A surprising percentage of pastors and church leaders have concluded that tithing is not for believers today. I heard one of them say, “We’re under grace, not under the law, and tithing is part of an old, law-based system that Christ ended.” When I heard that I was tempted to tell him that a little more homework was in order, because that’s not at all what I see in the Scriptures.
As I read the Bible, tithing was sanctioned by God before the Law was given. In fact, 400 years before the giving of the Jewish laws it was practiced by Abraham (Genesis 14:20) and practiced by Jacob (Genesis 28:20-22). Jacob also, long before the law of Moses, promised that he would give to the Lord a tenth of all he received (Genesis 28:22). Later, of course, it was sanctioned by God under the Law (Leviticus 27:30-32; Malachi 3:10). And it was then commended by God after the Law (Matthew 23:23; Hebrews 7:8). Before, during and after the Law, tithing is a God-ordained practice.
The king-priest Melchizedek (who typified Christ according to Hebrews 7:8) received Abram’s tithes centuries before the Law. Under the Law, Israel brought the tithes into the storehouse. In the New Testament there is no abolishment of tithing. So, I am compelled to ask: If the tithe belongs to the Lord, then what right do I have to not give it to the Lord? What right do I have to borrow it or use it for anything other than what God intended?
The tithe, simply put, is the tenth—one dollar out of every ten, straight off the top. By acknowledging this and dedicating the tenth to the One who already owns it, I grow in His grace; I don’t suffer under the stricture of some “law.” Tithing is the basis of what I call responsibility giving, the contribution God expects of me. Offerings, on the other hand, are above-and-beyond giving, the contributions God desires of me—especially when I am presented with extraordinary needs.
For the New Testament believers, if there is a sense of obligation in tithing, it is an obligation of love not of law. It is where stewardship begins, not where it ends.
Six Truths about Tithing:
1. Tithing was sanctioned by God before the Law was given (Genesis 14:20; 28:20-22).
2. Tithing was sanctioned by God while the Law was in effect (Leviticus 27:30-32; Malachi 3:10).
3. Tithing was sanctioned by God after the Law was fulfilled in Christ (Matthew 23:23; Hebrews 7:8).
4. Tithing in the Old Testament was part of the moral law, not the ceremonial law. Jesus did not cancel the moral law; he confirmed it.
5. The tithe is one element of giving to God, not its full extent. Both the Old and New Testaments speak of “tithes and offerings.”
6. Jesus commanded (and commended) tithing after He had announced His Church (Matthew 16:16-18; 23:23).
Sorry Todd but I have to agree with the person you are disagreeing with. Tithing is indeed part of the Levitical priesthood and it belongs in that system and not in the church. That does not mean that I think people should not give. They should, but not as a tithing requirement. The NT is clear on generosity, not hoarding, giving to the poor, hospitality but is silent on tithing except as descriptive of some things that were going on at that time. I take exception to your 6 truths about tithing.
Six Truths about Tithing:
1. Tithing was sanctioned by God before the Law was given (Genesis 14:20; 28:20-22).
First thing here is that God does not in either of these passages “sanction” tithing. It must be understood that the word tithe simply means 1/10th. It was a descriptive word like the Roman word decimate. It did not have the connotation we have for it. These two passages are merely descriptive of what Abram did. There is no request for a tithe from Melchizedek, no hint that it was required. The only way to “sanction” tithing from this passage is to read into the passage from our perspective several thousand years later. The second passage is part of a conditional promise that Jacob made to God. Again there is no indication that this was required by God. We can not make assumptions that because it is described in the OT that it is actually sanctioned. Abram has two wives and two concubines and is prospered by God.
2. Tithing was sanctioned by God while the Law was in effect (Leviticus 27:30-32; Malachi 3:10).
Interesting to note the context of the first passage. It links tithing to making vows and how vows were to be paid. If the vow or thing to be tithed were desired to be redeemed then Lev. 27 lists the conditions for redeeming. Mal. 3 The context here is a dialogue between God and his exiled people who are wondering what they did to deserve their current fate. Part of the covenant that God had with Israel included tithing as part of the whole Levitical system. They were not living up to the agreement.
3. Tithing was sanctioned by God after the Law was fulfilled in Christ (Matthew 23:23; Hebrews 7:8).
Sanctioned is not the right word. Hebrews talks about tithing in the context of the Levitical system and has nothing to do with the followers of Jesus unless they are also Jews. Matt 23 sees Jesus talking to Jews telling them that if they think they are following the “law” then they need to do both. Again the context has nothing to do with followers of Jesus.
4. Tithing in the Old Testament was part of the moral law, not the ceremonial law. Jesus did not cancel the moral law; he confirmed it.
Tithing… moral law????? Tithing was part of the Levitical system. Not only were the tithes required to support the tribe of Levi who were not allowed to own land, but there were other ways tithes were used. They are required to support the fatherless, widows and the stranger that was living in the land with them. There was also to be used to go up to Jerusalem to attend the annual festivals. The tithe is mentioned in the context of offerings (animal sacrifices) and vows (Deut. 12:11) because it is part of the system. The tribe of Levi was chosen by God as the tithe of the people of Israel for leading them out of Egypt. You can not separate tithing from the Levitical system without doing violence to the story of the people of Israel.
5. The tithe is one element of giving to God, not its full extent. Both the Old and New Testaments speak of “tithes and offerings.”
I can’t find an example of “tithes and offerings” in the NT.
I do agree that tithing is one element of giving to God. The new testament example is one of giving everything one has for the use of God. The earliest church held all their possessions with an open hand ready to give as others had need. They did not practice tithing as that would have limited what they gave. They often gave far more than a tithe. It should also be noted that most of the earliest church were Jews and still participated in the Levitical system. There is no hints that tithing was imposed on the Gentiles. In fact the list of things that Gentiles were required to do is found in Acts 15. The only thing I see in the NT is the concept of sacrificial love which would include hospitality, generosity and love of others.
6. Jesus commanded (and commended) tithing after He had announced His Church (Matthew 16:16-18; 23:23).
Sorry? Not sure what these texts have to do with tithing in the church today. (See 3 above)