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Here is an insight into the feelings of the Lord concerning their financial conduct. Raiment given as a pledge, for the security of a loan was to be restored before the setting of the sun. Ex. 22:26-27. Those refusing to follow the Word of the Lord committed what the Lord called an abomination. See Eze. 18:12-13 It carried the sentence of death or separation from the Lord. One of the cardinal sins being committed by the children of Israel was their refusal to bring the TITHE or tenth into the storehouse as they were instructed to do. It is not an item which we may disregard. The tithe was holy unto the Lord. Lev. 22:30 Furthermore, if that tithe was withheld, for what ever purpose, a fifth was to be added to it when payment was made. Lev. 20:31 So serious is the paying of the tithe that the Lord called it robbery when it was not paid. Added to that it was an act whereby the one who suffered immediate loss was the Lord. Will a man rob or defraud God? Mal. 3:8 Because of their refusal to fulfill the Word of the Lord they had brought a curse upon themselves. Mal. 3:9 Also, they robbed themselves from enjoying the great blessings of the Lord. Mal. 3:10-11 There is tremendous spiritual and financial blessing in being obedient to the Lord. So, when Ezekiel speaks of restoring that which was maliciously kept back, the restitution of that which was taken in robbery, he is speaking of the payment of the tithe. Eze. 33:15 It is a statute of life with the Lord.
Jesus, when rebuking the scribes and Pharisees called them hypocrites but at the same time commended them for their acts of tithing, and in that manner placed His seal of approval upon it. Mt. 23:23 Abraham paid tithes to the Lord Jesus who appeared to him, in a theophany, as a man named Melchisedec. From the description, the titles and genealogy given concerning Him, He could be none other than the Christ of God. Read His biography as recorded in Hebrews 7:1-8 There never has been a man nor will there ever be one who is so unique as this man Melchisedec.
Even so, the people complained that the way of the Lord was not equal it was not reasonable, out of balance and unequal. Eze. 33:17 His ways did not fit the pattern of life which they desired to live. Such an inflexible nation. When will they learn that the ways of the Lord are the ways of truth and eternal life. This is the third time that Ezekiel is instructed to speak in such a fashion to the children of Israel. Eze. 18:25, 18:29, and 33:17 The faithfulness of the Lord is very evident as He patiently deals with such a nation who so tenaciously persist in doing their own thing. The Lord compares this type of rebellion and stubbornness to the sin of witchcraft. It is certain to bring rejection as it did to king Saul. 1 Sam. 15:23.