By the Scripture’s Own Writers
Tithe
Definition
A giving of one tenth of one’s possessions or gains. Since the number ten is used in the Scriptures as representing all, it is a token of the complete dedication of God’s people, with all their possessions, to the service of Jehovah.
Abraham’s Tithing to Melchizedek Showed Levitical Priesthood Inferior to Christ’s
Genesis 14:18-20 “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. And 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 tenth of all.”
Hebrews 7:4-10 “Behold, then, how great this man [Melchizedek] was to whom Abraham, the family head, gave a tenth out of the chief spoils. True, the men who receive their priesthood from the sons of Levi have a commandment to collect tithes from the people according to the Law, that is, from their brothers, even if these have issued from the loins of Abraham; but the man who did not trace his genealogy from them took tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Now without any dispute, the less is blessed by the greater. And in the one case it is men who are dying that receive tithes, but in the other case it is a man of whom it is witnessed that he lives. And, if I may use the expression, through Abraham even Levi who receives tithes has paid tithes, for he was still in the loins of his forefather when Melchizedek met him.”
Jacob Vowed One Tenth (Not by Law), Picturing Complete Devotion of Christians Today
Genesis 28:20-22 “And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, and Jehovah will be my God, then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that You shall give me I will surely give the tenth unto You.”
Tithes Paid by Israelites Under the Law
The main tithe—to the Levites
Numbers 18:21 “And to the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the tent of meeting.”
The second tithe—to be used to travel to Jerusalem or other divinely designated place for assembly there. What was left was to be eaten there
Deuteronomy 14:22-26 “You shall surely tithe all the increase of your seed, that which comes forth from the field year by year. And you shall eat before Jehovah your God, in the place which He shall choose, to cause His Name to dwell there, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the firstlings of your herd and of your flock; that you may learn to fear Jehovah your God always. And if the way be too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it, because the place is too far from you, which Jehovah your God shall choose, to set His Name there, when Jehovah your God shall bless you; then shall you turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand … and you shall bestow the money for whatsoever your soul desires, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever your soul asks of you; and you shall eat there before Jehovah your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.”
The poor tithe—on the third and sixth years of every seven-year period, instead of the second tithe
Deuteronomy 14:28, 29 “At the end of every three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase in the same year, and shall lay it up within your gates: and the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Jehovah your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.”
Tithe of Levites to the priests —a tithe of the tithe
Numbers 18:26, 28, 29 “Moreover you shall speak to the Levites, and say to them, When you take of the children of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall offer up a heave-offering of it for Jehovah, a tithe of the tithe. Thus you also shall offer a heave-offering to Jehovah … of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.”
To the king—taxes; this might vary according to taxes levied
1 Samuel 8:15 “And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.”
Tithing Not the Weightier Part of the Law
Matthew 23:23, 24 “Woe to you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! because you give the tenth of the mint and the dill and the cummin, but you have disregarded the weightier matters of the Law, namely, judgment and mercy and faithfulness. These things it was binding to do, yet not to disregard the other things. Blind guides, who strain out the gnat but gulp down the camel!”
Luke 18:11-14 “The pharisee stood and began to pray these things to himself: ‘O God, I thank You I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give the tenth of all things I acquire.’ But the tax collector standing at a distance was not willing even to raise his eyes heavenward, but kept beating his chest, saying: ‘O God, be gracious to me a sinner.’ I tell you, This man went down to his home proved more righteous than that man; because everyone that exalts himself will be humiliated, but he that humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jesus Upheld Tithing While Jewish Law Was in Force
Luke 11:42 “But woe to you pharisees, because you give the tenth of the mint and the rue and of every other vegetable, but you pass by the justice and the love of God! These things you were under obligation to do, but those other things not to omit.”
Tithing Ended When Law Abolished by God Through Christ
Colossians 2:13, 14 “Furthermore, though you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcised state of your flesh, God made you alive together with Him. He kindly forgave us all our trespasses and blotted out the handwritten document against us which consisted of decrees and which was in opposition to us, and He has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the torture stake.”
Galatians 3:13 “Christ by purchase released us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse instead of us, because it is written: ‘Accursed is every man hanged upon a stake.’ “
Ephesians 2:15 “By means of His flesh He abolished the hatred, the Law of commandments consisting in decrees.”
Hebrews 7:18 “Certainly, then, there occurs a setting aside of the preceding commandment on account of its weakness and ineffectiveness.”
Hebrews 7:11, 12 “If, then, perfection were really through the Levitical priesthood, (for with it as a feature the people were given the Law) what further need would there be for another priest to arise after the likeness of Melchizedek and not said to be after the likeness of Aaron?”
Christian Offerings Are Free Will, “Gifts of Mercy,” Not by Law nor Mandatory
2 Corinthians 9:5-7 “Therefore I thought it necessary to encourage the brothers to come to you in advance and to get ready in advance your bountiful gift previously promised, that thus this might be ready as a bountiful gift and not as something extorted. But as to this, he that sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he that sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Acts 24:17 “So after quite a number of years I arrived to bring gifts of mercy to my nation, and offerings.”
Romans 15:25-27 “But now I am about to journey to Jerusalem to minister to the holy ones. For those in Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to share up their things by a contribution to the poor of the holy ones in Jerusalem. True, they have been pleased to do so, and yet they were debtors to them; for if the nations have shared in their spiritual things, they also owe it to minister publicly to these with things for the physical body.”
Acts 4:34, 35 “In fact, there was not one in need among them; for all those who were possessors of fields or houses would sell them and bring the values of the things sold and they would deposit them at the feet of the apostles. In turn, distribution would be made to each one just as he would have the need.”
Galatians 2:10 “Only we should keep the poor in mind. This very thing I have also earnestly endeavored to do.”
No Mention to Christians of Giving a Tenth
1 Corinthians 16:2, 3 “Every first day of the week let each of you at his own house set something aside in store as he may be prospering, so that when I arrive collections will not take place then. But when I get there, whatever men you approve of by letters, these I shall send to carry your kind gift to Jerusalem.”
Christian’s “Tithe” Is Giving of All to the Kingdom Service
Hebrews 10:7 “Then I said, ‘Look! I am come (in the roll of the book it is written about Me) to do Your will, O God.’ “
Luke 18:27-30 “Peter said: ‘Look! we have left our own things and followed You.’ He said to them: ‘Truly I say to you, There is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the Kingdom of God that is not certain to get many times more in this period of time and in the coming system of things everlasting life.’ “
Luke 12:33 “Sell the things belonging to you and give them as gifts of mercy. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, a never-failing treasure in the heavens, where a thief does not get near nor moth consumes.”
Proverbs 23:26 “My son, give me your heart.”
Hebrews 13:15, 16 “Through Him let us always offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips which make public declaration to His Name. Moreover, do not forget the doing of good and the sharing of things with others, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Romans 12:8 “He that distributes, let him do it with liberality.”
Romans 13:8 “Do not be owing anybody a single thing, except to love one another; for he that loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law.”
Acts 4:32 “Moreover, the multitude of those who had believed had one heart and soul, and not even one would say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.”
Christian Gifts of Mercy Not Necessarily Regularly Given to the Congregation, or Its Appointed Servants, but to Relieve Needy Brothers and Expand Preaching Work
James 2:15, 16 “If a brother or a sister is in a naked state and lacking the food sufficient for the day, yet a certain one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm and well fed,’ but you do not give them the necessities for their body, of what benefit is it?”
Romans 15:26 “For those in Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to share up their things by a contribution to the poor of the holy ones in Jerusalem.”
Philippians 4:14-17 “Nevertheless, you acted well in becoming sharers with me in my tribulation. In fact, you Philippians, also know that at the start of declaring the good news, when I departed from Macedonia, not a congregation took a share with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone, because, even in Thessalonica, you sent something to me both once and a second time for my need. Not that I am earnestly seeking the gift, but that I am earnestly seeking the fruitage that brings more credit to your account.”
Christians Today Entrust “Faithful and Discreet Slave” Society with Material Means to Carry on Kingdom Work
Acts 11:29, 30 “So those of the disciples determined, each of them according as anyone could afford it, to send a relief ministration to the brothers dwelling in Judea; and this they did, dispatching it to the older men by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.”
2 Corinthians 9:1-5 “Now concerning the ministry that is destined for the holy ones it is superfluous for me to write you, for I know your readiness of mind of which I am boasting to the Macedonians about you, that Achaia has stood ready now for a year, and your zeal has stirred up the majority of them. But I am sending the brothers, that our boasting about you might not prove empty in this respect, but that you may really be ready, just as I used to say you would be. Otherwise, in some way, if Macedonians should come with me and find you not ready, we—not to say you —should be put to shame in this assurance of ours. Therefore I thought it necessary to encourage the brothers to come to you in advance and to get ready in advance your bountiful gift previously promised, that thus this might be ready as a bountiful gift and not as something extorted.”
2 Corinthians 9:11-13 “In everything you are being enriched for every kind of generosity, which produces through us an expression of thanks to God; because the ministry of this public service is not only to supply abundantly the wants of the holy ones but also to be rich with many expressions of thanks to God. Through the proof that this ministry gives, they glorify God because you are submissive to the good news about the Christ, as you publicly declare you are, and because you are generous in your contribution to them and to all.”
1 Corinthians 16:1-4 “Now concerning the collection which is for the holy ones, just as I gave orders to the congregations of Galatia, do that way yourselves also. Every first day of the week let each of you at his own house set something aside in store as he may be prospering, so that when I arrive collections will not take place then. But when I get there, whatever men you approve of by letters, these I shall send to carry your kind gift to Jerusalem. However, if it is fitting for me to go there also, they will go there with me.”
Christians Today Set Aside Money to Attend Assemblies; Enjoy Spiritual Food Provided
Deuteronomy 14:22-27 “You shall surely tithe all the increase of your seed, that which comes forth from the field year by year. And you shall eat before Jehovah your God, in the place which He shall choose, to cause His Name to dwell there, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the firstlings of your herd and of your flock; that you may learn to fear Jehovah your God always. And if the way be too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it, because the place is too far from you, which Jehovah your God shall choose, to set His Name there, when Jehovah your God shall bless you; then shall you turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shall go to the place which Jehovah your God shall choose: and you shall bestow the money for whatsoever your soul desires, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever your soul asks of you; and you shall eat there before Jehovah your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. And the Levite that is within your gates, you shall not forsake him; for he has no portion nor inheritance with you.”
Christendom, as Pictured by Ancient Israel, Has Not Been Fully Devoted to God and Clean Worship
Malachi 3:8, 9 “Will a man rob God? yet you rob Me. But you say, How have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with the curse; for you rob Me, even this whole nation.”
God’s Boundless Blessings Now Poured Out on His Faithful People Today; Increase Testifies Prosperity
Malachi 3:10 ” Let your tenths come into the store-house so that there may be food in My house, and put Me to the test by doing so, says the Lord of armies, and see if I do not make the windows of heaven open and send down such a blessing on you that there is no room for it.”
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