Written by Webby Oct 12, 2005 at 06:06 PM Tithing-What does God say about Tithing?

Od !o"enant, Mosaic #a$, Tithes

The bibe s%ea&s o' 'our ty%es o' tithes( ) $i address a o' the* in their conte+t(
The %eo%e %aid a tithe to the %oor, or%hans, $ido$s, etc( ,-eut(1.: 2/,201 2at the end o' e"ery third
year you sha bring out a the tithe o' your %roduce in that year and de%osit it in your to$n( 3nd the
#e"ite, because he had no %ortion o' inheritance a*ong you, and the aien, has no %ortion o'
inheritance a*ong you, and the aien, and the or%han, and the $ido$ $ho are in your to$n, sha co*e
and eat and be satis'ied, in order that the #ord your God *ay bess you in a the $or& o' your hand
$hich you do24( 5)' this $as done once e"ery three years then it $as a tithe o' about 6(67 annuay
%aid to the co**unity, this $as not a gi't it $as %aid by the )sraeites( )n the 89 $e $oud ca this
socia security:(
The %eo%e %aid a genera tithe to the #e"ites( 3 the tribes o' )srae had designated geogra%hica areas
as their 2inheritance2, e+ce%t the #e"ites-in return 'or a their $or& $ith the nation-recei"ed inco*e
ta+ o' ten %ercent 'ro* the rest o' the %o%uation( ,;u*bers 1/:211 2) gi"e to the #e"ites a the tithes in
)srae as their 2inheritance2 in return 'or the $or& they do $hie ser"ing in the Tent o' the Meeting24(
5This $as done as a tithe o' 10 7 %aid by the %eo%e o' the ;ation o' )srae( The #e"ites 'unctioned as
<eath )ns%ectors, Poice, =ustice de%art*ent, and >ducation de%art*ent( To %ut it si*%y the #e"ites
$ere the Pubic 9er"ice in )srae and they $ere su%%orted by a syste* caed 2tithes2:(
The %eo%e &e%t a tithe to %ay 'or %igri*age to =erusae*( )t $as 'or their o$n %ersona use and $as
&e%t by the* 'or consu*%tion or traded and used $hen tra"eing to a 'ar a$ay %ace o' *eeting o'
Gods choosing( ,-eut( 1.:22-261 2?e sure to set aside a tenth o' a your 'ieds %roduce each
year@@((to be consu*ed in the %resence o' the #ord your God@(( or it too distant, to be e+changed to
si"er to be ta&en $ith you to the %ace the #ord your God $i choose(2 45This $as set aside and &e%t
by each 'a*iy 'or the %ur%ose o' tra"eing to $orshi% God, not %aid to anyone ese(:
Tithe %aid by #e"ites to the Priesthood ,Maachi 6:101 2bring the $hoe tithe into the storehouse so that
there *ay be 'ood in *y house and test *e no$ in this 2sayAs the #ord o' <osts( )' ) $i not o%en the
$indo$s o' hea"en and %our out 'or you a bessing unti it o"er'o$s24( 5 This $as not *oney
coected 'ro* %eo%e o' the ;ation o' )srae, it $as *oney aready %aid by the %eo%e to the #e"ites,
and Maachi $as rebu&ing the #e"ites to %ay the 2$hoe tithe2 , a tenth o' the tenth o' $hat $as %aid to
the* by the %eo%e o"er to the %riesthood Bthat $oud be a tenth o' a tenth or one %ercentC:(
!urse to those during Od !o"enant ti*es i' 'aied to 'oo$ the #a$ ,Gaatians 6:10-121 2Dor as *any
as are in the $or&s o' the a$ are under the curse( Dor it is $ritten: cursed is e"eryone that contuith not
in a things, $hich are $ritten in the boo& o' the a$ to do the*(24
;o$ in "s( 16 o' Gaatians it says( 2!hrist hath redee*ed us 'ro* the curse o' the #a$2( ;o$ as $e
*o"e to the ;e$ Testa*ent $e 'ind that nothing has changed( )n ,Eo*ans 16:F 2Eender to a, $hat is
due to the*, ta+ to $ho* the ta+ is due1 custo* to $ho custo*1 'ear to $ho* 'ear1 honour to $ho*
honour(24 We sti %ay ta+es to 'inance a Pubic 9er"ice and 9ocia 9ecurity 9yste*(
?eo$ is a ist o' the Od !o"enant tithes1
1( Tithe %aid by %eo%e 'or needy 6(67 annuay
2( Tithe %aid by %eo%e 'or ser"ices 107 annuay
6( Tithe &e%t by %eo%e 'or tra"eG$orshi% 107 annuay
.( Tithe paid by Levites to Priesthood 1% annually (not additional tithe but taken from item
number 2. above) Neh. 10!"#!$ %nd the priest the son of %aron# shall be &ith the Levites &hen
the Levites re'eive the tithes and the Levites shall brin( up the tenth of the tithes to the house of
our )od to the 'hambers of the storehouse. *or the +on of ,srael and the sons of the Levi shall
brin( the 'ontribution of the (rain# the ne& &ine# and the oil to the 'hambers there are the
untinsils of the san'tuary. The priests &ho are ministerin(# the (atekeepers# and the sin(ers. Thus
&e &ill not ne(le't the house of our )od. ;39? Hey area abo"e sho$s $itnesses to the coection o'
the tithe, and a son o' 3aron $ho is a %riest ta&ing a tithe ,tenth4 o' the tithe coected 'or the %riests(
,Ee*e*bering that this $as a tithe aready %aid by the )sraeites to the #e"ites, then the #e"ites $oud
%ay a tenth o' the aready coected tithe to the %riests 'or their ser"ices 4( This is the tithe that todayAs
%astors o' s%iritua syste*s ta&e out o' conte+t and use s%iritua bac&*ai to try to con"ince their
*e*bershi% o' t$o things( One4 They try to con"ince you that the tithe is an actua tenth $hen the
tithe to %ay the %riesthood at that ti*e $as a tenth o' a tenth, or tithe o' a tithe( T$o4 They aso try to
con"ince you that this tithe is in e''ect today( The truth is that the syste* o' tithes is a act o' the #a$
!o"enant o' The ;ation o' )srea, )t is Od !o"enent #a$, $e no$ i"e under ;e$ !o"enent o' Grace
and #a$ does ;OT abound(
Today $hen $e %ay our ta+es $e are obeying ,Eo*ans 16:F ad*onition to render to !aesar $hat is
!aesarAs( Today it co*es in the 'or* o' a%%ro+i*atey 60 to 507 de%ending on inco*e e"e( <ebre$s
F *entions tithing, but ony to iustrate PauAs argu*ent that the %riesthood o' the #e"ites $as re%aced
by the %riesthood o' =esus !hrist( This cha%ter in no $ay indicates that the Od !o"enant tithing a$
$as atered so that tithes $ere to be %aid to the church(
,8nder the ;e$ !o"enant there is no !aesar in church go"ern*ent and no #e"ite or cergy in GodAs
order( 3 *e*bers o' !hristAs body are %riests o' God and no hu*an 'is this roe 'or us( The %reacher
is not a #e"ite and he is not the %riest o' the church(4
Iou can not gi"e to God( 3s the !reator and the sustainer o' the 8ni"erse, he aready o$ns e"erything(
The "ery beating o' your heart-is itse' a gi't 'ro* God(
Ps(2.: 1 The >arth, the Word, a beongs to God
Ps(50:F-12 <ear Oh *y %eo%e@(( 'or the $ord is *ine@@(
<aggai 2:/ 9i"er and God is the #ords
JEo*ans 11:65 Who has e"er gi"en to God, that God shoud re%ay hi*? ,Iou canAt %ace God indebted
to you4
Gaatians 6:16,1. !hrist hath redee*ed us 'ro* the curse o' the a$, being *ade a curse 'or us: 'or it is
$ritten, !ursed is e"eryone that hangeth on a tree: That the bessing o' 3braha* *ight co*e on the
Genties through =esus !hrist1 that $e *ight recei"e the %ro*ise o' the 9%irit through 'aith(
Gi"e according to $hat you ha"e
2 !or( /:12 Dor i' the readiness to gi"e is %resent, it is acce%tabe according to $hat a *an has, not
according to $hat he does not ha"e( )' you ha"e ten doars but o$e ten doars to so*eone, but rather
than %ay your debt you gi"e the *oney to a reigious organiKation, God does not 'ind your o''ering
acce%tabe( -onLt e"er gi"e $hat you donAt ha"e(
1 Ti*( 5:/ ?ut i' a *an does not %ro"ide 'or his o$n, es%eciay his o$n 'esh, he has denied the 'aith,
and is $orse than an unbeie"er( J Iou ta&e care o' your 'a*iy 'irst, then i' you ha"e e+tra and a
$iing heart, the cheer'uy gi"e as it sayAs in 2!or(0:F(
Whate"er a oca congregation coecti"ey decides to do *ay be good and scri%tura( <o$e"er, to
de*and that one tithe and reMect the in%ut o' the 2tithers2 is s%iritua do*ination( The 'oo$ing
su**ary says it a:
To i*%ose any co**and*ent o' the #a$ is to be 2obigated to obey the W<O#> #a$, Gaatians 5:6(
There are 616 rues and reguations that one is reNuired to &ee% i' they obey any %oint o' #a$( 2;o one
$i be decared righteous in his sight by obser"ing the #a$,2 Eo*ans 6:20( The "ery 'aith that unites
us $ith his 9on, 2is the gi't o' God - not by $or&s, so that no one can boast,2 >%hesians 2:/-0( When
$e obey !hristAs co**and to 2o"e one another,2 $e actuay 'u'i a o' the righteous reNuire*ents o'
the #a$, 'or 2o"e is the 'u'iing o' the #a$,2 Eo*ans 16:/
9o*e churches teach: The <ouse o' God, the te*%e, is no$ the church and the cergy or Pastors and
their sta'' are acting as the *odern day counter%arts o' %riests dei"ering the Word o' God to the %eo%e
saying $e shoud su%%ort the* $ith tithes as the #e"ites and Priests $ere su%%orted by tithes( ,!hurch
o' the ;aKarene Manua, 100F-2001, >( !hristian 9te$ardshi%, 6/(1( 9torehouse tithing4(
The ?ibe says: The Priests and #e"ites $ere set a%art 'ro* the tribes o' )srae by GodAs co**and( )t
shoud a$ays be re*e*bered that a'ter the Pentecost the <oy 9%irit o' God ca*e to the $ord to
reside $ithin the beie"ers( The Te*%e o' the #ord or the <ouse o' God is no$ actuay the %hysica
body o' the beie"er( The one and ony Priest that resides in our <oy o' <oies ,<eart4 is the 9%irit o'
God and <e is aso the <igh Priest, =esus !hrist( <e $as sacri'iced on our atar 'or the gi't o' 9a"ation(
Dor anyone to co*%are hi*se' to an ancient %riest in the Te*%e is no$ the sa*e as identi'ying
hi*se' as GodO Many 'our $aed churches are sady 'orgetting $ho they are in !hrist and are
subMecting their *e*bers to egaistic bondage o' the #a$( This is es%eciay true $hen churches ao$
tradition and *ysticis* to cree% into the Gos%e(
#et *e as& you a Nuestion( )' a church coects *oney in the na*e o' a tithe and doesnAt 'oo$ a the
guideines o' tithing as set 'orth by the #ord, ,i(e(, gi"ing a the tithe to the %oor on the 6rd and 6th year
o' the 9he*ittah !yce, obser"ing the Fth year sabbatica and there'ore not reNuire a tithe, and ao$s
the one $ho tithes to %arta&e in the eating o' the tithe in the %resence o' the #ord at the %ace o' the
#ordAs choosing4 then $ho is, according to the #a$ o' Moses, reay robbing God? The churchO Ee'er
bac& to Maachi 6: 6-12 about not tithing correcty(
!hurches, $ho coect *onies in the na*e o' tithes and use scri%ture to en'orce it, are o%ening u% a can
o' $or*s that *ay conde*n the* be'ore the #ord( When obser"ing the #a$, 3## the a$ *ust be
obser"ed, not Must %arts that are o' bene'it to so*e %eo%e(
?ut than& God, churches are aso no onger creatures o' the a$( Eo*ans 6:1. 2Dor sin sha not be
*aster o"er you, 'or you are not under a$, but under grace2( There'ore churches shoud reMect 2tithing2
and acce%t *oney ony 'ro* s%irit ed gi"ers( The $ord 2tithe2 shoud not be incor%orated in any
church doctrine because it carries $ith it so*e "ery hea"y baggage, the #a$(
!hurches Must 14 Worshi% the #ord 24 9ee& 'inancia su%%ort through gi"ing, not tithing( 64 EeMect a
egais*( .4 Gi"e *ore aid to the needy - 'ocus out$ard instead o' in$ard( 54 #isten to the
congregation, the #ord *ay be trying to te you so*ething( 64 Ee*e*ber $ho $e as !hristians are in
!hrist ,Priests4( F4 Pro*ote Moy'u gi"ing through e+citing *inistries and sho$ing a%%reciation to the
gi"ers(
The boo& o' Maachi discussed using <istorica, Gra**atica, and !ritica <er*eneutics( Maachi $as
a %ro%het1 his $ritings are the boo& o' Maachi( Many o' his %ro%hecies ha"e co*e true %ro"ing the
di"ine authorshi% and ins%iration o' his $ritings( <is $ritings $ere co*%eted a'ter ..6 ?!>( <e $as
*ost Keaousy de"oted to God( 8%hoding his na*e and %ure $orshi%, aso 'et a strong indignation
to$ard those $ho %ro'ess to ser"e God but $ho reay ony ser"ed the*se"es( Maachis %ro%hecies
indicated that the reigious Kea and enthusias* aroused by the %ro%hets <aggai and Pechariah at the
ti*e o' rebuiding the te*%e had %assed a$ay( Priests had beco*e careess, %roud, and se'-righteous(
Te*%e ser"ices had beco*e a *oc&ery( Tithes and o''erings had a%sed because o' a 'eeing that God
$as not interested in )srae( <o$ coud the %eo%e o' )srae i"ing under Od !o"enant #a$ be *ade
a$are o' their true state and beco*e a$a&ened to return to righteousness? )n Maachi 6:10 the )sraeites
had been robbing God, this rebu&e 'ro* Maachi $as to a %eo%e under the #a$ !o"enant $ith a curse(
)t does not a%%y to %eo%e $ho i"e no$ under the ;e$ !o"enant o' Grace(
Whie 2 3 scri%ture is gi"en by ins%iration o' God, and is %ro'itabe 'or doctrine, 'or re%roo', 'or
correction, 'or instruction in righteousness:2 ,2Ti* 6:164, not e"erything in the ?ibe is a co**and to
!hristians( Much o' scri%ture is our 'a*iy history( )n Pro"erbs and ese$here, $e 'ind counse, $hich
i' heeded coud *a&e our i"es easier( We ha"e the #a$ as a standard 'or right and $rong( We ha"e
!hristAs teaching $hich can 'ree us 'ro* the #a$, and s%iritua guidance to he% us in our stu*bing
$a& o' 'aith(
We $ho are in the body o' !hrist are 'reed 'ro* the i*%ossibiity o' satis'ying the #a$( The #a$
re*ains, to be the standard against $hich a those not in !hrist $i be Mudged( ,Matt 5:1/4
9ure, $e *ay decide to coecti"ey do *any things as 2*e*bers one o' another(2 This does not gi"e
*inisterAs %o$er to rise to the to% o' the hea%( )t does not ao$ anyone to 2*a&e a a$2 out o' a
coecti"e decision(
>"en so hath the #ord ordained that they, $hich %reach the gos%e, shoud i"e o' the gos%e( ,1!or(
0:Fb4 Who %ants a "ineyard and does not eat o' it? Who tends a 'oc& and does not use the *i& o' the
'oc&?
Ministers ha"e the right to *a&e a i"ing and it see*s the decent thing to do i' a body o' %eo%e desire
to be she%herded by the *inister to aid in su%%ort o' hi*( <e shoud be a she%herd $ith s%irit o' truth
and o"e( God $i $atch o"er the house o' the righteous and it $i %ros%er( )' the she%herd *oti"ates
$ith o"e the 'oc& $i res%ond in i&e &ind( )t $oud be a sha*e 'or the body to not *eet the needs o'
the she%herd( )t $oud aso be a sha*e 'or a she%herd to not *eet the needs o' the 'oc&( #ast 8%dated
, Oct 12, 2005 at 06:15 PM 4