A Study in Malachi

Return to the Lord

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Malachi 3:6–12

Pastor Simon Bartos  ·  July 26, 2026

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Key Passage  ·  ESV
Malachi 3:6–7 For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ Malachi 3:8–9 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Malachi 3:10–12 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.
Big Idea

God calls Israel to return to covenant faithfulness, specifically through proper tithing, promising abundant blessing if they obey.

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Part One

God Is Rich in Mercy

Malachi 3:6–7

God does change His actions: “Return to me, and I will return to you.” So verse 6 declares something about His attributes: He is unchanging in His 1.

This passage sits between two arguments where Israel claims God is not gracious. His mercy is shown amid their ongoing disobedience, leaving them no excuse.

The very ground we stand on is upheld by a good and providential God.

Their distance from God has resulted in breaking His laws. In other words, they have gone 2.

“But you say, ‘How shall we return?’” reveals hearts still 3, deflecting rather than repenting.

Proximity to God is what exposes that we too have gone astray. Being exposed is a step toward repentance, not a reason to resist it.

Part Two

Withholding Resources Is Robbing God

Malachi 3:8–9

The word tithe means a 4. The tithe funded the Levites, communal worship, and care for the vulnerable. Israel withheld it.

In Christ we are freed from the law’s obligations, but not freed to be close-fisted. Under grace, giving is not lessened; it is 5.

Grace doesn’t lower the bar. If the shadow of the Law demanded a tenth, the light of the Gospel deserves our all.

“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:6–7

A selfish heart won’t give even when it can. A generous heart gives even when it can’t.

The widow’s two mites outgave every large gift, because she gave from a generous heart.

A closed hand says we don’t believe God owns all things, we don’t believe God provides all things, and we don’t believe we are 6.

Reflect · If your answer is “I am unable to give,” would that change if you had more money? What does your answer show about your heart?
Part Three

Called to Return by Living Generously

Malachi 3:10–12

The remedy to their curse: bring the full tithe. “Full” means undivided, uncut, without 7.

The only place in Scripture where God invites His people to test Him: “Put me to the 8.” Elsewhere it is forbidden (Deuteronomy 6:16). Here He offers Himself as proof.

This is not a prosperity promise. Our giving shows where our heart already lies.

For us, the devourer may be financial disaster or unexpected expense. We are not buying God’s protection, but walking in a way that invites His covenant hand of care.

“From what curses and degradations should we be delivered if Christian people gave as the Scriptures direct!”

Samuel Chadwick

Generosity places us under the hand of the God who owns everything, so that His protection becomes our provision.

“Land of delight” echoes Eden: God’s presence, provision, and pleasure made obvious, for all nations to see.

Reflect · All of us are dependent on someone or something, ultimately on God. Where do your attitude and behavior show gratitude, or ingratitude, toward the One sustaining you?
Conclusion

Before we can return to God in generosity, we must first come to Him through faith.

Perhaps, as we talk about returning to God, you realize you have never actually come to Him in the first place. We have all robbed God, not just of our resources, but of the glory and honor He deserves. We have all gone astray.

God’s mercy is most clearly displayed at the cross, where Jesus paid the penalty for our sin. The greatest gift God ever gave was not material blessing. It was His Son. “The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Return to faithfulness  ·  Freely and generously give  ·  Remember that God provides

My Response · One thing I am taking from this message
Prayer
✦ Giving at MCC →
1mercy
2astray
3hard
4tenth
5deepened
6stewards
7reservation
8test