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."

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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.

DISANNULLED, WEAK, UNPROFITABLE

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, Verses Number;

5, 6, 8, and 9...

Focuses 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 it all...

ALL THREE ARE WEAK, ALL THREE ARE UNPROFITABLE, AND ALL THREE ARE DISANNULLED...INCLUDING TITHING.

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

God has never called Gentiles to tithe, God has never required anyone to tithe money; God, for EVERYONE, Jew and Gentile, has forever ended all forms of tithing. Read God's word; for any Believer under the New Testament, tithing is WEAK, UNPROFITABLE AND DISANNULLED (See: Hebrews 7:18).

Interesting that people who like to quote Malachi 3:10;

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove (bâchan) 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."

...trying to convince you to "tithe" like to completely ignore;

>> Malachi 3:7 (keeping of the law of Moses concerning tithing, of which no Christian is under [ref.; Hebrews 7:18, Romans 6:14])...

"Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?"

>> Malachi 3:15 (though given grace to do so after disobeying God, testing God is called WICKEDNESS)...

"And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt (bâchan) God are even delivered."

>> And, Malachi 4:4 (to whom Malachi was addressing in Malachi 3:10 were under the law of Moses of which their command to tithe came from)...

"Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments."

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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.

TITHING MONEY; GOD FORBIDS DOING SO

1. God forbids the tithing of money, if the tithe is in the form of money it MUST NOT be given to anyone, one must BIND IT to their hand. Speaking of the tithe temporarily converted to money for purposes of transportation, God's word tells us...

"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:" - Deuteronomy 14:25. In other words, God did not want anyone paying a tithe in the form of money, NO ONE WAS TO DO SO. Doing so was forbidden.

2. The Word of God also tells us...

"For I testify again to every man that is circumcised [a keeper of the Law], that he is a debtor to do the whole law." - Galatians 5:3 

And...

"For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all." - James 2:10

If you pay a tithe in the form of money, you are in violation of Deuteronomy 14:25 and are in sin, YOU HAVE VIOLATED THE WHOLE LAW.

Also...

"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." - Galatians 3:10

3. IF YOU ARE PAYING A TITHE IN THE FORM OF MONEY, YOU ARE IN VIOLATION OF GOD'S WORD (Deuteronomy 14:25) AND HAVE BROUGHT A CURSE (PUNISMENT) ON YOURSELF.

GOD SAYS "USE TITHE MONEY TO BUY WINE AND WHATEVER YOUR HEART DESIRES TO BUY WITH IT."

If we are supposed to be tithing money, or tithing at all for that matter, as tithing teachers claim; why are we not supposed to be doing what God says with the tithe money? Like this...

1. Do not pay the tithe in the form of money. Keep the money in your hand (bind it to your hand) until you...

2. Buy wine with it.

3. Buy strong drink (harder liqueur) with it.

4. Buy livestock and other food.

5. Buy whatever you desire, whatever you lust after.

6. Share what you buy with a Levite and your family.

7. Only convert your tithe money back to fruits, vegetables and clean live stock, etc., at the location you will share it with a Levite if it is too far to transport it in the form God says it is to paid in.

8. Eat your tithe with the Levite.

9. Learn to fear and respect the Lord by doing one through eight above.

>> Why don't tithing teachers tell their faithful tithers this?...

> ref.; Deuteronomy 14:22-27

22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

23 And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always.

24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee:

25 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:

26 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,

27 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.

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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.

Women Tithers? Is There Such a Person in the Bible?

Across the United States, and in other countries around the world, women sit in churches hearing the same old drab tithing lie; "the church is to be paid ten percent of your income, that payment to God comes first!" 

And then, many times, the speaker, whether a pastor, or elder, or someone else, will read scripture taken completely out of proper context; Malachi 3:10, in attempt to validate their false doctrine and demand for everyone's "tithe" money. 

In the congregation of many churches sits the single mother struggling to take care of her children, make ends meet and keep house and home together. 

Every week she goes to church and is presented with her "tithe bill" during the service; the pressure to pay up passes by her in the form of a gold colored felt lined metal tray as if to say "everyone is watching you, you had better pay your tithe or be publicly shamed." 

As it passes by she is robbed in what is often called "the Sunday morning stickup." Eyes from her right and from her left subtly glance over to see if her tithe bill is paid, and perhaps to note how much it was if not hidden in a "tithe envelope." 

It's never mentioned that under God's tithing system, found ONLY in the Law of Moses (and scripture referring to the Law of Moses), the poor were never instructed to tithe, and that the tithe came ONLY from the abundance of the Promise Land in the form of fruits, vegetables and clean livestock, not the pockets of the poor, and not from women. 

The gold tray is often decorated to look like it came right from the very throne room of God, appearing very regal, when in reality it came from a bible bookstore or religious supply house costing no more than a few dollars. It's coated in gold looking metal and lined with red felt to give the impression that it "came from the king" who one must pay tribute to or bare the guilt of not doing your financial duty. 

Churches instinctively know that "passing the plate" in public will yield a higher intake of money as opposed to perhaps placing a humble offering box for people to place whatever offering they feel they wish to give in relative privacy. When the plate goes by it's more or less a method of lining people up and one by one shaking them down for money. It's very effective, and of course, used in virtually every church. 

When the single mother needs financial help, she'll be told to "ask God for it," or if she's lucky, she'll be told to "come in for financial counseling, fill out these hardship disclosure and financial request forms, and the financial department will decide if she qualifies for help." At times I have thought that when the plate goes by church members in the congregation, they should place an envelope with a letter in the plate instructing the pastor to "call me for financial counseling, fill out these hardship disclosure financial request forms, and I will decide if you qualify for financial help." 

Setting aside the fact that biblical tithing, that is to say tithing as it is clearly described by God in the Bible, has absolutely NOTHING to do with Christianity, the question comes to mind if God has ever instructed women to tithe. In scripture, it does not appear that women had any command from God to tithe on anything. All tithing responsibilities were placed on men of the Nation of Israel, certainly not on women in the New Testament, and it does not appear that women tithed in the Old Testament either. 

If you will notice, these scriptures emphasize tithing that men were responsible for, not women; 

> Malachi 2: 1 - "And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you." All Priests in the Old Testament were men. The command to the men were to "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, " - Malachi 3:10. That command was not given to women, or to anyone else except the [male] Priest of Aaron. 

> Malachi 3:8 - "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." The God robbers were men, not women. 

*Note; The Hebrew word for "man" in Malachi 3:8 is "adam" which refers to a male... 

Hebrew: אדם 
Transliteration: 'âdâm 
Pronunciation: aw-dawm' 
Definition: From H119; {ruddy} that {is} + common {sort} X {low} man 
KJV Usage: man (408x), men (121x), Adam (13x), male person(s) (8x), common {sort} X {low} man ({mean} of low {degree}) male person. 
Occurs: 552 
In verses: 527 

*Note; The Hebrew word for "woman" is "ishshâh" or "nâshîym," and is NOT used in Malachi 3:8... 

Hebrew: נשׁים אשּׁה 
Transliteration: 'ishshâh nâshîym 
Pronunciation: {ish-shaw'} naw-sheem' 
Definition: The first form is the feminine of H376 or H582; the second form is an irregular plural; a woman (used in the same wide sense as H582).: - {[adulter]ess} {each} {every} {female} X {many} + {none} {one} + {together} {wife} woman. Often unexpressed in English. 
KJV Usage: wife (425x), woman (324x), one (10x), married (5x), female (2x), misc (14x). 
Occurs: 780 
In verses: 686 

> 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." Note; "the priest the SON [males] of Aaron," not women. Nehemiah 10:38 instructs that men were to bring the tithe into the storehouse, not women. 

> 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:" Note: "of their brethren" ...not their sisters. 

The word "brethren" is from the Greek word "adelphos" which refers only to a male... 

Greek: ἀδελφός 
Transliteration: adelphos 
Pronunciation: ad-el-fos' 
Definition: a brother, near or remote (much like [H1]): - brother. 
KJV Usage: brethren (226x), brother (113x), brother's (6x), brother's way (1x). 
Occurs: 346 
In verses: 319 

> The tithes were taken based on the Law of Moses from MEN, not from women. 

> Hebrews 7:8-9 - "And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham." Note; "men that die receive tithes" and "Levi [the men as in verse 8] also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham" 
  
If you will notice; in each one of the above verses, men, not women, are clearly the emphasis on paying tithes, and being held responsible for doing so. 

Of course, when this subject is addressed, someone will bring up the widow and the prophet in 1 Kings 17:9-16 in an attempt to declare a doctrine from these passages of scripture. Elijah's command to the widow was not intended by God to be used to pressure women in need in churches to hand over more and more money. The same pastors who refer to 1 Kings 17:9-16 rarely if ever also refer to these passages of scripture... 

"And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation." - Mark 12:38-40 

>> God's Word instructs us as New Testament Believers, both men and women, to be free will givers, not tithes, giving as we are led by God's Spirit. Women are not instructed to tithe, as is no one under the New Testament. Women in need are to be helped and supported, not seen as a source of more and more money. 

"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision [the Law]: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake." - Titus 1:10-11 


No man or woman has been instructed to ask for or receive tithes under the New Testament, and no man or woman has been instructed to pay tithes under the New Testament. 
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Copyright 2019, 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.

Have You Noticed?

Have you noticed that nothing will make a tithing teacher, or one of their deceived followers, howl and scream louder then when their teachings on tithing are exposed for the lies, stupidity, and false doctrines that they are? 

They will accuse you of "being cheap," "stealing from God;" the "God robber" accusation...they will claim that "you don't believe in giving," "you are missing out on the blessings of God," "you are cursed," and that you are "a hindrance to the spreading of the gospel," when in reality, they have NO IDEA how much you have given to anyone, AND when confronted with scriptural FACTS they cannot prove what they are claiming. In the face of scriptural FACTS they collapse and their house of cards ends up a pile of ruin. 

They will attack you, lie about you, refuse to answer your questions, post scriptures they claim are about tithing for Christians that have no connection to tithing at all, rant and cry, and do anything to try and keep their "tithe money" coming in, including law suits. 

When in fact, in reality, the truth is they're seeing their cash cow destroyed by the truth, and their followers set free from the bondage of tithing to them. 

I find it interesting that by the time of the end of the Book of Acts the Gospel had been spread to the entire world, and NO ONE tithed ANYTHING to ANYONE ever recorded in the New Testament. 

>> God warns us... 


"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake." - Titus 1:10-11 


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Copyright 2019, 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.

A Berean Challenge

Concerning God's instructed tithe (tithing as God has commanded it); can you provide scripture where in God's Word, in proper context...

1. Tithes were in fact paid in money (currency, cash, monetary tithing)?

2. God instructed that tithes be paid in the form of money?

3. The tithe was described as coming from anywhere except the Promise Land and in the substance of fruits, vegetables and clean livestock?

4. Tithes were paid to a pastor, other minister or church?

>> Please provide chapter and verse.

Challenge Concept...

"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

Statement...

>> One of the most consistent lies heard in churches today is the lie that you, as a Christian, are obligated, or are even advised by God, to "pay tithes" to a church. There is no such instructions anywhere in God's Word for a New Testament Christian. Minsters who claim so are liars, thieves and false teachers, and you who have believed the lie are their victims.


God's word is the truth, let it set you free.

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Copyright 2019, 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.

How to Spot a Religious Con Artist and False Teacher

Here is how...

1. They interpret as many scriptures and biblical principles as possible as reasons for sending them money. Even with scriptures instructing the giving to the poor, they will claim that can be done through them.

2.  They constantly mix faith and obedience to God's word with sending them money.

3. They do not permit and / or strongly discourage questioning what they teach.

4. They often claim that your very salvation is tied to how much money you send them; "stop giving and you are on your way to hell," they will claim.

5. They use threats of curses and withheld blessings from God if you stop giving them money.

6. They have multiple methods of collecting money; offerings, tithes, phone pledges, partnership programs, financial breakthrough seminars, and more.

7. When forced to answer for their constant pleas for money, they offer insults, arguments, angry responses, but never scripture in proper context. 

8. A large percent of their sermons, either overly or covertly, lead to reasons for sending them money.

9. They offer un-scriptural rewards for giving them money such as claiming you will become wealthy by doing so, or healed, or other claimed benefits.

10. They live expensive life styles, and if asked to justify how they live, they become defensive, claim they are "blessed by God," and claim that their life style is no one's business.

11. They will claim some kind of "divine right" to receive as much money as they can get their hands on.

12. They cultivate a mystique about themselves that their monetary prosperity comes from being a powerful wealthy man or women of God because of their "strong faith."

13. When their income drops they will go on the warpath rebuking and accusing their gullible followers of a being stingy, having a lack of faith, not being "faithful to the ministry" and other forms of guilt mongering and pressure tactics to increase the giving, including threats of "the ministry will go under," "people will be lost to hell if you don't give," and you are "displeasing God for not giving enough," etc.

14. They will make false claims such as "35% of the words of Jesus were about money and that proves how important giving to the gospel is."

15. They often make statements that "this is a giving church," or "we believe in giving in our church," or "if you don't give generosity how can you call yourself a Christian?" 

16. There exists within the church or ministry a constant pressure to "give, give and give." And, if you don't, you feel guilty, shamed, uneasy and worried that you are not pleasing God.

17. They often engage in and organize expensive projects that require "sacrificial giving" and large donations and pledges. 

18. The underlined theme of the church or ministry is that of describing Christianity as a "life style" of constant giving as the primary activity; not prayer, not worship, not service, but giving.

19. Worship is described as giving money, service to God is described as giving money, victorious living is described as giving money, even conversion to Jesus Christ is described as a person who becomes "a giver of money."

20. An "immature Christian" is often described as a person "not giving enough."

21. They are described perfectly by the Apostle Peter...

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness (LUST AFTER MONEY AND MATERIAL THINGS) shall they with feigned words (WORDS OF DECEPTION) make merchandise (A SOURCE OF MONEY) of you: whose judgment (THEIR EVIL EXPOSED AND JUDGED BY GOD) now of a long time lingereth not (WILL BE RIGHT ON TIME), and their damnation (BEING SENT TO HELL) slumbereth not." - 2 Peter 2:1-3

We are warned to stay away from people who Peter is describing...

"Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself." - 1 Timothy 6:5 

"Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them." - Ephesians 5:11 

Sound like anyone you know?

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Copyright 2019, 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.

The ONLY People Who Had The Command to Tithe

The only people that God has given a command to tithe are the Nation of Israel. No one else.

That is to say, only the physical descendants of;

> Abraham and Sarah, to...

> Issac and Rebekah, to...

> Jacob and Leah, Zilpah, Rachel, to...

     1. Reuben
     2. Simeon
     3. Levi
     4. Judah
     5. Dan
     6. Naphtali
     7. Gad
     8. Asher
     9. Issachar
    10. Zebulun
    11. Joseph (Ephraim, Manasseh)
    12. Benjamin

...which became THE NATION OF ISRAEL.

The command to tithe was given to the NATION OF ISRAEL through the LAW OF MOSES.

No one else in God's Word has been given instructions from God to tithe. That is to say the Nation of Israel who received the Law of Moses, were commanded to tithe, not any other people;

"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:" - Hebrews 7:5

"The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi." - Malachi 1:1

"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even THIS WHOLE NATION." - Malachi 3:8-9

"Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments." - Malachi 4:4

"He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto ISRAEL. 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

>> IN FACT, we have no record of God commanding Abram or Jacob to tithe, and in the case of Jacob, who claimed he would tithe, scripture records no incident that Jacob ever tithed anything to anyone at anytime.

In Abram's case, we have only one incident of him tithing, NO OTHER, and NO scripture instructing anyone to tithe because Abram did that one time; not to Jew or Gentile. God did not even instruct the Nation of Israel to tithe because Abram did who was the very Father of their Nation; why then would God tell the New Testament church to tithe based on Abram? Simply stated; God did not.

If you believe any of this to be wrong, please produce SCRIPTURE recording God instructing ANY OTHER PEOPLE, ANY OTHER NATION to tithe other than the Nation of Israel. Chapter and verse, please...

"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

______________________________

Copyright 2019, 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.

Check the Checklist Before Writing the Check

An Answer to Melissa Scott, tithing teacher from Glendale Faith Center, Glendale California.

I have touched on some of these points before, but here is a detailed checklist you can use to guard yourself from being manipulated and fooled by false teachers trying to get into your pocket book by twisting scripture and making false claims.

>> Melissa often refers to Galatians 6:6 as her basis for demanding that you pay her money for what she teaches. Galatians 6:6 says...

"Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things."

The claim that you have to pay someone strictly money simply because "they have taught you" is false doctrine not supported by scripture. Additionally, the person who has taught you does not have to be a pastor, or any other minister. It can be anyone.

What you share materially (the good things) with a person you believe has taught you does NOT have to be money. It can be money if you desire, there is nothing wrong with giving money to a teacher, but it does NOT have to be. The word "good things" (sometimes translated as "material" things) is from the Greek word "agathos," and has no strict translation as "money." You can give food, material items, clothing, furniture, help of some kind, etc., IT DOES NOT have to be money.

"Good things"...

Transliteration: agathos
Pronunciation: ag-ath-os'
Definition: A primary word; good (in any sense often as noun): - benefit good (-s things) well. Compare G2570 .
KJV Usage: good (77x), good thing (14x), that which is good (with G3588) (8x), the thing which is good (with G3588) (1x), well (1x), benefit (1x).
Occurs: 102
In verses: 90

The word "communicate" is from the Greek word "koinoneo" and is a word meaning to share (fellowship with), and as in "agathos," makes no strict mention of money.

"Communicate"...

Transliteration: koinoneo
Pronunciation: koy-no-neh'-o
Definition: From G2844; to share with others (objectively or subjectively): - communicate distribute be partaker.
KJV Usage: be partaker (5x), communicate (2x), distribute (1x).

It is interesting to note that the very scripture, Galatians 6:6, that people such as Melissa use to claim that you must pay her money if she has stood in the pulpit and spoke, makes NO DIRECT MENTION of money. False teachers often deceptively INSERT MONEY into Galatians 6:6 for their own reasons.


THE CHECKLIST...

ONE -  You are the one who decides if Melissa has actually taught you something; that is up to you to decide, not her. She may claim to have done so, but you are the decision maker, not Melissa. You are the one who decides if Melissa has taught you anything, not her, YOU DO. If you don't believe she has, you owe her nothing.

TWO -  Before you pay her (and you don't have to do so every Sunday), take the time to check scripture CLOSELY, get other opinions on what she claims, take the time to do your own research, verify what she has said, think for yourself. Don't let her do your thinking for you. As the Word of God tells us...

"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

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." - 1 John 4:1 

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

THREE -  Take into consideration that Melissa Scott is not an authentic pastor, scripture is clear that God has not established a position of a female pastor.

The Word of God makes it clear that Melissa is NOT a pastor, she may claim to be one, she may have ignorant people thinking she is one, her church may call her one, but the WORD OF GOD says she is NOT...

"A bishop [ pastor, shepherd ] then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;" - 1 Timothy 3:2

Look closely; it says "MUST BE"..."THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE," not a women, MELISSA IS NOT A PASTOR. Do you know what "MUST BE" means? It means THIS WAY AND NONE OTHER.

Greek; HUSBAND; a man, not a women...

Transliteration: aner
Pronunciation: an'-ayr
Definition: A primary word (compare G444); a man (properly as an individual male): - fellow husband man sir.
KJV Usage: man (156x), husband (50x), sir (6x), fellow (1x), not tr (2x).

FOUR -  Simply because you have heard something from someone "teaching" you may not have heard or known before, that does not mean it's biblical, or something of value; it could be new, even appear to be interesting, but a bunch of unbiblical nonsense. Again; that is for you to determine, NOT Melissa. You are held responsible to study God's word to see if what is being taught is true.

FIVE - Simply because you attend her services, just because you warmed a chair in her church building, or watched her on her website or elsewhere, does not mean you have to financially support her. She is no more important than any other person asking for money from the pulpit. Think carefully, pray carefully, search scripture carefully, before you cut the check!

SIX - Demand to know where your money is going; if her "church" does not publish a complete and independently audited report of all finances of her "church" made available to the public, consider NOT supporting her. Where is your money going; to expensive life styles, abnormally large salaries and other expensive perks for her? Do you know in detail where your money is going? If not, demand to see the books!

SEVEN - Apply standards used in formal debates by debaters, they are very helpful in dealing with so called "teachers of the bible" which anyone can claim to be...

    1. Demand that exact meanings of words be established and used.

    2. Learn to recognize the difference between persuasive augment and claims, as opposed to actual facts.

    3. Always question authority...ALWAYS.

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."

1 John 4:1;

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them."

EIGHT - Never...NEVER...for any reason, permit Melissa, or any other so called "teacher" pressure you into giving them money. We are to give as WE decide in our hearts, not as the result of pressure tactics used by false teachers...

2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; NOT grudgingly, or of necessity [ being pressured]: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

Notice the word NOT, which means NO, DO NOT DO. No to what? No to giving under necessity, compulsion (pressured into giving), grudgingly.

We are called by God to be Holy spirit led free will givers, not tithers conned into tithing by liars and their foolish unbiblical tactics, their traditions of men, and not by false teachers claiming to have "taught you something which you must pay for."...

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."

CONCLUSION; be led by God's Spirit, by God's Word, NOT by Melissa Scott or any other false teacher after your pocket book.

______________________________

Copyright 2019, 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.

Who Was Robbing God According to Malachi?

Who Was Robbing God?

The man who was "robbing God" was a Priest who was under orders to bring 1/10 of the tithe into the storehouse and was failing to do so; NOT NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANS. New Testament Christians have NO instructions to bring any tithe into any storehouse. Malachi 3:10 is not a command or promise to Christians. It is a command to dishonest Priests under the Law of Moses (see; Malachi 4:4).

"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you." Malachi 2:1; this verse sets the stage for who is to bring 1/10 of the tithe to the storehouse, and who was failing to do so, and who the God robbers were. Also, Malachi 2:1 is a major key in understanding the Book of Malachi relative to tithing, it leads to another chapter in the Bible that explains who was stealing the tithe from the storehouse.

1/10th of the tithe was to be brought to the Temple Storehouse...

"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 [1/10th] unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house." - Nehemiah 10:38

Also, in Malachi 3:10, there is NO command to pay tithes to anyone...NONE AT ALL; there is, however, a clear command to convey, to deliverer, to transport, to BRING (NOT "PAY," "BRING") 1/10 of the tithe already in the possession of the Levite and the Supervising Priest descended from Aaron, which said tithe had already been taken from the tither. THE PAYING OF TITHES WAS NOT THE PROBLEM Malachi was addressing, bringing what belonged in the Temple Storehouse [1/10th of the tithe paid] was the problem Malachi writes about.

This 1/10th of the tithe was to be transported to the Storehouse in the Temple at Jerusalem. The remaining 9/10th of the collected tithe was to be brought to the Levitical cities and stored for the use of the Levites...

"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; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage." - Nehemiah 10:37, And, the next verse says clearly...

"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 [1/10th] unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house."

In other words; 1/10th of the tithe was to be brought to the Temple Storehouse, 9/10th of the tithe was to be brought to the Lavitical cites.

The word in Malachi 3:10 translated "Bring" is from the Hebrew word "Bo" and does NOT mean to pay, surrender, or give ANYTHING TO ANYONE; it has nothing to do with paying a tithe debt at all! It's precise meaning is to convey, to deliverer, to carry, to transport, to BRING something you have in your possession to the place where it belongs. "Bo" is a word of transportation, NOT a word meaning "paying a debt."

Hebrew: בּוא
Transliteration: bô'
Pronunciation: bo
Definition: A primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications): - {abide} {apply} {attain} X {be} {befall} + {besiege} bring ({forth} {in} {into} to {pass}) {call} {carry} X {certainly} ({cause} {let} thing for) to come ({against} {in} {out} {upon} to {pass}) {depart} X doubtless {again} + {eat} + {employ} (cause to) enter ({in} {into} {-tering} {-trance} {-try}) be {fallen} {fetch} + {follow} {get} {give} go ({down} {in} to {war}) {grant} + {have} X {indeed} {[in-]vade} {lead} lift {[up]} {mention} pull {in} {put} {resort} run ({down}) {send} {set} X (well) stricken [in {age]} X {surely} take ({in}) way.
KJV Usage: come (1,435x), bring (487x), ... in (233x), enter (125x), go (123x), carry (17x), ...down (23x), pass (13x), ...out (12x), misc (109x).
Occurs: 2579
In verses: 2307

Where do you see ANY MENTION of paying anything to anyone in the Hebrew word "Bo?" Malachi 3:10 could accurately be translated as this...

"Convey ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house..." or

"Transport ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house..." or

"Deliver ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house..." or

"Send ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house..."

The King James translators (and most others) in Malachi 3:10 employ the English word "BRING"...not "PAY." "Bo" has nothing to do with a debt to be paid. The debt had already been paid by the tither, and Malachi understood that and was not concerned with the paying of tithes, but rather where a portion of the tithe was ending up. Malachi is NOT instructing anyone to pay a tithe.

The concept, the command in Malachi 3:10, in proper context, was to the Priests who had the tithe under their control (it had already been collected, already paid), and were NOT bringing 1/10th of it to the storehouse as they should have been.; hence the "God robbers" were the Priests referred to in Malachi 2:1 - "And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you." Malachi 2:1 is NOT referring to New Testament Christians.

New Testament Christians have NO instructions in God's Word to bring, convey or send ANY tithes to any storehouse. To claim so is to take scripture, Malachi 3:10, completely out of context. Text taken out of context is a pre-text to deceptive text.

Ninety percent of the tithe was retained by the Tribe of Levi and stored in the Levitcal cities ("the cities of our tillage," Nehemiah 10:37), ten percent of the tithe (a tenth of the tithe) was to be conveyed to the Storehouse by the Priest (Malachi 2:1, Malachi 3:10, Nehemiah 10:38).

"All the tithes" mentioned in Malachi 3:10 referred to what belonged in the Temple Storehouse that the Priests were responsible to bring there called the "tithe of the tithe." (Nehemiah 10:37-39).

We know "all the tithes" DID NOT MEAN everything that was collected by the Levites because Nehemiah 10:37 CLEARLY states that other than the "tithe of the tithe" that was brought to the Storehouse in Jerusalem, the remaining ninety percent of the tithe went to the Levitical cities, or as stated in Nehemiah 10:37, brought to "all the cities of our tillage" ..."that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage."

The "tithe of the tithe" was the portion that was being stolen by corrupt Priests and is what Malachi was rebuking them for, calling out their thievery, and calling them God robbers. (See Nehemiah chapter 13 for the full story of the thievery that was happening and what Nehemiah did about it.)

Nehemiah was in Jerusalem at the same time Malachi was; Nehemiah writes what was happening, the thievery of the 1/10th of the tithe by the Priests, who was involved, and what he did about it. Malachi, in support of and addition to Nehemiah's writings, writes the indictment against the corrupt Priests who were robbing God.

Remember, Malachi makes it clear that he is addressing the Priests of his day and telling them; "And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you." - Malachi 2:1. What commandment, and why does Malachi focus in on the Priests and tell them to bring the tithe into the Storehouse?

Answer; it was THE PRIESTS and ONLY THE PRIESTS, who were commanded to bring the tithes that belonged in the Temple Storehouse at Jerusalem; i.e.; tithe of the tithe. They were being commanded to do so without stealing the tithe of the tithe. NO ONE except the Priests supervising the Levites brought any tithe into the Storehouse directly.

The non Levite tither did not do so, the non Levite tither surrendered their tithe to the Levites, and under the supervision of the Priests descended from Aaron, the Levites brought the "tithe of the tithe" (1/10th of the tithe) to the Storehouse in Jerusalem. (Nehemiah 10:37-39)


NO ONE ELSE besides the Levites supervised by a Priest descended from Aaron had any authority to bring any part of the tithe to the Temple storehouse. See Nehemiah 10:38.

______________________________

Copyright 2019, 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.