If they could rob God (and the verse says they did) then we also can rob God in the same manner.
Uh, well my point Michael is that we cannot and I thought I made that point.
We (NT saints) can't rob God in the same manner as one who is under the law of Moses which BTW is impossible today to keep in that there is no identifiable levitical priesthood and neither temple nor storehouse in Jerusalem today.
Malachi was written to Jews. Malachi 3 was written specifically to focus upon the Levites who were robbing the Temple storehouse and with some of the citizenry of the nation of Israel holding back their tithe(s).
They were under the Law. We are not.
Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
Galatians 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Research the laws of tithing for Israel. Hebrew Landowners were those who were tithed and not wage-earners. In fact the indictment brought against these priests and Hebrew citizens involved the wage-earner as victim "those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts".
These oppressed hirelings, widows and orphans for whom the robbed tithe was meant in part were suffering because of those who "robbed God".
The Hebrew citizens for not bringing it all, the priests for robbing the temple of those tithes which were brought in.
Techically speaking the tithe was the Israeli income tax. you fulfill a similar role when you pay your federal income tax.
But if you want to apply the letter of the law then technically speaking according to the Law, you have indeed robbed God as He requires that you bring the tithe into the storehouse (Malach 3). One cannot mix law and grace as life living principles, if you are led of the Spirit you are not under the Law, if the Spirit leads you to tithe your wage then do it.
Let me repeat my previously stated premise: IMO, there is nothing wrong with preaching a tithe, a double tithe, triple or whatever, but to relate it to Malachi 3 and/or the Law of Moses is to legalize it and put a yoke on the necks of NT believers.
Giving IMO must be preached "by faith" motivated by love without intimidation or constraint.
"The just shall live by faith".
NKJV 1 Corinthians 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
2 Corinthians 9
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
HankD