August 3, 2019
Comments to the entry:
Tithing in the Church is a human teaching, which will be discussed below.
The tithe, as discussed in previous publications, is directly related to the land of Israel. The relationship is this: God gives the people the land so that the people not only live on it, but live holy. To live holyly you need a Sanctuary that sanctifies the people. The sanctuary requires ministers who perform certain sacred rites. In order for this system of sanctification to work continuously, it must be maintained. For this purpose, tithes (maaser) were established. Everyone who had income from land and livestock brought it to the Temple. No tithe from another land could be brought into the Temple - only from the land of Israel. Consequently, the teaching on tithing in the Church has nothing in common with the tithe of the Temple.
Two tithes
As mentioned in previous publications, the tithe was brought at the end of the year to the Temple, and at the end of the third year, another tithe was collected, intended for the Levite, the orphan, the widow and the stranger.
Tithe for the Temple
The final authority who received a share of the tithes and who personified God himself in this matter was the high priest.
If, according to this law, tithes are brought in the Church, then the important detail here is not the tithe itself, but the final authority. In the Temple it was the high priest. Who is this in the Church? This high priest is the founder or president of the denomination. Thus, he, receiving tithes from those below him, personifies the high priest. However, two or more high priests do not serve at the same time. With the death of a commissioner, another is appointed, as was the case with the death of Aaron. In the teaching of the Church on tithes, there are many “high priests” who, by receiving tithes as the last resort, thereby trample on the power of the real high priest - Moshiach, who now serves in the Heavenly Sanctuary, which does not need material support. Consequently, anyone who receives tithes from the people in the form of a religious tax sins against the Moshiach, trampling on his power, which he received by raising him from the dead.
Tithe in the third year
It has already been noted that the tithe of the third year belonged equally to the Levite, the orphan, the widow, and the stranger. This tithe in the Church looks like an extreme perversion of the Levitical Law. Not a single widow, not a single orphan, and not a single stranger receives tithes every month or in the third year. Thus, tithing in the Church, from a legal point of view, can be considered a real fraud. The “New Testament institution of Levitism” exists only to collect taxes from people and live on it. But what about those for whom this tithe is intended - orphans, widows and strangers?
So, tithing in the Church, in the form in which it is present today as a teaching, is a fraud . Whether anyone realizes this or not is another question. The main thing is that this is a crime against God, Moshiach and against the Church (people).
Not tithe, but help
In fact, tithing is not what God expects from a person. And the money brought to the temple, be it an amount of 10% of income, more or less, is not needed by the Lord. The one who believes that he brings money to the temple and thereby does a godly deed is wrong. Yes, it was a good deed, but nothing more. The Bible says something completely different.
God does not expect money from people, he bequeaths something else. Are you familiar with such phrases from the Bible?
... and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly.
Almsgiving is a rich gift for everyone who does it before the Almighty.
... for alms delivers from death and does not allow one to go into darkness.
...it is better to give alms than to collect gold.
All these instructions of the Lord call believers not to give money (especially in some specific amounts), but to do good. Yes, in our world, many problems really are solved by money - they can also help a lot. But no one canceled kind words and simply good deeds, which people increasingly forget about, hoping that they can pay off with money.
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The main task of man (and in general of all living things on the planet) is to give back part of what he happened to take. This godly quality is inherited; all descendants must live by these principles.
Voluntary donation
There has always been a voluntary donation. Sometimes these offerings are called offerings of zeal. When the Sanctuary was built, it was built on voluntary donations:
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
2 Tell the children of Israel that they should make offerings to Me; From every person who has zeal, accept offerings to Me.
3 These are the offerings that you must accept from them: gold and silver and copper,
4 and blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' wool,
5 And red skins of rams, and blue skins, and shittim wood,
6 oils for the lamp, aromas for the anointing oil and incense,
7 The onyx stone and the set stones for the ephod and for the breastplate.
(Ex.25:1-7)
The same is said about the offering after the completion of the Sanctuary:
1 When Moses pitched the tabernacle, and anointed it, and sanctified it, and all its utensils, and the altar, and all its utensils, and anointed them, and sanctified them,
2 Then came the [twelve] rulers of Israel, the heads of their families, the rulers of the tribes, who were in charge of the numbering,
3 And they presented their offering before the Lord, six covered wagons and twelve oxen, one wagon from the two captains and one ox from each, and they presented it before the tabernacle.
(Num.7:1-3)
There are other places that talk about voluntary donation. Anyone could bring a voluntary donation to the Temple or help someone in need at any time.
Every donation must have a purpose: why should a person donate? There can be no pointless sacrifices. God does not need anything, people need donations.
15 You know, Philippians, that at the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, not a single church helped me with alms and acceptance, except you alone;
16 You also sent to Thessalonica once or twice for my needs.
17 I say this not because I was looking for a gift; but I seek fruit that will increase for your benefit.
18 I have received everything, and I have abundance; I am pleased to have received from Epaphroditus what you sent, like fragrant incense, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
19 May my God supply all your needs according to his riches in glory through Christ Jesus.
(Phil.4:15-19)
In this case, the donations were made by the community, which recognized Paul's ministry and therefore helped him financially. Paul compares this act as a kind of joy that Jehovah experiences at the sight of something like this.
Any person who understands that a brother or sister has a need can help them on a personal level; thereby he will serve God. This is a sacrifice to God.
10 So, as long as we have time, let us do good to everyone, but especially to those who belong to the family of faith.
(Gal.6:10)
If we talk about making donations to the Church, then there must be a reason for this. The reason may be the need to repair the premises, pay for utilities, etc., provide material and financial assistance to one of the community members, including the minister.
Unreasonably collecting funds from parishioners can be considered extortion. However, today money is needed not only to serve God, but to have the right to legal existence in the country. State laws require the proper condition and maintenance of the building and its maintenance. Therefore, people should donate funds to the community at least so that they are not closed for violating requirements and other things. Give to Caesar what is Caesar's.
Introduction
In many Christian churches (denominations, sects, confessions), as a rule, their pastors and leaders today preach in their ministry the collection of Tithes from their parishioners or flock, while relying on the Old Testament and the Law of Moses.
Is this right, is it necessary to do this in the era of the New Testament, and how should we manage the material wealth that God gives to you and me? Let's look at these questions in our article and see how we should deal with money in the church of God?
History of the Tithe
History of the Tithe
A tithe is a tenth of something. The word is most commonly used to refer to the practice of collecting a tenth of a member's income for the benefit of the religious community in Judaism, Christianity, and other religious traditions.
Tithing dates back to the time of Abraham and was later formalized into religious canon in the Torah (the first five Books of the Old Testament). As we understand it, a tithe is one tenth (10%) of the whole (100%).
According to the Tanakh (Old Testament), tithes were known to the Jews long before the time of Moses and go back to Abraham, who gave the high priest Melchizedek a tenth of all the spoils he received from the four defeated kings.
Thus, Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek (the king and priest of God) [Genesis 14:20; Heb 7:1-6], and Jacob, his grandson, also promised to give a tenth of his property to God [Gen 28:20-22]. And all this happened from their free will.
20 And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. [Abram] gave him a tenth of everything. (Genesis 14:20).
1 For Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, the one who met Abraham and blessed him as he returned from the defeat of the kings, 2 to whom Abraham divided tithes from all, first, according to the sign [name] king of righteousness, and then the king of Salem, that is, the king of the world, 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither the beginning of days nor the end of life, being like the Son of God, remains a priest forever. 4 You see how great is he to whom Abraham the patriarch gave tithes of his best spoils. 5 Those who receive the priesthood from the sons of Levi have a commandment to take tithes according to the law from the people, that is, from their brothers, although these also came from the loins of Abraham. 6 But this one, who was not descended from their lineage, received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. (Hebrews 7:1-6).
20 And Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be with me and keep me on this journey that I am going on, and give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 and I will return in peace to my father’s house, and the Lord will be my God. , - 22 then this stone, which I have set up as a monument, will be the house of God; and of all that You [God] give me, I will give You a tenth. (Genesis 28:20-22).
The Law of Moses required the people of Israel to pay tithes on all crops and livestock [Lev 27:30-34; Deuteronomy 14:22-26]. These tithes were needed to support the tribe of Levi (Levites), to whom God did not give an inheritance (land) in the land of Israel.
And also to help the poor and needy in the land of Israel, so that strangers, strangers, orphans and widows can eat and live from them (from tithes) [Numbers 18:21-24; Deuteronomy 14:27-29; 26:12-15].
30 And every tithe of the earth, of the seed of the earth, and of the fruit of the tree, belongeth unto the LORD: it is holy unto the LORD; 31 If anyone wants to redeem his tithe, he must add a fifth of it to [the price]. 32 And every tithe of herds and flocks, of all that passes under the rod, the tenth, shall be dedicated to the Lord; 33 should not determine whether something is good or bad, and should not replace it; if someone replaces it, then both it and its replacement will be holy and cannot be redeemed. 34 These are the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel on Mount Sinai. (Lev 27:30-34).
27 And do not leave the Levite who is in your gates, for he has no part or inheritance with you. 28 And when three years have passed, thou shalt separate all the tithes of thy produce that year, and put them in thy gates; 29 And let the Levite, for he has no portion or inheritance with you, come, and the stranger, and the orphan, and the widow who [are] in your gates, and let them eat and be satisfied, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. yours, which you will do. (Deuteronomy 14:27-29).
Sometimes it happened that some forgot their obligation to pay tithes, and then they were severely condemned by God [Neh 13:10-12; Mal 3:7-12]. Others, on the contrary, paid every penny, but their hearts were cruel and arrogant [Amos 4:4-5; Matthew 23:23].
7 Since the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My statutes and have not kept them; turn to Me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. You will say, “how should we turn?” 8 Is it possible for a person to rob God? And you are robbing Me. You will say: “How are we robbing You?” Tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, because you - all the people - rob Me. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me in this, says the Lord of hosts: Will I not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out blessings upon you until there is abundance? 11 For your sake I will rebuke the devourers from destroying the fruits of the earth from you, and the vines in your field will not lose their fruit, says the Lord of hosts. 12 And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a desirable land, says the Lord of hosts. (Mal 3:7-12).
23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you tithe mint, anise and cumin, and have neglected the most important things in the law: judgment, mercy and faith; this had to be done, and this should not be abandoned. (Matthew 23:23).
Tithe today
Tithe today
As we saw above, the command to tithe was part of the “law of Moses” [Heb 7:5]. It was part of the Levitical priesthood, within the framework of which the people received the law [Heb 7:11].
The priesthood changed, and with it the law changed [Hebrews 7:12]. Since the tithe was part of the priesthood and the law, which was changed, it follows that the commandment to tithe was nullified [Heb. 7:18-19].
5 Those who receive the priesthood from the sons of Levi have a commandment to take tithes according to the law from the people, that is, from their brothers, although these also came from the loins of Abraham. 6 But this one, who was not descended from their lineage, received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Without any contradiction, the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 And here mortal men take tithes, and there he who has a testimony about himself that he lives. 9 And, so to speak, Levi himself, who receives tithes, in [the person of] Abraham gave tithes: 10 for he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. 11 So, if perfection were achieved through the Levitical priesthood - for the law of the people is connected with it - then what further need would there be for another priest to rise up in the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 Because with the change of the priesthood there must be a change of the law. 13 For He of whom this is spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one came to the altar. 14 For it is known that our Lord arose from the tribe of Judah, about which Moses said nothing regarding the priesthood. 15 And this is even more clearly seen [from the fact] that in the likeness of Melchizedek another priest arises, 16 who is such not according to the law of the carnal commandment, but according to the power of unceasing life. 17 For it is testified: You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek. 18 But the cancellation of a former commandment occurs because of its weakness and uselessness, 19 for the law did not bring anything to perfection; but a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. (Hebrews 7:5-19).
A person who chooses to keep any part of the law of Moses becomes “obligated to keep the whole law” [Gal 5:3]. Tithing is “a part of that law, the law of Moses” [Heb 7:5], so those who choose to tithe today must also keep the Sabbath, sacrifices, circumcision, etc. regulations of the law.
On the other hand, to do this means again to be “slaves of the Old Law,” but Christ has set us free [Gal 5:1]. To such people Paul said and says: “Christ is of no use to you” [Gal 5:2], and adds: you “were separated from Christ, you have fallen from grace” [Gal 5:4].
1 Stand therefore in the freedom which Christ has given us, and do not be subjected again to the yoke of slavery. 2 Behold, I, Paul, say to you, if you are circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 Again I testify to every man who is circumcised, that he must fulfill the whole law. 4 You, who justify yourselves by the law, are left without Christ, you have fallen from grace, 5 but we in spirit wait and hope for the righteousness of faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has power, but faith working through love. (Gal 5:1-6).
Today, Christians are commanded by God to give as much as they are able to give or sacrifice [1 Cor 16:1-2]. Christians should “provide sufficient material resources, without regret, not out of necessity, but out of good will” [2 Cor 9:6-7].
It is up to us to determine how much we can give in offerings for the needs of the church (congregation) [2 Cor 9:7]. The love of our heart will help us act according to the truth, the laws of God and His will [2 Cor 8:1-15; Wed Acts 20:35]. By doing this, we will not go wrong.
1 And when you make the collections for the saints, do as I commanded in the churches of Galatia. 2 On the first day of the week, let each of you set aside and save for himself as much as his fortune allows, so as not to have to make preparations when I come. (1 Cor 16:1-2).
5 Therefore, I considered it necessary to ask the brothers to go to you in advance and take care in advance, so that your blessing, already announced, would be ready as a blessing, and not as a tax. 6 Moreover I will say: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly; and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each one [give] according to the purpose of his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion; For God loves a cheerful giver. 8 Now God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work, 9 as it is written, “He was wasted, he gave to the poor.” his truth endures forever. 10 But he who gives seed to the sower and bread for food will provide abundance for what you sow and will multiply the fruits of your righteousness, 11 so that you will be rich in everything in all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God. 12 For the work of this ministry not only fills the poverty of the saints, but also produces abundant thanksgiving to God in many. (2 Cor 9:5-12).
1 We make you aware, brethren, of the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in the midst of great trial and tribulation they abound with joy; and their deep poverty abounds in the wealth of their hospitality. 3 For they are willing according to their strength and beyond their strength - I am a witness: 4 they very earnestly asked us to accept the gift and participation of [their] in the service of the saints; 5 and not only what we hoped for, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, [then] to us according to the will of God; 6 Therefore we asked Titus that he, just as he began, would also complete this good work with you. 7 And as you abound in everything: in faith, in word, in knowledge, in all zeal, and in your love for us, so abound in this virtue. 8 I say this not as a command, but through the diligence of others I test the sincerity of your love. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that through His poverty you might become rich. 10 I give advice on this: for it is profitable for you, who not only began to do this, but have also desired it since the past year. 11 Now do the work itself, so that what you have earnestly desired may be fulfilled in abundance. 12 For if there is zeal, it is accepted according to who has what, and not according to what he does not have. 13 It is not required that there should be relief for others and heaviness for you, but that there should be evenness. 14 Now your abundance is to [make up for] their lack; and afterward their abundance to [make up for] your lack, so that there is equality, 15 as it is written: He who gathered much had nothing to spare; and whoever had little had no lack. (2 Cor 8:1-15).
From the state of the heart...
Vow
Yaakov once made a vow to Yahweh, when he left home with one staff in his hand, making a vow: that if Yahweh blesses him, then of all that he has acquired, he will give Him a tenth. God does not need material donations. But a reasonable vow that a person makes to God instills in a person responsibility before God. Therefore, it is repeatedly said that a person should fulfill his vows given before God. It is better not to promise than to promise and not fulfill. Anyone who fails to fulfill an oath incurs a curse on himself.
Each person can make a vow before God, promising a tenth, twentieth or thirtieth part. This is his personal business. Whether he fulfills it or not depends only on himself.
What the Bible Says
Tithing is talked about in the Old Testament. This part of the Bible tells how the Israelites were required to bring a tenth of everything they earned to the temple of the Lord. In simple and modern language, the tithe discussed in the Bible is something like the concept of tax as we know it.
The interesting thing is that the New Testament does not say anything specific about tithing. The only mention of donations for the church can be found only in the Gospel of Paul, where it is said that believers should support the church by giving part of their income to its needs. Just which one exactly - not a word about it. It turns out that Christians can pay not 1/10 of their income, but what they can. And this is not their duty, but their good will.
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Keeping a minister in the community
Worthy ministers should be kept under the care of the community, as the Apostle Paul teaches, but this does not mean that such ministers must necessarily live on the tithes of the community.
If there are 100 people in the community, and everyone’s tithe is 3,000 rubles a month from their salary, then how much will the minister receive monthly? It will be 300,000 rubles. Is it wise to do this? Unlikely. This is a good reason to breed in the brotherhood of freebie lovers. What if the community has 200, 300 members?! In any case, it will be unfair.
It would be reasonable if a minister worthy of his salary would receive from the community as much as ordinary people receive on average.
Measure of land area: meter, fathom, hectare
In Russia, before the introduction of metric, the word was most often used as a measure of area. So, for example, they calculated the size of land plots, lordly or peasant.
The tithe was based on another measure of length - the fathom. Initially, this is the distance between the two outstretched hands of an average person (machine fathom), which is approximately one and a half meters, sometimes a little more. Later, other fathom measures appeared - Greek, church, city... more than a dozen in total. And since the 17th century. a more or less uniform state fathom is introduced - 2.16 m. Tithes, like fathoms, also varied. For example, there were:
- “thirty” - 80x30 government fathoms;
- “magpie”, or 60x40;
- “hundredth”, 100x100, and a number of others.
All this diversity has been abolished since 1918, when a metric system of measures, uniform with Europe, was introduced. According to it, a tithe is approximately equal to 1 hectare, that is, 109 “acres”, squares with a side of 10 m.
I. The teaching of the Old Testament law on tithing:
What was considered a tithe?
Lev.27:30-32 “And every tithe of the earth, of the seed of the earth, and of the fruit of the tree, belongeth unto the LORD: it is holy unto the LORD; If anyone wants to redeem his tithe, then let him add a fifth of it to the price. And every tithe of herds and flocks, of all that passes under the rod, the tenth, must be dedicated to the Lord; should not distinguish whether something is good or bad, and should not replace it; if someone replaces it, then both it and its replacement will be holy and cannot be redeemed.”
This passage indicates that a tithe of land includes: - a tenth of the fruit of the land, - a tenth of the fruit of trees, and - a tenth of the fruit of livestock.
What was the purpose of tithing?
Numbers 18:21-32 “...and to the sons of Levi, behold, I have given tithes of all that Israel had as an inheritance for their service, because they ministered in the tabernacle of meeting; and the children of Israel shall not henceforth approach the tabernacle of meeting, lest they bear sin and die: let the Levites correct the services in the tabernacle of meeting, and bear their sin. This is an everlasting statute throughout your generations; but among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance; Because I give the tithe of the children of Israel, which they offer as an offering to the Lord, to the Levites as an inheritance, therefore I said to them, “They will not receive an inheritance among the children of Israel.” And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the Levites and say to them: When you take from the children of Israel the tithe that I gave you from them as an inheritance, then you shall offer an offering of it to the Lord, a tithe of the tithe, and your offering will be credited to you. as bread from the threshing floor and as taken from the winepress; So you also will present an offering to the Lord of all your tithes which you take from the children of Israel, and you will give of them the offering of the Lord to Aaron the priest. From all that is given to you, offer an offering to the Lord, from all the best that is sanctified. And tell them: When you bring the best of this, it will be credited to the Levites as that which is received from the threshing floor and that which is received from the winepress; You may eat this in every place, you and your families, for this is your wages for your labors in the tabernacle of meeting; and you will not bear sin for it when you bring the best of this; and what is dedicated by the children of Israel you shall not defile, and you shall not die.”
This passage demonstrates the purpose of the tithe for the people of Israel. The tithe was supposed to go to the needs of the Priests and Levites - the ministers in the tabernacle of meeting, and later - the Temple of God. This is also evidenced by Ezekiel 44:29-30 “They [the Levites] shall eat of the grain offering, of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering; and everything that is cursed in Israel belongs to them. And the firstfruits of all your fruits and of every kind of offering, whatever your offering may consist of, belong to the priests; and give the first fruits of what you ground to the priest, so that a blessing may rest upon your house.”
So, the tithe of the Israelites went to support the existence and ministry of the Levites. The Levites, in turn, were called to give God a tithe of the tithe they received. The tithes of the Levites went to subsidize the priests: “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the Levites and say to them: Whenever you take from the children of Israel the tithe that I gave you from them as an inheritance, then you shall offer an offering offering of it to the Lord, tithe of tithe, - and this offering of yours will be counted to you as bread from the threshing floor and as taken from the winepress; So you also will present an offering to the Lord of all your tithes which you take from the children of Israel, and you will give of them the offering of the Lord to Aaron the priest. Of all that is given to you, offer an offering to the Lord, of all that is best that is sanctified” (Num. 18:25-29).
Why was tithe collected from the people for the priests and Levites?
When the people of Israel came to the promised land, the Lord divided the entire land between the tribes of Israel. He gave each tribe its inheritance. But not all 12 tribes received land, but only 11. The Levites - that is, the descendants of Levi - did not receive a land inheritance in the Promised Land, since the Lord chose them and set them apart to serve God: Numbers 18:22-24 “... the children of Israel shall not henceforth to approach the tabernacle of meeting, so as not to bear sin and die: let the Levites correct the services in the tabernacle of meeting and bear their sin. This is an everlasting statute throughout your generations; but among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance; Because I give the tithe of the children of Israel, which they offer as an offering to the Lord, to the Levites as an inheritance, therefore I said to them, “They will not receive an inheritance among the children of Israel.” Joshua 18:7 “...but the Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance.”
Where were the tithes given?
“… but to the place which the Lord your God will choose from all your tribes, that His name may dwell there, you shall turn, and there you shall come, and there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and the offering of your hands, and your vows.” yours, and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and your flocks; and you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you and your families will rejoice in all that your hands have done, with which the Lord your God has blessed you. ...then whatever place the Lord your God chooses for His name to dwell there, there you shall bring everything that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the offering of your hands, and everything chosen according to your vows that you have promised. Lord; And rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters, and your male and female servants, and the Levite who is in the midst of your dwellings, for he has no part or inheritance with you. … You may not eat in your dwellings the tithes of your bread, and of your wine, and of your oil, and of the firstborn of your herds and of your flocks, and of all your vows which you have promised, and of your freewill offerings, and of the offerings of your hands; But you shall eat this before the Lord your God in the place that the Lord your God will choose—you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maidservant, and the Levite, and the stranger who is within your gates, and rejoice before the Lord your God in all that has been done with your hands.”
This passage indicates that the Lord commanded the Israelites to bring their tithes to the Jerusalem Temple - the dwelling place of the Lord God.
The prophet Malachi called on the unbelieving tithes and offerings of the Israelites to bring everything they owed God to the “house of storehouse” – the house of God: Mal.3:8-12 “Is it possible for a man to rob God? And you are robbing Me. You will say: “How are we robbing You?” Tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, because you - all the people - rob Me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me in this, says the Lord of hosts: Will I not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out blessings upon you until there is abundance? For your sake I will rebuke the devourers from destroying the fruits of the earth from you, and the vine in your field will not lose its fruit, says the Lord of hosts. And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a desirable land, says the Lord of hosts.”
Tithe Year
Deuteronomy 26:12-15 “When you have separated all the tithes of the produce of your land in the third year, the year of tithes, and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, that they may eat in your gates and be satisfied, then you shall say before the Lord your God, I I took away the holy thing from my house and gave it to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow, according to all Your commandments that You commanded me: I have not transgressed Your commandments, nor forgotten; I did not eat from it in my sorrow, nor separated it from uncleanness, nor gave it to the dead; I obeyed the voice of the Lord my God, I did everything that You commanded me; Look down from Your holy habitation from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land that You have given us - just as You swore to our fathers to give us a land flowing with milk and honey.” This passage indicates that every third year was considered a year of tithing. During this year, tithes were collected locally and put into a local tithe store to feed local Levites, strangers, orphans and widows.
Additional Scriptures on Tithing:
Nehemiah 10:32-39 “And we made it a law for ourselves to give of ourselves a third of a shekel a year for the needs of the house of our God: for the showbread, for the everlasting grain offering, and for the everlasting burnt offering, for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, for the feasts. , for sacred things and for sin offerings for the atonement of Israel, and for everything done in the house of our God. And we cast lots for the delivery of firewood, the priests, the Levites and the people, when which generation of ours, at appointed times, from year to year, should bring them to the house of our God, so that they would burn on the altar of the Lord our God, according to what is written in the law. And we have committed ourselves to bring to the house of the Lord every year the firstfruits of our land and the firstfruits of every fruit from every tree; also to bring into the house of our God, to the priests who serve in the house of our God, the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstborn of our herds and flocks. And we will bring the firstfruits of our ground bread and our offerings, and the fruit of every tree, wine and oil, to the priests into the storehouses of the house of our God, and tithes of our land to the Levites. They, the Levites, will take tithes in all the cities where we have agriculture. With the Levites, when they take the Levitical tithe, there will be a priest, the son of Aaron, so that the Levites will take tithes from their tithes to the house of our God in the rooms set apart for the storeroom, because to these rooms both the sons of Israel and the Levites must deliver what they bring. as a gift: bread, wine and oil. There are sacred vessels, and serving priests, and doorkeepers, and singers. And we will not leave our God at home.”
Nehemiah 12:44-45 “The same day men were assigned to the storehouses for the offering of firstfruits and tithes, to gather from the fields around the cities the portions prescribed by law for the priests and Levites, because the Jews rejoiced to see the priests and Levites standing. who performed the service of their God and the works of purification and were singers and gatekeepers according to the institution of David and his son Solomon.”
The Old Testament tithe was a way of expressing gratitude to God for everything a person had, as well as acknowledging that God was the owner of everything.
Honoring the Lord with material goods in Old Testament times was an integral part of worship, which did not go unnoticed and unrewarded by God: Proverbs 3:9-10 “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your increase, and your barns will be filled with abundance, and your winepresses they will overflow with new wine.”
III. Tithing outside the Old and New Testaments
Tithing is not an innovation of the Old Testament Law, as many people think and claim. The practice of giving a tenth of one's income to God existed among many peoples of the ancient world. This is evidenced by the fact that Abraham (a Chaldean by nationality) gave a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek - “the king of Salem” and “the priest of the Most High God.” This is stated in Genesis 14:17-20 “When he was returning after the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh, which is now the king’s valley; and Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine - he was a priest of the Most High God - and blessed him, and said: Blessed is Abram of the Most High God, Lord of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who hath delivered thy enemies into thy hand. Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
Jacob later vowed to give God a tithe of all he had if God would be with him always, provide him with food, and bring him back to his father’s house in peace: Gen. 28:20-22 “And Jacob made a vow, saying: If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I am going on, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, and I will return to my father’s house in peace, and the Lord will be my God, then this stone that I have set monument, will be the house of God; and of all that You, O God, give me, I will give You a tenth.” Notice that this happened long before the Law that God gave to the people of Israel through Moses. Thus, we see that the doctrine of tithing is not limited to the command of the Old Testament Law. Therefore, the doctrine of tithing cannot be abolished by the New Testament.
