Preface
When it comes to the topic of tithing, the Church is roughly divided into two opposing sides. One side believes that tithing is an obligation every Christian must practice faithfully and consistently, if they want to stay in God’s good books. If they don’t, they are robbing God and are under a curse.
The other side believes that tithing was given to the Jewish nation under the Law of Moses. It was abolished in Christ and should no longer be practiced by Christians today.
This book has been written to show you that there is some truth and some error in both positions. There is a third way to explain the teaching of the tithe—that embraces the divine intentions of the Old Testament and the divine teachings of the New.
I felt compelled to write this book to respond to some of the questions people have about tithing and living under an open heaven today. I am convinced that the enemy of our faith wants us to be confused about this all-important subject, so that he can plunder us financially.
I am painfully aware that people have serious questions about the tithe. Is it necessary today? Did Jesus teach us anything about it? Did the early Church practice tithing? Do today’s Church leaders simply make up these rules to take money from gullible and ignorant people?
Are people who give a tenth of their income to God being deceived and led astray, or are they are merely returning the first-fruit of their increase to God like Abraham and Jacob did?
Does the discipline of tithing honour God today or does it impoverish the people of God? Should releasing 10% of your income to God, be something you do under compulsion, threat or fear? Or should it be a spiritual discipline you practice to help you grow in your generosity?
Will tithing today qualify you to claim the blessings God reserved for the people who tithed in the Old Testament? Are the blessings of Malachi 3 for today or are they only for the Jewish people?
Did the writer’s of the New Testament forget to mention the tithe or were they trying to tell us something? And, can New Testament Believers practise the ‘spirit of the tithe’ and give generously to God under grace without becoming legalistic?
These and several other crucial questions will be answered in this book. My prayer is that you would be enlightened by it and that it would put an end—once and for all—to much of the confusing and detrimental teachings about the tithe floating around on the world-wide-web.
Dr Tony Peters
Author
Chapter 1
The Purpose Of The Tithe
Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.
(Numbers 18:21.)
God didn’t inspire men to record irrelevant ideas, concepts, parables or stories in the Bible. If it’s in the Bible, it’s important. If it is repeated several times, it is essential, and it’s our duty to figure out why God put it there and how to apply the answer we come up with, to our lives today.
Several times in the Old Testament, people decided to give a tenth of their profit or possessions to God. This type of giving was called the ‘tithe’. The English word ‘tithe’ comes from the Hebrew word ‘maash’ or ‘maaser’—and it means a tenth part. So, when a person tithed, they gave a tenth of their profit or possession to God through the priesthood He had established.
We know that people were giving the tithe to God long before God established it as a law in Israel. Abraham for instance, gave a tenth of his spoils to Melchizedek. Jacob also gave a tenth of his wealth to God in appreciation of His protection over him. (See: Genesis 14:18-20 & 28:20-22.)
Nevertheless, the tithe was added to the Law under Moses for several reasons. Here are a few of them:
Funding For The Tabernacle
First of all, the tithe was God's way of making sure that the institution He established for His people’s spiritual welfare was fully funded. God commanded the priesthood to attend (exclusively) to the sensitive and delicate work of the Tabernacle, and later on, the Temple.
Animals were to be bought and sacrificed daily to cover the sins of the Levites and the people. Oils, perfumes, and incense were to be made for the fires and lamps that lit up the Temple. Food and drinks had to be purchased and prepared for the Levites and their families. In effect, their provision or ‘income’ came from the tithe.
They also had to employ and pay for the services of furniture makers, textile workers, masonry workers, goldsmiths, silversmiths, sculptors, and several other people—who made and maintained the substantial furniture and altars, in and around the Tabernacle. (See: Exodus 31:1-11 & 35:21-35.)
Funding The Priestly Duties
Secondly, the tithe was used to sustain the Priesthood. These godly men were not to take on other common jobs like the people did, but focus on connecting the people to God, through the sacrifices and ordinances prescribed.
They were available to pray for the people, officiate their sacrifices, settle quarrels and squabbles, counsel them, and teach them the Laws of God. They had the job of circumcising, confirming, marrying and burying them too. The tithe was used to pay and maintain them, so that they could stay focused on those priestly duties.
So, it was in the interest of the people to tithe, since it kept their religious institutions working for them. Consequently, the priests and the Levites had all the funds they needed to serve the people well; and for the most part, they did. (See: Numbers 18:25–31.)
Support For The Poor
Thirdly, God commanded the Priests and the people to give a portion of the tithe to people on the fringes of society. They were to lookout for the poor, the sick, the widows, the fatherless, and displaced foreigners in their midst—and proactively support them. (See Deuteronomy 26:12–14.)
The Tithe Points People To God
The tithe also pointed the people to God—who was the source of their increase. Every time they brought the tithe to the Priests, they were reminded that they were doing what God commanded. The Priests would bless them and assure them that God was pleased with them. So, tithing was an integral part of their worship to God, and it was done with God in mind.
In short, God’s intention behind the law of tithing was to get His people to provide for the smooth running of the Tabernacle and the Community it served. It was to make sure that the Priests always had enough for their needs and for the support of those who lacked the ability to fend for themselves.
Do We Still Have These Needs Today?
The above needs and concerns are still with us today. Pastors and leaders
