Offerings In The Book Of Malachi (What Are They?)

Offerings in the book of Malachi are different than offerings given on a Sunday. What are the offerings in the book of Malachi? Many preachers teach that an offering is a financial gift given after the tithe is satisfied. The tithe, according to these same preachers, is ten percent of one’s gross income given to the local church. A person, according to this false teaching, cannot give an offering until they’ve first given ten percent. In other words, offerings begin at 11%.

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Offerings in the book of Malachi, similar to tithes, were food items. These offerings could be grain, salt, wine, animals, and other edible items. There were several differing offerings including burnt offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, wave offerings, fellowship offerings, grain offerings, and more. None of the offerings in Malachi apply to New Testament Christians. As such, Christians are unable to rob God in offerings.

Offerings In The Book Of Malachi — Pastors

Twenty-first-century pastors understandably desire financial offerings. Some churches are now accepting cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin in addition to money. Others will allow the transfer of stocks as an offering.

Generally, pastors don’t want pigeons, goats, flour, oil, or other messy items given to them. They want money.

Does what pastors want, change the proper Biblical interpretation of Malachi 3:8?

No, not at all. Pastors and Bible teachers still must interpret Biblical texts in their proper context.

Offerings, according to Malachi 3:8, were not financial gifts given to priests after the first ten percent of income was given. These offerings, in most instances, were used to atone for intentional and unintentional sins.

Jesus satisfied these offering requirements through his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.

Regrettably, some preachers still want us to live under an inferior covenant.

Did tithing happen before the law? Click here for more.

Offering Frequency In Malachi

Sins were committed daily in ancient Israel and there was no eternal redemption. Daily offerings were provided in the temple.

Numbers 28:4-5 Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight, together with a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives.

Numbers 28:8 (NIV) Offer the second lamb at twilight, along with the same kind of grain offering and drink offering that you offer in the morning. This is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

One offering in the morning and another in the evening.

Weekly Offerings on the Sabbath

Numbers 28:9-10 (NIV) On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil. This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.

Sabbath offerings were made in addition to the daily offerings.

So far, none of these offerings are silver, gold, or other forms of money.

Monthly Offerings in The Book of Malachi

Numbers 28:11 (NIV) On the first of every month, present to the Lord a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.

But wait, there is an additional monthly offering.

Numbers 28:15 (NIV) Besides the regular burnt offering with its drink offering, one male goat is to be presented to the Lord as a sin offering.

Each new moon and additional offering was demanded. Still, no money has been given to the priests or Levites.

Annual Offerings in the Book of Malachi

Israelites were required to provide annual offerings for the festivals and high holy days.

The Passover Offering

Numbers 28:19 (NIV) Present to the Lord a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.

Numbers 28:22 (NIV) Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you.

This same process was repeated for seven consecutive days (Numbers 28:24).

Jesus is our Passover Lamb. What did Jesus say about tithing? Find out more here.

The Festival of Weeks Offering

Numbers 28:27 (NIV) Present a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

Numbers 28:30 (NIV) Include one male goat to make atonement for you.

The Passover and Festival of Weeks offerings are identical in quality.

The Festival of Trumpets Offering

Numbers 29:2 (NIV) As an aroma pleasing to the Lord, offer a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.

Numbers 29:5-6 (NIV) Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you. These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and drink offerings as specified. They are food offerings presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma.

The Festival of Trumpets offering has one fewer young bull but the rest was identical. Moses reminds the reader that the daily and monthly offerings are still required as previously prescribed.

The Day of Atonement Offering

Numbers 29:9 (NIV) Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.

Numbers 29:11 (NIV) Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

When does God require financial offerings? Hold tight. We’re almost there.

The Festival of Tabernacles

Festival of Tabernacles Offerings were larger than the other High Holy Days.

Numbers 29:13 (NIV) Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect.

Numbers 29:16 (NIV) Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.

The number of sacrificial bulls decreased by one each day until the seventh day.

Don’t Come Empty Handed

Deuteronomy 16:16-17 (NIV) Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God at the place which He chooses: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks, and at the Feast of Booths; and they are not to appear before the Lord empty-handed. Everyone shall give as he is able, in accordance with the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you.

It makes sense that giving is financial in this context. Notice how God establishes giving boundaries. Biblical giving has always been proportional and personal. We don’t get to establish a set number or percentage.

God didn’t.

Jesus didn’t.

The Apostles didn’t.

Offerings In The Book of Malachi Do Not Apply To Christians

Malachi 3:8 (NASB) Would anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.

Malachi’s prophecy was written to the Hebrews living in Israel. The tithes in question were never financial. Preachers should never change scripture. Hard stop.

The offering mentioned in Deuteronomy 16 and Exodus 23 might reference money. However, these offerings were given during the High Holy Days. Christians do not celebrate these days.

Offerings given by Christians are always freely given. Since they are freely given robbery is impossible.

Fearless generosity is in our spiritual DNA. Legalism and coerced giving must be removed from our fellowships. Dressing up the law to manipulate Christians is dangerous.

Hebrews 8:13 (NASB) When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is about to disappear.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Let’s give radically, generously, and fearlessly!

If you’d like to know more about tithing click here for the Ultimate Guide to Tithing.