Abraham as the progenitor of tithing?

I find it very interesting that God has NEVER referenced or cited Abraham's tithe to Melchizedek as an example to follow, as a standard to tithe by, or a reason to tithe. Nowhere in God's word will you find Abraham as the progenitor of tithing.

In the Law, the Torah, where God established tithing for the Nation of Israel, NOT the Church, no mention of Abraham is made as a reason for, or an example of tithing.

The Children of Israel, who were also the Children of Abraham and Sarah, were never told to tithe based on Abraham's tithe. Incidentally; The Children of Israel (Israel/Jacob) were NEVER instructed to tithe because Jacob/Israel bragged to God that he would tithe "if God would be his God."

Also, nowhere in God's word did God ever instruct Gentiles to tithe at all, and certainly not because Abraham's tithe, or Jacob's unfulfilled promise to tithe.

Since God did not instruct the Children of Israel to tithe because Abraham did; why should the New Testament church do so?

As posted before...

The results of the first church counsel did not include instructions to tithe because Abraham did; why didn't the Apostle Peter (James speaking for Peter), after the first Church counsel, include in his instructions to the Gentile Believers to "make sure you tithe as Abraham did?...

"For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well." - Acts 15:28-29

Not one word from the Apostle Peter to tithe as Abraham did. If tithing was so important, and was to be based on "Abrahamic tithing," why did the Apostle Peter leave it out of his instructions?

Also, Abrahamic tithing left out of this verse...

"Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:" - Acts 15:24

If we are supposed to be tithing as Abraham did; why are we not to be circumcising because Abraham did? Why just tithing?

God provided Abraham the covenant confirmed with circumcision, NOT TITHING; to tithing teachers, tithing, not ordained by God, is to be the sign of the covenant between God and Abraham, which to them is held in higher priority than a God ordained covenant; the covenant with Abraham was confirmed with circumcision, not tithing.

Additionally; nowhere has God in the Old or New Testaments instructed Believers, Christians (Jew or Gentiles), to tithe using the examples of either Abraham or Jacob. God has also never instructed Jews or Gentiles to tithe based on the Law; we are not under the Law...

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:" - Galatians 3:13

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." - Romans 8:3-4

"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." - Hebrews 9:12

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." - 2 Corinthians 5:21

"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." - Galatians 4:4-5

> Note in Galatians 4:4-5: "WERE" (past tense) under the law. We are no longer under the law, and have NO requirement to tithe.

>>> The point is this...

Since tithing teachers cannot teach (though many recently tried to do so for years) that we must tithe based on scriptures from the Law, (which if they did would be the same as claiming that we as Christians are still under the Law and to obey the Law), in desperation to keep the tithes coming in, will resort to the claim of "we must tithe because Abraham did."

In some sense, it's a good thing that they are resorting to the "tithe because Abraham did" lie because by doing so are running out of lies to fool people with, and are relying on a claim that is easy to refute. Sadly, as easy as it is to refute, many gullible and biblically uneducated Christians continue to fall for their lies. For these people we need to pray that God opens their eyes because Jesus said...

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32 ...in this case, free from the Christian tithing lie.

>> We are called by God to be free will cheerful givers, NOT tithers in any form. There is no such Biblical doctrine of "tithing because Abraham did."

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Copyright 2024, Anthony Todd, All rights reserved. Permission to copy and distribute this article must be obtained in writing from Tithing Study Online.

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THE PRINCIPLE OF INHERITANCE

 

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.

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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.