Your Question: What does it mean to bring in the meat?

My Answer(s): Thank you for your question and visiting my web site for understanding. Your question appears to suggest that we are to bring "meat" into some place of a self-appointed minister choosing. First, I must point out that the verse you are referring to with this phrase "bring in the meat" is not in the New Testament but in the Old Testament. And it’s an admonishment and commandment to the sons of Levi and the priests, not to Christians (Malachi 2:1-9). For God gave the sons of Levi the authority to collect tithes from the males who owned land and livestock in excess of ten each. But these sons of Levi were stealing the best of the tithes for themselves rather than using them for the upkeep of the temple of God and sacrifices as required by the law (Malachi 1:6-14).

Those who wish to extort ten percent of Christian’s income often quote this phrase in some form or another. Malachi 3:10 also speaks of bringing this so-called "meat or "food" into the "storehouse". Are you fully persuaded that these man-made human organizations called "churches" are "storehouses" for God? I mean think about what you are implying here. Now, looking at the verse in the King James it says "meat", however, in other translations in says "food".

• Malachi 3:10 (KJV)… 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
• Malachi 3:10 (NKJV)… 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, " If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.  
• Malachi 3:10 (NIV)… 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

After reading this verse one must ask what is the "storehouse" on this planet God called His own? It certainly was not all these worldly buildings called "churches". Because when the prophet spoke these words being moved by the Holy Spirit, God’s house was the temple in Jerusalem. And the sons of Levi were charged with collecting tithes of grains and livestock from the males of Israel. So when the Holy Spirit spoke of "meat", this referred to actual grains and livestock, not to the income of Christians. The word "storehouse" refers to the God’s house, the temple of God (Exodus 23:19, 34:26, and 1 Chronicles 6:48, 9:26).

King David said:

• 1 Chronicles 22:6-10… 6 Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon: "My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. 8 But this word of the LORD came to me: 'You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight. 9 But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon, and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. 10 He is the one who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'

King Solomon said:

• 1 Kings 8:17-21, 17 "My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 18 But the LORD said to my father David, 'Because it was in your heart to build a temple for my Name, you did well to have this in your heart. 19 Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, who is your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.' 20 "The LORD has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the LORD promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 21 I have provided a place there for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD that he made with our fathers when he brought them out of Egypt."

Therefore under the Old Covenant, we see that the word "storehouse" in Malachi 3:10 refers to the house of God or temple of God built by King Solomon. And not to some building built by men, which are called "churches". These self-appointed ministers claiming they represent God do not sit in the "storehouse" of God. Otherwise, there are many storehouses of God on this planet and which one do you think is the right one? If you believe you should take your meat to their "churches" then you would be taking grains and livestock to them. For the word meat in Malachi 3:10 does not mean ten percent of your money or income.

The meanings of these words in verse 10, as "storehouse" is Strong's number 0214 with a phonetic speech "o-tsaw'", the Hebrew Original Word: "Rcwa". Transliterated Word: "owtsar" Malachi 3:10... the word "storehouse" in the Hebrew means: treasure (gold, silver, etc); storehouse (store, supplies of food or drink); treasure house, treasury (fig. Of God's armory); King James translations: treasures, treasury, storehouses, cellars, armory, garners and store.

The word translated in verse 10 as "meat" or "food" is Strong's Number 02964, Original word "@rj". Transliterated word "Tereph" Phonetic spelling for speech "eh'-ref"; meaning in Hebrew: prey, food or leaf; translations in the KJV: prey, meat, leaves, and spoil.

As you can see these words do not have a meaning of ten percent of Christian’s income, never have. But these gospel peddlers have convinced most Christians that these words mean their money because of their greed. The New Testament speaks of these ministers preaching from their belly for financial gain. For they are running greedily in the error of Balaam for profit (Jude 1:11).

Now, if you are asking this question because you believe God was speaking to the people of Israel rather than the priests and the "sons of Levi" in Malachi, then please study Malachi chapters 1-3. If you are asking this question because you are thinking that these human organizations called churches are storehouses or your minister was given authority by God to collect tithes from you, and he represent God then here is a truth you can trust, he do not nor are churches storehouses. And those ministers who claim their human organizations is the house of God then they are wrong nor do they represent God.

Now, under the New Covenant, your body is God's house (His temple), if indeed you have His Spirit and the Spirit of His Christ living in you. And further proof that these church houses of this world are not God's houses is this, that throughout God's word He compares and speaks of Himself as being among the poor and oppress of the land. The poor and needy of the ones God says He stands up for and takes up their cause - what you do to them you do to God (Psalm 12:5, Proverbs 14:31 and Matthew 25:35-46). These Scriptures tell us that God lives among the poor and needy of this world. Therefore, the poor and needy and oppressed of this world represent God. And if you want to give to God then help the poor and helpless of this world with your ten percent of your income and your offerings. Not to some minister, I repeat not some self-appointed, over fed minister claiming he represent God (believe me he don't) and nor do his human organization so-called by the name "church" or "God's house" are this "storehouse" in Malachi 3:10.

Finally, I direct you to my Tithes and Offerings web site article on Malachi 3 Miss-interpreted. I pray that you search the Scriptures and rightly divide the word of God. Remember to humble yourself before God and your fellow man. And if you are lacking in anything understanding God is faithful to provide it to a humble servant. Amen. Praise God.

In Christ Love,

Ron Davis, servant of Christ