Tithing seems to be an issue with arguments for and against. As with all the simple doctrines, we humans tend to turn them into a giant issue, leaning to our own understanding. Some people are bitter about having paid tithes and not yet made it into Gods Kingdom. Perhaps they were trying to buy their way in. Some think that tithing is an Old Testament commandment and does not apply today. Let’s see what God thinks.
The Levitical Priesthood is to receive tithes of the brethren.
HEB. 7 V 5.
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:
Christ said to pay tithes.
MAT.23 V 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.
By not paying tithes, we are robbing God.
MAL. 3 V 8 - 12.
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have
we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9Ye are cursed with a curse: for
ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10Bring ye all the tithes into
the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now
herewith, 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. 11And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he
shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast
her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 12And
all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land,
saith the LORD of hosts.
NUM. 18 V 24.
But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an
heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore
I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no
inheritance.
The Levitical priesthood is still in vogue this very day.
JER. 33 V 20 - 22.
Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and
my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in
their season; 21Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant,
that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites
the priests, my ministers. 22As the host of heaven cannot be numbered,
neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David
my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me
EX. 40 V 13 - 15.
And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him,
and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
14And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: 15And thou
shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister
unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an
everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.
There are three commanded times to give to the church; not seven.
DEUT. 16 V 16.
Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD
thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened
bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and
they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
It is a command of God that we give ‘as we are able’
DEUT. 16 V 17.
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of
the LORD thy God which he hath given thee.
We must save our second tithe for the Feast
DEUT. 9 V 22-23.
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. 23And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
What about the third tithe? Read the following verse;
DEUT. 14 V 28.
At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:
Now read why:
DEUT. 14 V 27 - 29.
At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: 29And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.
There are no Levites doing sacrifices and other Old Testament duties, except for the ministry. Pensioners are well looked after at this time, so third tithing is not necessary as long as the ministry are faring well. There may well be a time in the future when third tithe is required. We must ensure that pensioners, orphans, widows and the ministry are well looked after. Third tithe is instigated to help the poor, not make the giver poor.
