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

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

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.

IT'S INTERESTING TO OBSERVE

IT'S INTERESTING TO OBSERVE...

...That not one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ was ever recorded as tithing themselves, teaching tithing, receiving a tithe, reprimanding churches or individual Christians for not tithing or wrote any guidelines for New Testament tithing.

These Apostles taught no one to tithe anything to anyone at anytime;

Peter; James; John; Andrew; Philip; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alpheus; Bartholomew; Judas Thaddeus; Simon Zelotes or Paul.

Tithing teachers seem to believe that they know more than the Apostles.

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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

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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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

A WARNING; MATTHEW 23:23

A WARNING; MATTHEW 23:23

To all you people who use Matthew 23:23 to "prove a Christian is told by Jesus to tithe," or that "Jesus confirmed tithing for Christians in Matthew 23:23," LISTEN CLOSELY....

The ENTIRE chapter of Matthew 23 was a long, hard, scathing, angry, powerful REBUKE by Jesus aimed at men who were evil, greedy, demonic, deceptive lying hypocritical blind guides and sons of satan who were on their way to hell, which said chapter included NOT ONE SINGLE WORD instructing Christians to tithe.

Still want to "tithe" based on Matthew 23:23?!

Be warned tithing teachers;

WOE UNTO YOU TITHING TEACHERS, YOU EVIL HYPOCRITES!!!...

 1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 

 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

 15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

 16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!

 17  Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?

 18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 

 19  Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?

 20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.

 21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.

 22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.

 23 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. 

 24  Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

 26  Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

 29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

 33  Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

 34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

 35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

 36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

 37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

 38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

 39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

- Matthew Chapter 23.

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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

THE RISK

THE RISK

If you tithe based on Malachi 3:10, according to Malachi 3:7 you are placing yourself back under the Law of Moses and are subject to the curse of the law. How so? This so...

Malachi 3:7 - "Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances [THE LAW OF MOSES], 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?"

This is how they returned...

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."

The risk of doing so...

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

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

Galatians 3:10 - "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."

___________________________________________________________________

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