~ The act of giving a Tenth of everything ~
~ The purpose of Tithing is for the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, for worship, teaching and judging matters that pertain to the Body of Christ, the Church ~
There are those that say Tithing is no longer required; that it was an Old Testament Law for the Children of Israel/Jews. However, this is not necessarily correct. Let’s see what the Bible has to say about the subject.
First of all Tithing/Offerings started long before the Children of Israel/Jews existed. In fact, the first mentioning of giving of an Offering and/or Tithing started with Cain and Able when they brought an offering of their goods to be presented unto the Lord.
The first mention of the word Tithe started with Abraham when he gave a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek King of Salem. Genesis 14:18-20
"Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. *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: *But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. *And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. *And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. *And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. *For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him." Hebrews 7:4:10
One other important note to think about is the use of the phrase, Old Testament and/or New Testament. Most people think of the Old Testament as being the books of the Bible from Genesis through Malachi and they think of the New Testament as being the books of the Bible from St. Matthew through Revelation. However, this is not entirely true.
As a general rule, when Scripture mentions the Old Testament it is referring to the physical Law of Circumcision and the physical Law of Sacrifice. And when Scripture mentions the New Testament it is referring to Jesus as being our Circumcision and our Sacrifice.
Praise His Holy Name!
We still have a Law of Circumcision and a Law of Sacrifice; it has just been changed from a physical Law to a Spiritual Law ~
What is commonly referred to, as the New Testament did not do away with Tithing, the Sabbath or any of God’s Righteous Laws. One good Rule of Thumb in understanding the Bible is that unless that which is referred to as Old Testament Law is specifically said to be voided or modified by Jesus; that Law is still in effect.
Note: Jesus said that He did not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets (St. Matthew 5:17-20). In fact, Jesus supported paying
Tithes (St. Matthew 23:23). Jesus is the Author of the Old and New Testament so He should know the Truth of Tithing.
"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. *And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. *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." Leviticus 27:30-32
"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. *Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. *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 3:8-10
Even the Priest of God pays Tithe. Nehemiah 10:38 states, “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.”
Furthermore, in the book of Hebrews we find where it mentions a paying of Tithe in the New Heavenly Kingdom, Hebrews 7:8, "Here men that die receive tithes; but there He (speaking of Jesus) receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that He liveth." Praise His Holy Name!
Tithing properly makes one personally involved in the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Furthermore, Tithing is an act of compliance and God said, “to obey is better than to sacrifice.”
"Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn." Deuteronomy 25:4. Ministers of the Gospel are as it were, the ox that is treading out the corn or cultivating the field, the Body of Christ, the Saints.
"For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
*Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. *If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? *If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. *Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? *Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel." 1st Corinthians 9:9-14
"Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. *For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn." And, "The labourer is worthy of his reward." 1st Timothy 5:17-18
"After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. *Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest."
St. Luke 10:1-2
Tithing builds the Faith of the Believer. The one that Tithes puts their trust in God to provide, just as the farmer trust God for rain for his crops and trust God he can harvest his crop without working on the Sabbath.
Tithing teaches us that our money is not our own. Just as the Sabbath teaches us that our time is not our own and as Fasting teaches us that our bodies are not our own. God owns every thing. Psalms 24:1 says, “The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”
Tithing is a teaching tool. It reveals our attitude towards God and our attitude towards those that Minister the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus our Saviour and soon coming King.
Jesus in speaking to the rulers of His time said, “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." St. Matthew 23:23
"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." St. Luke 11:42
God doesn’t need our money or our goods. Everything already belongs to Him. What God wants is for His children to learn to listen to Him and do whatever He says regardless to what it is.
Tithing helps us to be generous. "The liberal soul shall be made fat:" Proverbs 11:25 - in part
One that is faithful in paying Tithes is invariably a prosperous person. They may not necessarily be wealthy but they are one whose actual needs are always supplied. If they are faithful and obedient to the Heavenly Father, they are not likely to be found in want.
Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: *But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: *For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
St. Matthew 6:19-21
Honour the Lord with thy substance. "Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account." Philippians 4:17
"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
Note: Some of the thoughts for this article were taken, in part, from the writings of Richard C. Nickels, Giving & Sharing.
Also read: Tithing Commentary....a further glimpse into how you can never out give the Lord!
Derwood Stewart, Minister
House of Prayer Sabbath Ministries
Comments? Email us: hope@preachersteacher.org 