Bible Discussion Thread

What difference or similarities of malach 3v10 Ephesians 1

In Malachi 3:8-12, Israel had defaulted in their tithing, by holding back more than they should have. This was very wrong, as tithes at that time that were brought into the 'storehouses' were for the feeding of the priests who were not given land to cultivate & grow crops & were dependent on others for this need. God is saying here, that even if the people performed this commandment & duty fully, with a ready obedient heart, He would reciprocate with blessing, more than they could comprehend. Their fields would flourish & the nations would have the witness of the God of Israel's Love & Blessings upon His people.

In Ephesians 1:3-14, the blessings that come upon the Christian are dependent on what God has done in our lives & what He gives to secure our salvation: they are spiritual blessings which of course, can certainly be seen materially as well but not always. What Israel failed to receive because of their disobedience, the Christian gains because of his position in Christ Jesus & His cleaving unto Him.

So the similarities are there by the receipt of God's blessings, but the difference I see, is that those in Christ, receive doubly to what Israel could ever receive, blessings that come from an eternal, joyful, familial relationship to the Godhead. Where Israel still had to sacrifice each year for their sins, we have One Who has paid sin's price for us. Where Israel's hope lay in their faltering obedience to God's Commands & trust in God to help them, the Christian's sure hope lies only in Jesus Christ & His Spirit Who guarantees our salvation & position in Christ; we naturally demonstrate our faith & love for Him in doing all this for us, which we could never hope to do ourselves.