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Discipleship is not an
option!
There are many that are
confused about 'Tithes'. Is it for the Jews or for Christians?
Was it just an Old Testament Law or is it a New Testament command as
well? The verses most used to teach tithing are found in Malachi, if you are unfamilar with this book you
can go here and see a short but good outline on
it.
This is a short paper on the
subject to get you thinking!
For a more indepth article read this 'Should The Church Teach Tithing'. It is a long
PDF file.
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In my research I have come across many
differing ideas. There seems to be a lot of confusion, and at the same
time there is very little true hermenutics and theological discussions on the
subject. It has become a subject that no one wants to tackle for what ever
reasons they may have. The question I then have is: What is the
truth? "The truth will set you free"!
1. What
does the O.T. say about tithing?
2. What does the N.T. say about
tithing?
What does the O.T. say about
tithing?
There are approx.
40 verses in the KJV using the terms: tithe, tithes, tithing.
Tithe:
KJV Leviticus 27:30 And all the tithe
of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of
the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.
KJV Leviticus 27:32 And concerning the
tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth
under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.
KJV Numbers 18:26 Thus speak unto the Levites,
and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I
have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave
offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the
tithe.
KJV Deuteronomy 12:17 Thou mayest not eat
within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or
the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou
vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:
KJV Deuteronomy 14:22 Thou shalt truly
tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by
year.
KJV Deuteronomy 14:23 And thou shalt eat
before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name
there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the
firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the
LORD thy God always.
KJV Deuteronomy 14:28 At the end of three
years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same
year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:
KJV 2 Chronicles 31:5 And as soon as the
commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the
firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the
field; and the tithe of all things brought they in
abundantly.
KJV 2 Chronicles 31:6 And concerning
the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they
also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy
things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by
heaps.
KJV Nehemiah 10:38 And the priest the son of
Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites
shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the
chambers, into the treasure house.
KJV Nehemiah 13:12 Then brought all Judah the
tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the
treasuries.
Tithes:
KJV Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the most high
God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him
tithes of all.
KJV Leviticus 27:31 And if a man will at all
redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part
thereof.
KJV Numbers 18:24 But the tithes of the
children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD,
I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among
the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
KJV Numbers 18:26 Thus speak unto the Levites,
and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes
which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an
heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the
tithe.
KJV Numbers 18:28 Thus ye also shall offer an
heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the
children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD'S heave offering to Aaron
the priest.
KJV Deuteronomy 12:6 And thither ye shall
bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and
heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and
the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
KJV Deuteronomy 12:11 Then there shall be a
place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there;
thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your
sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all
your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:
KJV Deuteronomy 26:12 When thou hast made an
end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which
is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the
stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and
be filled;
KJV 2 Chronicles 31:12 And brought in the
offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over
which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was
the next.
KJV Nehemiah 10:37 And that we should
bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all
manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the
house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the
same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our
tillage.
KJV Nehemiah 10:38 And the priest the son of
Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the
Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God,
to the chambers, into the treasure house.
KJV Nehemiah 12:44 And at that time were some
appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the
firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of
the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah
rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.
KJV Nehemiah 13:5 And he had prepared for him
a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense,
and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil,
which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the
porters; and the offerings of the priests.
KJV Amos 4:4 Come to Bethel, and transgress;
at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning,
and your tithes after three years:
KJV Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye
have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and
offerings.
KJV Malachi 3:10 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.
Tithing:
KJV Deuteronomy 26:12 When thou hast made an end of
tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is
the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the
stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and
be filled;
There are some rather interesting
observations to be made here:
(Tithing was a Law given by
Moses to support the Levitical priesthood.)
1. In Leviticus we read that the 10th one that passes
under the rod is the Lords. Did you know that if you only had nine you did
not owe a tithe?
2. The tithe was for the support of the Levite who had no
inheritance, to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the
widow.
3. In Numbers the instruction
is to the Levites on giving a 10th of the offering they recieved from the people
back to the Lord.
4. In Deuteronomy instruction was given as to the reason
and method of tithing. The families were to eat the tithe in the presence
of God. The third year the tithe went to the Levites, the stranger, the
fatherless, and widow.
5. In Chronicles and Nehemiah we see the tithing being
done correctly.
6. In Amos we see again the tithe in the third year being
commanded.
7. In Malachi we see the correction of the Lord about
robbing God and how to get blessings.
Let's review: The tithe was to
be eaten by the people in the presence of God. The tithes in the third
year was to be given to the Priest, and Levites because they had no inheritance.
If you had only an increase of nine you did not owe a tithe. And the Levites and
Priest had to give a 10th of the tithe given in the third year to the
Lord. Do you see the picture here? God is takening care of the
Priest and Levites, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widows with the tithe
from the people. It is interesting that the families
that brought the tithe were to eat the tithe in the presence of the
Lord.
Now we need to deal with the verses in Malachi: The book
of Malachi was writen
to the Priest and Levites concerning their unfaithfulness in their
service. The book was written to correct the Nation of Israel
and spoken to the Priest and Levites who were takening the best parts and
keeping that for themselves and giving God the left overs. The verses are
calling the Priest and Levite and the nation as a whole to give in the proper
way.
What about the Blessings? If you were to do a study
on the terms 'window of Heaven and pour out a Blessing' it is always
refering to RAIN! To the Jew rain was the greatest blessing they could
recieve. They were farmers, and merchants. They depended on the rain to
produce crops, to water the cattle, and to drink. It is interesting that
we take this to mean financial blessing when the worst thing for us is money and
the problems often associated with desiring more. 'The love of money is
the root of all evil' yet we give only to recieve the very thing that can
destroy us.
What does the N.T. say about
tithing?
There are only 7 verses on tithing:
KJV Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and
have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and
faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other
undone.
KJV Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees!
for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment
and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other
undone.
KJV Luke 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I
give tithes of all that I possess.
KJV Hebrews 7:5 And verily they that are of
the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment
to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their
brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
KJV Hebrews 7:6 But he whose descent is not
counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had
the promises.
KJV Hebrews 7:8 And here men that die receive
tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that
he liveth.
KJV Hebrews 7:9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who
receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
In Matthew and Luke we have Jesus rebuking the
Pharisees on their behavior. Notice He speaks of tithing seeds and says
nothing about money here.
In Hebrew we have Abraham giving Melchizedek a tenth of
his plunder which was a custom of the people in that land.
But if you read further in Hebrews you will see the verse
"(v11) If perfection could have been obtained through the Levitical
priesthood(for on the bases of it[the law of the Levite and the tithe]the law
was given to the people), why was there still a need for another priest to
come...?" Jesus came to fulfill the role of the Last Priest so what
happens to the law of tithing? If the reason for tithing was done away
with then why not the tithe as well?
Lets read what is said here about the priesthood and the
regulation of the tithe:
KJV Hebrews 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical
priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,{the law of tithing}) what
further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of
Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a
change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken
pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14
For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses
spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that
after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is
made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an
endless life. 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the
order of Melchisedec. 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment
going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made
nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which
we draw nigh unto God. 20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made
priest: 21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an
oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art
a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 22 By so much was Jesus
made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests,
because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this
man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by
him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high
priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from
sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those
high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the
people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law
maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which
was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Jesus Christ changed the role of the Priest by offering up of
Himself, therefore not needing to sacrifice any more. It is interesting
that we are all in agreement on the need for sacrifice and of the Priesthood
being done away with yet we cling to the tithe.
The conclusion is that Jesus did away with the need for the
Priesthood and that did away with the need to continue to support that same
priesthood through tithing. What now?
There are 1547 verses relating to giving, though very few of these
refer to money. Here are the ones in the N.T. that pertain to giving of
money:
KJV Matthew 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him
that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
KJV Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go
and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have
treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
KJV Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring
ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how
he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
KJV 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.
KJV Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather
let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he
may have to give to him that needeth.
KJV James 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be
ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those
things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
KJV Romans 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that
giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with
diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
KJV Philippians 4:15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of
the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as
concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
Jeus introduces a better way: "Give in proportion as God has
given to you". Notice there is no material blessing to be obtained by
giving, but we are Blessed by living right before God. We are to give out
of love for Him who gave so much. Jesus always takes the Law one step
further and declares that it will be written in our hearts. We are to give
Cheerfully as God has given to us. We are to give to the work of God not so the
leaders can live in better houses and drive better cars but to meet the needs of
the poor and those in need. If you give then do so cheerfully and always
remember that we will recieve in proportion to how we give. The pastor is
worthy of his salary and he needs to live in a good home, but we may need to ask
God how good is good and how much is enough.
For a more through discussion on this subject see the free E-Book
called "Should the Church Teach
Tithing".