There are only two places in the New Testament that tithing advocates can go to find any support of the idea that Christians should tithe: Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42. However, we’ll quickly see why these verses do not apply to Christians. Both of these verses discuss the same event – Jesus declaring the woes to the Pharisees and scribes for believing that carefully observing the Law in some things would bring righteousness while they continually neglected the Law in the more important matters. Here are the verses:
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
Matthew 23:23-24 (WEB)
But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, but you bypass justice and the love of God. You ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.
Luke 11:42 (WEB)
Tithing advocates use these verses to teach Christians that Jesus commanded us to tithe. He clearly says that you should not have left the other (referring to tithing) undone. But interpreting and applying these verses to mean that Christians should tithe completely ignores some very important facts surrounding these Scriptures.
Jesus Was Under the Law
The first thing we have to understand when we look at these verses is that the New Covenant did not begin until Jesus died on the cross. These verses occur in the context of the Old Covenant and were directed to people who were still under the Old Covenant. Jesus was born under the Old Covenant and under the Law of Moses, as were all the Jews who were alive during Jesus’ life. It was necessary for Jesus to be born under the Law and to keep it perfectly so He could serve as the perfect sacrifice to cover the punishment of our sins.
4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law, 5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.
Galatians 4:4-5 (WEB)
During His life, Jesus kept the entire Law perfectly and by His death He redeemed us from the punishment of the Law. Through Him we receive the adoption of children and become God’s very own children. This would not have been possible if Jesus had not kept the Law. And Jesus would not have been keeping the Law if He had not taught others who were still under the Law to keep it as well.
Jesus Was Speaking to Those Who Were Still Under the Law
It should also be very clear to us that Jesus was explicitly speaking to those who were still under the Law when He said they should tithe. Who was He speaking to? The scribes and Pharisees – Jews who were required to keep the Law. Jesus would never have taught the Jews to break the Law, and He would have never imposed the Law on Gentiles who were not part of the Old Covenant.
Consider all the times Jesus healed people. The only times we ever see Him command people to go show themselves to the priests and make the appropriate sacrifice are the times when He is speaking to Jews. He never tells Gentiles to do this. Why? Because only the Jews were under the Law! If we were to follow everything Jesus said, we would still be bringing sacrifices to the altar and following the cleansing rituals required by the Law of Moses. Consider these words of Jesus:
23 “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
Matthew 5:23-24 (WEB)
2 Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.” 3 Jesus stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 Jesus said to him, “See that you tell nobody, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
Matthew 8:2-4 (WEB)
Do we still take sacrifices and offerings (as required by the Law of Moses) to the altar? Do we require lepers and any others who would be ceremonially unclean to follow the cleansing rituals required by the Law of Moses? Why not? Jesus commanded those things to be done here in these verses. Why would we choose to continue enforcing tithing only and not these other things which Jesus told the Jews to do? Clearly, something is missing in such an application of Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42.
Christians Are Not Under the Law of Moses
The reason this command does not apply to Christians is because we are not under the Law of Moses. We have received the adoption of children and have become the children of God – and this is through faith in Jesus. We live under grace and not the Law. We are justified by faith – not the Law! Any who choose to receive justification under the Law have rejected Jesus as Lord:
1 Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace. 5 For we, through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.
Galatians 5:1-6 (WEB)
emphasis mine
What good was Christ’s sacrifice if we still seek to be justified based on how well we keep God’s Laws? If you believe that Christians who do not tithe will be under “the curse” (which, by the way, is death), then why do we need Christ? All we’d need to do is tithe (and keep the other 600+ commandments in the Law) and we’d have eternal life. If you desire to live under the Law, then you’re really desiring to live a life apart from faith in Christ. Your faith is in the Law and its ability to save you.
But we are not called to live under the Law of Moses. We are living under the Law of Christ. And the Law of Christ is a law of freedom from the punishment that is due to us (the curse, death, eternal separation from God), grace to be led by the Spirit, and justification that comes through faith in Christ (not through the Law of Moses).
Does this mean that I’m saying Jesus abolished the Law of Moses or that the Law was not good? Does this mean we’re free to sin as much as we want? No! Jesus fulfilled the Law by calling us to serve under the Spirit and not the letter. He covered the debt of death that we owed to God for our sin and freed us to live the Law of Love.
13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Galatians 5:13-14 (WEB)
emphasis mine
You see, there’s no need to require Christians to give a specific percentage of their income to the poor because we are called to love each other as we love ourselves! Following that Law of Love will meet the needs of all people and truly make God happy. Tithing because you want a blessing from God or because you fear a curse from God are not the ways to please Him. But giving because you love your neighbor will bring joy to His heart as He sees His children loving others.
The New Covenant began at Jesus’ death when His blood was shed. After that point, all who believe in Him live by faith in His name and are called to be led by His Holy Spirit. We are called to live out the love of God and show it to those around us. And if we have faith in Christ and we are led by the Spirit, then we are under grace and not the Law of Moses.
The Tithe Was Still Only Food
It may seem ridiculous to bring this up (again), but even here the tithe still only contained food. In the Bible, the tithe never contained money. But those who teach tithing today tell Christians to tithe on any and all income and only want Christians to give money in the offering plate – not food. You’ll see that Jesus noted the Pharisee’s focus on tithing their garden herbs – the least of all agricultural produce. The did not tithe money because it was not required by the Law of Moses.
And we cannot say it is because they did not have money. Consider the numerous times Jesus discussed money or used money in His parables. The Jews had shekels, denarii, and other forms of currency available to them, but they never tithed their money. (Yes, there was money available when the tithe was enacted in the Law of Moses as well.) The addition of money as an object to tithe is a modern twist in an attempt to get as much money into the churches as possible. It is not Biblical and cannot be supported by any Scriptures at all.
You Can Tithe and Still Be Sinning
Finally, the most important point in these verses is that tithing is less important than living a life that’s right before God. Even under the Law of Moses, God counted justice, mercy, faith, and sharing His love as more important than tithing. Even now, God does not desire your gifts if your heart is not right before Him. He loves a cheerful giver – not someone who is giving because of compulsion. He desires that you ask forgiveness of your neighbor before you try to give anything in His name. Your relationship with money has a huge impact on your relationship with God, but your relationship with other people is far more important.
Jesus cursed the Pharisees even though they were keeping the tithing statutes as literally as possible. They were even tithing the tiniest of their garden herbs. But they did it with a wrong heart and neglected to do the things God desired most (justice, mercy, faith, and love). You can be tithing today and still be sinning. You can be giving 90% of your income, and God will still desire that you repent if you’re not doing justice, showing mercy, having faith, and sharing love. Love trumps giving any day.
Only Two Left!
We only have two more Scriptures on tithing left to examine. Make sure you’ve signed up for free updates to Provident Planning if you don’t want to miss them!
Jesus also said his disciples not to tell anyone that He was not the Messiah, Jesus also said not to tell anyone when someone got healed during his earthly ministry
Matthew 9:30
And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them: “See that no one knows about this!”
So according to tithe teachers we need not tell anyone that Jesus as Messiah, should celebrate passover and should not give testimony if we get healed.
.-= Victor´s last blog ..Did Jesus Ask Christians To Tithe? =-.
You make a good point, Victor. We must look at Scripture in context and not isolate single verses to prove our points. Even with all the clear Scriptural evidence against tithing, I prefer to point to Jesus’ life and sacrifice as our example for giving rather than arguing every little point of the Law with those who support tithing in the strictest sense. That’s the method I see in the New Testament when giving is discussed, and no one can argue that following Jesus’ example of giving will not lead to generous & sacrificial giving motivated by love.
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts!
Good work Paul! Your article was exactly what I was looking for. I noticed that some pastors/ ministers emphasize that the congregation should give 10% tithes (or more) every service. Some pastors I know keep quoting 2 Corinthians 9:7-9- that God loves a cheerful giver, and the more you tithe, all the more that God will bless you.
I think that if a person should give or bless, it comes from a loving heart.
Glad you liked it, Dom! I’m trying to show exactly what the Scriptures say about giving – especially what Jesus taught. I think it’s overwhelmingly clear that His emphasis was on generosity and not tithing. Check out my other article “Did Jesus Teach Tithing?” for a more comprehensive look at this. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Right on Paul! My husband and I felt that God convicted us to begin tithing 10% over a year ago even though we did not go to church. At that time, through prayer, God gave us the answer of where we should begin trusting God to lead our finances while using our good fortune to benefit others in need. I don’t believe that the bible instructs us to give 10% of our income to the church, but I do believe that when we are ready to give with a generous heart to our church, our local shelter, or any organization that we feel advances God’s kingdom, that we DO indeed receive a blessing… a blessing of an abundance of trust and faith in God’s provision, plan and timing. But you are absolutely right on… it is not through works that we are saved…nor through the work of tithing. Thanks for a great article.
I’m glad you found this helpful, Aimee! Generosity is the key and fulfills the spirit of the Law. That seems to be the principle Jesus points to time and again. And generosity can require so much more of us than simply tithing. It becomes a work of God in us – leading us, as He led you, to give generously to those in need as a response to His powerful love for us. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Over the last 24 hours I’ve been called a heretic, a thief, greedy, ignorant, liar, told I was risking my salvation, then told I was going to hell over three questions I asked a pastor I know. He is a friend, the best man at my wedding 20 years ago, but he isn’t my pastor. The three questions are:
1. When did tithing come to include money?
2. Were not fishermen, field help, carpenters, cobblers, etc. excused?
3. In Malachi, wasn’t the Lord talking about blemished animals/fruits?
I expressed I fully believe in giving to my God but that for him to collect a tithe was illegal since he isn’t a Levite, or following any Mosiac Law on tithing. Keep in mind, this vitriolic diatribe came from a quarter century friend…
That’s not an uncommon reply in many cases, Chuck. I hate that it is this way sometimes, since we should be able to discuss such things patiently in love. But some people are so stuck on tithing that they can’t see the greater teaching we have to follow Jesus’ example and give generously. There are several problems with tithing besides the fact that it is not a commandment for Christians under the New Covenant. But even though I’ve written so clearly against tithing I’ve never said it is wrong to give to your local church or that you are excused from giving at all. People like to assume false motives for someone who speaks out against tithing, but my motive is to point to Christ and urge us to greater generosity. Thanks for taking the time to comment, Chuck!
I have been trained by my parents who in the lean years after WWII struggled financially. My Dad told me he didn’t tithe until conviction birthed in prayer convinced him to test God in this matter. He told me that after they began to tithe there was much less stress financially in the home. I am one of five children and both parents had to work. I married a girl who also was brought up in a home that practiced tithing. Together we have reared our children in the same manner. Now our children are middle aged and blessed even in this national financial downturn. I feel Jesus affirmed the correctness of tithing in the Matthew 23:23 passage even though context was focusing on imbalance of spiritual emphasis. I gather from your writing that there is nothing in the old covenant that carries over into the new covenant. Might as well cut Malachi 3:10 out of the pages of my Bible. If the ten commandments were a guide for moral living, I wonder if the tithe was a financial guide for material living. Because the tithe was for the support of God’s ministerial economy, the new covenant must depend on “gifts” for maintaining God’s ministerial economy. Knowing the heart of imperfect men who don’t tithe, I would say it is no wonder the church is asking for money. As the scripture says, the tithe is the Lord’s and that is clearly not earning salvation. For my family, it is a joy to tithe out of love to the Master.
Brother, you’ve misunderstood what I’ve written. I never said to tear out the Old Testament. I never said the tithe could not be a guide for giving. All my writing about tithing has been to emphasize that exact fact. The tithe was only a guide – a shadow of things to come – until we had the Holy Spirit to empower us and lead us to give generously and unselfishly without compulsion, guilt, or grudge.
As far as men’s hearts and tithing/giving go, I think more of the resistance to giving generously comes from the standard most use for giving (tithing). If we instead used Jesus’ life as the standard and measure for our own giving and looked to His great gift as our inspiration and motivation to give, then our hearts would overflow with joyful generosity.
I think the real issue is simple, people should never allow themselves to be threatened with curses as new testament believers. On the other hand Anti law tither’s sometime use this issue to highlight how little churches do to help the poor and create a feeling that churches are on the take. Often using video clips or quotes from maga pastors that represent less than 2% of churches. It is good to give to churches! Churches should also not get caught up in a social justice message that implies their ONLY value to this world is to help the poor. Even Jesus had to correct Judice over this issue. THe facts are that people who attend church out give to none church charities those who don’t attend church. Red state people out give Blue states percentage wise. And tithing people (LAW OR LEAD) out give everyone. Our nation didn’t become a great giving nation outside of the pastors and churches that have encouraged generosity as a biblical theme. It is largely because of them. If you frame the argument you will always win. What is the real argument of this website? What is the Goal? At best its simplistic and confusing. Most church don’t confront people about there giving and they don’t threaten either. this is an old tired idealism. tithing is a great bench mark. Give a lot and give BIG. Life is to short to be stingy. As for the poor, No denomination is going after their money. (they are POOR). grow up young man and pick a real fight.
Hi, Mike. I’m not sure what it was in this particular post that caused your comments. I didn’t say you should not give to your local church body. And I agree that the Church (the body of Christ) isn’t just here to help the poor, but it should certainly be one of the marks of Christians.
Regarding this website and its “argument”, I’m not sure what you’re asking. My argument against teaching tithing as a legalistic requirement under threat of a curse is simply what you said in your first sentence. We agree more than you think we do.
I have nothing against generosity and encourage it all the time. It’s one of the main themes on this website. But my goal is to get people away from following a God of rules and instead seek a relationship with Him where they listen to His voice and give generously as He leads and enables them. Based on your website, it doesn’t seem like you’d have a problem with that.
I’m not sure what set you off to “pick a fight” with me, but I prefer to have conversations on here follow the guidelines of Colossians 4:6. Please keep that in mind if you respond and stay away from personal attacks before you actually get to know me.
Well Paul, interesting…BUt I am sure you realize that the practice of tithing predates the Law and what Abram gave included more than food. But that aside, how does your philosphy resolve these two verses…
NLT 1 Corinthians 9:14 In the same way, the Lord gave orders that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.
1 Timothy 5:17 Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.
With many attending churches and giving nothing (I know this from personal experience), seems Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:21 “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Not sure I disagree with everything…but I think there are too many people willing to jump on the bandwagon and justify NOT giving as well.
I will check you from time to time and see….
A Co-Laborer in Christ.
Hi, Gary! Thanks for your comment. My philosophy (though I don’t think of it as a philosophy…simply what Scripture says) is not in conflict with the verses you quoted. Giving does not have to be ruled by the Law in order for it to do what God intends – helping the poor and needy and spreading His Word. I’ve never said Christians shouldn’t give to their local church body or support those who teach them.
If you read some of my other articles, specifically the ones on New Covenant giving, I think you’ll see that I don’t advocate (or justify) not giving. I think most of us give less than we really could, but I think it partly stems from how giving is often taught (as a Law with the threat of a curse). If we would focus on Jesus’ example and how He gave to us as our motivation and standard, I think you’d tend to see many more hearts overflow with generous giving.
Finally, my articles on tithing are simply to show that it is not taught today according to Scripture (men have added and changed many things) and to show that it is part of the Law of Moses that we are no longer under. (I’ve written about Abram, who gave from spoils of war, and Jacob, who made his tithe conditional and chose to do it himself.) I think we can use the tithe as a guideline for giving, but ultimately we each need to seek the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit to determine what we should give.
I just wanted to comment on what Gary said about Abrahm’s giving before law. Gary, I was a tither, but now I am a FREEwill giver that loves to give and completely free from the law. Many preachers teach that Abraham gave before law, i got caught up the way you did also. But then I studied on my own. Abraham tithed before law, but it was a one time gift that came from his heart. We should do like Abraham and give as GOD leads us in our heart. In these verses with Abraham giving a tenth to Melkezedec (sp) it never said that because Abraham gave a tenth that we should now all as Christians make sure we give 10% to the church each week. Also, why don’t Preachers that preach this tell you what Abraham did with the other 90%? The other 90% was given back to the warriors. Think about this, since Abraham gave a 10th before law and preachers preach we should give a 10th like Abraham did, why don’t they tell us to sacrifice animals like Abraham did. Animal sacrifice was done away with when JESUS came, HE was the sacrifice. My point, it is ok to go back before law and say look Abraham tithed before law, so we should. So why not go back before law and give animal sacrifices like Abraham did. Why only follow 1 thing Abraham did, why not do everything good that Abarham did?? Ask your Preacher that, see what he comes up with. I have alot of Preachers that I love, but so many of them do not really really understand what they are teaching when it comes to tithes. Before you get upset with me, study it for yourself. GOD Loves a cheerful giver, just give out of the heart as GOD leads and don’t tie law to your giving, we are free from the law.
Very good points, Barry. I’ve heard people say the sacrifices no longer apply because Jesus fulfilled them. But for some reason, Jesus’ fulfillment doesn’t include tithing. I don’t think you can support the idea that Jesus’ fulfillment was not total and complete. Circumcision was not an animal sacrifice, but we don’t enforce that either even though Abraham did it before the Law.
Well Barry/Barry,
No argument about the Law and I have never gave because of the Law; nor out of guilt, compulsion, peer pressure or with the desire to get something in return. However, I see the tithe as a pretty good benchmark (you obviously know that if you added up the tithe and all of the other offerings, Jews would be giving more like 25-27%)- if I can live on 90% then maybe I will grow to live on 85%…But who determines that? Scripture gives a good indication that 10% is a reasonable amount. Don’t focus on legalism – I certainly am not. But 10% seems reasonable, but why not 15% or 20%? Still I know of people who feel pretty smug putting in a $10 when making hundreds of dollars.
Bottomline, whether you tithe or tip God, each of us will be held accountable with what we have been entrusted with. I would never hold a person in my church accountable on the ammount they give, because they are not accountable to me but to God. Still, I can teach truth – that the way of giving is the way God intended for the church to be supported. I do not manipulate and choose my words carefully always keeping the focus on Christ; always have always will.
But what is often forgotten it that – true to Christ’s teachings – we don’t own anything anyway. True Biblical stewardship is that we are only the managers of what is God’s and we are accountable to Him. Frankly, I’ve never been hung up on the “tithe” thing as it does boil down to heart. Jesus taught on matters of money more than any other subject. Why? Becuase it is easily the area in which people struggle the most.
Let me humbly add, 2010 to date, myself and my Associate comprise 25% of the giving at our church which numbers about 70.
There is a ‘no win’ on this side of the argument as so mant flare words shoot up, but I know where my heart is and my trust and I am content with that before God….can’t ask much more than than. 😉
I think we actually agree on the core issues here, Gary. I would never say that Christians shouldn’t give or that they shouldn’t support the work of their local church.
I don’t get hung up on the tithe either, but I do think it can put up an unnecessary obstacle as we seek to move beyond 10%. It can also become a check box for some people who just give their 10% without thought as to Who truly owns the remaining 90% and what They want them to do with it.
I will say, and not to puff you up, that if two people can comprise 25% of the giving at a church of 70 people and those two people aren’t extremely wealthy…well, maybe there’s a problem there. Just seems awfully lopsided!
Gary, I Love to give and I know it is all 100% GOD’s. I have been shown by GOD through my own research that HE wants a Cheerful giver. I will go to the grave being a Cheerful giver and not a “tither”. I am very confident in what GOD wants for me. And it is important to give to the Church, but we are the Church, we should not beat ourselves up if we do not give to the same place each week. Don’t get me wrong, but I here the same phrases from every Pastor that pushes tithing: “tithing is a benchmark to start”, “the LORD has laid on me to give a tithe”, “this is the way GOD intended it”, “the Jews gave more than 10%”, “we are looking at in a lawful way”. No, you guys are teaching it in a lawful way and will have to answer to GOD. Look Gary I Love you, I just want you to be free like I am, I am truly much much happier in my giving. We are not Jews in the OT, JESUS shows us to give out of our heart. You know every Pastor that pushes this says, 10% should be a benchmark, that is a clever way of saying you are not doing what GOD wants if you don’t atleast start with 10%. Gary, to many Christians are now digging in and studying these verses and praying on them for there own. In the past alot of folks just went along with the program, but this is being exposed. People just know something is wrong in there spirit. I truly believe that GOD will break through to teachers that are hung up on the tithe before JESUS comes back. There are alot of people that Love to give as GOD leads them, why must you push tithig? Where in the Bible does it say that 10% should be a benchmark, why do you use that phrase? Please answer this, every tithing preacher says this. Please let people give as GOD convicts them, I may give a good amount 1 week to the church, but then the next week I may give less but to somewhere else, let that be between GOD and me. You preach grace, but you put just enough law in it. Read Galatians 3 please. I Love you Gary, but I really feel you are under some law. Be free Pastor Gary, really pray and search the scriputes on this for yourself, don’t just go off of what you have been taught.
Gary, also you are exactly right in what you said about JESUS teaching, we do not own anything, it is all HIS. Gary, there are tons and tons of Christians that Love to give and want to give. But these folks are getting clever to a teacher that supposedly teaches grace giving, but blends just enough law into it. Then they tell the Christian that they are caught up in law, no those teachers are blending law by saying “10% is a good place to start”, that is making people feel guilty and it does not flow in there Spirit. GOD warned against that type of teaching that convicts people in the wrong way. Gary, could you answer the real reason you teach tithing. If you truly believe in tithing, then tithe, but we push your conviction on others? GOD will convict a Christian how to give. And when you say it is your job to teach the truth, you are exactly right, teach the truth. So please Gary, I Love you, please deeply study all the giving teaching throughout the bible, not just the ones that benefit you. Gary, GOD will convict you 1 day and you will see. I respect you as a Pastor, but you are in bondage. I turly think that there are many Pastors that have this so deeply inbeded in them that they can’t see the truth, and becuase you are a Pastor does not mean you have it all right. Gary, forget about Barry or Paul, go to the LORD and seek HIM on this. Don’t just go off of what you have heard all your life. I know you have been taught this by man, because you are saying the same old thing that every tithing preacher says. Gary, I think alot of Pastors are scared deep inside that the money will stop coming in to the church, it will not if you truly trust GOD, seek and preach the truth and GOD will provide. Gary, forget about me, if there is any doubt in you about this, seek GOD, you will have to answer 1 day. Gary, people are finding the truth for themselves, the same old song is not working anymore, the truth is setting us free. Gary, I know you are going to come back and say I am under law and such, but Gary I am truly free and know this is what GOD wants. I Love you Gary.
a little funny, but alot true, did not write it, but found it lining up with our thougths:
The trial of Pastor Jones
Judge: Mr. Jones you have been charged with multiple counts of extortion. Your crime spree covers 20 years and thousands of victims. You have defrauded people out of their money with fear and manipulation, telling them they had to tithe 10% of their income to your church and that God would bless them if they did. You also told them that if they didn’t tithe God would curse them. How do you plead?
Mr. Jones: I plead not guilty your Honor, I have done nothing wrong. I have only preached what the Bible says. In the Bible Abraham tithed to Melchizedek and God blessed him for his faithful giving. The Bible even says he was rich in silver and gold.
Judge: Is it not true, Mr. Jones, that in Genesis chapter 13 verse 2 the Bible says Abraham was rich with livestock, silver and gold?
Mr. Jones: Yes, you are exactly right, that’s what I just told you.
Judge: Ok, we read about Abraham being a rich man in chapter 13 but it is not until Genesis chapter 14 that we read about Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek. So Abraham was already a rich man before he tithed to Melchizedek, wasn’t he?
Mr. Jones: Yes, I suppose you are right.
Judge: So his riches were not the result of his tithe to Melchizedek?
Mr. Jones: No.
Judge: Mr. Jones, you also say God blessed him for his faithful giving. How many times is it recorded that Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek?
Mr. Jones: Well, just once.
Judge: So the Bible never said that he gave week after week?
Mr. Jones: No it does not.
Judge: Where did Abraham get the things that he gave to Melchizedek?
Mr. Jones: Well the Bible says it was from the plunders of war?
Judge: So you are telling me that he gave from the plunders of war?
Mr. Jones: Yes that’s what the Bible says.
Judge: So he basically took things that were not really his in the first place and gave them as the tithe?
Mr. Jones: That is what the scripture seems to indicate.
Judge: Is it recorded that he ever took anything from his own possessions
and tithed them to Melchizedek or anyone else?
Mr. Jones: I guess not
Judge: You guess not, you are a Pastor and you are only guessing, is it or
is it not written that he ever gave any of his own possessions as a tithe to
anyone?
Mr. Jones: No it is not written anywhere that I have seen.
Judge: Is it recorded as to what exactly Abraham did give Melchizedek?
Mr. Jones: I believe it says plunder?
Judge: So plunder could be any number of things?
Mr. Jones: Yes, I suppose
Judge: It could have been food, cattle, sheep, the people’s
possessions or any number of things. It does not say it was all money
correct?
Mr. Jones: Yes you are correct, it does not say just money
Judge: As a matter of fact money is never mentioned in that account at all
is that correct Mr. Jones?
Mr. Jones: Yes your Honor, money is never mentioned just goods and food and
people.
Judge: So there is no way you can say with any certainty that Abraham in
fact gave Melchizedek any money at all?
Mr. Jones: That is right.
Judge: I only have one last question for you Mr. Jones, did God command Abraham to give this plunder tithe to Melchizedek?
Mr. Jones: No, it appears that he did this voluntarily.
Judge: So are you trying to tell me that because of this voluntary, one time gift by Abraham, that may not have even consisted of money, all Christians everywhere are obligated to bring 10% of their weekly paycheck to a local church?
Judge: Considering all the evidence I would say you are beyond any shadow of a doubt guilty of deliberately trying to make the scriptures says things they have not said for financial gain.
Mr. Jones: Ok your Honor, I can see how foolish I was to try and use the story of Melchizedeck to try and get the people to tithe money. But there are many other verses that will support my belief on tithing. Jacob said he would give God 10% of everything. I think we should follow his example.
Judge: Let’s see what Jacob said. Please read the verse you are talking about for me Mr. Jones.
Mr. Jones: In Genesis chapter 28 starting at verse 20 it says. 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 clothing to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, and Yahweh will be my God, then this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be God’s house. Of all that you will give me I will surely give the tenth to you.”
Judge: You said we should follow Jacobs’s example, is that right Mr. Jones?
Mr. Jones: Yes that is right, he vowed to give a tenth and we should too.
Judge: Let me point out one thing for you Mr. Jones, Jacob said he would Give God a tenth, ONLY if He blessed him first. So as you said previously, we should follow Jacob’s example and tell God that we will only give him a tenth if he blesses us first. Is that right?
Mr. Jones: That is not what I meant.
Judge: What did you mean then?
Mr. Jones: That we should give God a tenth also.
Judge: There you go again, trying to make the scripture say what you want it to say for your benefit. I would also like you to tell me the scriptures that say that Jacob kept his vow with God. I would also like to know where he gave the tenth to because there was no temple or levites to give it to at that time.
Mr. Jones: I can not think of any scriptures that say where or if he ever tithed after his vow.
Judge: It seems fairly obvious to me that Jacob made a voluntary and conditional vow to God. This in no way can be used as a reason to demand others to bring their income to you or any other place.
Mr. Jones: I do have a few more scriptures that I believe will show that we are supposed to tithe.
Judge: You have not said anything yet to convince me one little bit that people are obligated to tithe money to the local churches and that you were justified in what you were doing. You have taken scripture and misapplied it to your beliefs and for your gain. But in order to be fair to you I will allow you to present more evidence.
Mr. Jones: In the book of Malachi chapter 3 starting at verse 8 it says, will a man rob God? yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, In what have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the store-house, that there may be food in my house, and prove me now with this, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. So you see your Honor, we are commanded to bring the tithes into the storehouse or God will curse us.
Judge: Answer me this Mr. Jones, were you aware that God never required anyone to tithe money?
Mr. Jones: No I didn’t know that.
Judge: The tithe spoken of here was always edible products never money.
Mr. Jones: well your Honor that is because they didn’t have money at the time so God had them tithe food instead.
Judge: Not true, money is first mentioned in Genesis and Malachi was written hundreds of years later. God had them bring food in so that the levites, the fatherless and widows may eat and be satisfied. The tithe was used mainly to take care of people. Also notice it says in the verse you quoted, that there may be food in my house. How do you completely overlook the word food in those verses?
Mr. Jones: I don’t know
Judge: I also want you to know that these verses speak to people under the Old Testament law. As you may or may not know Jesus fulfilled the law, it is no longer binding. Tithing was part of that law that has been abolished.
Judge: Once again you have tried to completely take a scripture out of context and apply it to others for your benefit. Can you give me a single scripture where God changed the tithe from food to money?
Mr. Jones: I do not know of any.
Judge: So if God never changed it from food to money who did?
Mr. Jones: Man must have.
Judge: So far all you have done Mr. Jones is take Old Testament scriptures out of context and try to apply it to believers under the New Covenant. Is this all the proof you have?
Mr. Jones: I do have a New Testament scripture that will show that Jesus told us to tithe.
Judge: Ok let me hear it.
Mr. Jones: Jesus said in Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone. See Jesus said we should be tithing.
Judge: Let me ask you a question, who was Jesus talking to?
Mr. Jones: The scripture says the scribes and Pharisees.
Judge: Are you a scribe or Pharisee?
Mr. Jones: Of course not.
Judge: Jesus also said in that passage, you have left undone the weightier matters of the law. Are we under the law Mr. Jones?
Mr. Jones: No.
Judge: Why not?
Mr. Jones: Because Jesus fulfilled it.
Judge: When did Jesus fulfill the law?
Mr. Jones: When He was crucified.
Judge: So the law was still in effect until Jesus death?
Mr. Jones: That is correct.
Judge: I think you know where I am going with this don’t you?
Mr. Jones: Yes your Honor. Since Jesus had not yet been crucified and the law was still binding the Pharisees were required to tithe because it was part of the law. Once the law ended, tithing ended also.
Judge: I want you to take a look at that verse again. Also tell me, what were they tithing?
Mr. Jones: The scripture says it was mint, dill and cumin.
Judge: Is money mentioned?
Mr. Jones: No it was not.
Judge: Once again it was edible products that they were tithing, not money. Do you have anything else you would like to say?
Mr. Jones: If people only tithed edible products like the scripture says, then how would the church survive? We have our mortgage payment, utility bills, my salary and a host of other things that we have to pay each week. We depend on the money from the people.
Judge: The need does not justify the means. In other words, just because you have all these debts does not give you the right to twist and manipulate scripture and cause people to give under fear of being cursed by God to meet your needs. In closing, let me recap a few things for you Mr. Jones. The tithe was never money; the tithe was an Old Testament law, which is no longer binding. When it was binding the tithe was used to take care of people, not buildings. We are under a new covenant now. Paul instructs the Corinthian believers how they are to give. He says in second Corinthians chapter 9 verse 7, Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. So each believer is supposed to give as he or she has determined in his or her heart. If you are trying to make people give under the threat of being cursed or any other reason you are wrong. Someone can not give cheerfully if they are being forced to give. If your church can not survive on freewill offerings maybe God is not part of your church at all.
Mr. Jones: I never realized all these things, I have always been taught that we had to tithe money to the local church and that is what I have always taught. I can see now that I was completely wrong. I did not study the scripture for myself, I only took mans word for it. Yes I am guilty. I will not teach this error anymore.
Judge: Mr. Jones, I can see that you done this in ignorance and are repentant, this court will not hold you accountable. It is your responsibility to know the truth. I would advise you and everyone else in this courtroom to really start studying the Bible and seeking God on the subject of tithing and your eyes will be open. Do not just take mans word any longer. Start seeking God as to how and where He would have you give. Court adjourned.
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Interesting that you say your ‘funny’ “lining up with our thoughts”…Sad to say Barry that you see me in ‘bondage’ – your view of me is not what you say. I am inclinded to think somewhere you got burned or maniupulated in the area of finances; as for me, I ignored Him in that area for years. In our giving, it IS freeing. You cannot rightly judge my motives in giving – only God can, and in that I have peace. One day, each of us WILL be held responsible for what we have been given, how we use it and how it honors God (remind you of Matt 25) – that IS Biblical. I hope you find some along the way as well as I have mine.
Gary, I Love you my friend. But I know GOD will be pleased with me. I have been freed by really seeking the LORD in this. I am glad you are not in bondage like I was when I was tithing. I guess that is just what you believe and I respect that. Like I say Gary, I was blinded by listening to a Pastor instead of seeking the LORD on my own. I Love to give. I noticed that you left me a verse to look at, I have looked at that verse and many others that has put me in line with GOD’s will for my life. All I say to others is respect your Pastor, they have tough jobs, help them as you can, support them, but please seek the scriptures in prayer for yourself. GOD bless you Gary, I am glad you are free.
Gary, if a Preacher that preaches tithing really wants to keep people tithing, they need to change there approach. To many Christians are getting farmiliar with what GOD said and intended. In the past people just took the Pastors word for it. Alot of Christians I know are starting to realize it is the same speach from almost every tithing Pastor, but no verses to back it up. They keep trying to use Malachi 3, Genesis 14, and even give what JESUS said about tithing, but people are becoming smart to the tatics. GOD wants a cheerful giver, just preach that, funds will still come in and people will be free. Pastor Gary, you just used another line that Pastors use when they get backed into a corner when someone confronts them on tithing and shows them the truth, “Barry you must have been burned in finances before”. Gary, what it is, people are tired of being burned by Pastors, they are not buying it anymore. Gary that is another tactic Pators use when they run out of material, to try and persuay people. Gary, if the LORD convicted you to tithe, that is great, but why would you try and play Holy Spirit and tell others how to give? We all have heard, “10% is a good place to start”, “the LORD will open the floodgates if you tithe”, “this is the way GOD intended it”, “the Jews gave more than 10%”. Gary, if Pastors want to keep pushing tithing, they need to come up with new material, because the verses point to a cheerful giver, not a tither, people are catching on. GOD bless you Gary, keep seeking the truth.
Barry, …You keep throwing out a verse I have heard all too much when it comes to the offering (another coaxing for people to give joyously?) about being a “cheerful giver” but that verse (2 Corinthians 9:7)has nothing to do with the local church and the offering – it was in reference to the collection for the starving Church in Jerusalem.
I wonder how YOU see to it that your church follows the admonition of Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:14 “In the same way, the Lord gave orders that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.” and his words to Timothy (1 Timothy 5:17) “Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.”
Is there honor there where honor is due…no, commanded? Are his family needs met way beyond or is there struggle? I sure hope it is the former.
Seems alot of the focus in your practice, is inward. I believe the practice of stewardship is outward, focused on what God is doing and calls me to do. I am not hung on the tithe (a good benchmark regardless) and the giving by my wife and I goes way beyond but not to be discussed here.
I am given the grace to give and a 10th of all I have is the least I can do and have joy in doing it…remember “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Keep your eyes up Barry, you’ll see the light!
Gary, I am praying for you. Gary, you don’t need to tell everyone on here how much you and your wife give, that is between you and GOD. I have told you I have nothing against giving, I Love to give, how is that looking inward. I would even give to you if the LORD led me to. But, remember Gary, JESUS said to leave it between you and HIM, not to toot your horn. GOD bless you, Gary, I Love you
Gary, why get hung up on numbers? if someone gives a 10th one week, a 5th the next week and 20 percent the next week, why get hung up on all of these “benchmarks”? Seriously why? Please let me know why this number or “benchmark” is so important to you? Do you think GOD looks at how much a person gives each week or his or her heart. To be hung up on numbers seems like more of a law requirement and seems much more inwardly to me. Good luck Pastor Gary. By the way Gary, you saying that I am looking inwardly is just another old tactic, not working Gary, get new material. Look at the word of GOD.
you quoted the verse “where your heart is your treasure will be also”. So that means I should get under the tithing law? When I give I give towards the Kingdom as GOD leads, your verse will not work on me. Another tactic of Pastors, when they see that Gen 14, Mal 3 and JESUS’s mention of tithing will not work they go to other verses like the “where your heart is…” verse and try and make it work. Gary, if the main verses that give you a shot at getting people to tithe won’t work on folks that know the word, how are other verses going to sway folks that know the word? come on Gary, give it up, just tithe if you want to, but let others give as GOD leads. Why are yo trying to force tithing? Poeple that read this blog can easily see that Pastor Gary is trying everything to make his argument, but it will not work on folks that are studying and praying on this. Gary, you know what GOD has told you, just let this go, let others do what GOD has told them. Pastor you need to go to another site that has alot of sheep on there that have not studied GOD’s truth, the ones that just listen and don’t study, not working here.
I know you will see I quoted a piece of the verse backwards, meant to say “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. When you guys run out of stuff you try anything to try and hem us up. Give me some new scripture Pastor that will help you. Remember Gary, we don’t want to hear your opinion, we want to see scripture.
Here’s the thing Barry, with all your arguments, it appears more that you are the one hung up on the tithe than I am.
I don’t have a problem with it and since I live it and appreciate it – 19 years now and pressing forward – it seems the focus for you is more how to justify not tithing and shout for “freedom”. Your yo-yo approach to giving has no basis except for how YOU “feel” – and your have not shown how your “feelings” make YOU a more generous giver, just a “free” one. I would be interested in how YOU determine how much your church and pastor are worth. Since you have never been in our church, you would nopt know that we pubically ask Guests NOT to give, infact, if they are not Believer in Christ, we ask that they do not give – why? Becuase it would be all about money, not the heart to give.
You have a totally objective view of giving (based inward feelings) rather than subjective to Christ. Show me how you get out of the way in your giving. Based on YOUR bills or how much YOU wish to be generous? As much as you choose to not see it, YOU are inward my Friend. Get out of yourself and appreciate the freedom in the tithe and beyond.
No new material needed. You’re proving my point very well.
thanks for all your opinions Pastor Gary. I really think that people reading would see you have the yo yo approch with no scripture to back it up. Are you telling people they need to listen to a man and stop studying for themselves? I still Love you Gary, good luck in running your Church, I hope all of you have a very blessed CHRISTmas. We have to remember in all of this, we must Love each other and remember it is ALL about JESUS, not us. I Love you Gary. GOD bless your family and your Church.
Barry, Not nit/picky – but those aren’t my words, Matthew 6:21 “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” …they belong to Jesus. Just like when trying to trap Jesus in the area of money Jesus asked whose image it was…Matthew 22:21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”
It’s all God’s Barry. How do you reason with your mind how much the heart gives? How do you use your freedom?
Please show me SCRIPTURE giving you this freedom to give how YOU want?
I also noticed you asked how much do I think my pastor and church is worth? Again Gary, I don’t think you are understanding, I LOVE TO GIVE, is that hard to hear? I may sometimes give more than 10 percent, but that is between me and GOD. But I do not get hung up on numbers, I get hung up on what JESUS tells me to do. How do you get out of this that I don’t care or give to my Church, just because I don’t give the same way you do? It should be between you and GOD and between me and GOD, not between Barry and Gary and GOD.
Obviously a nerve has been hit. I have taken your attacks and tried to have an exchange to have you think more the Big Picture. It is easy to read that you have a low view of pastors – unless you can silence them or berate them into submission. Sorry, seen rebellion (heck I lived it) before but it doesn’t make sense to go with feelings rather than knowledge.
I wish you well Barry and pray you ponder with Christ on what basis you give – outside of yourself. I know God’s standard, what’s yours?
By the way, the tithe is still between God and me. Never shared it with you. 😉
Above in the scripture about “where your treasure is, there your heart will be”. You had to show the people that I did not quote it right and then you had to tell me it was not your scripture it was from the bible, Duuu. thanks Gary, for straightening that out. See again folks, when they get cornered or feel they have lost the tithing battle they will try and distract you. Pastor, please let people give as GOD leads and stop trying to play Holy Spirit.
I am moving on, I know what GOD says, I am not going to nick pick with Pastor Gary. Gary please let us Love each other as brothers in Christ and show Christian Love to others, is that ok?
Pastor Jimmy, this is you! (Bacons Castle). You moved on from arguing with me along time ago. Now you are on Websites under the Gary name. Its the same old sayings: everything, even the way you acuse people of being inwardly. I am praying for you Jimmy or “Gary”. If this is not you Jimmy, Gary quoted everything you ever said. I still Love you Jimmy or Gary. Why can’t you tell me you Love me Pastor, why?
Has tithing been abolished under the New Covenant? No, it has not. Though some assume that God’s laws have been abolished by the New Covenant, Jeremiah 31:31-33 and Hebrews 8 and 10 all confirm that under the New Covenant God’s laws would be written upon believers’ hearts—not abrogated or done away.
Although the New Covenant included changes from a physical priesthood to the spiritual priesthood of Jesus Christ and the superseding of the sacrifices that pointed toward Him, these adjustments are all documented in the New Testament. Hebrews 7 discusses the change regarding the priesthood. Jesus Christ, a priest according to the order of Melchizedek (the preincarnate Jesus Christ as the priest who received tithes from Abraham), has replaced the family of Aaron. The obvious implication is that, as Jesus Christ has now superseded Aaron’s family as High Priest, the ministry of Jesus Christ has similarly taken over the role of the Levites and so would receive tithes to do God’s continuing work.
It is also important to note that, even though God temporarily gave the tithe to the Levites for their service, it remained holy and ultimately belonged to Him (Leviticus 27:30). When God gave it to the Levites and the people refused to pay it to them, God said the people were robbing Him—not robbing the Levites (Malachi 3:8). Christians, who are under the terms of the New Covenant, continue to honor God through their tithes and offerings.
Jimmy or Gary, you are trying to get me or us to see your Big picture, not GOD’s. And people can easily see on here Gary or Jimmy that you are inward and have law in you. Hey Jimmy, I beat you to the “playing Holy Spirit” thing. He always used to tell me I was trying to play Holy Spirit because I was trying to show that GOD has released us from tithing, but it is ok for a Pastor to push tithing. Again, I LOVE YOU anyway. I have faults, all of us do, but I LOVE you.
Alright guys. I appreciate comments on the site, but this is getting out of hand. If you cannot agree with each other and let this rest, I ask that you take the conversation elsewhere. Either trade emails or find somewhere else to discuss this between the two of you. Again, I welcome comments and am glad to hear from both of you, but I’m asking you to stop this on here for now.
Thanks for your comment, Interested Party (please read my comment rules and use your real name).
You point to Hebrews 8 and 10 as confirming that the Law of Moses would not pass away, but Hebrews 8:13 says that the Old Covenant is obsolete, aging, and will soon disappear. Hebrews 7:12 also tells us that with a change in the priesthood there must also be a change in the law. Also, consider reading all of Galatians and Colossians. If you want to hold to any part of the Law as a requirement for the justification of believers in the New Covenant, then you are saying Christ died for nothing and are denying the very grace of God.
You need to understand that I am not saying Christians should not give. My point is that as Christians in the New Covenant our example for giving is Christ alone. Our motivation for giving is God’s love as shown through the gift of His Son. To focus on external laws and check box religion is to go in the exact opposite direction of having God’s law written on your heart. We do indeed continue to honor God in our giving, but the tithes were only a shadow of the things to come and are only useful as a guide to point us to Jesus Christ.
Paul, if ok I just want to add one more writting. I want to say sorry if I came across wrong with Pastor Gary yesterday. I do Love Gary and all of you, I did get a little heated though. The Bible says if we don’t do it out of Love it is usless, so I do Love Gary, but I need to Love more. Anyway, I was a tither for years, I respect my Pastor and other Pastors, they have a tough job and I could not do it. I thank all Pastors that are truly called for what they do, I have learned alot from them. As far as tithing goes, I ask you people that are tithing and have been for years to simply do some study. I really think that most Pastors are trying to do the right thing but really don’t study the tithing verses deeply. I know it is all GOD’s, I Love to give, giving to church adn Pastors is good, but don’t get hung up on how much and numbers, that is lawful. Let us just touch on the main verses they use in there sermons or talks. I won’t quote them, you research them for yourself, that will help you more, it really will. And please go into this in prayer and and open heart, not an angry heart. Remember, every one, yes every one of these verses are under law, which we are not. In Gen 14: Abraham comes back from war and gives by free will, not a command 10% of his spoils (not money) to the preist, Melkecedek (sp). Abraham was already a rich man before this and the bible never sais that he tithed before or after this event. Abraham did this from his heart, like we should give, from out heart. By the way, Abraham sacrificed animals also, it was before law. There are many other tithing verses inbetween Gen and Malachi, but most preachers don’t touch on them, because most of these verses do not help the Pastors cause for pushing the tythe. Then we get to the famous tithing verse in Malachi, please really know this, GOD was talking to the Jews deep under law, not Christians. GOD was mad at them because they were not giving there tithes, even the Priest were being corrupt with the tithes. GOD told them if they went back to giving like they should, then HE would open the windows of Heaven and pour out great blessings on them, but if they did not there would be a curse on them. So many Pastors use this and show us the blessing that is coming if we tithe, but if we don’t we will be cursed. GOD warns against Pastor’s putting us under guilt, they will be held more accountable, be careful Pastors, study your Bible. Then in the new testament, Jesus has the same speach, but in 2 different areas in the gospels, Mathew and Luke. Remember, you probably might not know this, JESUS was a Jew under Law when HE said this, He had not gone to the cross yet, and HE was fussing at the JEWS that were under law, HE was not talking to us. HE was upset with them becasue they were tithing there spices and herbs to the tee, but they were not loving or following the more important parts of the LAW, the LAW. And remember if you choose to keep tithing and not just giving, no verse in the Bible ever shows anyone tithed money. But if you choose to keep tithing please please look at Gal 3. Galatians 3 talks about if you are going to follow part of the law, you must follow all of the law and if you do that you are putting yourself back under law and JESUS is useless to you. Please read Galatians 3. Now if most Pastors see that these verses are not working on you, they will try and twist other verses to make tithing right. And if you listen careful to a tithing Pastor you will here some of these hand me down sayings, these are man made sayings, not in the Bible. And by the way, did you know that the NT Church brought back tithing just about 160 years ago, GOD didn’t bring it back. OK, be weary of these sayings, you will here them if you start asking: “The Jews were required to give more than 10%, so we are lucky”, “10 percent is a good starting place for you or a good benchmark”, “you can’t outgive GOD” (which is true if you give out of the heart), “I have been tithing for 42 years and the LORD has always supplied my needs”, many people that have just given for 42 or 52 years without tithing have been looked out for by GOD. Oh, listen to this one, “you are looking inwardly and not outwardly”. Just Love your Pastor and support him, but please study tithing for yourself and pray about it. Like I said, mostly these guys mean no harm, they just go off what they have learned. GOD bless you, Give in abundance as GOD leads.
We all know that tithe is a forceful way pastors enrich themselves, why is it that if you dont pay, the pastor becomes angry.. if truelly you are paying to God, why should he complain. I was under this tithe bondage for years before I decided no to pay again. But I am a cheerful giver, I feel more fulfilled. happy and blessed when ever I give than when I give out my 10% for no reason for a fellow man to use tactis to take by threathening that I will be poor if I dont give it. Thanks
I think some pastors teach tithing in order to pull in more money, but many others seem to teach it because they truly think it’s what God’s Word says. The first group has no excuse, but the second group should be willing to change their position when confronted with correct teaching. The problem is that tithing has become such an accepted part of Christian thinking (in recent years relative to Church history) that people think you’re speaking heresy if you teach against it.
I have found over this adventure the last couple of years that if you really seek GOD on anything and really study and listen, HE will reveal truth. We cannot try and force this on Pastors, we need to Love and respect them and ask GOD to show them the truth. I know of a couple of Pastors that have changed there view. As the Holy Spirit convicts, more and more Pastors will see the light and it will eventually be a big topic among Pastors, the Southern Baptist Convention and other large religious groups. GOD will get the truth to them, just keep praying for GOD to reveal the truth on this. As a matter of fact, let’s pray for it together right now: “Father GOD, please show these Pastor’s the truth about what you want to be taught about tithing and giving, thank you Father, in JESUS name Amen.”
Love those Pastors and pray for them, don’t argue, show Love, GOD will show them the truth.
Barry,
“Love those Pastors and pray for them, don’t argue, show Love, GOD will show them the truth.”
What about loving the victims for mammon loving Pastors? Should we not warn innocent Christians? Jesus did not promise us a wolf-free life. Many mammon loving pastors think believers are their resources as wolves considers sheep as resources. Pastors are one of the 5 fold ministerial offices. What about Apostles, Prophets, Teachers and Evangelists? Don’t they need to have their share? Also in the New Testament Church PastorS (not a single Pastor) conducted the Churches and they were all appointed by Apostles!
Victor, I am with you, I am not falling for the lines anymore, the Pastors are wrong and people are starting to see through it, people are starting to look at he word and pray and GOD is revealing the truth. I am with you, I know what you are saying. But, GOD told us to pray for everyone. That does not mean that we go along with everything, we must hear from GOD and not a Pastor on what GOD tells us. But GOD says to Love them all. The Bible says, if we don’t forgive then GOD wont forgive us. I am with you, you have seen through the smoke screen, there are alot of Pastors that know what they are doing is wrong and will have to anwer to GOD, if they don’t change. But Victor, we must forgive them and just stay away from there false teaching. But we must do what GOD tells us and not hate them. But Victor as more and more people see and hear GOD’s truth on tithing these false Pastors will have to move on and there message will die.
And yes Victor, we must warn others about this mixed up teaching. But be warned, go about it in Love. I went about it with a chip on my shoulder and it did not work. I know they are wrong, I had GOD reveal the truth to me through study and prayer. But if we get in arguments with them, it will just make us look like we don’t know what we are saying. We must tell other vicitms, yes victims, that they need to study the scriptures, all the scriptures and see what ones were under law, see what the NT says, see what JESUS was talking about in his mention of the tithe, HE was under law with them in HIS talk. So so so many Pastors really believe what they are teaching is truth. We need to pray that they will seek GOD’s truth and that GOD will reveal truth. I have seen Pastors and people change as I have loved them and shown them and prayed for them. That is the way to spread the truth. Let them get angry and upset, you just love and pray for them, that is the way to move this mountain one stone at a time. Eventually there mountain will fall and people that are in this bondage will be freed.
Thanks Paul for the info. I was once a faithful tither in the first year of my current job.in the 2nd year things got so bad till i could not afford to tithe. Before i got my salary i had used almost all of it in advance. In my prayer i used to remind God of my tithing and ask Him why things got so bad.Then there was a persistant voice in my spirit that kept asking “are your riches the only thing Jesus did not pay for on the cross?” It was so often in my spirit that it occured even when i was praying and at times i asked God the same question in the middle of prayer. I was so much confused cause i believed so much in tithing. Later on by the mercies of God i found myself asking God for forgiveness and He enlightened and delivered me. Things got better as life went on and now it is my second year without asking for advance.God provides for all my needs in His miraculous ways. As you said there are very many sacrifices in the old testament but our pastors and bishops decided to pick tithing only. What is very sad is that in a certain perspective tithing can be seen as an insult to Jesus. It is a very sad scenario to see a high rated bishop being “locked out with the dogs” because of misleading xtians. They dont even use the money for what the old testament taught but it all goes to buying them nice luxuries. These might be they that Jesus said that they would say that they casted out demons in His name but he will call them hypocrates and that He does not know them.
Thanks for your comment, Ruth. Please understand that I am not saying that we should not give to our local churches. My point is that using tithing as our standard for giving completely ignores the more perfect example we have in Christ.
I am a believer in the tithe or giving a tenth to God. Hebrews 7:1-10 speaks of Abraham giving a tenth to Melchizedek who is a type of Christ. The Bible states that Melchizedek had no beginning or end. This is something to focus on. Because if Abraham thought enough to give to the priest of the most high God, then surely we can do the same. Now, I believe that since this was before the law it’s a standard that Christians can follow. Isn’t this what the Bible essentially represents? (Of course I realize its purpose is much grater, just making my point) The Bible’s teaching is a standard of living that God has established and we should direct our hearts to that standard and beyond. The Bible was inspired and if it was not meant to be included I don’t think God would have lead the author’s to put it in the Bible. Therefore, it is worth pondering and consideration at the least. Remember, we can always ask and pray to God to reveal scripture to us so we may have an understanding. We can seek out the Holy Spirit and He will lead and guide us.
I agree that giving is a matter of the heart and if you do it out of obligation or some other means other then willful love and having a desire then you are truly not giving to God. So it is a matter of the heart. But, a tenth is minimal and we should exceed that as our conviction, level of faith, understanding in His Word, and relationship with God grows.
Our offering of money, time, and sacrifice should all glorify God and come from a place of love. We all should understand that the Word of God will trigger many interpretations and TRUE debate, but our focus should always be salvation and winning souls for Christ. We can agree to disagree, but still respect and have love for one another. See you in Heaven my brother. Be blessed
Thanks for commenting. I think we actually agree on more than you realize. I am not saying that we should not be giving generously. My point is just that the tithe was a shadow of things to come – namely, Jesus and His example. Therefore, we should hold to the better example we have in Christ when choosing a standard for our giving rather than the weaker things.
I would also encourage you to read my post on Hebrews 7.
Hi Lover of God!
Hebrews 7:1-10 was written to prove the superiority of Melchizadek’s priesthood and it does not command Christians to tithe to their churches. Also tithing is not the primary subject of Hebrews 7:1-10
Hebrews 7:4
Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
Acrothinan ἀκροθινίων actually means best of the spoils. Abraham did not tithe from his regular monthly income but only from the war spoils. Also it was a one time tithe. Do you know Abraham gave 90% back to the king of Sodom? Is that an example of Christians to follow.
Abhram’s tithing example contradicts the law of Moses
Numbers 31:28
“Levy a tax for the LORD from the men of war who went out to battle, one in five hundred of the persons and of the cattle and of the donkeys and of the sheep;
Numbers 31:29
take it from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest, as an offering to the LORD.
Also do you know that Melchizadek was a King. It was kind of a tax and a borrowed practice from the surrounding cultures.
Hope this helps!
Victor
just wanted to jump in here and ask how many of you who say that you have tithed or are tithing now, how do you fit that animal or produce into the offering plate? Because, as has been stated over and over on this post as well as in the very Word of God itself, the tithe is not, was not, nor could be money. So those of you who want to keep your traditions and refuse to surrender your head knowledge to the discernment and Truth of scripture, Jesus had a few comments for those like yourselves. I’m not trying to be caddy here….just blunt…as Jesus was.
Do we all realize the importance of getting into scripture for ourselves and understanding God’s word for ourselves? This generation can do no less. There is much apostacy and false teaching out there and Jesus told us to discern it (Matt 7:15,16)
By the way, if you take some kind of pride in your 10%, check your box and think you’ve done what’s asked of you, then you are the pharisee of Matt 23:23. We are to be led by the Spirit of God, not write a check made by a human decision. The Holy Spirit will decide who to give to, when to give, how much to give and we need to stop trying to help Him out. We need to stop drinking milk and do what’s required of us to eat some good meat of the gospel…..LISTEN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.
While we’re on the subject of false teaching, WHEN not if, scripture reveals Truth to us that may conflict with what we’ve been taught, heard, done all our lives or like, we have two options. 1. do nothing cause we don’t like the new Truth and keep doing it the same way we’ve always done it. or 2. Surrender, repent, walk in the light of the real Truth. Seems like an easy decision to me…….
after i read your report, i can understand your way of thinking but it is in error! abraham iniated the tithe program and was not under the law of moses. yoou see moses came after abraham many years later and from careful trial and study i have come to the conclusion that the almighty god wants us to maintain his tithing program. i have conducted entirely too many signs, wonders, and miracles to beleive otherwise. reread genesis and understand when the law of moses came into being.furthermore reread matthew 23:23 and also realize that jesus comes to remove and correct immediately any inaccurracies.that is his mission as well.
Alright, Mr. Ladson – let’s all start tithing just as Abram did: http://www.providentplan.com/696/tithing-in-the-bible-abrams-example/
it seems that before the law tithing was a sign of gratitude and aknowledgement (well i may be wrong), but in the law it became like a sarcrifice inorder to obtain the blessings listed in malachi. what about under grace?
Not only is the Tithe NOt for the church, the Body of Christ, anyone who tries to tithe, in order to fullfil some ‘law’, they have removed themselves from grace. I have been preaching and teaching this same message for over a decade, and it is like hitting your head against the wall. Tithe, tithing and tithes, are only found in the Gospels (while jesus was living under and fullfilling the Law of Moses, and in Hebrews, where Paul is showing the Priesthood of Jesus is greater than the priesthood of Aaron. The tithe was ONLY given to the 12 tribes of Israel, and was ONLY for the tribe of Levi to partake of, because the tithe is given to GOD and GOD is the inheritence of that tribe, no inheritence of land, in the promised land. God had no need of animal carcasses, nor food stuffs. it was for obedience and a shadow of what is to come, like nearly all of the OT.
We ARE supposed to take care of our Christian ministers. We SHOULD provide for their need, physical, as they provide for our need spiritual.
The tithe shows this. the priests ministered unto the Lord and the tithe supported them so they COULD do their ministries.
Funny, I also see a parallel betweent he priests of Israel and the ‘prosperity Gospel heretics of today. The priests added their own laws and regulations and extorted Israel, just as these modern day guys do to theose who remain ignorant of the Bible.
That is a discussion for another day, I think.
Galatians 3:5
5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Matthew 23:23 clearly states tithing as part of the law. A work by definition is something you do for a wage. Grace is free an unmerited. Miracles, recieving the Holy Spirit, and all other blessing come from faith in Jesus. They are part of grace not part of law as stated in Galatians 3:5.
Ephesians 1:3 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, Every spirtual blessing is ours in Christ. Every in this verse comes from the Greek word pas. Pas means all. So God’s blessings are only found in Christ now and God opens the floodgates of heaven and showers them down through the atoning blood of the cross.
Luke 18:18-23 (with the context of vss. 24-30 also)
[18] A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
[19] “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good — except God alone. [20] You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'”
[21] “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.
[22] When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
[23] When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.
** I noticed that Jesus did not tell the rich young ruler to tithe first and then follow him. Jesus did not tell the rich young ruler to tithe, he told him to sell all he had and give to the poor!** Selah!
Barry, I can’t believe how much you and me think a like. I love the Lord and my wife and I give not tithe. I have read and studied so much about tithing. I often wondered if I should leave a mega church we belong too outside Chicago, but like you said we have to forgive our pastors and pray for them also. There human too. I ask that you please contact me at my email address to further discuss. Thanks again for your annointed support.
God commanded in deuteronomy to tithe three times during the year. it pertained to food and God commanded that 10% be brought to one place for the community, the poor, the less fortunate. God also said that if it is to far to bring your crop, exchange it into money and when you get to your destination, exchange it again into food and take to the community.
The New Testament never states that Jesus tithed, however he did give freely of himself. So as you have been given freely, give freely of your self to mankind, not an organization.
Jesus gave us two commandments ” Love God with all your heart, mind, body, strength and soul, Second, love one another as I have loved you. On these two are the Law and the Prophets.
In my opinion, Forget the church and focus on teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I’ve never seen a preacher tithe. have you? lol
I agree with Provident Plan the writer of this site. In his studies he has come to find out what the ultimate goal for tithing is. It was a demonstration of love towards to human kind according to Deut. 14: 22-29. The tithe is to bless all vs. 26 thine household, vs. 29 the Levite , the stranger, the fatherless, the widow. I think that covers what Jesus said to love your neighbors as you love yourself. Matt 19:19 Mark 12:31
Have you read in 2 Cor. 9:7-8
vs. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver
vs.8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you: that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work
That certainly doesn’t sound like a curse to me for not giving a 10th. It certainly doesn’t sound like we are still under the law either. It did say God is able to make all grace abound towards us and always having all sufficiency in all things.
PRAISE GOD FOR ALL
It sounds more like a blessing. His grace is abounding towards us and he will supply everything that we need. Lesson learned be a blessing towards others and God will bless you.
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Jesus said both should be done.
Jesus did not condemn the adulterous woman, that happened before going to the cross while people where still under the old covenant, why say the covenant only came into effect on the cross.
The tithe is the Lords, not the Priests. Leviticus 27,30.
Malachi 3,10 says BRING , not GIVE, its his.
The lord is COMMANDING.
Great article! Tithing is legalism that destroys the joy of true believers, it is another doctrine of demons from Satan. Peter warned the believers about our enemy Satan, he had joined the Church many years ago as he found that killing them made them stronger! Many of the Churches today are in darkness, denying the Lord’s word, saying a true believer can lose their salvation. They embrace Law, use entertainment by which they think THEY can save souls. They tell the Lord on that day; “Didn’t WE do all these things in your name?” Depart from me he says. I NEVER knew you, so much for the Tares, who Satan sends as “Angels of light”.
My web site is: http://www.gracefaithgift.com ken@gracefaithgift.com
As Christians we should have the goal to become “Mature” Sons and Daughters by being led by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:14 NASB. When you reach this goal, everything you do will be guided by the Holy Spirit to do the perfect will of God and not your own! Your giving will be through the leading of the Holy Spirit as to who, what and where, you will be “The” joyful giver God loves because it will be HIS work which is the only kind that will receive rewards at our “Works” Judgment by Christ. Anything done “In the flesh” by the believer will be worthless and burned up!
God word confirms this truth, he has ordained ALL our works before we were born that only those we should do to his honor and glory. For more about giving according to the will of God please visit my site at; http://www.gracefaithgift.com In Christ, Minister Ken