>>> FIRST – Where has God IN FACT instructed a Christian to tithe?
Where did God…
1. Tell us, Christians, to tithe in the first place?
2. Tell Gentiles to tithe?
3. Tell us to tithe because tithing was around before the law?
4. Tell us to tithe money?
And…
> Where has God instructed a Christian to tithe because Abraham did? Abraham also circumcised; should we circumcise also because it was around before the law? If tithing based on Abraham, why not circumcising based on Abraham?
> Nowhere in the Old Testament did God EVER instruct anyone, including the Children of Israel, to tithe based on Abraham tithing; why would God suddenly instruct New Testament Believers to tithe because Abraham did?
> Where did God instruct a Christian to tithe because of your claim of tithing being around before the Law? How does “tithing before the law” establish tithing after the law?
> Where did God instruct the Church of Jesus Christ to tithe?
> The Levites owned the tithes, it was given to them by God; where and when has transferred the ownership of the tithe from the Levites to any church, any pastor, any evangelist, prophet, teacher, apostle, or anyone else?
> If, for Christians, “God still honor His word” concerning tithing, why then, as posted before…
If tithing was required and taught in the New Testament for Christians, it would have to be clearly detailed and outlined in the terms and conditions of the New Testament like all promises and commands of the New Testament are. Tithing instructions would be clearly included in the New Testament.
No such terms, conditions or details are outlined anywhere in the New Testament.
Tithing is not a doctrine or practice taught by the Apostles or other writers of the New Testament. No Apostle ever taught tithing, asked for a tithe, rebuked any person or church for not tithing, or received a tithe themselves. Not one of them. The early church (i.e. Book of Acts) NEVER tithed. We have NO record of them doing so.
>>> SECOND – RE: “Tithing is a good idea!”
OK, let’s do it GOD’S WAY, and NOT man’s way, shall we?
Here is GOD’S WAY…
Tithing was a total of 23-1/3%, not 10%, there were three required tithes; two paid every year, one paid every third year. (yeah, God really means that)…
>> THE FIRST TITHE
Leviticus 27:30-33 defines this tithe as a tenth of crops and animals in herds and flocks.
Numbers 18 gives the ordinances, or instructions, for this tithe, and commands this tithe be taken to the Levites.
> Purpose of this tithe: to support the Levitical Priesthood.
>> SECOND TITHE
Deuteronomy 14:22-27: aka The Festival Tithe – a tenth of crops, plus add to that the firstborn animals, and take to the yearly feasts.
> Purpose of this tithe: that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always
>> THIRD TITHE
Deuteronomy 14:28-29: aka, The Three-Year Tithe, aka The Poor Tithe – a tenth of crops, kept at home, and invite the Levites, widows, orphans, stranger to eat.
THIS, and ONLY THIS, is God’s tithe, Jim (GOD does not require, or even permit, the tithing of any form of money, ALL TITHES were restricted to fruits, vegetables and clean livestock from the Promise Land, NOWHERE ELSE)…and that has NOT changed,
David Lewayne Porter RE: “Tithing before the law, and after is a matter of the heart.
If you choose to discount tithing on the basis of the law, then you must discount the other items Jesus tied to it;
What about the other 12 ways of New Testament giving?
They are more than sufficient.”
>>> Tithing, in God’s system of tithing, is not a form of “giving.” That is one of the biggest fallacies of tithing teachers. (See article below)
>>> Tithing before the Law? You mean Abraham? Nowhere does the Bible instruct a Christian based on Abraham to tithe (or Jacob, for that matter), God did not even instruct the Child of Israel to tithe based on Abraham.
Consider…
>> Here is how Abraham tithed…
1. The example of Abraham is not a normative pattern; some people claim that tithing is required because Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek, and he lived before the Mosaic covenant (the Law) was in place. Such an example hardly proves tithing is for all time, however. Abraham’s gift to Melchizedek was a one-time event; there is no evidence he regularly gave God (or anyone) a tithe.
How does Abraham tithing ONCE before the Law prove that we should tithe regularly, or at all, AFTER the Law? It doesn’t. There is NO such command of God in the Old or New Testament. God have NEVER instructed Christians to tithe because Abraham did.
2. Abraham tithed on the spoils of war (which would be illegal under the Law, which is the tithing system, rules and procedures GOD ESTABLISHED; God did not establish a system of tithing outside of the Law of Moses, the Torah. There is no such second tithing system in the Old or New Testament).
3. Abraham tithed by paying 10% to a Priest, Melchizedek, and the remaining 90% he gave to a pagan King; in Abraham’s case, to the King Sodom, and to the men which went with him, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.
4. Abraham tithed one time (no record of Abraham ever tithing before or after, and no record of him teaching Issac to tithe or anyone else…Abraham was not a tithing teacher).
5. Abraham tithed without being commanded to do so. God never held Abraham responsible for tithing, and did not tell him to do so.
6. Abraham tithed on things he didn’t own. Some of which were Lot’s property (“And he gave him tithes of all.” – Genesis 14:20).
7. And, possibly, Abraham tithed human beings taken in his rescue of his Nephew, Lot.
8. Abraham tithed directly to a Priest, NOT to a church, tithing teacher or TV Evangelist. Also, he didn’t tithe to an organization, but rather to a person; Melchizedek.
9. Abraham tithed because of a ONE TIME special event; the slaughter of the Kings upon rescuing Lot, his tithe was not a regular weekly event.
10. God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, yet tithing, not given by God, is held in higher priority by tithing teachers than a God-ordained covenant; the covenant with Abraham was confirmed with circumcision, not tithing.
11. Abraham tithed to a KING, Melchizedek; are we to treat pastors as KINGS and the church they oversee as a “Kingdom run by a KING?”
12. Abraham’s one time tithe was used by the writer of Hebrews in Hebrews Chapter Seven to careful and thoroughly explain why all Biblical tithing has ended.
13. Abraham also circumcised before the law; should we do that too? Why just tithing?
14. Abram had to kill someone before he had the elements to tithe.
15. Abram’s tithe didn’t come from the Promise Land, it came from spoils of war from Sodom and Gomorrah. In God’s system of tithing, any tithe from outside the Promise Land was illegal.
Genesis 14:11-12…
“And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.”
>> That is “Abrahamic tithing” …AND WOULD BE ILLEGAL UNDER THE LAW, and the Law is the ONLY PLACE God has ever commanded tithing.
Tithing is not a New Testament doctrine; there is no such thing as “New Testament tithing,” or “Tithing under grace.” If tithing was required and taught in the New Testament for Christians, it would have to be clearly detailed and outlined in the terms and conditions of the New Testament like all promises and commands of the New Testament are. Tithing instructions would be clearly included in the New Testament.
No such terms, conditions or details are outlined anywhere in the New Testament.
>> Tithing teachers enjoy pulling out highly selective sections of scripture to fool their followers into handing over their “tithe” money. That is called taking scripture out of context to deceive. They love the “BECAUSE” part, they hate the “AS” part.
>> THE WORD OF GOD warns us to be careful and alert…
“That we from now on be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” – Ephesians 4:14
One of the common misconceptions you hear on a routine basis is that tithing, as established by God, was some form of “giving.” Many tithing teachers preach impassioned sermons on the importance of “giving your tithe” while mixing and equating giving with tithing as more or less one and the same thing.
False phrases within sermons or teaching sessions (AKA: the traditions of men) are often heard such as “God is calling us to give our tithe faithfully,” or “When you give your tithe, God will bless you,” or “God loves a cheerful giver, so tithe cheerfully.” etc. We have all heard these type of statements from pulpits.
In reality, tithing and giving, in God’s system of tithing and giving, are mutually exclusive, they are not the same, and have all but nothing to do with each other, other than often, under the Old Testament Law, performed sometimes together in concert with each other; hence the term “tithes AND offerings.”
So then, just what is a tithe, and what was tithing?
Authentic biblical tithing as commanded by God was NOT an offering, NOT a charitable contribution and was NOT a gift to the Levite; in was IN FACT an act of surrendering the sole property of the Levite to the Levite. Failure to surrender the tithes to the Levite was a violation of the Law that carried Godly curses for failing or refusing to do so.
If you will notice, in these verses, the Levites are instructed, and recorded as TAKING the tithe, indicating ownership of the tithe (you TAKE something, in this case, if you own it)…
1. The tithe(s) were the property of the Levite.
“And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.” – Numbers 18:21.
2. The Levite could at anytime take what was his property.
“And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.” – Nehemiah 10:38.
> Notice; “Levites TAKE tithes…”
“And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:” – Hebrews 7:5
> Notice; “have a commandment to TAKE tithes of the people”
3. The Levite did not have to seek permission to take the tithe, they already had it from God.
“Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye TAKE of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe.” – Numbers 18:26
4. Failing to turn it over to the Levite his property was illegal under God’s Law, and carried curses and punishment for not surrendering to the Levite his God given inheritance/property; Deuteronomy 27:26, Malachi 2:1-3
“Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.” – Deuteronomy 27:26
“And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.” – Malachi 2:1-3
5. The Levite was commanded by God to TAKE the tithe; not ask for it. By TAKING the tithe, the Levite was simply taking what was his property. The Levite did not receive the tithe as an offering or charity. Again; Nehemiah 10:38.
If you were a farmer, growing corn, as an example, on the Promise Land, and you had planted 100 rows of corn, the Levite could at anytime, come on to your land and TAKE 10 rows of the corn you had planted without seeking permission to do so because the Levite was simply taking possession of his personal property.
>> Which leads to these two last points…
1. Where has God transferred the ownership of the tithes from the Levite to any Pastor, Teacher, Apostle, Evangelist, Prophet and any church organization?
NOWHERE; and if they don’t OWN IT, they have no right to it.
2. The tithe was not surrendered by anyone other than farmers and ranchers who were physical descendants of Abraham and Sarah living on the Promise Land.
>>> We are not called to be tithers, we are called by God to be free will generous cheerful givers…
> 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; NOT grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
> Luke 3:11 – “And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”
> Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
> Acts 20:35 – “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
> Romans 12:8 – “…Or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who
shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
> Philippians 4:15-17 – “And you yourselves also know,
> Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you send a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.”
Anthony Todd
Do you truly want me to address your book?
Here’s a few:
1) Abram gave a tithe of all (He was not Abraham yet,, Gen).
2) – pass
3) not so,,, the young men kept their portions
5) correct,
I do believe I stated it was a matter of the heart.
If you do feel it, keep your money, it will do you no good to give it anyway.
6) you do realize that the spoils of war go to the Victor. That is,why the king of Sodom was willing to not lay claim to them upon Abraham’s return with the spoil.
8 ) and how are you going to give the tithe to the priest today without going through the church?
10 &13
I know several current christian believers who are circumcised. (Actually more than several)…….
So yes the covenant of Abraham confirmed through FAITH, I believe you missed that part,
Confirmed through circumcision, yes oh wait, Paul covered that didn’t he.
14) Abraham was wealthy before the slaughter of the Kings. He did not have to kill anyone to receive assets on which to tithe.
You say the tithing of Abraham (Abram actually) would have been illegal under the law.
First, I covered that he had full rights to it as discussed above.
Second, they predated the law and are not subject to it.
As far as you claiming “tithing teachers …. To fool their followers……
I don’t have followers.
When you can define and explain the other 12 New Testament ways of giving then I will clarify New Testament thithing.
You see, Regardless of how or what you give, if it is not in faith from your heart then you need to keep your money.
God does not need your supply, funds, or provision.
He wants Faith, trust and obedience from a pure heart.
I don’t (have to) trick or guilt the church members into giving.
We mention the needs and they give.
If they don’t give willingly from their heart with a clear conscience then I don’t want it and God does not need it.
RE: “Here’s a few:
1) Abram gave a tithe of all (He was not Abraham yet,, Gen).
2) – pass
3) not so,,, the young men kept their portions ”
>>> Correct, he was ABRAM at that time, and his tithing was nothing more than a pagan tradition; are we to follow pagan traditions?
RE: “you do realize that the spoils of war go to the Victor.”
>>> What Abram tithed on was not spoils he claimed, he claimed NOTHING, but still tithed part of it to Melchizedek. He clearly tithed on property that was NOT HIS; should we do the same?…
“And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:” Genesis 14:22-23
RE: “Abraham was wealthy before the slaughter of the Kings. He did not have to kill anyone to receive assets on which to tithe.”
>>> Yes, but HE DID kill someone, your point is moot, and proves nothing.
RE: “You say the tithing of Abraham (Abram actually) would have been illegal under the law.
First, I covered that he had full rights to it as discussed above.
Second, they predated the law and are not subject to it.”
>>> It did predate the Law (pagan tithing, that is, NOT God’s form of tithing, which is established IN THE LAW; see Matt 23:23…tithing “a matter of the law), correct, and prohibited by the Law; why would his tithing suddenly become OK under the New Testament? Should we go out and kill people to tithe?
Obviously Abraham (or Abram) is NOT an example as to how, or if, a person should tithe under the New Testament. Abram (Abraham) also circumcised, should we do that also?
>>> Do you want me to continue? You haven’t proven very much! 🙂
David Lewayne Porter RE: “As far as you claiming “tithing teachers …. To fool their followers……
I don’t have followers.
When you can define and explain the other 12 New Testament ways of giving then I will clarify New Testament thithing.”
>> There are 3 three basic reason for giving under the New Testament; they are…
1. Giving as a praise to God,
2. Giving to the poor and needy,
3. Giving to support the work of the ministry.
You could add a 4th reason…
4. Giving just because you want to give back to God from what He has given you.
>> To be honest, I see no reason I need to explain giving to you before you can explain, or point out to me, where tithing is instructed in the New, or the Old, Testament.
Please feel free to show me in the Bible where a Christian is instructed to tithe (surrender 10% of all income to some kind of ministry). Tithing was of the Law, we are not under the Law, we are instructed to NOT walk under the Law; we are Under Grace and therefore we are to be free will givers, not tithers.
No Apostle ever instructed tithing, asked for a tithe, rebuked any person or church for not tithing, or received a tithe. Not one of them. The early church (i.e. Book of Acts) NEVER tithed. We have NO record of them doing so.
If tithing was required and taught in the New Testament for Christians, it would have to be clearly detailed and outlined in the terms and conditions of the New Testament like all promises and commands of the New Testament are.
Tithing instructions would be clearly included in the New Testament. No such terms, conditions or details are outlined anywhere in the New Testament. Tithing was never, is not now, and will never be part of the New Testament.
Jim Price
>>> FIRST – Where has God IN FACT instructed a Christian to tithe?
Where did God…
1. Tell us, Christians, to tithe in the first place?
2. Tell Gentiles to tithe?
3. Tell us to tithe because tithing was around before the law?
4. Tell us to tithe money?
And…
> Where has God instructed a Christian to tithe because Abraham did? Abraham also circumcised; should we circumcise also because it was around before the law? If tithing based on Abraham, why not circumcising based on Abraham?
> Nowhere in the Old Testament did God EVER instruct anyone, including the Children of Israel, to tithe based on Abraham tithing; why would God suddenly instruct New Testament Believers to tithe because Abraham did?
> Where did God instruct a Christian to tithe because of your claim of tithing being around before the Law? How does “tithing before the law” establish tithing after the law?
> Where did God instruct the Church of Jesus Christ to tithe?
> The Levites owned the tithes, it was given to them by God; where and when has transferred the ownership of the tithe from the Levites to any church, any pastor, any evangelist, prophet, teacher, apostle, or anyone else?
> If, for Christians, “God still honor His word” concerning tithing, why then, as posted before…
If tithing was required and taught in the New Testament for Christians, it would have to be clearly detailed and outlined in the terms and conditions of the New Testament like all promises and commands of the New Testament are. Tithing instructions would be clearly included in the New Testament.
No such terms, conditions or details are outlined anywhere in the New Testament.
Tithing is not a doctrine or practice taught by the Apostles or other writers of the New Testament. No Apostle ever taught tithing, asked for a tithe, rebuked any person or church for not tithing, or received a tithe themselves. Not one of them. The early church (i.e. Book of Acts) NEVER tithed. We have NO record of them doing so.
>>> SECOND – RE: “Tithing is a good idea!”
OK, let’s do it GOD’S WAY, and NOT man’s way, shall we?
Here is GOD’S WAY…
Tithing was a total of 23-1/3%, not 10%, there were three required tithes; two paid every year, one paid every third year. (yeah, God really means that)…
>> THE FIRST TITHE
Leviticus 27:30-33 defines this tithe as a tenth of crops and animals in herds and flocks.
Numbers 18 gives the ordinances, or instructions, for this tithe, and commands this tithe be taken to the Levites.
> Purpose of this tithe: to support the Levitical Priesthood.
>> SECOND TITHE
Deuteronomy 14:22-27: aka The Festival Tithe – a tenth of crops, plus add to that the firstborn animals, and take to the yearly feasts.
> Purpose of this tithe: that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always
>> THIRD TITHE
Deuteronomy 14:28-29: aka, The Three-Year Tithe, aka The Poor Tithe – a tenth of crops, kept at home, and invite the Levites, widows, orphans, stranger to eat.
> Purpose of this tithe: to feed the poor.
THIS, and ONLY THIS, is God’s tithe, Jim (GOD does not require, or even permit, the tithing of any form of money, ALL TITHES were restricted to fruits, vegetables and clean livestock from the Promise Land, NOWHERE ELSE)…and that has NOT changed,
Sorry…Tithing is NOT a good idea! Giving freely is!
David Lewayne Porter RE: “Tithing before the law, and after is a matter of the heart.
If you choose to discount tithing on the basis of the law, then you must discount the other items Jesus tied to it;
What about the other 12 ways of New Testament giving?
They are more than sufficient.”
>>> Tithing, in God’s system of tithing, is not a form of “giving.” That is one of the biggest fallacies of tithing teachers. (See article below)
>>> Tithing before the Law? You mean Abraham? Nowhere does the Bible instruct a Christian based on Abraham to tithe (or Jacob, for that matter), God did not even instruct the Child of Israel to tithe based on Abraham.
Consider…
>> Here is how Abraham tithed…
1. The example of Abraham is not a normative pattern; some people claim that tithing is required because Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek, and he lived before the Mosaic covenant (the Law) was in place. Such an example hardly proves tithing is for all time, however. Abraham’s gift to Melchizedek was a one-time event; there is no evidence he regularly gave God (or anyone) a tithe.
How does Abraham tithing ONCE before the Law prove that we should tithe regularly, or at all, AFTER the Law? It doesn’t. There is NO such command of God in the Old or New Testament. God have NEVER instructed Christians to tithe because Abraham did.
2. Abraham tithed on the spoils of war (which would be illegal under the Law, which is the tithing system, rules and procedures GOD ESTABLISHED; God did not establish a system of tithing outside of the Law of Moses, the Torah. There is no such second tithing system in the Old or New Testament).
3. Abraham tithed by paying 10% to a Priest, Melchizedek, and the remaining 90% he gave to a pagan King; in Abraham’s case, to the King Sodom, and to the men which went with him, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre.
4. Abraham tithed one time (no record of Abraham ever tithing before or after, and no record of him teaching Issac to tithe or anyone else…Abraham was not a tithing teacher).
5. Abraham tithed without being commanded to do so. God never held Abraham responsible for tithing, and did not tell him to do so.
6. Abraham tithed on things he didn’t own. Some of which were Lot’s property (“And he gave him tithes of all.” – Genesis 14:20).
7. And, possibly, Abraham tithed human beings taken in his rescue of his Nephew, Lot.
8. Abraham tithed directly to a Priest, NOT to a church, tithing teacher or TV Evangelist. Also, he didn’t tithe to an organization, but rather to a person; Melchizedek.
9. Abraham tithed because of a ONE TIME special event; the slaughter of the Kings upon rescuing Lot, his tithe was not a regular weekly event.
10. God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, yet tithing, not given by God, is held in higher priority by tithing teachers than a God-ordained covenant; the covenant with Abraham was confirmed with circumcision, not tithing.
11. Abraham tithed to a KING, Melchizedek; are we to treat pastors as KINGS and the church they oversee as a “Kingdom run by a KING?”
12. Abraham’s one time tithe was used by the writer of Hebrews in Hebrews Chapter Seven to careful and thoroughly explain why all Biblical tithing has ended.
13. Abraham also circumcised before the law; should we do that too? Why just tithing?
14. Abram had to kill someone before he had the elements to tithe.
15. Abram’s tithe didn’t come from the Promise Land, it came from spoils of war from Sodom and Gomorrah. In God’s system of tithing, any tithe from outside the Promise Land was illegal.
Genesis 14:11-12…
“And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. And they took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.”
>> That is “Abrahamic tithing” …AND WOULD BE ILLEGAL UNDER THE LAW, and the Law is the ONLY PLACE God has ever commanded tithing.
Tithing is not a New Testament doctrine; there is no such thing as “New Testament tithing,” or “Tithing under grace.” If tithing was required and taught in the New Testament for Christians, it would have to be clearly detailed and outlined in the terms and conditions of the New Testament like all promises and commands of the New Testament are. Tithing instructions would be clearly included in the New Testament.
No such terms, conditions or details are outlined anywhere in the New Testament.
>> Tithing teachers enjoy pulling out highly selective sections of scripture to fool their followers into handing over their “tithe” money. That is called taking scripture out of context to deceive. They love the “BECAUSE” part, they hate the “AS” part.
>> THE WORD OF GOD warns us to be careful and alert…
“That we from now on be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” – Ephesians 4:14
.
>>> A Common Misconception…
One of the common misconceptions you hear on a routine basis is that tithing, as established by God, was some form of “giving.” Many tithing teachers preach impassioned sermons on the importance of “giving your tithe” while mixing and equating giving with tithing as more or less one and the same thing.
False phrases within sermons or teaching sessions (AKA: the traditions of men) are often heard such as “God is calling us to give our tithe faithfully,” or “When you give your tithe, God will bless you,” or “God loves a cheerful giver, so tithe cheerfully.” etc. We have all heard these type of statements from pulpits.
In reality, tithing and giving, in God’s system of tithing and giving, are mutually exclusive, they are not the same, and have all but nothing to do with each other, other than often, under the Old Testament Law, performed sometimes together in concert with each other; hence the term “tithes AND offerings.”
So then, just what is a tithe, and what was tithing?
Authentic biblical tithing as commanded by God was NOT an offering, NOT a charitable contribution and was NOT a gift to the Levite; in was IN FACT an act of surrendering the sole property of the Levite to the Levite. Failure to surrender the tithes to the Levite was a violation of the Law that carried Godly curses for failing or refusing to do so.
If you will notice, in these verses, the Levites are instructed, and recorded as TAKING the tithe, indicating ownership of the tithe (you TAKE something, in this case, if you own it)…
1. The tithe(s) were the property of the Levite.
“And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.” – Numbers 18:21.
2. The Levite could at anytime take what was his property.
“And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.” – Nehemiah 10:38.
> Notice; “Levites TAKE tithes…”
“And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:” – Hebrews 7:5
> Notice; “have a commandment to TAKE tithes of the people”
3. The Levite did not have to seek permission to take the tithe, they already had it from God.
“Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye TAKE of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe.” – Numbers 18:26
4. Failing to turn it over to the Levite his property was illegal under God’s Law, and carried curses and punishment for not surrendering to the Levite his God given inheritance/property; Deuteronomy 27:26, Malachi 2:1-3
“Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.” – Deuteronomy 27:26
“And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.” – Malachi 2:1-3
5. The Levite was commanded by God to TAKE the tithe; not ask for it. By TAKING the tithe, the Levite was simply taking what was his property. The Levite did not receive the tithe as an offering or charity. Again; Nehemiah 10:38.
If you were a farmer, growing corn, as an example, on the Promise Land, and you had planted 100 rows of corn, the Levite could at anytime, come on to your land and TAKE 10 rows of the corn you had planted without seeking permission to do so because the Levite was simply taking possession of his personal property.
>> Which leads to these two last points…
1. Where has God transferred the ownership of the tithes from the Levite to any Pastor, Teacher, Apostle, Evangelist, Prophet and any church organization?
NOWHERE; and if they don’t OWN IT, they have no right to it.
2. The tithe was not surrendered by anyone other than farmers and ranchers who were physical descendants of Abraham and Sarah living on the Promise Land.
>>> We are not called to be tithers, we are called by God to be free will generous cheerful givers…
> 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; NOT grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
> Luke 3:11 – “And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”
> Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
> Acts 20:35 – “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
> Romans 12:8 – “…Or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who
shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”
> Philippians 4:15-17 – “And you yourselves also know,
> Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; for even in Thessalonica you send a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.”
Anthony Todd
Do you truly want me to address your book?
Here’s a few:
1) Abram gave a tithe of all (He was not Abraham yet,, Gen).
2) – pass
3) not so,,, the young men kept their portions
5) correct,
I do believe I stated it was a matter of the heart.
If you do feel it, keep your money, it will do you no good to give it anyway.
6) you do realize that the spoils of war go to the Victor. That is,why the king of Sodom was willing to not lay claim to them upon Abraham’s return with the spoil.
8 ) and how are you going to give the tithe to the priest today without going through the church?
10 &13
I know several current christian believers who are circumcised. (Actually more than several)…….
So yes the covenant of Abraham confirmed through FAITH, I believe you missed that part,
Confirmed through circumcision, yes oh wait, Paul covered that didn’t he.
14) Abraham was wealthy before the slaughter of the Kings. He did not have to kill anyone to receive assets on which to tithe.
You say the tithing of Abraham (Abram actually) would have been illegal under the law.
First, I covered that he had full rights to it as discussed above.
Second, they predated the law and are not subject to it.
As far as you claiming “tithing teachers …. To fool their followers……
I don’t have followers.
When you can define and explain the other 12 New Testament ways of giving then I will clarify New Testament thithing.
You see, Regardless of how or what you give, if it is not in faith from your heart then you need to keep your money.
God does not need your supply, funds, or provision.
He wants Faith, trust and obedience from a pure heart.
I don’t (have to) trick or guilt the church members into giving.
We mention the needs and they give.
If they don’t give willingly from their heart with a clear conscience then I don’t want it and God does not need it.
I am through answering or rebutting your book.
David Lewayne Porter
RE: “Here’s a few:
1) Abram gave a tithe of all (He was not Abraham yet,, Gen).
2) – pass
3) not so,,, the young men kept their portions ”
>>> Correct, he was ABRAM at that time, and his tithing was nothing more than a pagan tradition; are we to follow pagan traditions?
RE: “you do realize that the spoils of war go to the Victor.”
>>> What Abram tithed on was not spoils he claimed, he claimed NOTHING, but still tithed part of it to Melchizedek. He clearly tithed on property that was NOT HIS; should we do the same?…
“And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:” Genesis 14:22-23
RE: “Abraham was wealthy before the slaughter of the Kings. He did not have to kill anyone to receive assets on which to tithe.”
>>> Yes, but HE DID kill someone, your point is moot, and proves nothing.
RE: “You say the tithing of Abraham (Abram actually) would have been illegal under the law.
First, I covered that he had full rights to it as discussed above.
Second, they predated the law and are not subject to it.”
>>> It did predate the Law (pagan tithing, that is, NOT God’s form of tithing, which is established IN THE LAW; see Matt 23:23…tithing “a matter of the law), correct, and prohibited by the Law; why would his tithing suddenly become OK under the New Testament? Should we go out and kill people to tithe?
Obviously Abraham (or Abram) is NOT an example as to how, or if, a person should tithe under the New Testament. Abram (Abraham) also circumcised, should we do that also?
>>> Do you want me to continue? You haven’t proven very much! 🙂
David Lewayne Porter RE: “As far as you claiming “tithing teachers …. To fool their followers……
I don’t have followers.
When you can define and explain the other 12 New Testament ways of giving then I will clarify New Testament thithing.”
>> There are 3 three basic reason for giving under the New Testament; they are…
1. Giving as a praise to God,
2. Giving to the poor and needy,
3. Giving to support the work of the ministry.
You could add a 4th reason…
4. Giving just because you want to give back to God from what He has given you.
>> To be honest, I see no reason I need to explain giving to you before you can explain, or point out to me, where tithing is instructed in the New, or the Old, Testament.
Please feel free to show me in the Bible where a Christian is instructed to tithe (surrender 10% of all income to some kind of ministry). Tithing was of the Law, we are not under the Law, we are instructed to NOT walk under the Law; we are Under Grace and therefore we are to be free will givers, not tithers.
No Apostle ever instructed tithing, asked for a tithe, rebuked any person or church for not tithing, or received a tithe. Not one of them. The early church (i.e. Book of Acts) NEVER tithed. We have NO record of them doing so.
If tithing was required and taught in the New Testament for Christians, it would have to be clearly detailed and outlined in the terms and conditions of the New Testament like all promises and commands of the New Testament are.
Tithing instructions would be clearly included in the New Testament. No such terms, conditions or details are outlined anywhere in the New Testament. Tithing was never, is not now, and will never be part of the New Testament.