בס”ד
Parashat Tzav (You shall command) Leviticus 6:18:36
Haftarah: Malachi 3:4-24
Shabbat HaGadol
This Shabbat is called the Great Sabbath because it is the Shabbat before Passover. Traditionally this is the day while the Hebrews were in Egypt that they took the lamb that would be held from the 10th of Nisan until the 14th when it would be slaughtered as the Passover offering. The reading from the prophet Malachi is full of key information often times relating to redemption and the changes and events that will take place before the establishment of the Kingdom.
In this section a Torah commandment is mentioned called tithing, i.e. giving a tenth of one’s harvest. This could be understood as giving a tenth of one’s income to the causes of HaShem. Tithing is more complicated than what I will share with you in this blog, as there were three different tithes and the recipients were also different. However, due to simplicity and the time in which we are living (no Temple and no active Priesthood or Levites) I would like to discuss the issue of tithing as a Biblical principle of giving a tenth of one’s income to G-dly purposes.
Obviously where to give and the amount of each gift are issues that should be decided by much prayer, counsel, and investigation. One is responsible to insure that his or her resources truly go to causes for which HaShem is well pleased. The main point I would like to discuss in regard to this issue is what Malachi reveals about the one who fails to demonstrate proper stewardship over his or her resources. When one does not tithe, it is as that person is robbing G-d. In calling the people to repentance, their response is, “For what shall we repent?” (See verse 7) HaShem’s answer to this question is,
“Will a man rob G-d? Because you have robbed Me and then you say, ‘With what have we robbed you?’ the tithes and the offering.” Malachi 3:8
HaShem continues, and reveals that this disobedience has brought a curse upon the people (See verse 9). Yet when one obeys the word of G-d and fulfills this important commandment HaShem promises that He will open up the windows of heaven and pour out upon the people blessing (See verse 10).
As we observe the festival of Passover, remembering that the Lamb of G-d, Yeshua the Messiah is our Passover sacrifice, let us consider how we are to respond to the call to support the work of the Kingdom.
Shabbat Shalom