One of the deceptions used by false tithing teachers, especially by pastors, is to claim that a pastor is a "modern day Levite" or a "New Testament Levite." This, of course, is a tactic employed by them because they cannot deny that the tithe was given to the Levites as undeniably stated in Numbers 18:21, 24;
"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."
And...
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."
Also, seen in Hebrews 7:5;
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:"
Furthermore, tithing teachers routinely employ the deception of claiming that their church is a "storehouse to be tithed to." Malachi states that the tithe was to be brought into the Storehouse in Jerusalem by the Levites (remember; Malachi is addressing the Levite-Priesthood of his day, Malachi 2;1); NOT to a New Testament church. The New Testament Church is not the Storehouse; Ref.; 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." NO SCRIPTURE designates a New Testament church, or any other person or ministry in the New Testament as a "storehouse to be tithed to."
Tithing teachers like to claim "the storehouse is where you get fed from." In fact the common people were NEVER fed from the storehouse, only those serving in the ministry were fed from the storehouse; the priests on duty in the temple in Jerusalem, and the singers and the porters of the temple;
Nehemiah 13:4-5 - "And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, 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."
The common people were not even permitted to bring a tithe to the temple, and if they attempted to do so, it was the death penalty; If you were not a Levite accompanied by a Priest descended from Aaron and you brought a tithe to the Storehouse, the penalty was death...
Numbers 18:22 - In the clear context of tithing... "Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die."
There is no such New Testament principle or instructions concerning any "storehouse tithing" that a Christian must follow. It simply does not exist except in the minds of deceptive tithing teachers and in the gullible people they deceive.
THE FOLLOWING ARE MANY SOLID REASONS WHY A NEW TESTAMENT PASTOR IS NOT A LEVITE, AND HAS NO RIGHT TO TAKE ANY TITHE FROM ANYONE
>> 1. Levites were called by God to bear the burden of sin of the congregation. No New Testament pastor bears the burden of sin for his congregation.
Numbers 18:22-23 - "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."
>> 2. No New Testament pastor serves at the alter of sacrifice for sins for the congregation, or paid for the sins of the people, and does not offer any sacrifice for sin. Jesus is our final sacrifice for sin. NO PASTOR can offer a sacrifice for sins for the congregation. Hebrews 7:13-14 - "For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood."
Even Jesus did not, AND COULD NOT, bear the sins of the people as a Levite Priest because He was NOT a Levite, He was born to the tribe of Judah. Again; "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood."
Jesus bore the sins of the world on the Cross as a Priest after the Order of Melchisedec, NOT AS A PRIEST AFTER THE TRIBE OF LEVI. Hence...
Hebrews 6:20 - "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
Hebrews 7:11 - "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?"
Hebrews 7:17 - "For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
Hebrews 5:6 - "As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." That "other place" was Psalms 110:4 seen below.
Which said Priesthood existed even before Jesus was born on earth; that is to say that the Priesthood of Melchizedek was established on earth before the birth of Jesus Christ so that Jesus could in fact be a Priest after the Order of Melchizedek when He went to the Cross to bear our sins...
Psalms 110:4 - "The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."
Genesis 14:18-19 - "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:"
Jesus' sacrifice was not after the law of carnal command that fades, but rather after the POWER OF ENDLESS LIFE. This is why we are told this...
Hebrews 7:18 - "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof."
That "commandment going before" refers to the Law of Moses which faded and could not provide eternal life. But, Jesus, a Priest after the Order of Melchizedek is an eternal Priest after the power of endless life...
Hebrews 7:15-17 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
The Levite's sacrifices could not result in endless life because they were established after the law of carnal command which faded. The Apostle Paul referred to the Law, using the Ten Commandments as an example, as a "ministry of death." NO "ministry of death" can provide eternal life to anyone. Concerning Jesus, His sacrifice for our sins on the cross DID PROVIDE for eternal life.
A Ministry of death...
2 Corinthians 3:4-11 - "And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones [THE TEN COMMANDMENTS], was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious."
>> 3. The Levites came from a specific physical bloodline, that of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, to Levi. The appointment of the Levite Priesthood recognized and ordained by God came from that bloodline and was established under the law; there is no Levite priesthood established by God under the New Testament.
Hebrews 7:11 - "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?"
The Levitical priesthood was never intended to be permanent; Hebrews 7:11. The death of Christ put an end to the Old Covenant and the Levitical priesthood, as evidenced by the rending of the temple veil; Matthew 27:51. Now, in the New Testament, Jesus Himself serves as the believer’s Great High Priest; Hebrews 4:14, called according to the order of Melchizedek, not of Levi; Hebrews 7:11–17. Through His death and resurrection, we have access to God’s presence, where we can freely enjoy with God forever; Hebrews 6:19–20.
Born-again believers in Jesus Christ have replaced priests in that since the Resurrection believers now have direct communication with God. God chose the tribe of Levi to be His priests. The Levitical priesthood began with Aaron, but the Levitical priesthood was never intended to continue into the New Testament. As Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was completed, the Old Testament priesthood was no longer necessary. Now we have the priesthood of all believers, all Christians are the priests now.
>> 4. We, Believers, are ALL priests under the New Testament. If a tithing teacher is to be paid a tithe for being a priest [i.e., a Levite], then why shouldn't YOU be paid a tithe FROM the "priest-pastor" to YOU? We are all priests...
1 Peter 2:9 - "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"
Revelation 1:6 - "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."
Therefore, any pastor that claims to be a Levite is a liar and destitute of the word of God. No pastor should collect a tithe as a Levite. It is very clear that Jesus ended the sacrificial laws with His death on the cross, and that we don't have to perform any sacrifices, therefore the Levitical office has became useless...
Hebrews 7:11 - "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?"
>> 5. There is no scripture, New or Old Testament, that uniquely establishes a pastor, or for that matter, a New Testament apostle, a teacher, a prophet, or evangelist, as a "Levite," or a "Levite" authorized to take and receive tithes from anyone.
The Tribe of Levi is one of the tribes of Israel, descended from Levi, son of Jacob. The descendants of Aaron, who was the first kohen gadol (high priest) of Israel, were designated as the priestly class, the Kohanim. The Levites come from a bloodline that does not continue into the New Testament as priests to be tithed to.
In the Law of Moses, the Torah, the tribe is named after Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob (also called Israel). Levi married a woman named Adinah, according to the Book of Jasher, and had three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari (see; Genesis 46:11). Levi also had a daughter named Jochebed (see; Exodus 6:20).
While there may be some similarities between a Levite, such as teaching God's word, there is no indication in the New Testament that a pastor is in fact a Levite or replaces a Levite. Apostles, teachers, evangelists and prophets of the New Testament teach and preach God's word; are they to be tithed to also?
Does your pastor fulfill this?...
"Deuteronomy 18:1-2 says that the Levites had a very special inheritance from God: “The Levitical priests—indeed, the whole tribe of Levi—are to have no allotment or inheritance with Israel. They shall live on the food offerings presented to the Lord, for that is their inheritance. They shall have no inheritance among their fellow Israelites; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them.” The other tribes of Israel received a land inheritance in Canaan, but the Levites received no land. Instead, the Levites were given certain cities within the other tribes’ territories.
God was the unique inheritance to the Levites. He was the focus of their service, the source of their sustenance, and the significance of their calling. Their inheritance included cities, daily food, and a constant vocation, but it did not include the same type of land inheritance given to the other tribes of Israel."
>> 6. If New Testament pastors are true Levites, they should not be paying any taxes or government fees of any kind...
Ezra 7:24 - "Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them."
>> 6. If New Testament pastors are true Levites, they should be obeying ALL of the Law of Moses...
Nehemiah 10:28-29 - "And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;"
CONCLUSION
Pastors are not Levites, and have no right or authorization from God to demand or receive tithes from anyone. And, certainly not as a "New Testament Levite"
ADDTIONAL RESOURCES
Pastoral Pay and the Levitical Priesthood...
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