> The Copeland family falsely claims...
"The tithe is money."
> The Bible says...
The tithe is to be agricultural items; fruits, vegetables and clean animals from the Promise Land, the Land of Israel; Over 30 times in 17 verses in the Bible the tithe is mandated and described as limited to agricultural items only. (See; Lev. 27:30, 32, Num. 18:27, Num. 18:28, Deut. 12:17, Deut. 14:22, Deut. 14:23, Deut. 24:21, Deut. 26:12, 2 Chron. 31:5, 2 Chron. 31:6, Neh. 10:37, Neh. 13:5, Mal. 3:10, Matt. 23:23, Luke 11:42).
> The Copeland family falsely claims...
"They have the authority to collect tithes."
> The Bible says...
Only a Levite accompanied by a priest directly descended from Aaron by bloodline has the authority to collect tithes; 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." 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:" Nowhere does the New Testament give authority to any minister or ministry to take tithes.
> The Copeland family falsely claims...
"A Christian must tithe money."
> The Bible says...
Tithing money is against the Law of God; Deuteronomy 14:25-26 - "Then shalt thou turn it into money, AND BIND UP THE MONEY IN THINE HAND, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,"
> The Copeland family falsely claims...
"Your tithe is to be brought to Texas, to Eagle Mountain Church, to Kenneth Copeland Ministries" of which they claim is a "storehouse to bring your tithe."
> The Bible says...
The tithe is to be brought to two places in the Promise Land of Israel;
1. The Temple Storehouse in Jerusalem, Israel; Nehemiah 10:37a - "And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God;" Malachi 3:10a - "Bring 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..."
2. The Levite cities in Israel; Nehemiah 10:37b - "and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage."
> The Copeland family falsely claims...
"The storehouse is where you are taught."
> The Bible says...
Nowhere in God's word is the storehouse cited or described as a place where anyone was taught anything from. Believers are not instructed or taught anything from a storehouse; this is where we are taught; Acts 17:11 - "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." 2 Timothy 2:15 - "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." No storehouse needed! Psalm 119:105; - "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
As one author has noted, tithing teachers tell their followers;
"YOU DON'T EAT AT BURGER KING AND PAY FOR IT AT MCDONALD'S. YOU TITHE WHERE YOU ARE FED SPIRITUALLY."
Yet;
"THERE WERE MANY SYNAGOGUES IN ISRAEL WHERE TORAH WAS TAUGHT BUT TITHES WERE TO GO TO THE TEMPLE, NOT THE SYNAGOGUES, PROVING "TITHE WHERE YOU ARE FED" TO BE A LIE."
> The Copeland family falsely claims...
"Malachi 3:10 is God instructing Christians to tithe money to them."
> The Bible says...
Malachi was written to the Nation of Israel (Malachi 1:1) instructing the corrupt priests of Israel (Malachi 1:6, Malachi 2:1, Malachi 3:5) to bring 1/10th of the tithe to the storehouse in Jerusalem, Israel (Nehemiah 10:38), and was an instruction based on, and pursuant to the Law of Moses (Malachi 3:7, Malachi 4:4, Hebrews 7:5); Christians are not under the Law of Moses and have no command to tithe; Romans 6:14, Hebrews 7:18, Acts 15:24.
Malachi was written to the Nation of Israel under the Law of Moses, NOT the Church under Grace. The church is not Israel and the church is not under the Law of Moses.
> The Copeland family falsely claims...
"Malachi 3:10 is referring to tithe money that is to be tithed."
> The Bible says...
Malachi 3:10 is referring to agricultural items; Malachi 3:10a - "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be MEAT in mine house,"
MEAT;
Hebrew;
Original: טרף
Transliteration: ṭereph
Phonetic: teh'-ref
Definition: From H2963; something torn, that is, a fragment, for example a fresh leaf, prey, food: - leaf, meat, prey, spoil.
> The Copeland family falsely claims...
"Monetary and material wealth is a sign of godliness."
> The Bible says...
1 Timothy 6:5-6 - "Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain."
> The Copeland family falsely claims...
"Tithing is to continue into the New Testament."
> The Bible says...
What is DISANNULLED? What is WEAK? What is UNPROFITABLE? These three;
1. The Levitical Priesthood (which could bring perfection [salvation] TO NO ONE, Hebrews 7:11).
2. The Law of Moses relative to New Testament Christians who are NOT UNDER THE LAW (Romans 6:14, Acts 15:24).
3. Tithing, which is of the law of Moses (Hebrews 7:5, Numbers 18:21-24, Matthew 23:23).
Tithing has been ended, canceled under the New Testament; Hebrews 7:18-19 - "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God." In Hebrews Chapter Seven tithing is mentioned 7 times, verses number; 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 9 again, focusing CLEARLY ON TITHING, and while proving the superiority of Christ's priesthood, ALSO places tithing (along with the rest of the law of Moses) in a position of INFERIORITY and declares ALL THREE ARE WEAK, ALL THREE ARE UNPROFITABLE, AND ALL THREE ARE DISANNULLED (CANCELED)...INCLUDING TITHING.
> The Copeland family falsely claims...
"Christians should tithe because Abraham did."
> The Bible says...
Abraham tithed to Melchisedec, not to the Copeland family; Hebrews 7:2 - "To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;" Genesis 14:19-20 - "And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all."
Additionally; Abraham's tithed proved the superiority of the Melchisedec Priesthood over the inferior Levite Priesthood. That was the primary result and object lesson of Abraham's tithe to Melchisedec. Tithing to the Copeland family will do no such thing and will accomplish absolutely nothing. Hebrews 7:7 - "And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better." Hebrews 7:9-10 - "And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him."
Again; Abraham's tithe, the purpose thereof, was to confirm the superiority of the Order and Priesthood of Melchisedec over the tribe and priesthood of Levi by tithing to Melchisedec in Abraham; how could your tithing to the Copeland family confirm Melchisedec as superior over Levi? Answer; it can't. Why would God have to attempt to confirm Melchisedec as superior over Levi over and over again with your tithe to Copeland? Answer; He doesn't, it has already been established FOREVER. God does not need your tithe to Copeland to attempt it over and over again. Hebrews 7:6 - "But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises."
> The Copeland family falsely claims...
"Hebrews 7:8 says Jesus still receives tithes."
> The Bible says...
1. Hebrews 7:8a refers to men who DIE (a reference to the ending, the death of the Levite Priesthood) receiving tithes; "And here men that die receive tithes".
2. Contrasting to Melchisedec, eternal priesthood thereof, who lives forever and who's Priesthood is made after the power of endless life; Hebrews 7:16 - "Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life."
Hebrews 7:8 says NOTHING of Melchisedec or Jesus Christ continuing to receive tithes (the English words "receiveth them" is not found in the original Greek and was included by translators). It is interesting to observe that those who claim that Melchisedec continues to receive tithes never seem to have Melchisedec at their church services to receive the tithes. Somehow the "tithes to Melchisedec" end up in ministry bank accounts and into the pockets of tithing teachers such as the Copeland family.
>> THE MORAL OF THE STORY;
1. GOD SAYS WHAT HE MEANS AND MEANS WHAT HE SAYS, DON'T DD TO IT, DON'T TAKE AWAY FROM IT; PROVERBS 30:6
2. ALWAYS GET GOD'S DESCRIPTION FOR ANYTHING AND BELIEVE IT; PSALM 119:105
3. THE FALSE TEACHINGS AND TRADITIONS OF MEN SUCH AS THE COPELAND FAMILY MAKE VOID THE WORD OF GOD...
Mark 7:9 - "And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition."
Matthew 15:3 - "But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?"
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