If you’ve been in church even for one day, the chances are good that you have heard or seen this:
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.
To this verse, the well-established rules of hermeneutics — the art and science of interpreting scripture — seem not to apply. Before you stop reading, unsubscribe, or click away, indulge me for one question, please. What is the chapter about? If you said tithing, you were absolutely wrong.
You know one of the simplistic rules of hermeneutics is this: first ask, “What is the writer speaking about?” In other words, what is the context? And then you follow up by asking, “What is the writer saying about what they are talking about?” More involved are the literal, grammatical, and historical studies needed to properly extract from scripture its true meaning.
No matter the approach you take, you cannot honestly end with a conclusion that this chapter is about tithing. The tithe issue here is merely an example of a specific rule that a specific people ignored. Is this all that the Messiah was coming to judge? Maybe we should look at other verses in the chapter to discover the context.
3:1 “Look! I’m sending my messenger on ahead to clear the way for me. Suddenly, out of the blue, the Leader you’ve been looking for will enter his Temple – yes, the Messenger of the Covenant, the one you’ve been waiting for. Look! He’s on his way!” A Message from the mouth of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
3:5
“Yes, I’m on my way to visit you with Judgment. I’ll present compelling evidence against sorcerers, adulterers, liars, those who exploit workers, those who take advantage of widows and orphans, those who are inhospitable to the homeless – anyone and everyone who doesn’t honor me.” A Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies.
3:6
“I am God – yes, I Am. I haven’t changed. And because I haven’t changed, you, the descendants of Jacob, haven’t been destroyed.
3:7
You have a long history of ignoring my commands. You haven’t done a thing I’ve told you. Return to me so I can return to you,” says God-of-the-Angel-Armies. “You ask, ‘But how do we return?’
Okay, so did you read verse 5? Is it just me? Did I miss the point? What do you think Malachi 3 is about?
Russell Earl Kelly
June 4, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Sir
Your comments are all over the spectrum of tithing. According to Malachi 1:6 and 2:1 God was addressing the impudent dishonest thieving priests who dared him to judge them in the last verse of chapter two.
In Christ’s love
Russ Kelly
Caught Thinking
June 4, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Welcome Russ,
Thank you for your extensive work on this subject matter. Just for clarity, I agree that Malachi 3:10 Has Been Misinterpreted. Glad you could add your weight to the discussion.
It’s funny how we are all clear about not being under the old covenant anymore yet so many insist on teaching tithe as law.
dennis
February 23, 2010 at 8:35 pm
u forgot 3-8 of malachi which sayswill a man not rob god yet ye have robbed me but wherein have we robbed un in tithes and offerings 3-9 ye are cursed with a curse because u have robbed me 3- 10bring all ye tithe s to the store houses0 malachi does talk about tithing un less u have a different bible than i do
kwesi
February 24, 2010 at 12:23 am
Dennis I did not forget! “According to Malachi 1:6 and 2:1 God was addressing the impudent dishonest thieving priests who dared him to judge them in the last verse of chapter two.”
WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER THE LAW!!! PERIOD
speaking truth
June 5, 2008 at 1:19 pm
First, I commend you Kwesi for taking the time to methodically walk through the fallacy of the “tithe” as we know it today.
It really bothers me that pulpit pimps use this as a method of “holy extortion” to ensure a steady revenue stream. The tradegy is that most saints have a heart to give, yet they’re exploited into meeting a certain threshold. There are even books and conferences that teach pimps how to fleece more money out of the sheep.
Also, Russell, I became aware of your work because of your interview with CBS News regarding tithing. I must say that I’m glad to have discovered your material – and I’ll be adding you to my blog roll soon so that others will not be deceived.
The “irony” in this entire argument is that God’s truth is plainly seen in the book of Malachi (when you read the entire 3rd chapter of the book of Malachi). It’s another example of the sheep following blindly when the truth is often sitting in their lap – or on their coffee table.
Thanks gentlemen…
Caught Thinking
June 5, 2008 at 2:14 pm
@ Speaking,
“The “irony” in this entire argument is that God’s truth is plainly seen in the book of Malachi (when you read the entire 3rd chapter of the book of Malachi). It’s another example of the sheep following blindly when the truth is often sitting in their lap – or on their coffee table.”
Or on the shelf, or in a box somewhere. Isn’t that a great part of the problem?
Christians are not reading the bible. They have been trained to depend on their one master teacher, you know the one with the title and the robe.
Thus the people are destroyed… So sad, so sad.
speaking truth
June 5, 2008 at 3:18 pm
HA!
What robe?
While many pimps where their “ceremonial mantles”, “ephods”, etc. when there’s a special event and they’ve got to “stand in their apostolic prophetic anointing to declare a word”, most like to wear their expensive suits and shoes to show the sheep how “God blesses those who are faithful to Him!”.
You can’t display the “fruit of your faithfulness” by hiding it behind some robe.
C’mon K – if you’re gonna do this “pastoring” thing, you gotta start thinking big!
Caught Thinking
June 5, 2008 at 3:31 pm
LOL! and here I plan to lead discussion in jeans and tees. What am I thinking?
tithing and stewardship
June 7, 2008 at 4:03 am
Just read through all of your posts about the tithe. I like what you said here, “I sometimes wonder if we’re not really pressuring them to tithe because we lack the faith that God will take care of His body, His ministry, and His work.”
The preaching from the pulpit is backwards. The ministers are pointing the finger at the congregation as if they were the Israelite nation being rebuked in Malachi 3. Of course we know that it was actually the spiritual leaders in Malachi that were being rebuked. How blind have church leaders become?
Revival will not happen until the leaders get the finger pointing right. It is they who lack the faith, by enforcing the tithe. Tithing is the number one security blanket for the church today. If pastors want their congregation to be led by the Spirit, then they need to start with the ability to allow us to do that with our pockets first. Unfortunately, our pocket is the only thing that pastor is worried about the Holy Spirit being in control of.
Thanks for your posts on this issue. keep it up.
- Jared B
Caught Thinking
June 7, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Jared welcome, thanks for stopping by.
Yeah, it sounds good, the spin on it is really nice from the pulpit, but when you pull it apart and examine the truth, well then it’s a different story. The things is Jared, is that we are called to more than 10% living. All that we have belongs to God. It’s the whole “it’s a law” and “you’ll be cursed” manipulation that is a joke. In the end it’s all about relationship and that should be our motivation for everything we do.
Katrice
June 8, 2008 at 4:18 am
To answer your question, as I read Malachi 3, I see God saying three basic things: 1) you have been disobedient, 2) you have robbed me, and 3) you have grumbled against me. I see the three as having a domino effect. You haven’t obeyed and have turned against God. Therefore, He hasn’t blessed you the way He would love to, because He hasn’t changed and His principles remain the same. Because you haven’t been blessed, you have complained and had the nerve to blame God when you see others, specifically those outside of the body, prosper.
I see the key in verses 16-17. The people made a pact to remember God. And He was more than thrilled to reclaim them as His own.
It ends beautifully. Verse 18: And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.
It was never about the money. It was about obedience and honor to God in ALL things. Verses 3-4 talk about people bringing their offerings in righteousness so that they can be acceptable to the Lord. That’s the whole point. God cares more about the condition of our hearts than about the percentage we bring to Him, (even back then when they WERE under the law). Always has, always will.
Our God has always been a loving God, hasn’t he.
Caught Thinking
June 8, 2008 at 8:18 am
Now there’s a concept, bring your offering in righteousness, you mean like Able and not Cain? Are you saying, I can’t just give out of obligation? Geesh, who knew?
Katrice
June 8, 2008 at 7:15 pm
That’s exactly who came to mind — Cain and Abel! One’s sacrifice was accepted and the other’s not, because of obedience and righteousness. As God says in Malachi 3, He never changes.
bias in georgia
July 14, 2008 at 3:51 pm
In the couple of churches I have had membership in, tithing was always taught and it was always said that in order to be blessed by God, you HAD to give your 10%., but what I have discovered through the Word of God as I became more mature and studied the Word for myself is that God loves a cheerful giver. If we cheerfully give whatever we have to give, whether it be 10% or more or less, God recieves it. If we give grudgingly, we might as well keep it in our purses or pockets, because God will not recieve it – 2 Corinthians 9:7. I’ve never felt comfortable with someone telling me I had to give what they thought I should give and not what God has placed upon my heart. My spirit is so grieved these days with what is going on in some of the churches. Joel Olstein is a glorified story teller (where is Word of God in his stories – he said to Larry King that he chooses not to use scripture and that he is just a motivator) and he has 20,000 or more sitting under him. Creflo Dollar has the right name if you know what I mean and how does one describe TD JAKES? And let us not forget about JUANITA BYNUM and all of her drama – this “Godly” woman who set her husband up for a fall and lied and had no shame doing it, what about the $5,000 dollar ink pens she says everyone must have in order to be someone or the $500 dollar “Emergency Prayer Kits” she sold on HSN as if to say that God is put upon a shelf and only used in cases of emergencies. (Probably why some of them caught fire right on the set and burned completely up) There are so many wrong things being accepted in the churches today in the Name of Jesus – what a shame this is!!! I am so thankful to have found this sight because there are times (lately more often than not) that I want to SCREAM OUT LOUD — WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE THINKING! WHERE IS GOD IN ALL OF THIS!!! WHAT HAPPENED TO PEOPLE TELLING THE TRUTH AND STANDING UP FOR CHRIST!!! Some say if you tell the truth, you will be labeled a trouble maker, well what is one to do? Do we do the “popular” thing and follow the crowd and please man or do we do what we know is “RIGHT” in the sight of God. Keep on telling the truth Sir!! (Kwesi) KEEP ON TELLING THE TRUTH!!! We need more Pastors such as yourself. One last question: Have you ever read, “Ten Lies the Church Tells Women?” Be blessed.
Shirley
July 8, 2009 at 7:12 am
I hear you BUT…. why does the scripture specifically say 10%. There has to be a reason for this – right? If God just wanted us to give out of our hearts be honest! How many people would REALLY give back to God. This is a form of “discipline” – the 10% – more than anything. We have to obey scripture as it is written and not pick the bits and peices we wish to.
Caughthinking
July 8, 2009 at 11:14 am
Shirley,
“We have to obey scripture as it is written and not pick the bits and peices we wish to.”
Your statement, while well intentioned in not entirely correct. First, while two covenants are represented in the bible, only one is active. We operate under the New Covenant. So using your statement, your logic, why is the tithe the only OT law we choose to enforce. Why? Because it’s the one that benefits the receivers, the enforcers with cash.
Also, to your question; How many people would really give back to God? That’s exactly the point, right? Hopefully many would give with a cheerful heart. If you are only giving because you are afraid of a curse, are you really given, freely, cheerfully?
Finally, if we are going to say we must obey OT law, lets not stop at tithing. Let’s hold to Leviticus 11 and 12, oh, oh and we must enforce chapter 20 punishment for sin.
You see Shirley it sounds good to say we cant pick and choose but in reality. We don’t have to pick. We are under the New Covenant and no tithe is mandatory. agreed?
Don Lott
June 21, 2011 at 11:02 am
God bless you! For (as with Peter MT 16:17) flesh and blood did not reveal these truths to you!
Caught Thinking
July 15, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Welcome Bias,
I share your frustration with the present state of the church. The more I study, the more disturbed I become. SCREAM is exactly about ending the pretense of religion and embracing the freedom of relationship with Christ.
Every now and again, someone comes along that doesn’t mind being branded rebellious or trouble maker. They usually ask a lot of questions that make the crowd uncomfortable and in the end cause great change.
The Truth of Christ! The Kingdom of God! The Salvation of the Loss! That’s what all of this is supposed to be about…
Haven’t read the book, but it sounds interesting
Stay encouraged!
Kwesi
Seventh-day Adventist who no longer "tithes"
July 24, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Over the last couple of months, I have discovered the truth about tithing. All of my life I have been taught that this is a law which Christians must keep and that obedience to this law was a salvation issue. In other words, if I didn’t give my 10% to the church, then I would loose my heavenly treasure. Also, if I saw some issue with how the tithe was being handled, I could make a complaint to the church, but I had no right to withhold it or give it to some other religious institution, because if I did, I would be “robbing” God. Many people often argue that this law superceded the time of Moses because Abraham is recorded in Genesis as giving a tenth of the plunder of a war to Melchizedek, a high priest of God. Also, his grandson Jacob also was recorded in Genesis as pledging 10% of all that God would give him in the future if he would be with him and protect him on his journey to his Uncle Laban’s house. In close read of these passages, one cannot just assume, as many do, that this tenth was given as a result of some unwritten law that originated sometime after Adam and Eve sinned.
Also, when studying the tithe, I reviewed Romans, Galatians, and Hebrews, among other books and have come to the conclusion that the Old Covenant law that was initiated with Moses is now obsolete. We Christians are under the New Covenant, led by the Holy Spirit, to keep the spirit of the law and not the letter. So are we to give to the Lord? YES! But it is all about how the Holy Spirit moves my heart to give and not about percentages.
Caught Thinking
July 24, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Welcome Seventh day,
You are correct, we are no more under the law but under grace. Some seem to want to choose when we are under the law and when we are not. Thanks be to God, we are free!
having not read the material you linked I removed it nor wanting to endorse that which I have not read.
Pastor Montagne
August 3, 2008 at 3:37 am
Wonderful postes. Nuff said. ;o)
meridyth
January 1, 2010 at 11:08 am
I also believe most churches use tithing as a cash cow and if they tell you the biggest baddest being in the universe will curse you if you don’t give him his money most people who don’t know scripture will give out of fear not from the heart.
God Lead
January 12, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Jacob promising to give a tith of his blessings? Was he not already doing this? His grandfather was a tither, surely they practiced this on a regular! How many times is it recorded that Abraham gave tithe- Once! How many times is it recorded that Cain and Abel gave-Once!
My point is this, it was never recorded or stated how many times the tithes were to be given UNTIL they became an ordiance of the LAW!
So those that argue that the tithes is not a part of the law, but was established before the law came into effect should ask themselves, was it really? or was it done by these same people before mentioned out of the spirit of their hearts as freewill gifts. I say yes. We can look to Cain and Abel to determine this!
I am not under the impression that Christians are mandated to tithe today, I look to the ocassion when Paul and Bar… went before the Council of leaders in the book of Acts to determine what of the law should the newly converted Gentiles submit. The council in agreement with the Holy Spirit listed “Don’t eat anything with blood in it, Don’t eat a animal that has be stranggled and to keep one’s self pure of sexual sins”. I do not believe that they haphappenly left out tithes!!!
I also hear the debate that Christ endorsed it in Matthew something like the 23 or 25 chapter. Well what I think needs to be considered is that Christ was 1. Speaking to a Jewish person ( leader) 2. They were still under the law at the time he was speaking! Oh! By hte way is this not the very last time tithes were mentioned in the bible??
I’ve asked the question if I have a parent that is in need from month to month can I pay my tithes to them? The answer is no, if they need money they need to come to the church for support after I have paid my tithes to the church and it will then give to them! Well I look at that and think to myself. REALLY NOW??? How many times will they freely give and what of my parent’s needs will be truly met and I consider how they will then use that for control both over my parent and me! I think NOT!
I read that a person must FIRST take care of their OWN! Otherwise they are not fit and are no better than an unbeliever!
To sum it all up I think what is said about the leaders of Christ’s day when he told the people to do as they say and not as they do!!! The leaders make demands of the people that they themselves do not keep!!!!!!!
I think the church today have in fact gathered to themselves persons that will tell them what their itching ears what to hear! They have the quick answer to all of their problems, no repentance or love needed, just give and God will bless you inspite of it all!!!!!
dennis
February 23, 2010 at 8:55 pm
tithing did not really start until the levites were created and no ones sin wwere forgiven it was to show obediennce and to tell u that christ was coming and ur sins would be forgiven thru him the bible also says prove all things so before u do anythingunhear vprove itvfirstb or do not do it
Anonymous
July 29, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Scriptures the tithe propagandist do not want you to understand:
Galatians 3:10 “All who rely on the law are under a curse, for it is written Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do EVERYTHING written in the Book of the law.
Please Note: Everything written in the book of the Law included keeping the Sabbath (stop all activity from Friday night to Saturday evening), do not eat pork or unclean foods and circumcise male babies on the 8th day. Abraham paid a tithe one time to Melchizedek but he also kept the circumcision law and they are not advocating that, only the tithe!
Galatians 3:11 ” So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say “It is through faith that a righteous person has life”
Galatians 3:13 “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law
Acts 13:39 “and through him (Christ) everyone if freed from ALL THINGS
of which you could not be freed from by the law of Moses”
Matthew 23:23 Jesus placed mercy before tithing but told the Pharisees to also tithe few realize when they use this verse to justify tithing that Jesus was speaking to Jews still under the Law because Jesus had not yet died and given us the Dispensation of Grace.
I pray all would get a revelation that Grace means Unearned (not worked or paid for by us) and undeserved free favor then give according to 2nd Corinthians 9:7 “voluntary as you purpose in your own heart newer translations say as you decide in your own hearts without duty or obligation) for God loves a cheerful giver.
John 1:16 “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace”.
John 1: 17 “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”
Caleb Elijah
November 19, 2010 at 1:34 pm
If people insist on following the tithe:
They should also follow the other 612 ordinances of the law but I do not know of any legalistic tithing proponent who does so – Shirley, THEY are the ones who pick and choose!
They should follow it properly, ie it’s not 10%, it’s more – there is the tithe to the Levites, there is the poor tithe…
If people want to follow the example of Abraham (who is recorded as tithing once, by choice, from the spoils of war not his income or welath) they should also practice circumcision! And we know what Paul has to say about that (dogs, mutliators of the flesh)
If we truly love God and every part of us is His, then out of gratitude we will probably end up giving much more of a tithe – of our money, of our time, of our energy, of all the resources He has blessed us with. So the argument that some tithers use – that non-tithers just want an excuse not to give, is simply not true…
T. C.
December 9, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Malachi is OT. Tithing is a Hebrew, (Israelite AND Jewish), requirement. Malachi was Hebrew, (I can’t remember if he was Israelite or Jewish). Tithing is in the Bible. Ergo we must also tithe.
Read the passage in Malachi. It doesn’t say, “Bring me your 10%.”. It says “titheS” Yes, the word ends with an ‘s’ –it is plural! “Tithe_S_”. Do you get it?
From Moses on, the tithing system was NOT one, singular, individual tenth. Every year, people paid a tenth to the Levis. They paid, (set aside), a tenth for the feasts. And every third year, (in a 7-yr cycle, iirc), they gave a tenth for widows and orphans and(?) to help with foreigners in their land. 20%, 20%, 30%, 20% 20%, 30%, 20%. Repeat in seven year cycles. Malachi is telling Gods’ people to go back to paying their titheS — not their tithe — as He had commanded them, (not us).
So what? Well, if we are to tithe because of what Malachi says, aren’t we to tithe as Hebrews were to? Not a tenth but 20% for 5 years out of 7 and 30% for 2 years out of 7. (If we are to tithe because of Malachi or other OT writings, shouldn’t we be keeping the Feasts given when the tithing system was as well?)
Forget Malachi. Abraham, Isaac, and others tithed too — even before Moses. This “proves” tithing is for Gods’ people. Yeah, I heard this. The difference is we, (Armstrongist/Worlwide Church of God), applied the same logic to the Sabbath, which precedes Abraham, Cain & Abel and all other tithers/givers. Hey, if we are to tithe because people were doing it before Sinai, how much more should we all be Sabbatarians , especially since the 4th commandment itself links Sabbath-keeping to Creation Week?
Ever ask a Malachi-quoter or “Well, Abraham/_______ tithed….” if s/he were applying the same logic to Sabbath-keeping? You’ll find this rationale is somehow confined to legalistic, mandatory set-rate ‘donations’, aka 1/10, 0.1., 10%. But the looks you’ll get are really quite revealing! And you’ll find that they can’t give a reasonable answer other than this stock mantra. They probably won’t be able to expand upon it.
Very much cult-like, IMO
Caleb Elijah
December 9, 2010 at 11:57 pm
TC, you have missed the point completely. In Malachi 3, God was addressing the Levites, not the people. The people had brought their tithes to the Levites, but the Levites were keeping some back for themselves, a bit like the sons of Eli were doing in the days of Samuel.
Regardless of that, you miss the point that the titthe was part of the Old Covenant that lasted up to the death of Jesus, when a new covenant was sealed in His blood. Now our giving is governed by the principles outlined in 2 Corinthians 9.
Jacob didn’t tithe, he tried to make a bargain with God which God never asked him to do. Abraham is only recorded as tithing on one occasion, voluntarily, from the spoils of war only. If we follow the tithe because Abraham did we also have to practice circmcision, because Abraham practised circumcision before the law.
T. C.
December 10, 2010 at 3:32 am
TC, you have missed the point completely. In Malachi 3, God was addressing the Levites, not the people. The people had brought their tithes to the Levites, but the Levites were keeping some back for themselves, a bit like the sons of Eli were doing in the days of Samuel.
Moi? Miss the point?!!! Impossible! The point is whatever I say it is, ergo I can’t miss it!
Oh, wait! That’s the old cultic/popular christianity today me popping out/off!Seriously, I’m not sure it was to the Levites only. The whole “Prove me now, herewith….” (KJV-ish) suggests it was to all Judea/Israel, especially perhaps the Levites as the leaders in spiritual matters. If the people were tithing, wouldn’t they have had the result mentioned — something the Levites would have noticed?
Of course, if one could make the case that this was for Levites exclusively, the “MUST tithe” types have a harder time using this as a proof text. Christians are not under Levites; they’re Order of Melchisedec. AFAIK, there are no Levites left, (I read, but don’t know for sure that they were fairly wiped out when Jerusalem was sacked).
As to the other point missed, I don’t see how. Having been raised in an OT-intense atmosphere, (sundown-to-sundown Sabbaths, ALL the Feasts kept despite their being “shadows”, OT Food laws, Patriarchialism, the Biblical 3-tiered tithe, etc.), I honestly can’t see how I missed the point. Too much verbiage perhaps, or overly-nuanced satire/sarcasm, (for some reason, I have a hard time writing on legalism without getting ‘derisive’). You used circumcision; I used the sabbath for the same point. “They did, ergo we must!” doesnt’ work, and is not worked by those advocating it!
I don’t know if there is an active, OT Levite preisthood, even in the most orthodox synagogues. It doesn’t matter: all pastors have to do is say “Levite = Priesthood = Ministers/Pastors; (it also means ‘of the tribe of Levi, but we mean it in the pastoral sense).” and poof! All the “Order of Melchisidec” and OT Priesthood exclusively by birthright stuff is outta here!
My major point: if one is going to patchwork scripture with highly selective proof-text, (Malachi), or “Biblical example-setters”, (those who did ____, ie tithing), one should BE ACTIVELY applying their M.O. to all their teachings. Abraham gave, Abel gave/sacrificed, Isaac tithed — I have heard and still hear folks using these as arguments for an absolutely non-biblical tithe. IF such examples prove that tithing IS to be done now, the same rationale should be applied to other OT practices, ie food laws, Feast keeping, Sabbath keeping and Biblical symbolism, (a la John Hagee).
The fact is, it doesn’t matter much to most. It never has mattered to most. The Bible has long been infallible*, inerrant and sealed. For a long time folks taught from it, studied it, legislated its meaning while mandated its enforcement and lived by their understanding of it. None of this prevented inquisitions, pograms, witch hunts, land grabs wars/police actions/political adjustments/forceful openings of new markets, collapse of “Christian” empires, etc.
Jesus equated divorce with adultery. So?
Paul wrote against cliques, “pedestalling” leaders and women ministers. And?
The Bible says to return evil with good, turn the other cheek. Yes but what that really means is….
Bless them that despitefully use you. Surely that doesn’t include the [insert slur relevant to the national enemy of the moment]!
Why should ‘Give as you feel led.’ be any different, especially since it doesn’t confer power and wealth on a few or an elite sense of belonging on many?
*Infallible: a word most often used by those who have no idea what it means.
Caleb Elijah
December 10, 2010 at 7:36 am
From studying the law, Old Testament Law, I have found that there were TWO tithes.
The first tithe was a yearly tithe, from the increase of the land, as mentioned in Deuteronomy 12:24, and Deuteronomy 14:22-26. The people were to eat this tithe themselves, as a celebration. They were not to eat it at home however, but they were to bring it to a place that God had chosen.
The second tithe was a THREE yearly tithe and this tithe was for two purposes:
(a) To to support the Levites, because they were the only tribe who did not have a ladn inheritance of their own (God Himself was to be their inheritance). Out of this tithe, the Levites would offer a tenth themselves, and they would eat this as a reward for their service. This is mentioned in Numbers 18:24ff and Deuteronomy 14:27-29. The Levites could eat this wherever they wanted.
(b) Again Deuteronomy 14:27-29 – To support the stranger, the fatherless and the widow (in other words the poor)
The Levites in the Old Testament were not just a priesthood. They also acted in a governmental role, such as the police and social services. Hence tithes paid to the Levites were more similar to the taxes that we pay to the government today. So when the Levites were instructed to give the poor tithe – the food brought into the literal storehouse in Malachi 3, they were acting like the welfare/benefits system in modern society.
Today we are not under any of these commands in a legalistic sense. However if we choose to, we can give for all three of these purposes, as we have decided in our hearts:
(a) To eat ourselves as a celebration, fellowship meal type of thing
(b) To support those who minister full time
(c) To support ministries and charities who minister to the poor (above and beyond the taxes that we pay for this purpose.
I believe that when we have a genuine relationship with God, a genuine love for Him, for His people, for His work and for the lost, we will actually WANT to give more than the yearly and three yearly tithes of the Old Testament law, so it is not an excuse for not giving generously, it’s just that our motive will be a lot better, and under the New Covenant God is very concerned about our motives.
Don Lott
June 21, 2011 at 11:05 am
In my post earlier I was commenting on “bias in Georgia’s” post. Sorry, I’m new…
June 21, 2011 at 11:02 am
God bless you! For (as with Peter MT 16:17) flesh and blood did not reveal these truths to you!