HEBREWS 7:8; A CALL TO CHRISTIAN TITHING?
Tithing teachers often refer to Hebrews 7:8 as justification, and a directive for Christians to tithe to a New Testament church or minister. They claim that because Abraham tithed to Melchisedec this is "proof" that Christians must hand over ten percent of their income to them.
Levi tithed through Abraham being in the loins of Abraham when Abraham tithed to Melchisedec...TO MELCHISEDEC (not to a church)...proving the superiority of the Melchisedec priesthood over the Levite priesthood;
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."
Nothing in the Bible, God's word, cites the Tribe of Levi and their receiving of tithes, or paying tithes through Abraham as a commandment or an example of tithing to be followed by New Testament Christians. On the contrary; the Levite priesthood has ended, and related to tithing under the Law of Moses not the New Testament;
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:"
CONCISE EXPLAINATION; Hebrews 7:8
The Levites in and through Abraham gave a tithe to Melchisedec, Melchisedec received the tithe thus completing the transaction and proving the superiority of the Priesthood of Melchisedec; ergo; the eternal Priesthood of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 7:9 - "And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham."
Psalms 110:4 - "The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."
Hebrews 1:8 - "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom."
No accurate interpretation of Hebrews 7:8 would conclude that Hebrews 7:8 is stating that ten percent of a Christian's income must be handed over to a church or ministry.
INFERIOR
The Levite priesthood is inferior;
Hebrews 7:7 - "And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better."
Why would God direct the New Testament Church to tithe doing so after the manner of an inferior dying and defunct priesthood? Clearly God did not.
Hebrews 7:15-16 - "And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life."
Hebrews 7:11 - "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?"
TITHE TO MELCHISEDEC?
One could argue that aside from Levi tithing to Melchisedec, Melchisedec being an eternal priesthood of the New Testament should be tithed to. This claim has many problems for the tithing teacher rarely, if ever addressed. They are as follows;
1. The reason for Abraham's tithe to Melchisedec was that Abraham carried within his loins the tribe of Levi, therefore Abraham's tithe, including Levi, proved the superiority of the Melchisedec priesthood over the Levite priesthood; that superiority has forever been established and proven beyond any doubt; Hebrews 7:7 - "And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better." No amount of any attempt to continual to "tithe to Melchisedec" will serve to prove it further.
2. No New Testament church or minister has been authorized to collect tithes on behalf of, because of, or for Melchisedec.
3. No Apostle stated that any church or minister of the New Testament is to collect tithes of any kind; tithes to Melchisedec or to anyone.
4. Hebrews chapter seven, while addressing Abraham's tithe to Melchisedec in detail, makes no statement to the Nation of Israel or to the New Testament church that Melchisedec is to be tithed to, or that Abraham's tithe to Melchisedec is to be seen as an example to be followed.
5. Hebrews 7:8, which states the following; "And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth." tells us one simple fact; The Levites in Abraham gave a tithe to Melchisedec, and Melchisedec received the tithe proving Melchisedec to be superior... NOTHING MORE. No statement in that verse states that the tithing to Melchisedec is to somehow continue as cash, or anything else, to be given to churches or ministers in the New Testament.
CONCLUSION;
Hebrews 7:8 is not a verse or command establishing "Christian tithing" or "New Testament tithing."
>> Consider...
Romans 16:18 - "For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."
Philippians 3:19 - "Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)"
2 Peter 2:3 - "And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."
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