I remember hearing years ago of a very famous pastor/teacher/author who had taught on the subject of tithing at a pastor’s convention. After he finished he was thronged by pastors who were pleading with him NOT to make that teaching available to the public. You see, instead of confirming what these pastors were teaching about tithing, he in fact refuted it as a New Testament practice! These pastors were afraid that if his teaching were made available to their congregations that their churches would cease to exist!
My purpose in writing this article is to offer a perspective on tithing that is most often overlooked by many evangelicals today. So let’s begin!
In Genesis 14:18-20, at the exchange between Abram and Melchizedek, we see the first use of the word “tithe.” “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.” Here Abram pays a tithe to “priest of GOD Most High”, long before a Levitical priesthood.
Leviticus 27:30 says “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 to the LORD.” Here we are told where the tithe comes from and WHO exactly owns it!
Numbers 18:26 says “Speak thus to the Levites, and say to them: ‘When you take from the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you shall offer up a heave offering of it to the LORD, a tenth of the tithe.” Here we are told who receives the tithe and for what purpose.
Deuteronomy 12:17-19 says “You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or your new wine or your oil, of the firstborn of your herd or your flock, of any of your offerings which you vow, of your freewill offerings, or of the heave offering of your hand. 18But you must eat them before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD your God chooses, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all to which you put your hands. 19Take heed to yourself that you do not forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land.” Here we are told that the LORD will direct where the tithe was to be eaten. Also they are told to not forsake the Levites, who at that time, did not have an inheritance, or land in order to be able to sustain themselves.
Here in Matthew 23:23-24 and in Luke 11:42 Messiah addresses tithing and says “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!”
Keeping in mind that when YESHUA said this, the Temple and the Levitical Priesthood were both still functional, we are told that it is hypocrisy to overemphasize the paying aspect of tithing without the proper application of: justice (divine law), mercy (compassion), faith (persuasion of the truthfulness of GOD).
One of the most quoted and often abused portions of scripture on tithing used today is Malachi 3:8-10, “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,”Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.”
From these verses in Malachi, many modern day ministers try to coerce people to give them their money by implying that:
- Not giving to their ministry is the same as “robbing GOD.”
- The “storehouse” (they say) is their ministry.
- The “food in My house” (they say) comes from you giving them money for their “ministries.” And for some to drive fancy cars, live in fancy houses, second homes, etc…
- They have set themselves up as Levites, when in fact, they are not at all, but because they aren’t trusting YHWH to establish their ministries, they resort to twisting the scriptures in an effort to try and make it happen on the backs of the people…
In light of the Scriptures that we have considered we must ask ourselves:
- Without a Levitical priesthood in existence, what priesthood do we pay our tithes to?
- Have pastors unbiblically assumed the role of a Levitical priesthood? If so, why do they throw out the rest of Law?
- Without a physical Temple for a Levitical priesthood to serve in, where do we take our tithes?
- Has the local church house replaced the Temple? Some of them look more like palaces!
The Levitical Priesthood today has become obsolete as Hebrews 7-9 establishes (see article “It’s the Priesthood Stupid!) and has been replaced by the Priesthood of MESSIAH and those who follow HIM. (Rev 1:6, Rev 5:10 & Rev 20:6)
The Temple today, is not a building made with human hands but is the building of GOD according to 1 Cor 3:16-17, 2 Cor 6:16, Rev 3:12 & Rev 21:22. In other words “We are HIS Temple!”
Summing up what YESHUA accomplished concerning HIS Priesthood and HIS Temple in 1 Peter 2:3-5, Peter understood both to be encompassed IN MESSIAH!
“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
Really, from what we have looked at so far in the Scriptures, it is perfectly biblical for us as priests ministering in HIS Temple when we meet ONE ANOTHER’S needs both physically and financially! Could that be what John was referring to in 1 John 3 (esp verse 17)? “But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?
And it is also biblical for us to support those who are living in accordance to the Scriptures as they are used by GOD to be HIS hands extended! For example:
Paul’s discourse in 1Corinthians 9 (I would encourage you read the entire chapter) gives clear indication that those who labor in ministry can have their needs met by those who they minister to, but it is not to be something held over people’s heads!
This is confirmed in 1 Timothy 5:17-18, with Paul referring again to the Law in Deuteronomy 25:4 stating; “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (also referencing YESHUA’S words in Luke 10:7.)
Ok, so now having a little different perspective on tithing, how should we continue to support the work of the LORD? Well, if YHWH has connected you to a part of HIS Body or a fellowship of believers, HE has also called you to trust Him for the leadership that HE has instituted there. That leadership is accountable before HIM to receive what you give and to put it to good use in order to accomplish HIS purposes! (Not their own!:>)
If that fellowship employs full time staff whose testimonies are in line with the Scriptures, then you supporting them in order to better serve HIM and HIS Body is a good option!
If that fellowship has facility/equipment expenses for comfortably accommodating the gatherings, functions and ministry of the fellowship, then your support of that is a good option as well!
However, beware of the paid professionals who seem to be more interested in:
- Merchandising and not in ministering!
- Fleecing and feeding ON but not feeding the flock of GOD!
- Their own kingdom and not HIS Kingdom!
- Palaces and not in pleasing HIM!
- Living in luxury and not living a life of loss for the sake of MESSIAH!
May YHWH continue to shake everything that can be shaken as HE reveals Truth and exposes unrighteousness! And may all who call upon HIS Name exercise biblical discernment and wisdom to rightly apply HIS Word in our stewardship and giving!
Interesting that the tenth Abram gave of “all” was a tenth of the spoils of the battle he had won…and then he gave the other 90% to the King of Sodom. This is not any sort of mandate of example of what is taught as modern tithing today…or even tithing “to the temple.”
Also, the tithe referred to was always in the form of herds or produce increase from the land…never money even though money was used in “those days.” I do agree, though, that sharing in the use of facilities and receiving services from a teacher, as well as assisting funding the teaching of future disciples is a worthy cause to give money to, as … long as it is not seen or taught as a tithe, which as you rightly have shown scripturally is obsolete. To me it is not about giving, it is about labeling. I love giving. What a weird journey when you start reading everything for yourself.
Also, you are very brave to post this!
Is it written that Abram gave the 90% to the king of sodom? I missed that! I did neglect to mention that we must keep in mind that 100% of what we have belongs to YHWH! I believe that is part of the example that we have in Abram. It’s almost a type of firstfruits that we see him demonstrating in his giving to Melchizedek, in that he was investing in the Kingdom to come! Be blessed as you seek HIM!
Please pray with me that HIS people are encouraged and set free to walk in HIS Truth!
Please don’t misunderstand my comment. I was saying that Abraham is an example of voluntary giving of all…rather than an example of a modern mandate to give 10 percent of a paycheck. I do believe everything is HIS!