Purifying the Altar

Why Is It That When Some People tithe, They Do Not Get the Blessing?

Matt 23:13-19 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?

The condition of the place (ministry) where we give is more important than the gift itself..

In Matthew 23:17 the word “sacred” means-  “to make, render, or declare sacred or holy, to consecrate.

When a tithe is put on a pure altar, it is made holy and acceptable to God.  The covenant is completed.  When the tithe is put on an impure altar, it is made unholy, and the covenant is not completed, so the promised blessings do not flow.

The context is taken from the tithe referenced in Matthew 23:23.

What makes an altar (ministry) pure or impure? I Kings 12 & 13

The motivation of the individual who sets up the altar determines if an altar is pure or impure.  Is the ministry his idea or the Lords?

I Kings 12:32-33 He (King Jeroboam) instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also installed priests at the high places he had made. On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings.

The Lord’s response to an impure altar.  1 Kings 13:1,2.

1) When a man devises in his own heart and raises up a ministry God has not ordained, he will die on the very altar he builds. When we tithe into an impure altar, it is like pouring money into a hole (I Kings 13:3)

2) The condition of the altar where you attend, participate, and put your money is reproduced in your life, whether you are aware of it or not. (1 Kings 13:8,9, 16-18, 21-25).  To eat with (enter into fellowship with) an impure altar, brings death.  In other words, the altar affects us. The older prophet was affected.  This is confirmed because he gave a false word and then a good word.

Malachi 2:1,2 states that the Lord will, because of disobedience, “curse one’s blessing.”

3) The tithe was to go to the Levites not to the synagogue. In Numbers 18:19-22 the storehouse is not necessarily a local church. The scripture is clear and consistent. In Numbers 18, 2 Chronicles 31:4,5, and Malachi 3, the stated purpose of the tithe is to support the Levites, plural, not singular.  It was given to the Levites, through the storehouse, so they might devote themselves to the word of the Lord and bring the meat of the word to God’s people, causing growth and maturity.  Who are the Levites? See Numbers 8:13-19.  2 Chronicles 31:4-They devoted themselves to the word of the Lord.  “The Levites were to mature the believers by teaching God’s Word.”  The fivefold gifts were given to equip the people.

Eph 4:7-12 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

Funds were not to be brought to a pastor but to the apostolic team.  Kittel indicates that in the Early Church, the only time pastors were in the pulpit was when the apostle, prophet and teacher were out of town.

Do we contaminate the altar by the way we ask for funds?

We can proclaim God’s blessings when we tithe and are obedient – Deut 26:12-18.  Our prayer should be “God I have obeyed your voice.” Because I obeyed and gave where God told me to give, He will work and bring to pass what I tell Him I need.”

God did say to bring the tithe into the storehouse, but when does a ministry qualify as a Bible storehouse and when does it not?  I believe a church or ministry qualifies as a storehouse when the Pastor or leader makes a heart commitment to bring the fivefold ministry to the people!

Written by Al Houghton – Used with permission