Many, if not all, tithing teachers push the concept of "tithing from all monetary income," they claim to not do so will result in bringing a curse on the New Testament Christian's income, family, business...on and on the false and unbiblical threats go. While this article is not about the "curse" lies taught by many false teachers, I do want to address the subject of where the authentic tithe in God's system of tithing came from.
>> FIRST, there is no such thing as monetary tithing (tithing from money, gold, silver, etc.), it simply doesn't exist and never has. All tithes consisted of fruits, vegetables and clean live stock from the Promise Land...
"And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD.… And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy to the LORD." - Lev. 27:30, 32
"And this your heave offering shall be reckoned to you, as though it were the grain of the threshing-floor, and as the fullness of the wine-press." - Num. 18:27
"Thus you also shall offer a heave offering to the LORD of all your tithes, which you receive of the children of Israel; and you shall give thereof the LORD’s heave offering to Aaron the priest." - Num. 18:28
"You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or of your wine, or of your oil." - Deut 12:17
"You shall truly tithe all the increase of your seed, that the field brings forth year by year." - Deut. 14:22
>> SECOND, God's concept of tithing was that it was NOT to be a product of the tither's own labor per se'; rather the tithes were to come from the increase God gave. The concept is simple; the tither sowed his seeds that God provided and God brought about the increase; God even provided the seed to sow...
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater," - Isaiah 55:10
"Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit." - Leviticus 26:4
"So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." - 1 Corinthians 3:7
"Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;" - 2 Corinthians 9:10
So therefore, as you can easily understand, it is God who gives (or insures and causes) the increase. In the case of Herdsmen; it was God who caused the flock and herds to multiple and prosper. The Herdsmen tended his herds, but God was the God of their increase as He blessed their herds.
Where did the tithes come from? The Children of Israel were to surrender the tithes from the Increase God entrusted to them, NOT the fruits of their own labor; the tithe was to come from God's increase, not their own increase. God's increase was the sole property of the Levite as decreed by God, which was trusted into the hands of the tither who then surrendered it to the Levite and was blessed by God for doing so, or faced a curse if he didn't surrender the tithes as the Law required.
"Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year." - Deuteronomy 14:22
The tithe; the sole property of the Levite...
"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 18:21
>>> Now, under the New Testament...
The increase principle is still a truth we live under, but stated somewhat differently seen in this verse Jesus taught...
"Freely you have received, freely give"...Notice; no labor involved, you received freely, and are to give freely. No tithing involved, there is no such thing as "Christian tithing," but God being the one who gives freely to us is still true for us today. It's not wrong for us to give money freely where God leads us to do so, but if you will notice in Matthew 10:5-8, Jesus never mentions money where he ends his statement "Freely you have received, freely give"...
"These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." - Matthew 10:5-8
>>> The bottom line is this; in the New Testament we are to be free will givers giving from what God has freely given us...
"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." - Luke 6:38
______________________________
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.
Friday, June 21, 2019
The Improper Use of Hebrews 7:8
Many tithing teachers and tithers often refer to Hebrews 7:8 as a "proof text" that a Christian must tithe, and that tithing is commanded in the Bible, the New Testament, today.
Their basic claim is that Hebrews 7:8 says that "Jesus is still receiving tithes today so therefore we must tithe," and they usually claim that Melchizedek was, and is, Jesus.
Prosperity gospel false teacher Kenneth Copeland once claimed "for those of you who don't believe in tithing, the Bible says he who ever lives still receives tithes."
That false and misleading quote of Hebrews 7:8 is found in Copeland's teaching series called "The laws of Prosperity," and is keeping with the prosperity gospel's false teachings on tithing.
Let's take a close look at Hebrews 7:8 and what it actually says by taking it apart and by looking at that verse piece by piece in proper context. We will use the King James Version.
Here is the breakdown of Hebrews 7:8;
"And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth."
>> 1. "AND HERE"
Those two words, "AND HERE," are referring to Hebrews 7:5-7...
"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: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better."
The "HERE" refers to a time in the past when Abraham met with Melecheidek and paid him tithes, and Melecheidek blessed Abraham, thus demonstrating that Melecheidek was greater than Abraham by receiving tithes from Abraham and blessing him. This is said to be "without all contradiction " that the lessor is blessed by the greater.
Also, "HERE" refers to a time when Levi (tribe of) PAID TITHES IN ABRAHAM (not TO Abraham, but rather IN or THROUGH Abraham); "And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham." - Hebrews 7:9. This shows that ALSO Levi (the priesthood of) was inferior to Melchizedek.
>> 2. "MEN THAT DIE RECEIVE TITHES"
Those men that die is a reference to Levites who had the command to take tithes of their brethren, namely, from descendants of Abraham and Sarah, and had all died. Another point showing the inferiority of the Levitical priesthood; that they die in contrast to Melchizedek who continues to live. It also is a reference to the sons of Levi paying tithes in Abraham.
Kenneth Copeland, a man who receives tithes, has claimed that "tithing is God's system for living." I it find interesting that God in Hebrews 7:8 calls men that receive tithes as "MEN WHO DIE" ...just a thought, Kenneth.
>> 3. "BUT THERE HE RECEIVETH THEM"
The words "RECEIVETH THEM" are two words added by King James translators, and are not words found in the Greek text that we have which was used as source text for the King James Bible. Though added or not, RECEIVETH THEM is still referring to BACK THERE, ("but THERE he receiveth them") and is not stating that Melchizedek is currently receiving tithes today; "but THERE he receiveth them" is a reference to something that happened in the past, that of Melchizedek receiving tithes from Abraham, and the Levites both taking tithes from their brethren and paying tithe in Abraham. This shows that BOTH Levi and Abraham are inferior to Melchizedek, and in the case of Levi, an inferior Priesthood to Melchizedek.
The Aaronic Priesthood of the Tribe of Levi was a mortal Priesthood comprised of mortal men who die. To sustain the Aaronic Priesthood on earth, God gave them all the tithe 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." - Numbers 18:21
This is in obvious contrast to the ever living eternal Priesthood of Melchizedek that is not in need of tithes, or to be sustained by tithes. Why would an eternal being, an eternal Priesthood, require a constant taking of tithes to live? To claim that the Priesthood of Melchizedek is still receiving tithes today is to claim that the Priesthood of Melchizedek is mortal rather than perceptual and eternal, and therefore would not be superior to the Aaronic Priesthood as is declared in Hebrews chapter seven...
"And without all contradiction the less [Abraham and Levi] is blessed of the better [Melchizedek]." - Hebrews 7:7
The eternal nature and condition of the Priesthood of Melchizedek is declared...
"The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." - Psalm 110:4
The tithes paid to Melchizedek by Abraham and Levi were symbolic of, and a demonstration of, the superiority the Priesthood of Melchizedek. Abraham's paying of a one time tithe to Melchizedek was not intended to sustain Melchizedek as were the paying of tithes to the Priesthood of Aaron. The writer of the Book of Hebrews reveals Melchizedek as...
"Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually." - Hebrews 7:3
This is not a person or Priesthood in need of anyone's continual paying of tithes to them.
>> 4. "OF WHOM IT IS WITNESSED THAT HE LIVETH."
"WITNESSED" in this case means VERIFIED, a truth, has been seen, on record, well known, a clear fact that cannot be denied. And what is the verified fact? ...That Melchizedek is still alive not having died.
>> As you can see, Hebrews 7:8 says NOTHING of Melchizedek (or Jesus) continuing to receive tithes today (i.e., under the New Testament), or Christians being told to tithe based on Hebrews 7:8. That claim is simply FALSE.
>> Hebrews 7:8 In proper context (Hebrews 7:5-11)...
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:
6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
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 Interlinear version of the Bible ...
The Interlinear version (exact word for word from the Greek) of Hebrews 7:8 reads like this...
"And here indeed tithes dying men receive in that place moreover being testified that he lives on."
Where do you see anything about "tithes still being received today by anyone"? NOT ONE WORD about Jesus, or Melchizedek, still receiving tithes today.
>> Melchizedek still receiving tithes today? No proof of that at all. We are to be free will givers, NOT tithers. We have no instructions in Hebrews 7:8, or anywhere, to tithe.
______________________________
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.
Their basic claim is that Hebrews 7:8 says that "Jesus is still receiving tithes today so therefore we must tithe," and they usually claim that Melchizedek was, and is, Jesus.
Prosperity gospel false teacher Kenneth Copeland once claimed "for those of you who don't believe in tithing, the Bible says he who ever lives still receives tithes."
That false and misleading quote of Hebrews 7:8 is found in Copeland's teaching series called "The laws of Prosperity," and is keeping with the prosperity gospel's false teachings on tithing.
Let's take a close look at Hebrews 7:8 and what it actually says by taking it apart and by looking at that verse piece by piece in proper context. We will use the King James Version.
Here is the breakdown of Hebrews 7:8;
"And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth."
>> 1. "AND HERE"
Those two words, "AND HERE," are referring to Hebrews 7:5-7...
"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: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better."
The "HERE" refers to a time in the past when Abraham met with Melecheidek and paid him tithes, and Melecheidek blessed Abraham, thus demonstrating that Melecheidek was greater than Abraham by receiving tithes from Abraham and blessing him. This is said to be "without all contradiction " that the lessor is blessed by the greater.
Also, "HERE" refers to a time when Levi (tribe of) PAID TITHES IN ABRAHAM (not TO Abraham, but rather IN or THROUGH Abraham); "And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham." - Hebrews 7:9. This shows that ALSO Levi (the priesthood of) was inferior to Melchizedek.
>> 2. "MEN THAT DIE RECEIVE TITHES"
Those men that die is a reference to Levites who had the command to take tithes of their brethren, namely, from descendants of Abraham and Sarah, and had all died. Another point showing the inferiority of the Levitical priesthood; that they die in contrast to Melchizedek who continues to live. It also is a reference to the sons of Levi paying tithes in Abraham.
Kenneth Copeland, a man who receives tithes, has claimed that "tithing is God's system for living." I it find interesting that God in Hebrews 7:8 calls men that receive tithes as "MEN WHO DIE" ...just a thought, Kenneth.
>> 3. "BUT THERE HE RECEIVETH THEM"
The words "RECEIVETH THEM" are two words added by King James translators, and are not words found in the Greek text that we have which was used as source text for the King James Bible. Though added or not, RECEIVETH THEM is still referring to BACK THERE, ("but THERE he receiveth them") and is not stating that Melchizedek is currently receiving tithes today; "but THERE he receiveth them" is a reference to something that happened in the past, that of Melchizedek receiving tithes from Abraham, and the Levites both taking tithes from their brethren and paying tithe in Abraham. This shows that BOTH Levi and Abraham are inferior to Melchizedek, and in the case of Levi, an inferior Priesthood to Melchizedek.
The Aaronic Priesthood of the Tribe of Levi was a mortal Priesthood comprised of mortal men who die. To sustain the Aaronic Priesthood on earth, God gave them all the tithe 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." - Numbers 18:21
This is in obvious contrast to the ever living eternal Priesthood of Melchizedek that is not in need of tithes, or to be sustained by tithes. Why would an eternal being, an eternal Priesthood, require a constant taking of tithes to live? To claim that the Priesthood of Melchizedek is still receiving tithes today is to claim that the Priesthood of Melchizedek is mortal rather than perceptual and eternal, and therefore would not be superior to the Aaronic Priesthood as is declared in Hebrews chapter seven...
"And without all contradiction the less [Abraham and Levi] is blessed of the better [Melchizedek]." - Hebrews 7:7
The eternal nature and condition of the Priesthood of Melchizedek is declared...
"The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." - Psalm 110:4
The tithes paid to Melchizedek by Abraham and Levi were symbolic of, and a demonstration of, the superiority the Priesthood of Melchizedek. Abraham's paying of a one time tithe to Melchizedek was not intended to sustain Melchizedek as were the paying of tithes to the Priesthood of Aaron. The writer of the Book of Hebrews reveals Melchizedek as...
"Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually." - Hebrews 7:3
This is not a person or Priesthood in need of anyone's continual paying of tithes to them.
>> 4. "OF WHOM IT IS WITNESSED THAT HE LIVETH."
"WITNESSED" in this case means VERIFIED, a truth, has been seen, on record, well known, a clear fact that cannot be denied. And what is the verified fact? ...That Melchizedek is still alive not having died.
>> As you can see, Hebrews 7:8 says NOTHING of Melchizedek (or Jesus) continuing to receive tithes today (i.e., under the New Testament), or Christians being told to tithe based on Hebrews 7:8. That claim is simply FALSE.
>> Hebrews 7:8 In proper context (Hebrews 7:5-11)...
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:
6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
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 Interlinear version of the Bible ...
The Interlinear version (exact word for word from the Greek) of Hebrews 7:8 reads like this...
"And here indeed tithes dying men receive in that place moreover being testified that he lives on."
Where do you see anything about "tithes still being received today by anyone"? NOT ONE WORD about Jesus, or Melchizedek, still receiving tithes today.
>> Melchizedek still receiving tithes today? No proof of that at all. We are to be free will givers, NOT tithers. We have no instructions in Hebrews 7:8, or anywhere, to tithe.
______________________________
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.
Monday, June 17, 2019
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.
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.
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Who Was Robbing God According to Malachi?
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.
"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.
Saturday, June 8, 2019
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 we should follow.
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 Issac, or for that matter, Ishmeal to tithe.
3. We have no record of Issac teaching his sons, Esau and Jacob, to tithe.
4. We have no record of Ishmeal teaching his children, Nebaioth, Basemath, Hadad, Adbeel, Jetur, Dumah, Tema, Kedar, Naphish, Mishma, Massa, Mibsam, Kedemah (Genesis 25, and is later repeated in I Chronicles 1:29-33.), to tithe.
5. We have no record of Esau teaching his children, Eliphaz, Jeush, Jaalam, Korah, Reuel (Genesis 36:4–5), to tithe.
6. We have no record of Jacob teaching his children, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah, Gad, Asher, Dan, Naphtali, Joseph, Benjamin, to tithe.
After the Children of Israel were freed from bondage in Egypt, God began the task of establishing a nation, The Nation of Israel, thus fulfilling His promise to Abraham; "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:" And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. - Genesis 12:2
In the process of establishing The Nation of Israel, God handed down through Moses, the Laws that would govern the new nation. In those Laws, 613 of them, God established a system of tithing; three tithes, paid by farmers and herdsmen, consisting of agricultural items of fruits, vegetables and clean animals grown on the Promise Land, paid to the Tribe of the Levites, and in the case of the third tithe, used to help the needy, the poor and strangers in The Land...
1. The Levitical, or sacred tithe (Num. 18: 21, 24). Paid all year, every year.
2. The tithe of the feasts (Deut. 14:22-27). Paid all year, every year.
3. The tithe for the poor (Deut. 14:28, 29). Paid every third year.
>>> The point is simple; God's system and requirements for tithing are found in the Law, and any requirement for anyone to tithe would be in reference to the Law. A reference to tithing, based on the Law, can also be found in scriptures such as Malachi 3:6-11 or Nehamiah 10:38. Both of those passages of scriptures refer to the Law in regards to tithing, NOT to Jacob or Abraham. Jesus affirmed that God's system of tithing was of the Law when talking to the Pharisees, NOT a matter of Jacob or Abraham...
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier MATTERS OF THE LAW, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." - Matthew 23:23;
"and not to leave the other undone" is a clear reference to the rest of the Law, including "judgment, mercy, and faith..." It amazes me that tithing teachers will insist, many using scriptures out of the Law, that Christians must tithe, but NEVER insist that all MATTERS OF THE LAW must be obeyed. James had something to say about that...
James 2:10 - "For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend on one point, he is guilty of all."
Jesus did not cite Jacob or Abraham in his comments on tithing to the Pharisees as an issue of tithing, or a reason to tithe. Neither did any of the Apostles. No Apostle ever taught tithing, asked for a tithe, rebuked any person or church for not tithing, or received a tithe. Not one of them. The early church (i.e. Book of Acts) NEVER tithed. We have NO record of them doing so. And, God NEVER authorized a monetary tithe (tithing money).
God's system of tithing is found in The Law (it is NOT found in Jacob or Abraham), and we are not under The Law...
Act 15:24 - "Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave NO SUCH COMMANDMENT:"
Galatians 2:16 - "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are NOT under the law, but under grace."
Romans 7:6 - "But now we are DELIVERED FROM THE LAW, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."
Galatians 5:18 "and if by the Spirit ye are led, ye are NOT under law."
2 Corinthians 3:6 - "Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."
THIS is the Law we are now under...
Galatians 6:2 - "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
______________________________
Copyright 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.
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 Issac, or for that matter, Ishmeal to tithe.
3. We have no record of Issac teaching his sons, Esau and Jacob, to tithe.
4. We have no record of Ishmeal teaching his children, Nebaioth, Basemath, Hadad, Adbeel, Jetur, Dumah, Tema, Kedar, Naphish, Mishma, Massa, Mibsam, Kedemah (Genesis 25, and is later repeated in I Chronicles 1:29-33.), to tithe.
5. We have no record of Esau teaching his children, Eliphaz, Jeush, Jaalam, Korah, Reuel (Genesis 36:4–5), to tithe.
6. We have no record of Jacob teaching his children, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah, Gad, Asher, Dan, Naphtali, Joseph, Benjamin, to tithe.
After the Children of Israel were freed from bondage in Egypt, God began the task of establishing a nation, The Nation of Israel, thus fulfilling His promise to Abraham; "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:" And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. - Genesis 12:2
In the process of establishing The Nation of Israel, God handed down through Moses, the Laws that would govern the new nation. In those Laws, 613 of them, God established a system of tithing; three tithes, paid by farmers and herdsmen, consisting of agricultural items of fruits, vegetables and clean animals grown on the Promise Land, paid to the Tribe of the Levites, and in the case of the third tithe, used to help the needy, the poor and strangers in The Land...
1. The Levitical, or sacred tithe (Num. 18: 21, 24). Paid all year, every year.
2. The tithe of the feasts (Deut. 14:22-27). Paid all year, every year.
3. The tithe for the poor (Deut. 14:28, 29). Paid every third year.
>>> The point is simple; God's system and requirements for tithing are found in the Law, and any requirement for anyone to tithe would be in reference to the Law. A reference to tithing, based on the Law, can also be found in scriptures such as Malachi 3:6-11 or Nehamiah 10:38. Both of those passages of scriptures refer to the Law in regards to tithing, NOT to Jacob or Abraham. Jesus affirmed that God's system of tithing was of the Law when talking to the Pharisees, NOT a matter of Jacob or Abraham...
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier MATTERS OF THE LAW, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." - Matthew 23:23;
"and not to leave the other undone" is a clear reference to the rest of the Law, including "judgment, mercy, and faith..." It amazes me that tithing teachers will insist, many using scriptures out of the Law, that Christians must tithe, but NEVER insist that all MATTERS OF THE LAW must be obeyed. James had something to say about that...
James 2:10 - "For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend on one point, he is guilty of all."
Jesus did not cite Jacob or Abraham in his comments on tithing to the Pharisees as an issue of tithing, or a reason to tithe. Neither did any of the Apostles. No Apostle ever taught tithing, asked for a tithe, rebuked any person or church for not tithing, or received a tithe. Not one of them. The early church (i.e. Book of Acts) NEVER tithed. We have NO record of them doing so. And, God NEVER authorized a monetary tithe (tithing money).
God's system of tithing is found in The Law (it is NOT found in Jacob or Abraham), and we are not under The Law...
Act 15:24 - "Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave NO SUCH COMMANDMENT:"
Galatians 2:16 - "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
Romans 6:14 "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are NOT under the law, but under grace."
Romans 7:6 - "But now we are DELIVERED FROM THE LAW, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."
Galatians 5:18 "and if by the Spirit ye are led, ye are NOT under law."
2 Corinthians 3:6 - "Who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."
THIS is the Law we are now under...
Galatians 6:2 - "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
______________________________
Copyright 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 Tithe existed before the law of Moses."
The claim; "The Tithe existed before the law of Moses."
>>> Tithing did, yes, pagan tithing (i.e, not tithing as established by God), worship existed before the law, but not all worship was established by God. We have NO proof that God established the tithing Abraham was involved in, and we have NO proof that God instructed Abraham to tithe. Abraham's tithe was used by God later in Hebrews chapter 7, but scripture records NO command from God to Abraham to tithe.
God's Definition of Tithing (the ONLY one that counts)...
When discussing tithing with many people, one of the problems I often run into is the problem of the defining of tithing anyway someone decides to. As an example; many Christians will call giving a regular offering at church of 10% of their paycheck "tithing," or sometimes any amount is called "tithing." I have found it helpful to insist that if a discussion of tithing is to take place, that a Biblically sound definition of tithing be adhered to.
You often here in churches someone call for the "tithes and offerings" as if they are the same thing more or less, and that tithing is a given for New Testament Christians to pay. This also confuses people into thinking that their church is collecting a "Biblical tithe."
Often, someone will refer to Abram's tithing as an example of "Biblical tithing," when there is nothing in the Bible to substantiate any claim that Abram's tithing was some type of "standard" God has established for us today as Christians to follow.
As a side note (and as mentioned before); I find it interesting, perhaps even suspicious, that tithing teachers claim that we should tithe BECAUSE Abraham tithed, BUT NOT AS Abraham tithed.
In His word, God makes it very clear as to what He calls TITHING. In any debate with a tithing teacher or tither, I now insist that God's definition, solidly based on Scripture, be the basis for the definition that will be used. Otherwise, discussions and debates about tithing are chaotic and usually unfruitful, not to mention, frustrating.
Without a clear biblical definition of tithing, the tithing teacher can and will often seek to define tithing in a manner that suits their argument for tithing. Their definitions are rarely, if ever, Biblical, and much of what God declares the tithe will be is all but ignored or twisted. Often the tithing teacher will claim that "your definition of tithing is legalistic" in an attempt to argue for some kind of "free will tithing;" the answer to that claim is YES, it is legalistic, because God's system of tithing was established, codified and defined IN THE LAW. being established in the Law by definition, makes it "legalistic."
Other writers of the Old and New Testament mentioned tithing (such as Nehemiah 10:37-38 and the Book of Malachi), but all of them refer in some manner to the Law as the standard of what tithing is and how tithing was to be administered.
Here is a Biblical definition of tithing based on clear scriptural reference...
1. The tithes were to be paid in the form of fruits, vegetables and clean live stock...
Lev. 27:30, 32 "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD.… And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy to the LORD."
Deut. 14:22 "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your seed, that the field brings forth year by year."
2. Tithes were paid to Levites, the poor, widows, the needy and the stranger in the land. Deuteronomy 14:28-29.
3. The tithes must come from (grown/raised) the Promise land, no where else.
Lev. 27:30, 32 "And all the tithe of the *land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD.… And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy to the LORD."
*Note; the land being referred to was the Promise Land, not Brazil, Canada, Japan, Kenya, Egypt, North or South America, etc.
4. There is no Biblical basis for monetary tithing; if the tithe had to be, for purposes of transportation, temporarily converted to currency, it was to be converted back to fruits, vegetables and clean live stock, along with wine, strong drink, etc. before given to a Levite. Deuteronomy 14:22-27.
5. Total tithing was 23 1/3% (Two tithes paid yearly, one paid every third year), not 10%...
Deut. 26:12 "When you have made an end of tithing all the tithes of your increase [produce: RSV] the third year, which is the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within your gates, and be filled."
6. The tither had to be a physical descendant of Jacob (not necessarily a descendant of Abraham such as Ishmael). Leviticus 27:34, Psalms 147:19-20, Malachi 1:1.
7. The tither had to have been given a portion of the Promise Land by God in order to tithe. Genesis 28:13-15.
8. The tither had to move into and be living on the Promise Land. Deuteronomy 6:1-3, 12:1 and 10-11.
9. The tither had to be a farmer raising crops or a rancher/herdsman raising clean livestock which comprised the Biblical tithe. No one else, not raising crops or livestock, had to tithe. Leviticus 27:30-33.
10. Part of the tithe was to be consumed by the tither...
"And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name, the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the first offspring of your herds and of your flocks, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always." - Deuteronomy 14:23
11. A tenth part of the crops grown or every tenth animal of the herd to pass under the rod is paid to a physical descendant of Levi. Numbers 18:24-26, Nehemiah 10:3-38
>> There are, of course many other scriptures that define tithing as God defines it. The ones listed above should set the record straight as to what tithing actually was and remains. Adhering to God's definition is the only way to stop the confusion as to what tithing is.
One last point; for some reason when you post information such as the above, tithers and tithing teachers will often make comments such as "well, I know that is in the bible, but we don't worry about all that, that was Old Testament, we just tithe 10% as part of our giving," or something like "yes, the bible says that, but we are in the New Testament, so we don't follow any of that."
My answer to such claims are this; when and where has any of that changed, and do you think God was kidding around when He established tithing? God wasn't kidding and he meant, and still means, what He says. Nothing in the New Testament has changed even ONE THING that God established concerning tithing.
Hope that helps!
PS, now; tell me how God's description of tithing fits into The New Testament and Christianity?
And, if I am cursed for not tithing (as many tithing teachers claim), why does the New Testament tell me...
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" - Ephesians 1:3
And...
"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" - Romans 8:32
______________________________
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.
>>> Tithing did, yes, pagan tithing (i.e, not tithing as established by God), worship existed before the law, but not all worship was established by God. We have NO proof that God established the tithing Abraham was involved in, and we have NO proof that God instructed Abraham to tithe. Abraham's tithe was used by God later in Hebrews chapter 7, but scripture records NO command from God to Abraham to tithe.
God's Definition of Tithing (the ONLY one that counts)...
When discussing tithing with many people, one of the problems I often run into is the problem of the defining of tithing anyway someone decides to. As an example; many Christians will call giving a regular offering at church of 10% of their paycheck "tithing," or sometimes any amount is called "tithing." I have found it helpful to insist that if a discussion of tithing is to take place, that a Biblically sound definition of tithing be adhered to.
You often here in churches someone call for the "tithes and offerings" as if they are the same thing more or less, and that tithing is a given for New Testament Christians to pay. This also confuses people into thinking that their church is collecting a "Biblical tithe."
Often, someone will refer to Abram's tithing as an example of "Biblical tithing," when there is nothing in the Bible to substantiate any claim that Abram's tithing was some type of "standard" God has established for us today as Christians to follow.
As a side note (and as mentioned before); I find it interesting, perhaps even suspicious, that tithing teachers claim that we should tithe BECAUSE Abraham tithed, BUT NOT AS Abraham tithed.
In His word, God makes it very clear as to what He calls TITHING. In any debate with a tithing teacher or tither, I now insist that God's definition, solidly based on Scripture, be the basis for the definition that will be used. Otherwise, discussions and debates about tithing are chaotic and usually unfruitful, not to mention, frustrating.
Without a clear biblical definition of tithing, the tithing teacher can and will often seek to define tithing in a manner that suits their argument for tithing. Their definitions are rarely, if ever, Biblical, and much of what God declares the tithe will be is all but ignored or twisted. Often the tithing teacher will claim that "your definition of tithing is legalistic" in an attempt to argue for some kind of "free will tithing;" the answer to that claim is YES, it is legalistic, because God's system of tithing was established, codified and defined IN THE LAW. being established in the Law by definition, makes it "legalistic."
Other writers of the Old and New Testament mentioned tithing (such as Nehemiah 10:37-38 and the Book of Malachi), but all of them refer in some manner to the Law as the standard of what tithing is and how tithing was to be administered.
Here is a Biblical definition of tithing based on clear scriptural reference...
1. The tithes were to be paid in the form of fruits, vegetables and clean live stock...
Lev. 27:30, 32 "And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD.… And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy to the LORD."
Deut. 14:22 "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your seed, that the field brings forth year by year."
2. Tithes were paid to Levites, the poor, widows, the needy and the stranger in the land. Deuteronomy 14:28-29.
3. The tithes must come from (grown/raised) the Promise land, no where else.
Lev. 27:30, 32 "And all the tithe of the *land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD.… And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy to the LORD."
*Note; the land being referred to was the Promise Land, not Brazil, Canada, Japan, Kenya, Egypt, North or South America, etc.
4. There is no Biblical basis for monetary tithing; if the tithe had to be, for purposes of transportation, temporarily converted to currency, it was to be converted back to fruits, vegetables and clean live stock, along with wine, strong drink, etc. before given to a Levite. Deuteronomy 14:22-27.
5. Total tithing was 23 1/3% (Two tithes paid yearly, one paid every third year), not 10%...
Deut. 26:12 "When you have made an end of tithing all the tithes of your increase [produce: RSV] the third year, which is the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within your gates, and be filled."
6. The tither had to be a physical descendant of Jacob (not necessarily a descendant of Abraham such as Ishmael). Leviticus 27:34, Psalms 147:19-20, Malachi 1:1.
7. The tither had to have been given a portion of the Promise Land by God in order to tithe. Genesis 28:13-15.
8. The tither had to move into and be living on the Promise Land. Deuteronomy 6:1-3, 12:1 and 10-11.
9. The tither had to be a farmer raising crops or a rancher/herdsman raising clean livestock which comprised the Biblical tithe. No one else, not raising crops or livestock, had to tithe. Leviticus 27:30-33.
10. Part of the tithe was to be consumed by the tither...
"And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name, the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the first offspring of your herds and of your flocks, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always." - Deuteronomy 14:23
11. A tenth part of the crops grown or every tenth animal of the herd to pass under the rod is paid to a physical descendant of Levi. Numbers 18:24-26, Nehemiah 10:3-38
>> There are, of course many other scriptures that define tithing as God defines it. The ones listed above should set the record straight as to what tithing actually was and remains. Adhering to God's definition is the only way to stop the confusion as to what tithing is.
One last point; for some reason when you post information such as the above, tithers and tithing teachers will often make comments such as "well, I know that is in the bible, but we don't worry about all that, that was Old Testament, we just tithe 10% as part of our giving," or something like "yes, the bible says that, but we are in the New Testament, so we don't follow any of that."
My answer to such claims are this; when and where has any of that changed, and do you think God was kidding around when He established tithing? God wasn't kidding and he meant, and still means, what He says. Nothing in the New Testament has changed even ONE THING that God established concerning tithing.
Hope that helps!
PS, now; tell me how God's description of tithing fits into The New Testament and Christianity?
And, if I am cursed for not tithing (as many tithing teachers claim), why does the New Testament tell me...
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" - Ephesians 1:3
And...
"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" - Romans 8:32
______________________________
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.
Malachi, especially Malachi 3:8-10, are instructions for Christians to tithe?
Malachi 3:8-10...
"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.
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."
This claim seems to be, more or less, the flagship scripture verse of false tithing teachers, it is used, taken completely out of context, to pressure Christians into tithing by calling them "God robbers" if they are not titling. In reality, Malachi was addressing the Nation of Israel and the corrupt priesthood that had taken control of the temple at that time and were stealing and misusing the temple tithes. How do we know that Malachi was addressing the nation of Israel and not Christians today; because Malachi stated clearly that he was...
Addressing Israel...
"The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi." - Malachi 1:1
Addressing the corrupt priesthood...
"A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?" - Malachi 1:6
Addressing the corrupt priesthood...
"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you." - Malachi 2:1
Additionally; the Book of Malachi cannot be properly understood without placing it in the proper context of Nehemiah chapter 13; Nehemiah records the history of what was happening in the temple of his time, who was robbing God, and what he, Nehemiah, did about it to correct the unGodly situation. Malachi writes the indictment against those God robbing priests who Nehemiah disposed of and then cleaned out the temple.
Malachi is not instructing New Testament Christians to engage in some kind of "Christian tithing." To claim so is utter foolishness using scripture taken out of historic and textual context. The God robbers were the priests, not the common people, who were NEVER commanded to bring any tithe into the temple / storehouse.
Being in the Order of Melchizedek does not mean that Christ requires tithes of us.
The commandment given to the Nation of Israel to tithe was not a requirement for other nations, hence the reason Malachi makes it VERY clear that he is addressing the nation of Israel...
"The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi." - Malachi 1:1
And...
"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
Gentile Christians were never instructed to tithe or authorized to tithe by God. Tithing is not one of instructions they received from the Apostles, if tithing was important and to continue for New Testament Christians, they would have been instructed to do so; they were not...where do you see a commandment to tithe?...
"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 [i.e., tithe: Jesus said tithing was a matter of the law - Matt. 23:23]: to whom we gave no such commandment:" - Acts 15:24
"For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well." - Acts 15:28-29
______________________________
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.
"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.
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."
This claim seems to be, more or less, the flagship scripture verse of false tithing teachers, it is used, taken completely out of context, to pressure Christians into tithing by calling them "God robbers" if they are not titling. In reality, Malachi was addressing the Nation of Israel and the corrupt priesthood that had taken control of the temple at that time and were stealing and misusing the temple tithes. How do we know that Malachi was addressing the nation of Israel and not Christians today; because Malachi stated clearly that he was...
Addressing Israel...
"The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi." - Malachi 1:1
Addressing the corrupt priesthood...
"A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?" - Malachi 1:6
Addressing the corrupt priesthood...
"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you." - Malachi 2:1
Additionally; the Book of Malachi cannot be properly understood without placing it in the proper context of Nehemiah chapter 13; Nehemiah records the history of what was happening in the temple of his time, who was robbing God, and what he, Nehemiah, did about it to correct the unGodly situation. Malachi writes the indictment against those God robbing priests who Nehemiah disposed of and then cleaned out the temple.
Malachi is not instructing New Testament Christians to engage in some kind of "Christian tithing." To claim so is utter foolishness using scripture taken out of historic and textual context. The God robbers were the priests, not the common people, who were NEVER commanded to bring any tithe into the temple / storehouse.
Being in the Order of Melchizedek does not mean that Christ requires tithes of us.
The commandment given to the Nation of Israel to tithe was not a requirement for other nations, hence the reason Malachi makes it VERY clear that he is addressing the nation of Israel...
"The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi." - Malachi 1:1
And...
"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
Gentile Christians were never instructed to tithe or authorized to tithe by God. Tithing is not one of instructions they received from the Apostles, if tithing was important and to continue for New Testament Christians, they would have been instructed to do so; they were not...where do you see a commandment to tithe?...
"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 [i.e., tithe: Jesus said tithing was a matter of the law - Matt. 23:23]: to whom we gave no such commandment:" - Acts 15:24
"For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well." - Acts 15:28-29
______________________________
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.
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