Read Part 1 of Questions and Ponderings about Tithing…

Tithing Practices According To The Mosaic Law:

Deut 12:6-7 There you shall take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, your vowed offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. 7 And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all to which you have put your hand, you and your households, in which the Lord your God has blessed you. (NKJV)

1. Apparently the tithe was to be eaten by the person bringing the tithe. So God must have meant for people to be partakers of their own tithe. So why are we taught to give it away and why do we never eat it?
2. If the tithe was to be an edible commodity, why do we tithe money?

Deut 12:17-18 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. 18 But 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. (NKJV)

1. Again the tithe is described as grain, wine, oil and animals. Now we know they had money in those days, (see Deut 14:24-26) so the argument that this tithe was because of pre-monetary systems, doesn’t hold water.
2. The tithe was to be eaten in celebration with one’s entire household and servants. This time the clergy is mentioned, but note the following: Is the person bringing the tithe supposed to share it with the Levite who is in his house, or with the Levite in whose house he is?

Lev 27:30-33 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. 31 If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth to it. 32 And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord. 33 He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; and if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.’” (NKJV)

1. Was the tithe described here referring to plants and animals again? I see a pattern… Do you see a pattern?
2. Does it mention anything about precious minerals like gold or silver? I know we get gold from the land, but this verse makes reference to seed and fruit meaning crops produced through cultivation. No mention of precious metals.

Tithing and Money:

Deut 14:22-26 “You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. 23 And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. 24 But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the Lord your God has blessed you, 25 then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses. 26 And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. (NKJV)

1. What is to be truly tithed again? Oh yes, grain, wine, oil and animals…
2. How was it tithed? By eating it in a celebration. Basically this is the tithe: “Hey guys, look how much God blessed me this year! Let’s have a party to say thanks!”
3. If the place where the tithe was to be eaten was far away, what was the person bringing the tithe supposed to do? Sell his tithe and travel with the money. That is probably where the idea for traveler’s checks originated…
4. Could he then just tithe the money? Nope, he had to first go buy animals or wine or whatever. I like that. Tithe whatever your heart desires by celebrating with God.
5. So if he had to sell his tithe for money, travel and then buy WHATEVER HIS HEART DESIRES before the tithe is eaten, does that not mean money was not an acceptable tithe? Why couldn’t he just give the Levite the money? Because God said so…
6. In all these verses, did it once mention anything about receiving a blessing because you tithe? So why do people teach it? All these verses says to tithe what you have been blessed with. So by that reasoning, you only need to tithe after your breakthrough comes, not in order for it to come. Sela – Think about that…

When was the tithe to be made?

Deut 14:28-29 “At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. 29 And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do. (NKJV)

Deut 26:12-13 When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your increase in the third year — the year of tithing — and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be filled, 13 then you shall say before the Lord your God: ‘I have removed the holy tithe from my house, and also have given them to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; (NKJV)

Amos 4:4 Bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years (KJV)

1. Every how often was a tithe to be brought out? 1. Every 3 years or 2. Every month and twice in October? I pick door number one…
2. Who was the edible tithe to be shared with? Note shared with and not given to…

Let me end this here by saying that I do believe giving is a good thing to do. A not so  good thing to do is to relate to God based on your giving instead of Jesus. That is relating to Him based on your ability, or through the Law. Not smart. What I personally don’t like about tithing otherwise could probably be semantics but why do we call giving money tithing if it clearly resembles nothing of the sort? The only similarity between the true practice of tithing and what the modern church teaches is the 10% part. Other than that the substance, the frequency, the receiver and most unfortunately, the motives have all changed. Personally I like to give. If I can meet a need, I try to meet it. Whether that is through buying a homeless man a meal, giving a $1000 to single mom to help her pay her bills, making a donation to help finance a church’s running costs or mission or whatever way I can show the goodness of God to my fellow man. In that way I regard it as a sacrifice, because chances are I won’t get anything back for it financially. I also prefer to give anonymously and I am not motivated by tax-breaks for donations either. But that is how I do it. It doesn’t mean you have to do the same thing. I use what God has given me to bless others. If He chooses to give me more, then I will have more to give. If I have no money, I still have time, love, hope, inspiration, faith, healing, prophecy and things like that to give away. It’s like I have always said, “God would much rather have you than your checkbook.”

In the Part 3 I will look at the Malachi Misunderstanding… Watch this space

God blessed you, so go bless somebody else.

Cornel

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I did not write this article in order to provoke rallying arguments about religious requirements some hold to, I merely read the Bible and am asking questions about what I read (or what I didn’t actually read…). You can go read the scriptures and come to your own conclusion on this apparently over-sensitive topic.

 

Abram and Melchizedek:

 

Gen 14:14-24 Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16 So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people. 17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.  18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all. 21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’ —  24 except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.” (NKJV)

 

• Did Abram tithe of his own possessions too or only from the spoils of war/increase? Only the spoils of war is mentioned.

• Abram gave 10% to Melchizedek and 90% to the king of SODOM. So if somebody teaches tithing based on how Abram did it, does that mean we have to give 90% of our increase to some ungodly person? I mean, that’s what Abram did.

• And if we are to follow Abram’s example, why do we never again read about him tithing ever again? Seems like this was a onetime event.

• If Abram didn’t tithe of his own personal possessions, why is this onetime never again to be repeated occurrence used to teach Christians that they should tithe 10% of their own income month after month, year after year?

 

Jacob’s Tithe:

 

Gen 28:20-22 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, 21 so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. 22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” (NKJV)

 

• Jacob vowed to tithe of everything that God would give him. So did Jacob tithe in order to receive or did he wait to receive before he tithed? Looks like he waited…

• If he waited to receive, as it says, then why are Christians taught that they should tithe before God can provide increase? Doesn’t it seem like we have it the wrong way around? Jacob used tithing to say thanks. The modern church uses it to buy blessings. Seems very different to me.

• Since there was at this point no temple or no priests, how did Jacob tithe? Where did he take it and who received the tithe on behalf of God? How did God intend the tithe to be received?

 

From these two examples in scripture we see something other than the principles of tithing we are often taught. Abram didn’t tithe of his own possessions and there is only this one example of him tithing. He also gave 100% of his increase away. Jacob refused to tithe unless God first provided the increase. He also didn’t have Melchizedek or any other priest to tithe too. If I had to guess as to how he gave the tithe, I would say he either burned it as a burnt offering, of held some feast in honour of God with whoever was in his family. (This is a principle we will cover next time.) I really love Jacob’s heart in his approach to tithing. When you sacrifice something, you are giving  something up that you DO NOT expect to get back. If you are expecting to receive something back, you didn’t make a sacrifice, you made an investment. Big difference! The one is an act of worship; the other a means to an end. So whether you tithe or not, what is your heart’s motive? Do you do it in order to get something back or are you merely giving thanks? If you are doing it in order to be more blessed, your tithe is not a sacrifice but a selfish application of sowing and reaping. Sure the act of parting with your income might seem sacrificial, but the motive is not true worship. God’s favour and blessings cannot be bought. It is given freely. Rather keep your money then make God out to be respecter of bank balances.

 

In Part 2 I will look at some of the Mosaic Laws regarding tithing. Very interesting stuff…

 

God bless.

 

Cornel

 

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