As with any topic of study in the Bible, there are principles and doctrines that must be examined that make up the body of facts concerning that particular subject. One principle (or doctrinal component) of the tithe is that of INHERITANCE.
There are many false teachers and false "ministers" claiming that you must "tithe" to them. Yet none of them can show you scripture were God has taken the tithe from the tribe of Levi and given it to them, they cannot show you where they have in fact inherited the tithe. The tribe of Levi received the tithe by way of inheritance, they were given the right and authority to receive (take) the tithe by inheritance, and by the Law of Moses as recorded in God's word...
Hebrews 7:5 - "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:"
And;
Nehemiah 10:38 - "And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house."
THE CLARITY OF GOD'S WORD
God's word makes it very clear that from God the tribe of Levi has inherited the tithe. Your church, pastor or your favorite minister has NOT inherited it...
Numbers 18:20-24 - "And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.
And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.
But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.
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."
And;
Numbers 18:26 - "Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe."
Joshua 18:7 - "But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them."
The New Testament church did not inherit the tithe, IT HAS NOT INHERITED ANY TITHE, neither has any minister in the church inherited a tithe, or the right and authority to receive a tithe. They have no right to do so at all!
ABRAHAM AND MELCHIZEDEK
What of Abraham's tithe to Melchizedek? Though there is no record of Melchizedek inheriting any tithe, and there is equally no record of God commanding Abraham to tithe to Melchizedek. Neither is there any scriptural command in the New or Old Testaments directed to a New Testament Christian to tithe anything to anyone. Abraham's tithe to Melchizedek was a one time voluntary event based on local customs, traditions and territorial laws. It was an event used by God to establish the superiority of the Melchizedek priesthood over the Levite priesthood...
Hebrews 7:6-7 - "But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better."
The establishment of the superiority of the Melchizedek priesthood over the Levite priesthood has been forever accomplished and no further tithes to Melchizedek need be given to continue establishing it. Or, as stated in God's word...
Psalms 110:4 - "The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."
And;
Hebrews 7:17 - "For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." NOTE: "FOR EVER."
Furthermore, if Abraham is to be used as an example for tithing it must be noted that Abraham tithed to Melchizedek...TO MELCHIZEDEK, not to your church, ministry or any New Testament minister. There is no scripture authorizing any New Testament ministry or minister to receive tithes for Melchizedek or anyone else, and there is no need to do so. Paying so called "tithes" to you local church or favorite minister is NOT tithing as Abraham did and is a deceptive false practice that is based on false teaching.
CONCLUSION
Any church, ministry or minister from the New Testament asking for tithes from anyone is doing so without any authority from God. They have no authority, they have no right and they have no inheritance of any tithe. They are, by way of deception and false teaching, taking what is not theirs to take.
Christians have inherited much in and through Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament, yet the tithe is not one of them.
______________________________
Copyright 2024, Anthony Todd, All rights reserved. Permission to copy and distribute this article must be obtained in writing from Tithing Study Online.
Permission can be requested at: tithingstudyonline@gmail.com. Upon permission to do so, it is granted under the strict condition that no content of any article be removed or altered, and that all articles are to remain intact as is when used. You must include a notation that any article distributed originated from Tithing Study Online, and include our blog URL as: https://ExaminingTithingDeceptions.blogspot.com.
