heaven like a pouring rain (as in Kg2 7:2). עד בּלי די, till there is no more need, i.e., in superabundance. This thought is individualized in Mal 3:11. Everything that could injure the fruits of the land God will take away. גּער, to rebuke practically, i.e., to avert the intention. אכל, the devourer, is here the locust, so called from its insatiable voracity. Shikkēl, to miscarry, is affirmed of the vine, when it has set a good quantity of grapes, which perish and drop off before they ripen. In consequence of this blessing, all nations will call Israel blessed (Mal 3:12), because its land will be an object of pleasure to every one (cf. Zac 7:14; Zac 8:13, Zac 8:23).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
(Pro 3:9-10). storehouse-- (Ch2 31:11, Margin; compare Ch1 26:20; Neh 10:38; Neh 13:5, Neh 13:12). prove me . . . herewith--with this; by doing so. Test Me whether I will keep My promise of blessing you, on condition of your doing your part (Ch2 31:10). pour . . . out--literally, "empty out": image from a vessel completely emptied of its contents: no blessing being kept back. windows of heaven-- (Kg2 2:7). that . . . not . . . room enough, &c.--literally, "even to not . . . sufficiency," that is, either, as English Version. Or, even so as that there should be "not merely" "sufficiency" but superabundance [JEROME, MAURER]. GESENIUS not so well translates, "Even to a failure of sufficiency," which in the case of God could never arise, and therefore means for ever, perpetually: so Psa 72:5, "as long as the sun and moon endure"; literally, "until a failure of the sun and moon," which is never to be; and therefore means, for ever.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,.... Or "treasury" (e); for there were places in the temple where the tithe was put, and from thence distributed to the priests and Levites, for the support of their families, as they wanted. There were the tithe or tenth part of all eatable things paid to the Levites, and out of this another tithe was paid by the Levites to the priests; and there was another tithe, which some years the owners ate themselves at Jerusalem, and in others gave them to the poor; and these were called the first tithe, the tithe out of the tithe, the second tithe, and the poor's tithe; though they are commonly reduced to three, and are called first, and second, and third, as they are by Maimonides; who says (f), "after they have separated the first tithe every year, they separate the second tithe, as it is said "thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed", &c. Deu 14:22 and in the third year, and in the sixth, they separate the poor's tithe, instead of the second tithe.'' So Tobit says; Tobit 1:7 "the first tithe I gave to the Levites, who stand before the Lord to minister to him, and to bless in his name the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the second tithe I sold (as he might, according to the law in Deu 14:24), and took the money, and went up to Jerusalem, and bought with it what I pleased; and the third tithe I gave to the repair of the temple;'' so Fagius reads: but according to Munster's edition it is, the second and third tithes I gave to the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow; see Deu 26:12. It appears from hence that the sin of the people was, that they did not bring in "all" their tithes; they kept back a part of them: wherefore they are called upon to bring in the whole, and which they did in Nehemiah's time; see Neh 10:38 where mention is made of the treasuries for the tithe, which were certain chambers adjoining to the temple; and besides those that were built by Solomon, there were other chambers prepared by Hezekiah in his times, when the tithes were brought in, in such plenty, that there was not room enough for them, Ch2 31:11 and besides those in the second temple, that were in the court of the priests, there were others in the court of the people, as L'Empereur thinks (g), where what the others could not contain might be put; and into which court the priests might come; and there were also receptacles underground, as well as upper rooms, where much might be laid up; add to all this, that Dr. Lightfoot (h) suggests, that these tithes were treasured up in the chambers by the gates of the temple, and were at least a part of the treasuries of the house of God, which the porters at the gates had the care of, Ch1 9:26 and particularly that the house of Asuppim, at which were four porters, was a large piece of building, containing divers rooms for the treasuring up things for the use of the temple; in the Apocrypha: " And are resolved to spend the firstfruits of the the tenths of wine and oil, which they had sanctified, and reserved for the priests that serve in Jerusalem before the face of our God; the which things it is not lawful for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands.'' Judith 11:13 that there may be food in mine house; in the temple, for the sustenance of the priests and Levites: so the Targum, "the prophet said, bring all the tithes into the treasury, that there may be food for them that minister in the house of my sanctuary:'' and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts; by bringing in all their tithes; when they would find, by making this experiment or trial, that the curse would be removed from them, and blessings be largely and liberally bestowed upon them by him, who is the Lord of hosts, and so able to perform any promise he makes; and here one is implied, and is as follows: if I will not open you the windows of heaven; which had been shut and stopped up, and let down no rain upon their land, which brought a scarcity of provisions among them; but now, upon a change in their conduct it is suggested that these windows or floodgates should be opened, and rain let down plentifully upon them, which only could be done by the Lord himself; for the key of rain is one of the three keys, the Jews say (i), which God has reserved for himself, and never puts into the hands of a minister: and pour you out a blessing: give abundance of rain to make the earth fruitful, and bring forth its increase in great plenty, which is a blessing; and not destroy the earth, and the fruits of it, as in the times of Noah, when the windows of heaven were opened, and a curse was poured out upon the earth: that there shall not be room enough to receive it; and so Kimchi says his father interpreted this clause, that there would not be a sufficiency of vessels (k) and storehouses. Some render the words, as Junius, "so that ye shall not be sufficient"; either to gather in the increase, or to consume it. The Targum is, "until ye say it is enough;'' and so the Syriac version. The phrase, which is very concise in the original text, and may be literally rendered, "unto not enough" (l), denotes great abundance and fulness of good things, so that there should be enough and to spare; and yet, as Gussetius observes, not enough to answer and express the abundance of mercy and goodness in the heart of God. (e) "thesaurum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "vel in domum thesauri", Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius, Burkius. (f) Hilchot Maaser Sheni, c. 1. sect. 1. (g) Not. in Misn. Middot, c. 2. sect. 6. No. 14. (h) Prospect of the Temple, c. 5. p. 1058. c. 19. p. 1097. (i) T. Bab. Taanith, fol. 2. 1. Sanhedrin, fol. 113. 1. (k) "adeo ut non sint vobis sufficientia vasa", Pagninus, Vatablus. So Burkius. (l) Eousque ut nunquam sit satis, nempe a parte datoris, Gussetius. So De Dieu.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
3:10 Put me to the test! The divine invitation to test the Lord offers the restoration community an opportunity to prove his faithfulness to his covenant promises.
Malachi 3:10
Robbing God
9You are cursed with a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing Me. 10Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure. 11I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your land, and the vine in your field will not fail to produce fruit,” says the LORD of Hosts.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Testimony - Part 1
By Gladys Aylward17K45:01TestimonyGEN 1:27EXO 19:5MAL 3:10MAT 22:37MAT 22:39ACT 16:91CO 13:13In this sermon transcript, the speaker shares their experience of being the only missionary in a heathen government and their journey of spreading the Gospel in South Shansey. Despite facing challenges and frustrations, the speaker found solace in sharing the story of Jesus with the locals, particularly through a woman named Gina. The speaker emphasizes the importance of giving everything to God and finding the love of Jesus Christ to share with others. They encourage the audience to fully surrender themselves to God and not hold back any part of their lives.
How God Taught Me to Give
By Oswald J. Smith8.4K1:01:17GivingPRO 11:24PRO 19:17MAL 3:10MAT 6:33LUK 6:38ACT 20:35In this sermon, the speaker shares his personal journey of how God led him to give towards missions. He recounts his experience of becoming the pastor of a church that held an annual Missionary Convention, despite having no prior knowledge of such events. During the convention, he received an envelope with a message about giving towards missionary work. Inspired by the words of Winston Churchill, who said, "Give us the tools and we'll finish the job," the speaker passionately encourages congregations to support missionaries by providing them with the necessary resources. He also shares a testimony of how his own life was transformed when he embraced the concept of giving and experienced God's faithfulness.
Testimony - Part 2
By Gladys Aylward7.2K45:01TestimonyGEN 22:2MAL 3:10MRK 16:15JAS 5:14In this sermon, the speaker shares about their experience running a children's home and the blessings they received from God. They also talk about their 60th birthday celebration and the importance of family. The speaker emphasizes the need to pray for the salvation of children in China and the responsibility to bring souls to God. They highlight the privilege of living in freedom and being able to read the Bible and pray, which is not available to millions in countries like Russia and China. The sermon concludes with a powerful reminder of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross and the need to surrender ourselves completely to Him.
A Mighty Minority
By K.P. Yohannan7.2K47:37Christian LivingGEN 17:5MAL 3:10MAT 6:1ACT 2:41ACT 3:1ACT 4:13ACT 5:1In this sermon, the speaker shares personal experiences of preaching the word of God and witnessing powerful transformations. He encourages believers not to be afraid of rejection or persecution, reminding them that Jesus will never leave or forsake them. The speaker emphasizes the importance of having a concern for others who do not know Jesus and the need to pray for them. He then references Acts chapter 2, highlighting the unity and power of the early believers who preached the gospel and saw 3,000 people come to faith. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of unity in the body of Christ and the power of prayer.
(Basics) 17. Dead Works
By Zac Poonen5.6K13:01DEU 28:47ISA 64:5MAL 3:10ROM 14:172CO 9:7In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of being a cheerful giver in the eyes of God. He references 2 Corinthians 9:7, which states that God loves a cheerful giver. The preacher also highlights a lesser-known verse in Isaiah 64:5, which emphasizes that God meets with those who rejoice in doing righteousness. The sermon then delves into the concept of dead works, which are works done without love. The preacher explains that love for God should be the foundation of all our actions, as Jesus commanded us to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength. He warns against doing good works out of fear or for personal gain, as God values works done out of love and obedience.
Test of Confusion - Part 1
By David Wilkerson5.5K32:13GEN 18:12NUM 14:28DEU 7:91KI 18:36MAL 3:101CO 2:9In this sermon, the preacher shares a personal testimony of a man who was struggling with addiction to crack cocaine. The man had a vision of his own funeral, which confirmed his fear that death was imminent. Desperate for deliverance, he cried out to God for help. God answered his prayer by sending a young lady who recognized his need for change and shared her own desire to be free from her miserable lifestyle. They both found salvation and eventually got married. The sermon emphasizes the power of God to deliver and transform lives, even in the midst of overwhelming circumstances.
Grieving the Holy Spirit
By C.H. Spurgeon4.5K42:57JDG 16:20PSA 119:105ISA 66:8HOS 4:17MAL 3:10MRK 16:16ACT 3:19In this sermon, the speaker discusses the experience of feeling distant from God and lacking spiritual understanding, comfort, and power. He emphasizes the need for individuals and churches to humble themselves before God and seek His presence and revival. The speaker acknowledges the current state of many churches, expressing a desire to see a greater outpouring of God's grace and the salvation of many souls. He encourages believers to recognize their own weaknesses and the patience of God in teaching them, comparing it to Jesus becoming a baby and the Holy Spirit becoming a teacher of babes.
Faith That Works
By Manley Beasley3.4K47:49FaithPSA 77:19MAL 3:10MAT 6:33ROM 3:27GAL 2:16HEB 11:6JAS 2:14In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being properly related to Jesus through faith. He explains that surrendering all and doing what we can afford to do is not difficult, but true faith is tested when we are called to step out into the unknown, without any signs or guidance. The preacher highlights the significance of having a relationship with Jesus and how it is the only way to navigate through life's challenges. He references scriptures from Romans, Galatians, and James to emphasize the importance of staying connected to Jesus.
Being a Blessing to Others
By K.P. Yohannan3.4K22:16OthersMAL 3:10In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of not being discouraged by difficulties and circumstances. He encourages the congregation to trust in God's provision and to give generously, even if they feel they have very little to offer. The preacher references the story of Cornelius in Acts chapter 10 as an example of someone who was not a Jew but still pleased God through his good deeds and generosity. He also highlights the concept of tithing and how failing to give what belongs to God can lead to financial troubles. The sermon concludes with a real-life story of a mentally ill woman who found hope and healing through her faith.
Humanity of Jesus - Part 2
By A.W. Tozer3.0K39:31Humanity Of JesusISA 42:1MAL 3:10MAT 6:33ACT 2:41CO 13:122CO 3:182TH 1:10In this sermon, the preacher discusses the purpose of sending out missionaries. He emphasizes that missionaries are sent to proclaim the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus is described as the perfect example of what God intended for humanity, as he is both fully God and fully man. The preacher highlights that Jesus is the mediator, Lord, advocate, prophet, high priest, savior, and coming king. He also emphasizes that Jesus is the sample man and model man that God had in mind when he created humanity in his image.
The Knowledge of God
By Art Katz3.0K1:51:05Knowledge Of GodEXO 20:12NUM 6:24DEU 10:12PSA 27:4PRO 3:5ISA 40:31MAL 3:10In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of bringing the message of God's word to a divided and violent world. He questions whether the revelation of God at Mount Sinai and the laws and covenants given to the Israelites are still relevant and real for believers today. The speaker mentions the Orthodox Passover Seder and the four sons, highlighting the foolish and wicked sons who disregard their ancestors' experiences and fail to see the significance of their own deliverance. The sermon also touches on God's jealousy and references another book on God as a mystery.
A Widow Who Becomes a Channel of God's Power
By Otto Koning2.8K1:08:30Faith and ProvisionPower Of GodSacrifice for the GospelPRO 11:25MAL 3:10MAT 6:33MAT 10:39LUK 6:38JHN 12:24ACT 20:352CO 9:7PHP 4:191TI 6:18Otto Koning shares a powerful testimony about a widow who, despite her poverty, becomes a channel of God's blessings by committing to give everything above her basic needs to support missionaries. Through her faith and prayers, she experiences miraculous provisions as businessmen in her community prosper due to her intercession, leading her to give even more to missions. Koning emphasizes the principle that those who lose their lives for Christ's sake will find true life, illustrating this through the widow's story and his own experiences in the mission field. He challenges listeners to consider their own willingness to sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel and to trust in God's provision.
From Babylon to Jerusalem - (Haggai) ch.1 & 2
By Zac Poonen2.5K1:00:45From Babylon To JerusalemDEU 28:8PRO 3:9HAG 1:5MAL 3:10MAT 6:19MAT 6:33ACT 3:6In this sermon, the speaker discusses the power of speaking the word of God under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He emphasizes that even a few minutes of speaking the burden of the Lord can accomplish more than years of preaching without the anointing. The speaker also highlights the importance of speaking words given by God in counseling and helping others, rather than relying on clever ideas and thoughts. The sermon also addresses the issue of having knowledge and engaging in religious activities, but lacking victory and blessings in one's life. The speaker encourages the audience to consider their ways and seek a deeper connection with God.
What Is Faith - Part 2
By Manley Beasley2.3K39:44FaithPSA 37:5PRO 3:5MAL 3:10MAT 6:33MRK 11:24JAS 1:6In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of belief in receiving from God. He shares a personal experience of preaching to a congregation of highly educated individuals and realizing the power of the Holy Spirit in making the Word of God come alive. The preacher then references Hebrews 11:13, highlighting the faith of those who died without receiving the promises but still believed and confessed them. He uses an illustration of confessing and trusting in Jesus' will to demonstrate the concept of faith as a leap into the light, not a leap into the dark. The sermon concludes with a focus on discovering God's will and trusting Jesus to solve problems and release His power in our lives.
Prove Me Now - Part 1
By Keith Daniel2.0K09:40ISA 58:6MAL 3:6MAL 3:10This sermon delves into the themes of righteousness, compassion, and faithfulness as highlighted in the Old Testament passages of Malachi 3 and Isaiah 58. It emphasizes the importance of living a life without compromise, especially in matters related to money, finances, and material possessions, calling for a return to God's ways of justice, mercy, and generosity.
The Willingness That Precedes the Glory
By Carter Conlon1.9K59:27WillingEXO 35:21PSA 103:14MAL 3:10MAT 6:33MAT 10:28MAT 10:39In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of willingly offering ourselves to God's purposes, even in times of oppression. He draws examples from the book of Judges, highlighting the stories of Deborah and Barak, as well as Gideon. The speaker shares his personal conviction that his family will be a missions family for four generations, and that God will prosper them financially to support global outreach. He encourages listeners to trust in God's provision and care, reminding them of God's faithfulness to provide for the sparrows and the flowers. The sermon concludes with a reminder of God's promise to bless and protect those who faithfully serve Him.
The Spiritual Grace of Giving
By Denny Kenaston1.8K1:00:30GivingPRO 11:24ECC 11:1MAL 3:10MAT 6:33LUK 6:38ACT 20:352CO 8:1In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the theme of redemption and the grace of giving. He begins by acknowledging that the subject of redemption is vast and cannot be fully covered in one sermon. He then reads from Ecclesiastes 11:1-6, using the analogy of clouds emptying themselves of rain to illustrate the concept of giving generously. The preacher emphasizes that the foundation of the spiritual grace of giving is redemption, highlighting the example of the Israelites who were slaves and lived in poverty but experienced God's miraculous deliverance and became rich overnight. The sermon encourages listeners to understand the motivation behind the Israelites' tremendous giving and to apply the principles of grace and generosity in their own lives.
(The Spiritual Man) the Law of Blessings
By Denny Kenaston1.7K1:07:56BlessingsDEU 28:1PSA 127:3PRO 3:9MAL 3:10MAT 6:33MAT 23:11ROM 12:1In this sermon, Brother Denny discusses the concept of the law of blessings in the Bible. He emphasizes the importance of putting one's will into following God's laws and commands. He encourages the young people listening to visualize the blessings described in Deuteronomy chapter 28 and to meditate on them. Brother Denny also highlights the significance of obedience and taking quiet time each day to connect with God. He concludes by emphasizing the wisdom and fulfillment found in winning souls for Christ.
Marriage - Marriage Supper of the Lamb
By Martin Geehan1.6K45:37MarriageGEN 24:63MAL 3:10MAT 6:332CO 11:2EPH 5:231TH 4:16REV 19:5In this sermon, the preacher uses the story of Abraham and Isaac from Genesis 24 to illustrate the relationship between God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the church. Abraham represents God the Father, who sends his servant Eliezer (representing the Holy Spirit) to find a bride for his son Isaac (representing Jesus Christ). The preacher emphasizes the battle between good and evil that Christians face, as described by Paul in Romans 7. The sermon concludes with the marriage of Isaac and Rebecca, symbolizing the union between Christ and the church.
(Through the Bible) 2 Corinthians 9-10
By Chuck Smith1.5K1:12:05PSA 112:9MAL 3:10JHN 16:92CO 9:62CO 9:10In this sermon, the speaker discusses the concept of spiritual laws established by God within the universe. While the speaker admits to not fully understanding how these laws work, they emphasize the importance of living by them and reaping the results. One specific spiritual law mentioned is the principle of giving, where the more one gives to God, the more they will receive. The speaker encourages listeners to prove this law by giving tithes and offerings, as God promises to pour out blessings that cannot be contained.
Let's Be Rich Toward God
By John Piper1.5K48:29PRO 3:9MAL 3:10LUK 12:34ROM 8:322CO 8:71TI 6:18This sermon emphasizes the importance of being rich toward God rather than treasuring possessions. It discusses the hazards and helpfulness of money, the significance of valuing God above all else, and the essential role of the local church in God's purposes. The message urges listeners to prioritize God's value, seek His guidance in managing finances, and use wealth to glorify Him and bless others.
(Pure Testimony) the Church as a Burning Bush
By Zac Poonen1.5K1:01:39PurityEXO 3:14PSA 37:4MAL 3:10MAT 6:33ROM 13:8PHP 4:4JUD 1:24In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of the church and its role in evangelism. He defines evangelism as the act of making someone who is not a member of the body of Christ, a member of the body. The preacher challenges the use of certain theological concepts that are not found in the Bible and encourages a focus on building the church rather than material possessions. He highlights the attitude of Jesus and the apostles as the foundation of the church and emphasizes the significance of both the words of Jesus in the gospels and the epistles in understanding the truth.
Conduct Worthy of the Gospel
By Shane Idleman1.4K51:37GospelISA 1:18JER 29:11EZK 36:26DAN 10:12JOL 2:28AMO 5:24JON 2:9MIC 6:8NAM 1:7HAB 3:17ZEP 3:17HAG 2:9ZEC 4:6MAL 3:10The video tells the story of a boy who falls multiple times while running a race. Each time he falls, he feels embarrassed and wants to give up. However, his father's encouraging look motivates him to keep getting up and trying again. Despite the boy's setbacks, he eventually finds the determination to keep going and tries his best to catch up to the other runners. The video emphasizes the importance of perseverance and not giving up, even when faced with failure or difficult circumstances.
How to Thrive in the Coming Famine
By Carter Conlon1.2K51:14ISA 41:10MAL 3:10MRK 1:9PHP 4:19This sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting God in impossible situations, encouraging the congregation to live for God's purpose, give to others even in times of need, and have the humility to receive help when necessary. It highlights the story of Elijah and the widow in 1 Kings 17 as a model of trusting God for provision and reaching out to those in need, showcasing the faithfulness of God in sustaining His people through challenging times.
Prove Me Now - Part 4
By Keith Daniel1.2K09:49EXO 20:8PRO 3:9MAL 3:10MAT 6:33LUK 16:10This sermon emphasizes the importance of honoring God in all aspects of life, including business dealings and financial decisions. It shares a powerful testimony of a couple who chose to close their business on Sundays to honor God's day, despite the potential financial risks. The sermon highlights how God honored their obedience and faithfulness, leading to unexpected prosperity and blessings beyond measure. It encourages believers to prioritize honoring God above all else, even when faced with challenges or opposition.
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
Mal 3:10. "Bring ye all the tithe into the treasure-house, that there may be consumption in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith Jehovah of hosts, if I do not open you the sluices of heaven, and pour you out a blessing to superabundance. Mal 3:11. And I will rebuke the devourer for you, that he may not destroy the fruit of your ground; and your vine will not miscarry in the field, saith Jehovah of hosts. Mal 3:12. And all nations will call you blessed; for ye will be a land of good pleasure, saith Jehovah of hosts." In Mal 3:10 the emphasis lies upon kol: the whole of the tithe they are to bring, and not merely a portion of it, and so defraud the Lord; for the tithe was paid to Jehovah for His servants the Levites (Num 18:24). It was delivered, at least after the times of the later kings, at the sanctuary, where store-chambers were built for the purpose (cf. Ch2 31:11.; Neh 10:38-39; Neh 12:44; Neh 13:12). Tereph signifies here food, or consumption, as in Pro 31:15; Psa 111:5. בּזאת, through this, i.e., through their giving to God what they are under obligation to give Him, they are to prove God, whether in His attitude towards them He is no longer the holy and righteous God (Mal 2:17; Mal 3:6). Then will they also learn, that He causes the promised blessing to flow in the richest abundance to those who keep His commandments. אם לא is not a particle of asseveration or oath (Koehler), but an indirect question: whether not. Opening the sluices of heaven is a figure, denoting the most copious supply of blessing, so that it flows down from heaven like a pouring rain (as in Kg2 7:2). עד בּלי די, till there is no more need, i.e., in superabundance. This thought is individualized in Mal 3:11. Everything that could injure the fruits of the land God will take away. גּער, to rebuke practically, i.e., to avert the intention. אכל, the devourer, is here the locust, so called from its insatiable voracity. Shikkēl, to miscarry, is affirmed of the vine, when it has set a good quantity of grapes, which perish and drop off before they ripen. In consequence of this blessing, all nations will call Israel blessed (Mal 3:12), because its land will be an object of pleasure to every one (cf. Zac 7:14; Zac 8:13, Zac 8:23).
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
(Pro 3:9-10). storehouse-- (Ch2 31:11, Margin; compare Ch1 26:20; Neh 10:38; Neh 13:5, Neh 13:12). prove me . . . herewith--with this; by doing so. Test Me whether I will keep My promise of blessing you, on condition of your doing your part (Ch2 31:10). pour . . . out--literally, "empty out": image from a vessel completely emptied of its contents: no blessing being kept back. windows of heaven-- (Kg2 2:7). that . . . not . . . room enough, &c.--literally, "even to not . . . sufficiency," that is, either, as English Version. Or, even so as that there should be "not merely" "sufficiency" but superabundance [JEROME, MAURER]. GESENIUS not so well translates, "Even to a failure of sufficiency," which in the case of God could never arise, and therefore means for ever, perpetually: so Psa 72:5, "as long as the sun and moon endure"; literally, "until a failure of the sun and moon," which is never to be; and therefore means, for ever.
John Gill Bible Commentary
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,.... Or "treasury" (e); for there were places in the temple where the tithe was put, and from thence distributed to the priests and Levites, for the support of their families, as they wanted. There were the tithe or tenth part of all eatable things paid to the Levites, and out of this another tithe was paid by the Levites to the priests; and there was another tithe, which some years the owners ate themselves at Jerusalem, and in others gave them to the poor; and these were called the first tithe, the tithe out of the tithe, the second tithe, and the poor's tithe; though they are commonly reduced to three, and are called first, and second, and third, as they are by Maimonides; who says (f), "after they have separated the first tithe every year, they separate the second tithe, as it is said "thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed", &c. Deu 14:22 and in the third year, and in the sixth, they separate the poor's tithe, instead of the second tithe.'' So Tobit says; Tobit 1:7 "the first tithe I gave to the Levites, who stand before the Lord to minister to him, and to bless in his name the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the second tithe I sold (as he might, according to the law in Deu 14:24), and took the money, and went up to Jerusalem, and bought with it what I pleased; and the third tithe I gave to the repair of the temple;'' so Fagius reads: but according to Munster's edition it is, the second and third tithes I gave to the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow; see Deu 26:12. It appears from hence that the sin of the people was, that they did not bring in "all" their tithes; they kept back a part of them: wherefore they are called upon to bring in the whole, and which they did in Nehemiah's time; see Neh 10:38 where mention is made of the treasuries for the tithe, which were certain chambers adjoining to the temple; and besides those that were built by Solomon, there were other chambers prepared by Hezekiah in his times, when the tithes were brought in, in such plenty, that there was not room enough for them, Ch2 31:11 and besides those in the second temple, that were in the court of the priests, there were others in the court of the people, as L'Empereur thinks (g), where what the others could not contain might be put; and into which court the priests might come; and there were also receptacles underground, as well as upper rooms, where much might be laid up; add to all this, that Dr. Lightfoot (h) suggests, that these tithes were treasured up in the chambers by the gates of the temple, and were at least a part of the treasuries of the house of God, which the porters at the gates had the care of, Ch1 9:26 and particularly that the house of Asuppim, at which were four porters, was a large piece of building, containing divers rooms for the treasuring up things for the use of the temple; in the Apocrypha: " And are resolved to spend the firstfruits of the the tenths of wine and oil, which they had sanctified, and reserved for the priests that serve in Jerusalem before the face of our God; the which things it is not lawful for any of the people so much as to touch with their hands.'' Judith 11:13 that there may be food in mine house; in the temple, for the sustenance of the priests and Levites: so the Targum, "the prophet said, bring all the tithes into the treasury, that there may be food for them that minister in the house of my sanctuary:'' and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts; by bringing in all their tithes; when they would find, by making this experiment or trial, that the curse would be removed from them, and blessings be largely and liberally bestowed upon them by him, who is the Lord of hosts, and so able to perform any promise he makes; and here one is implied, and is as follows: if I will not open you the windows of heaven; which had been shut and stopped up, and let down no rain upon their land, which brought a scarcity of provisions among them; but now, upon a change in their conduct it is suggested that these windows or floodgates should be opened, and rain let down plentifully upon them, which only could be done by the Lord himself; for the key of rain is one of the three keys, the Jews say (i), which God has reserved for himself, and never puts into the hands of a minister: and pour you out a blessing: give abundance of rain to make the earth fruitful, and bring forth its increase in great plenty, which is a blessing; and not destroy the earth, and the fruits of it, as in the times of Noah, when the windows of heaven were opened, and a curse was poured out upon the earth: that there shall not be room enough to receive it; and so Kimchi says his father interpreted this clause, that there would not be a sufficiency of vessels (k) and storehouses. Some render the words, as Junius, "so that ye shall not be sufficient"; either to gather in the increase, or to consume it. The Targum is, "until ye say it is enough;'' and so the Syriac version. The phrase, which is very concise in the original text, and may be literally rendered, "unto not enough" (l), denotes great abundance and fulness of good things, so that there should be enough and to spare; and yet, as Gussetius observes, not enough to answer and express the abundance of mercy and goodness in the heart of God. (e) "thesaurum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "vel in domum thesauri", Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius, Burkius. (f) Hilchot Maaser Sheni, c. 1. sect. 1. (g) Not. in Misn. Middot, c. 2. sect. 6. No. 14. (h) Prospect of the Temple, c. 5. p. 1058. c. 19. p. 1097. (i) T. Bab. Taanith, fol. 2. 1. Sanhedrin, fol. 113. 1. (k) "adeo ut non sint vobis sufficientia vasa", Pagninus, Vatablus. So Burkius. (l) Eousque ut nunquam sit satis, nempe a parte datoris, Gussetius. So De Dieu.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
3:10 Put me to the test! The divine invitation to test the Lord offers the restoration community an opportunity to prove his faithfulness to his covenant promises.