Showing posts with label tithe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tithe. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

FOOLISH ARGUMENTS FROM TITHING PROMOTERS

Tithers and tithing teachers, in their desperation to keep tithing continued into the New Testament often make the foolish claim that "nothing in the New Testament tells us not to tithe." In fact, the New Testament does clearly put and end to tithing (see comments below). But, in regards to the fools claim of the New Testament "not putting an end to tithing therefore it should continue;" why haven't these commandments been ended also? Why do we not obey them? Are they to continue, why only tithing?...

Other Old Testament Laws that Were Not Specifically Repealed in the New Testament.
..

Deuteronomy 23:2 – Don’t let illegitimate children in the Assembly of God.

Deuteronomy 25:5-10 – If your brother dies, you have to marry his wife so she can have a son.

Deuteronomy 25:11-12 – If a woman hurts a man’s testicles, you should cut off her hand

Deuteronomy 21: 20-21 – You can beat your slave within an inch of his life.

Leviticus 15:19 – A woman must be quarantined for 7 days if she’s on her period.

Leviticus 19:19 – Don’t mix cotton with polyester in your clothes.

Leviticus 21:5 – Ministers can’t shave their head or their beard.

Leviticus 21:16-23 – No one with a defect can approach the altar of God.

Numbers 8:24 – Ministers can only serve if they are older than 25, and the can’t serve more than 25 years.

Leviticus 20:9 – Rebellious children are to be put to death.

ARE THE ABOVE COMMANDMENTS TO CONTINUE INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT ALONG WITH TITHING? Why not? ...nothing in the New Testament specifically ends any requirement in that list. If tithing has not been put to an end, why hasn't Deuteronomy 23:2, Deuteronomy 25:5-10, Deuteronomy 25:11-12, etc?

TITHING HAS IN FACT CLEARLY BEEN ENDED BY THE NEW TESTAMENT;

HEBREWS CHAPTER SEVEN...

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).

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.

"For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof." - Hebrews 7:18

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Copyright 2023, 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

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE

 

NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE...

1. A requirement to tithe from one's income.

2. The tithing of money, monetary tithing, instructed or recorded as a New Testament practice.

3. Instructions in the New Covenant to tithe.

4. A pastor or church, or any other New Testament minister or ministry authorized by God to collect a tithe.

5. Instructions to tithe because Abraham did, or because Jacob said he would tithe.

6. A "cursed Christian" because they're not tithing.

7. A Christian losing a blessing because they're not tithing. 

8. A statement in the New Testament making the argument to tithe because "tithing is not forbidden, is not a sin, or prohibited in the New Testament."

9. Instructions to "continue tithing" from the Old Testament.

10. A command from any New Testament Apostle to tithe, or a rebuke to anyone for not tithing.

11. A New Testament church or other ministry supported by tithes.

12. Details in the New Testament as to who must tithe, what the tithe will consist of, when to tithe, or who should receive the tithe.

13. A universal "tithing principle" instructed and continued into the New Testament.

14. Jesus or His disciples tithing anything to any one, or any Apostle referring to Matthew 23:23 as a command for Christians to tithe.

15. Any individual referred to as a "tither."

16. Any church that has a right to enact a rule, policy, program or law requiring tithing.

...NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE.

BELIEVE I'M WRONG? PROVE IT WITH SCRIPTURE, OTHERWISE YOU HAVE NO PROOF.

"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." - Acts 17:11

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

"Test all things; hold fast what is good." - 1 Thessalonians 5:21

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." - Psalm 119:105

___________________________________________________________________

Copyright 2023, 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

Friday, November 17, 2023

"NO VERSE IN THE BIBLE FORBIDS TITHES EVER" SOMEONE CLAIMS

"NO VERSE IN THE BIBLE FORBIDS TITHES EVER" SOMEONE CLAIMS

His exact statement is as follows...

"The Bible is very clear that tithes belong to the Lord, right on the Old Testament. After that there is no verse in the Bible that forbids tithes ever, Old and New Testament."

ANSWER...

He is correct; nothing actually "forbids tithing" in the New Testament because nothing commands tithing in the New Testament in the first place. Those EXACT WORDS; "I, GOD, FORBID TITHING" won't be found in the New Testament, they don't have to be.

God has no need to "forbid tithing" in the New Testament because...

1. God never commanded Gentiles (non Jews) to tithe in the first place. Only the Nation of Israel were commanded to pay tithes, and it was a NATIONAL REQUIREMENT, not an individual requirement. The tithe came from farms and ranches of the promise land of Israel, from agricultural increase only, not from anyone's personal income.

2. God does not have to "forbid tithing," but God did clearly put an end to tithing. Since He put an end to tithing, that is the same as "forbidding tithing" simply because why would you want to be involved in something God has put an end to? If you are wise, you don't want to be involved.

3. Neither does the Old Testament command tithing except to the Nation of Israel, NOT TO THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH. Nothing forbids you from giving every dime you have to a church either; but would it be wise to do so? No, it would not. You can't out give God, we are often told. True, but you can give foolishly;

Proverbs 22:16 - "Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty."

4. Would it be wise to continue something, tithing, God has ended in the New Covenant? No, in fact it wouldn't be, not at all. God ended tithing; why continue it? Only a fool would continue doing something God has ended. ONLY A FOOL WOULD NEED GOD TO FORBID HIM TO DO SOMETHING GOD HAS CERTAINLY PUT AN END TO. We must be wiser than that!

Also, you won't find anything in the New Testament that actually FORBIDS the sacrificing of animals for sin, but again, the New Testament does not require such an activity to be done because Jesus is our FINAL sacrifice for sin (see; Hebrews chapter 10).

5. He is making a foolish claim and preaching from silence because of his lack of knowledge of the New Covenant. Again; No, God does not actually "forbid tithing" because there is no need to forbid what has clearly been ended. A wise person will simply NOT get involved in something God has ended.

6. TITHING IS NOT LITERATELY "FORBIDDEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT," BUT IT IS ENDED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT...

The New Testament DOES IN FACT PUT AN END TO TITHING;

HEBREWS CHAPTER SEVEN...

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).

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.

"For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof." - Hebrews 7:18

>>> ALSO; a previous post of mine from another group...

ANSWERING EMPTY QUESTIONS
"Is it a sin to tithe?" "Will a person go to hell if they tithe?" "Where does the Bible tell us to stop tithing."

You people who ask and post such phrases and questions trying to prove that a Christian must tithe; is that the best you can do? Is that the extent of your argument in favor of "Christian tithing?" Can't you do better in your quest to tell us all about how a Christian is required to hand over ten percent of their monetary income, income money, to a pastor, other minister or a church? Obviously you can't or you would be.

In reality you are NOT asking a legitimate honest question of which you are seeking an honest answer for, you are asking your question THINKING you have asked a question we cannot answer, and by not being able to answer, you have "proven" that a Christian must tithe. Sadly, you are deeply mistaken.

So, here are your answers...

>> "Is it a sin to tithe?"

YES, if you are NOT tithing in obedience to God's word. In God's word there exists NOT ONE VERSE instructing anyone to tithe money to any church, pastor or any minister, not in the Old or New Testament. Such a command from God simply does not exist anywhere in the Bible. If you think it does, feel free to show us. Tithing money is in fact a sin because money from income is NOT how God describes the tithe. God describes the tithe, NOT MEN. God's tithe consists of fruits, vegetables and clean animals from the Promise Land, the tithe was agricultural in composition, never monetary. There is no such thing as tithing money in God's word. Again; if you believe there is, feel free to show us the scripture verse to prove your claim.

Therefore; what is sin? THIS... 1 John 3:4 - "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." So, YES, it is a sin to tithe if you are NOT tithing God's way, and you who are "tithing money" are NOT doing it God's way, you are doing it MAN'S WAY...

Matthew 15:6 - He need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God."

>> "Will a person go to hell if they tithe?"

NO, but you won't go to hell for being robbed, either, or necessarily for being ignorant. Whether or not a person will end up in hell has nothing to do with whether you should tithe or not. You won't end up in hell for building an Ark such as Noah built, even though it's unlikely that God has told you to build one. If you are a genuine Christian who has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, you won't end up in hell for sacrificing bulls and of goats for your sins, even though doing so is worthless and cannot add to your salvation or forgiveness of sins. Hebrews 10:4 - "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins."

>> "Where does the Bible tell us to stop tithing."

Where did the Bible tell us to START tithing? And, who is "us?"  Who must continue to tithe? God called, by divine command, the Nation of Israel to tithe under the Law of Moses, and the Levites to take the tithe; the Church is not the Nation of Israel under the Law of Moses and New Testament Christians have no instructions to "continue tithing" to anyone. Also, God NEVER instructed Gentiles to tithe...

"He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel." Psalm 147:20 - "He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord." - Psalm 147:19-20

As noted many times before; In the New Testament no Apostle ever instructed tithing, asked for a tithe, rebuked any person or church for not tithing, or received a tithe. Not one of them. The early church seen in the Book of Acts NEVER tithed. We have NO record of them doing so. In fact, The Book of Acts records this...

"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 tithing was required and taught in the New Testament for Christians, it would have to be clearly detailed and outlined in the terms and conditions of the New Testament like all promises and commands of the New Testament are. Tithing instructions would be clearly included in the New Testament, there are NO SUCH INSTRUCTIONS TO BE FOUND. No such terms, conditions or details are outlined anywhere in the New Testament. Tithing was never, is not now, and will never be part of the New Testament. The New Testament KNOWS NOTHING OF ANY COMMAND FOR A BELIEVER TO TITHE.

CONCLUSION;

Before posting foolish questions thinking you have asked a question that can't be answered, or proves that a Christian should tithe, think again. You might be only making a fool of yourself and accomplishing nothing.

TAKE SOME ADVICE...

>> Proverbs 10:28...

"The wise man is glad to be instructed, but a self-sufficient fool falls flat on his face."

>> Proverbs 15:32...

"Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence."

___________________________________________________________________

Copyright 2023, 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

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

MALACHI 3:10


God never designated money as suitable for tithing. A minimal of 17 times in through the Old and New Testaments God states that the tithe shall be fruits, vegetables (or derivatives of fruits such as oil or juice) and clean animals grown on (or born on) the Promise Land. Even in Malachi 3:10 (the flag ship scripture for tithing teachers) the tithes are described as MEAT (food), not money. 

>> Tithe scriptures designating the tithe limited to agricultural produce from the Promise Land... 

> Lev. 27:30, 32 "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD.… And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy to the LORD." 

> Num. 18:27 "And this your heave offering shall be reckoned to you, as though it were the grain of the threshing-floor, and as the fullness of the wine-press." 

> Num. 18:28 "Thus you also shall offer a heave offering to the LORD of all your tithes, which you receive of the children of Israel; and you shall give thereof the LORD’s heave offering to Aaron the priest." 

> Deut 12:17 "You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or of your wine, or of your oil." 

> Deut. 14:22 "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your seed, that the field brings forth year by year." 

> Deut. 14:23 "And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name, the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the first offspring of your herds and of your flocks, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always." 

> Deut. 24:21 "When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow." 

> Deut. 26:12 "When you have made an end of tithing all the tithes of your increase [produce: RSV] the third year, which is the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within your gates, and be filled." 

> 2 Chron. 31:5 "And as soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the first fruits of grain, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the fields; and the tithe of all things they brought in abundantly." 

> 2 Chron. 31:6 "And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that lived in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps." 

> Neh. 10:37 "And that we should bring the first fruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithes of our ground to the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage." 

> Neh. 13:5 "And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where previously they laid the grain offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the offerings of the priests." 

> Mal. 3:10 "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat [food] in my house." 

> Matt. 23:23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin (spices, ie, fruits,vegetables)..." 

> Luke 11:42 "But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." 

>>> Scriptural References, Part Two; THE SCRIPTURES CLEARLY DESIGNATING THE USE OF MONEY (CURRENCY) AS FAR BACK AS ABRAHAM UP TO THE TIME OF JESUS AND THE BOOK OF ACTS; 

Tithing teachers will often claim that fruits, vegetables and clean animals were the "currency of the day in Israel," and that they "didn't have money as we know it," so therefore money can be used to tithe. That is a lie as scripture reveals... 

>>> List of scriptures showing the use of money in the Old and New Testaments (NOTE CLOSELY; MONEY IS NEVER MENTIONED AS BEING USED TO PAY A TITHE...NOT EVEN ONCE)... 

Genesis 23;12-16 "But Abraham bowed before the Hittites 13 and said to Ephron, so that everyone could hear, “May I ask you, please, to listen. I will buy the whole field. Accept my payment, and I will bury my wife there.” Ephron answered, “Sir, land worth only four hundred pieces of silver—what is that between us? Bury your wife in it.” 16 Abraham agreed and weighed out the amount that Ephron had mentioned in the hearing of the people—four hundred pieces of silver, according to the standard weights used by the merchants." 

Exodus 38:28 "And of the thousand seven hundred seventy and five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, and overlaid their chapiters, and filleted them.' 

Exodus 38:29 "And the brass of the offering was seventy talents, and two thousand and four hundred shekels." 

Leviticus 5:15 "If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering:' 

Leviticus 27:3 "And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary. 

Leviticus 27:4 "And if it be a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels.' 

Leviticus 27:5 "And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels.' 

Leviticus 27:6 "And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver." 

Leviticus 27:7 "And if it be from sixty years old and above; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels.' 

Leviticus 27:16 "And if a man shall sanctify unto the LORD some part of a field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the seed thereof: an homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver." 

Numbers 3:47 "Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty)" 

Numbers 3:50 "Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:" 

Matthew 21:12-13 "And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves." 

Mark 12:41-42 "And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing." 

Acts 8:20 "But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money." 

> Note: 17 times in God's Word the tithe is declared to be fruits, vegetables and clean animals from the Promise Land, and 14 times that we have listed above, God's Word records the use of money over a long period of time.

> Conclusion; We must always seek and accept God's description of anything. If God declares in His word that the tithe shall be fruits, vegetables and clean animals from the Promise Land, then that is how it is, that is reality, that is truth. God means what He says, and says EXACTLY what He means; that includes what He says about tithing; there is within God's Word NO SUCH THING AS MONETARY TITHING (THE TITHING OF MONEY).

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Copyright 2023, 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

Monday, November 13, 2023

IT'S ALL ABOUT TITHING THEY TELL THEIR FOLLOWERS

One tithing teacher claims he is "UNVEILING THE MYSTERY OF TITHING" seen in the list below. In fact there no mention of any need for tithing in God's word as he is claiming.

Deceptive tithing teachers love to use the tactic of claiming that "all blessings and help from God are dependent on you tithing." And, of course, if you don't tithe, you're cursed and losing out on the blessings.

>> If you will notice below; everything they claim you have to tithe to receive, WE ALREADY HAVE.

These wolves in sheep's clothing are demonic liars. Pursuant to 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." Let's see if what one tithing teacher claims is true...

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings Lifting.

Truth - 1 Peter 5:6 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time." ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings Favor."

Truth - Acts 2:47 - "praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved." ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings Helpers."

Truth - Hebrews 4:15-16 -  "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings Solution."

Truth - James 1:5 - "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings Increase."

Truth - 1 Corinthians 3:7 - "So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth."  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings Long-Life."

Truth - James 5:14-16 - "Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up."  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings Elevation."


Truth - James 4:10 - "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings Blessings."

Truth - Ephesians 1:3 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings Protection."

Truth - 2 Thessalonians 3:3 - "But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one." ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings Promotion."

Truth - 1 Peter 5:6 - "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time," ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings Exemption."

Truth -  1 Corinthians 9:1 - "Am I not an apostle? am I not free [EXEMPT]? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?"  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings Fruitfulness."

Truth -  Acts 14:17 - "Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness."  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings Open-Doors."

Truth -  1 Corinthians 16:9 - "for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. And, 2 Corinthians 2:12 - "Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord,"  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings Testimonies."

Truth -  Revelation 12:11 - "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death."  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings Opportunity."

Truth -  Colossians 4:5 - "Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity." And, Galatians 6:10 - "So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith."  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING."

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings Open-Heaven."

Truth -  Acts 7:56 - "and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings Manifestation."

Truth -  1 Corinthians 3:13 - "Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done." And, Romans 1:19 - "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them."  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings More Than Enough."

Truth -  2 Corinthians 9:8-10 - "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness"   ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Rebukes Pains."

Truth -  Revelation 21:4 - "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And, Romans 8:18 - "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." And, Psalm 147:3 - "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." And, Psalm 34:18 - "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Rebukes Tears."

Truth -  Revelation 21:4 - "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And, Revelation 7:17 - "For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Rebukes Shame."

Truth -  Romans 10:11 - "For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Rebukes Failure."

Truth -  Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. And, Romans 3:23-24 - "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." And, 2 Timothy 1:7 – "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING."

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Rebukes Labour."

Truth -  Romans 12:11 - "not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;"  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Rebukes Accident."

Truth -  Romans 8:28 - "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Rebukes Devourer."

Truth -  Colossians 2:15 - "Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it."  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Rebukes Demotion."

Truth -  Luke 16:10 - "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." And, Proverbs 28:20 – “A faithful man will abound with blessings.”  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Rebukes Reproach."

Truth -  1 Timothy 3:2 - "An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach," And, Philippians 2:15 - "so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,"  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Rebukes Barrenness."

Truth -  Galatians 4:27 - "For it is written, “Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear; Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; For more numerous are the children of the desolate Than of the one who has a husband.” And, 1 John 5:14 - "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:"  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Rebukes Stagnations."

Truth -  2 Timothy 1:6 - "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands."  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Rebukes Untimely Death."

Truth -  Romans 14:8 - "If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Rebukes Satanic Opposition."

Truth -  James 4:7 - “Resist the devil and he will flee from you!” And, Romans 16:20 - “And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Rebukes Satanic Depression."

Truth -  Philippians 4:8 - “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” And, Philippians 4:13 - “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And, John 16:33 - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Rebukes Satanic Oppression."

Truth -  James 4:7 - "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." And, Luke 4:18 - "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,"  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Rebukes Promised And Failed."

Truth -  Jude 1:24 - "To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy"  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings God's Finger upon your Life."

Truth -  Romans 8:38-39 - "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." And, Psalm 27:1 - "The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?" And, 1 Peter 5:6-7 - "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." And, Psalm 118:6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" And, Psalm 115:11- "You who fear him, trust in the LORD— he is their help and shield."  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings God's Finger upon your Health."

Truth -  3 John 1:2-3  - "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth."  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings God's Finger upon your Ministry."

Truth -  Acts 26:22 - "So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place;"  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings God's Finger upon your Marriage."

Truth -  Ephesians 5:25-30 - "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones."   ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING.

The tithing teacher claims; "Tithing Brings God's Finger upon your Business."

Truth -  Colossians 3:23-24  -  "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."  ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING."

And, last but not least...

"UNTIL YOU ARE A TITHER, YOU CAN'T BE A TESTIFIER"

TRUTH - Revelation 12:11 - "And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death." And, 1 John 5:11 - "And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." And, 1 Corinthians 2:1 - "And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God." ...NO MENTION OF ANY NEED FOR TITHING."

CONCLUSION;

Tithing teachers who make these false claims are liars and simply after your money. The Bible has much to say to them such as this...

Titus 1:10-11 - "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: WHO'S MOUTHS MUST BE STOPPED, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for FILTHY LUCRE'S SAKE." 


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Copyright 2023, 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

Sunday, November 12, 2023

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

The conversation...

> Me;

"Pastor, can show me in the Bible, in God's word where a Christian required to hand over 10% of their monetary income, a "tithe," to the church or to some type of Christian ministry? Where is that in the Bible?"

> Pastor; 

"Well, Anthony, tithing is something every Christian should do because the Bible says we should be faithful with our finances. By sacrificing 10% of our income, we learn to rely on God. While 10% might be a sizable part of some people's earnings, giving tithes means you trust that God will still provide you with enough food and wealth to live. Plus it makes us more aware of the needs of others too. In fact, supporting the needs of pastors and the work of the local church is one of the main purposes of tithing.

Also; God knows if we give back the first 10%, we've placed Him before money. Tithing tells God that He's number one in your life. Why is this so important? Very simple: God won't rest until He's number one in our lives! And, I believe that one of the great blessings of tithing is confidence in what the future holds. Whatever our circumstances may be, things will work out for the best. As we keep our promises, He will keep His. A feeling of peace is one of the great blessings of paying a full tithe.

And, this is important; Jesus endorses tithing – but expects His followers to exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees whom He encouraged to continue tithing. I think it is also important to realize that tithing increases our contentment, joy, and love for others; and scripture promises rewards in Heaven if not blessings on earth! I like to tell my church to pray like this when tithing; "Heavenly Father, our hearts are full of gratitude. We thank you that you are the source of all blessings. As we present our offerings and tithes, we remember your promise to open the floodgates of heaven when we honor you with our first fruits! Amen!!"

So, Anthony, does that answer your question? I hope I have! 

> Me;

No, you said a lot, but didn't answer my question; let me ask again; in God's word where is a Christian required to hand over 10% of their monetary income, a "tithe" to the church or to some type of Christian ministry? I'm looking for chapter and verse, can you provide it? can you show me where I can read such a verse? 

> Pastor; 

Ummm, well, ahhhh, hang on, let me ahhhhh try to................................................. 


FOOTNOTE; The statements made by the "pastor" above are taken from actual claims made online on websites promoting tithing. If you will notice, not one of them were based on any scriptural authority. On each website concerning each statement, there was no scripture cited to prove what was being stated.

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Copyright 2023, 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 and 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

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

THE COMPONENT OF OWNERSHIP

THE COMPONENT OF OWNERSHIP

Every Sunday in churches all over Christendom, from untold thousands of Christians worldwide the offering plate passes by and a "tithe" is dropped in. Sadly, no one ever seems to ask; "who owns this tithe?" What right do you have to take it or have it? 

Why ask such a question? Answer; because unless your church, your pastor or you and your ministry owns the tithe, and can prove you or they own it, you have NO RIGHT TO TAKE IT. It's not yours, not theirs to take. 

Within the scriptures concerning tithing, there is the concept, a component of ownership of the tithe. Someone owns it. Tithing teachers typically refer to scriptures such as Malachi 3:10 when calling for tithes to be paid to them. Yet the tithe was and remains the property of the Levites; it was given to them by God, it was not given to you, your church or your ministry...

God owned the tithe and gave it to the Levites;

Leviticus 27:30 - "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD."

Given to...

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."

TAKE THE TITHE

Notice in the following scriptures that the Levites were commanded by God to "take the tithe." Why an emphasis on "taking the tithe?" Because the tithe was not a "love gift," not given under grace, not a free will offering, not voluntarily given, it was the property of the Levites and theirs to take by command of God...

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:"

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."

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."

If a church, pastor or any ministry has no command from God to take tithes, of which they in fact do not have, they're taking what is not theirs and that is called THIEVERY. They are THIEVES ROBBING THE PEOPLE. There exists no Biblical record of God taking the tithe from the Levites and giving the tithe to anyone else.

AN ANSWER TO THOSE SEEKING YOUR "TITHE"

Next time your pastor or church asks for a tithe, or tells you that you must tithe; ask them to show you in scripture where they own the tithe. They won't be able to because it's not their property, NEVER GIVEN TO THEM BY GOD, and they have no right to take any tithe from anyone. So, feel free to send them this...

God gave the tithe to the Levites, it was their personal property to take (Hebrews 7:5), THEY OWN IT; God said it was and remains THEIRS to take (Nehemiah 10:38, Numbers 18:21-24).

Please show me IN SCRIPTURE where God has taken the tithe from the Levites and given it to any organization, or church or any ministry; Chapter and verse, requested...

ref.:

Numbers 18:21 - "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."

Numbers 18:24 - "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."

CAN YOU PRODUCE SCRIPTURE?

Where does the Bible give you, pastor, the right to receive a tithe? God gave the tithe to the Levites. Where did God take the tithe from the Levites and give it to you or your church?

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Copyright 2023, 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

Sunday, November 5, 2023

The Establishment of Tithing; not of Jacob or Abraham

The Establishment of Tithing; not of Jacob or Abraham.

NO WHERE in the Bible does God cite Jacob or Abraham as a reason to tithe, or an example of tithing...

Tithing teachers often try to convince their followers that they are to tithe citing the tithing mentioned by Jacob (a promise he made to God of which we have no evidence that he kept), and the one time tithe Abraham gave to Melchizedek consisting of the spoils of war he made no claim of ownership of.

The fallacy of these two examples, Jacob and Abraham, is that God neither used Jacob's promise to tithe, nor Abraham's tithe, to establish and require anyone else to tithe, neither by commandment or by example. 

Nowhere does the Bible command anyone to tithe because of Abraham or Jacob. The Bible simply makes NO direct reference to either stating that ANYONE should tithe because of them.

I have often asked tithing supporters this question when they claim that Abraham tithed before the Law; "How does Abraham's tithing before the Law IN FACT prove that we should be tithing after the Law?" I am yet to get an answer based on scripture. Actually, I am yet to get any answer at all except "I don't know." They are correct; they don't know, but that is what they were taught, that "we should tithe because Abraham did." 

It is interesting to observe that if God, as an example, had established tithing with Abraham, and expected others to begin tithing based on Abraham's example...

1. We have no record of Abraham tithing after his ONE TIME tithe to Melchizedek. He did not tithe before or after tithing to Melchizedek, there is no record of any such tithing done by Abraham. And, it is a safe assumption that if Abraham did tithe before or after tithing to Melchizedek, given how important to Christians tithing teachers claim that Abraham's tithing was,  the Word of God would have made at least some mention of "Abraham's faithful tithing." Not to mention, some record of God instructing Abraham to teach his children to tithe. There is simply NO record of any such activity by Abraham. 

2. We have no record of Abraham teaching either Isaac, or for that matter, Ishmael to tithe.

3. We have no record of Isaac teaching his sons, Esau and Jacob, to tithe.

4. We have no record of Ishmeal teaching his children, Nebaioth, Basemath, Hadad, Adbeel, Jetur, Dumah, Tema, Kedar, Naphish, Mishma, Massa, Mibsam, Kedemah (Genesis 25, and is later repeated in I Chronicles 1:29-33.), to tithe.

5. We have no record of Esau teaching his children, Eliphaz, Jeush, Jaalam, Korah, Reuel (Genesis 36:4–5), to tithe.

6. We have no record of Jacob teaching his children, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah, Gad, Asher, Dan, Naphtali, Joseph, Benjamin, to tithe.

>>> After the Children of Israel were freed from bondage in Egypt, God began the task of establishing a nation, The Nation of Israel, thus fulfilling His promise to Abraham; "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:" And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. - Genesis 12:2

In the process of establishing The Nation of Israel, God handed down through Moses, the Laws that would govern the new nation. In those Laws, 613 of them, God established a system of tithing; three tithes, paid by farmers and herdsmen, consisting of agricultural items of fruits, vegetables and clean animals grown on the Promise Land, paid to the Tribe of the Levites, and in the case of the third tithe, used to help the needy, the poor and strangers in The Land...

1. The Levitical, or sacred tithe (Num. 18: 21, 24). Paid all year, every year.

2. The tithe of the feasts (Deut. 14:22-27). Paid all year, every year.

3. The tithe for the poor (Deut. 14:28, 29). Paid every third year.

>>> The point is simple; God's system and requirements for tithing are found in the Law, and any requirement for anyone to tithe would be in reference to the Law. A reference to tithing, based on the Law, can also be found in scriptures such as Malachi 3:6-11 or Nehamiah 10:38. Both of those passages of scriptures refer to the Law in regards to tithing, NOT to Jacob or Abraham. Jesus affirmed that God's system of tithing was of the Law when talking to the Pharisees, NOT a matter of Jacob or Abraham...

"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." - Matthew 23:23;

"and not to leave the other undone" is a clear reference to the rest of the Law, including "judgment, mercy, and faith..." It amazes me that tithing teachers will insist, many using scriptures out of the Law, that Christians must tithe, but NEVER insist that all MATTERS OF THE LAW must be obeyed. James had something to say about that...

James 2:10 - "For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend on one point, he is guilty of all."

Jesus did not cite Jacob or Abraham in his comments on tithing to the Pharisees as an issue of tithing, or a reason to tithe. Neither did any of the Apostles. No Apostle ever taught tithing, asked for a tithe, rebuked any person or church for not tithing, or received a tithe. Not one of them. The early church (i.e. Book of Acts) NEVER tithed. We have NO record of them doing so. And, God NEVER authorized a monetary tithe (tithing money).

>>> God's system of tithing is found in The Law (it is NOT found in Jacob or Abraham), and we are not under The Law...

Act 15:24 - "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:"

Galatians 2:16 - "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are NOT under the law, but under grace."

Romans 7:6 - "But now we are DELIVERED FROM THE LAW, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."

Galatians 5:18 "and if by the Spirit ye are led, ye are NOT under law."

2 Corinthians 3:6 - "Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."

>> THIS is the Law we are now under...

Galatians 6:2 - "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

___________________________________________________________________

Copyright 2023, 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.

Saturday, November 4, 2023

THE MISUSE OF MALACHI 3:10; THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN

 THE MISUSE OF MALACHI 3:10; THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN 


Tithing teachers often claim that the "windows of heaven" in Malachi 3:10 refers to God pouring down money, expensive homes, expensive cars and a list of material items "if you tithe." As seen below in a careful study of the Hebrew words used in Malachi 3:10 and in proper context of Malachi 3:11 which states that the results of the windows of heaven opened would be the following...

1. "neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field" ...that is to say their agricultural produce would not die, rot and fall to the ground due to a lack of water. This is a clear reference to the results of an abundance of water being supplied by God.

2. The other blessing was stated as a form of divine protection from crop destruction by the devourer, or locust destroying crops; "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground."

In Malachi 3:11, who or what is “the devourer”? A devourer might be anything that devours crops in the farm, e.g.; locusts, worms etc., but usually refers to locust.

In Exodus, locusts were the 8th of 10 plagues inflicted on Egypt, where the Israelites were enslaved. “They will cover the face of the ground so that it cannot be seen. They will devour what little you have left after the hail, including every tree that is growing in your fields."

From March to October 1915, a plague of locusts stripped areas in and around Israel of almost all vegetation. This invasion of "biblical proportions" seriously compromised the already depleted food supply of the region.

In 2013, Haaretz (an Israeli newspaper) reported;

"Israel Sprays Crops Across Negev in Battle Against Locust Plague. Agriculture Ministry spraying pesticides to try and save crops from what it has defined as 'medium-size' swarm; insects covered nearly 2,000 acres of desert overnight."

As in Genesis 7:11 and Genesis 8:2, Malachi 3:10 refers to WATER from the windows of heaven, water provided by God in Malachi 3:10 resulting in the promise in Malachi 3:11 for crop growth and a healthy abundant harvest, not "windows of heaven" pouring out private jets, a Rolls Royce, mansions, multi million dollar homes and multi million dollar bank accounts "if you tithe to your favorite minister."

COMPARISON OF THREE SCRIPTURES USING THE PHRASE "WINDOWS OF HEAVEN."

The exact same phrase "windows of heaven" is used in all three verses...

>> Genesis 7:11 - "windows of heaven" ...were opened, resulting in the flood of Noah.

Genesis 7:11 - "In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened."

Hebrew;
"windows"
Original: ארבּה
Transliteration: 'ărubbâh
Phonetic: ar-oob-baw'
Definition: Feminine participle passive of H693 (as if for lurking); a lattice ; (by implication) a window, dove cot (because of the pigeon holes), chimney (with its apertures for smoke), sluice (with openings for water): - chimney, window.

Hebrew;
"of heaven"
Original: שׁמה שׁמים
Transliteration: shâmayim shâmeh
Phonetic: shaw-mah'-yim
Definition: The second form being dual of an unused singular; from an unused root meaning to be lofty ; the sky (as aloft ; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve): - air, X astrologer, heaven (-s).

Hebrew;
"were opened"
Original: פּתח
Transliteration: pâthach
Phonetic: paw-thakh'
Definition: A primitive root; to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically to loosen, begin, plough, carve: - appear, break forth, draw (out), let go free, (en-) grave (-n), loose (self), (be, beset) open (-ing), put off, ungird, unstop, have vent.

>> Genesis 8:2 - "windows of heaven," resulting in the flood of Noah.

Genesis 8:2 - "The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;"

Hebrew;
"windows"
Original: ארבּה
Transliteration: 'ărubbâh
Phonetic: ar-oob-baw'
Definition: Feminine participle passive of H693 (as if for lurking); a lattice ; (by implication) a window, dove cot (because of the pigeon holes), chimney (with its apertures for smoke), sluice (with openings for water): - chimney, window.

Hebrew;
"of heaven"
Original: שׁמה שׁמים
Transliteration: shâmayim shâmeh
Phonetic: shaw-mah'-yim
Definition: The second form being dual of an unused singular; from an unused root meaning to be lofty ; the sky (as aloft ; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve): - air, X astrologer, heaven (-s).

>> Malachi 3:10 - "windows of heaven"

Malachi 3:10 - "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, 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."

Hebrew;
"windows"
Original: ארבּה
Transliteration: 'ărubbâh
Phonetic: ar-oob-baw'
Definition: Feminine participle passive of H693 (as if for lurking); a lattice ; (by implication) a window, dove cot (because of the pigeon holes), chimney (with its apertures for smoke), sluice (with openings for water): - chimney, window.

Hebrew;
"of heaven"
Original: שׁמה שׁמים
Transliteration: shâmayim shâmeh
Phonetic: shaw-mah'-yim
Definition: The second form being dual of an unused singular; from an unused root meaning to be lofty ; the sky (as aloft ; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve): - air, X astrologer, heaven (-s).

THE BLESSING FROM THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN ('ărubbâh shâmayim shâmeh) RESULT IN...

Malachi 3:11 - "And 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."

The promise in Malachi 3:11 is to the Nation of Israel under the Law of Moses for abundant crops, not privates jets for New Testament "tithers." Tithing teachers often "spiritualize" Malachi 3:10 in order to attempt to claim that the "windows of heaven" will open for the tither and pour out anything the tither desires...if they tithe enough money to the tithing teacher or their organization. This false claim is not only a misuse of Malachi 3:10, but also a blatant attempt to twist scripture, take scripture out of proper Biblical context and deceive Christians into handing over ten percent of their income to the tithing teacher. The Bible warns us...

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they draw to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto MYTHS." - 2 Timothy 4:3

And...

"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." - Deuteronomy 4:2

Additionally...

Context of Malachi 3:10...

"ye" - Levite Priests; Mal. 1:1,6-7; 2:1

"tithes" - agriculture and agricultural food by-products; Lev. 27:30; Deut. 12:17

"storehouse" - structure attached to the Temple in Jerusalem: 1Ki. 6:1-7

"house" - Temple in Jerusalem; 2Chr. 6:5-6

"windows of Heaven" - clouds; Gen. 7:11-12; 8:2

"blessing" - rain; Gen. 7:11-12; 8:2

Conclusion: Malachi is not saying to tithe money at your local church. It is speaking of agricultural tithes required by Law.

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