In the ancient world the custom of giving one tenth of one's produce or property as an offering to Deity was almost universal. So it is not surprising that in his effort to arouse his people, who had grown careless, the prophet Malachi should have heard and voiced God's command (3:10), "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith ... 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."
In the Glossary of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 595), among the definitions which Mary Baker Eddy gives of "tithe" are "contribution," "homage," and "gratitude." In the light of these spiritual definitions, the Bible passage takes on new meaning, "Bring ye all the contributions, all the homage, all the gratitude into the storehouse"!
Mrs. Eddy also gives in the Glossary this definition of "Church" (p. 583):
