WILL A MAN ROB GOD?
Tithing teachers often use the phrase "God robbers" to describe people, Christians, who don't tithe, or are not tithing on a regular basis to them. They are, of course, referring to Malachi 3:8...
"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings."
Was Malachi addressing a problem of not tithing by people required to tithe, was he addressing New Testament Christians, or was Malachi making a clear statement and meant exactly what he wrote when he called certain men "God robbers"?
Who was Malachi referring to?
THE PORTION THAT WAS STOLEN
As with the teaching of false doctrine in many cases, along with taking scripture out of proper context, tithing teachers make the mistake of assuming...ASSUMING...that Malachi was really saying "will a man not tithe?," when in fact Malachi wrote nothing of the kind. Malachi stated exactly what he meant, and clearly meant exactly what he wrote, when he asked the rhetorical question; "will a man rob God?" Malachi was not citing a failure to tithe by anyone, but was in fact citing the stealing of a portion of the tithe from the whole tithe that had been properly turned over to the Levites under the direct supervision of a Priest descended from Aaron; a portion God had told them was to be taken to the Temple storehouse for the support of the Temple Priests, the Singers and the Porters as seen in Nehemiah 10:37-38...
"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. 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." - Nehemiah 10:37-38
In short; 10 percent of the tithe that was taken from the tither (from the whole tithe) was to be sent to the Temple storehouse in Jerusalem to support the Temple workers (singers and porters) and Priests, the remaining 90 percent was to be taken to "all the cities of our tillage," the Levitical cities for the Levites to consume. See; Numbers 18-20-24.
Additionally, from Numbers 18:26-28...
"Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe. And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress. Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD'S heave offering to Aaron the priest."
THE PROPER INDICTMENT, INDICTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE
Malachi was accusing NO ONE of not tithing properly when he says "will a man rob God?"; he was, rather, indicting corrupt Priests who were stealing the "tithe of the tithe" that was to be transported to the Temple in Jerusalem, the portion of the tithe that was not making it to the storehouse, or stolen from the storehouse, being stolen by the Priests.
In support of these facts, consider the following...
1. There are no chapter or verse divisions in the Book of Malachi in the original autograph. Chapter divisions are man-made constructs not found in the original script. Chapter divisions were added by Cardinal Stephen Langton, the medieval Archbishop of Canterbury, before his death in 1228. The modern division into verses are believed to have been added by Robert Stephanus, a printer. In the preface to his 1551 bilingual edition of the New Testament, Greek and Latin, Stephanus states: "I split the work into what are called “versiculos”, because in this way anyone could cross-reference the translation and the corresponding passage of Greek."
Chapter and verse divisions, while being a great advantage to Bible study, sometimes create an illusion of disconnect between one chapter from the previous chapters or the next chapters in a Book of the Bible when the original author intended no such disconnect. Sometimes this is done between Bible verses; quoting one verse and not considering verses before and after. People often believe, almost as a matter of fact, that information from one chapter has no bearing or relevancy on the next chapter or other chapters in a Bible book. Chapters are almost seen as "boarders between chapters." As a matter of course, when reading the Bible, the Bible student will often fail to refer to previous chapters, or the next chapter, as needed to interpret the chapter they are currently focused on. That is a big mistake in Bible study often leading to false doctrine, or in many cases losing the impact of what the reader is reading. Many times a book in the Bible must be compared to another book in the Bible to gain further and accurate information on a particular subject. The point? This...
2. In Malachi 2:1, Malachi clearly tells us who his focus of attention is, who the actual "God robbers" were, when he writes...
"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you."
In what we call "Chapter three" of the Book of Malachi, Malachi is still targeting "O ye priests" when he calls out the Priests for robbing God. When you read Malachi 3:8-10 in the proper context of Malachi 2:1, bearing in mind Malachi's statement of "And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you," Malachi 3:8-10 becomes clear as to who the actual God robbers were; the Priests of Malachi's time were the God robbers, not New Testament Christians who do not tithe.
To Claim that New Testament Christians not tithing are "God robbers" based on Malachi 3:8 is foolishness and is taking scripture completely out of context (out of textual, situational and historic biblical context). It's the mistake of not letting scripture properly interpret scripture, a mistake sadly common among tithing teachers.
Malachi did not say "will a man not tithe," he stated, for very good reasons; "WILL A MAN ROB GOD?," and he meant EXACTLY what he wrote. Malachi was targeting corrupt Priests, those were the men who were stealing the portion of the tithe meant for the Temple, he was NOT targeting New Testament Believers who are not tithers.
Malachi was clearly writing to the Nation of Israel (Malachi 1:1), and to the Priests of Israel (Malachi 1:6, 2:1). Yes, the New Testament Church can learn from the Book of Malachi, as with any Old Testament Book, but we are under the instructions of the New Testament, the New Covenant, not the Old Covenant, not under the Law (Romans 6:14).
3. In Nehemiah Chapter 13 (Nehemiah and Malachi were contemporaries), we find even more information confirming who Malachi was referring to in Malachi 3:8-10. Nehemiah Chapter 13 gives us precise details as to what was happening (the robbing of the tithes from the Temple "chambers" or "storehouse" designated to store the portion of the tithe); who was involved, what the solution was, who was affected by the robbery, and why Malachi wrote what he wrote.
The Book of Malachi was written in Jerusalem in 445 BC, the Book of Nehemiah was written in 400 BC. Malachi, who had a detailed knowledge of the robbery situation recorded and described in Nehemiah chapter 13, who also understood Nehemiah 10:37-38, wrote the Book of Malachi partially as an indictment of the Priests who were robbing God; again, he was NOT indicting New Testament Christians for a lack of tithing. Malachi did NOT write "will a man not tithe?"
Summary of Nehemiah chapter 13...
> What was happening? - "Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place." - verse 11.
> Who was involved in the crime? - "Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber [where the portion of the tithe was to be brought, see Nehemiah 10:38] of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:" - verse 4.
> What was the solution to the robbery and Malachi 3:8? - "And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense." - verses 7, 8, 9.
> Who was affected by the robbery? - "And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field." - verse 10.
And... "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." - verse 5.
Note that the Priest did not have to "flee to the field" to grow food to live on, only the singers (worship leaders), and possibly the porters who also were being denied support from the tithe. Why was it being denied them? Because the corrupt Priests were stealing it, hence; "WILL A MAN ROB GOD?" Malachi asks pursuant to his statement in Malachi 2:1 "And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you."
> Malachi wrote his document about 45 years after the Book of Nehemiah was written in 400BC. He recorded his indictment of the corrupt Priests, among other important items such as prophecy and a call for Israel to obey the law of Moses (Malachi 4:4) which are also important topics in his book. His additional information is important for the understanding of tithing. In Malachi 4:4, Malachi places the context of his call for honest management of the tithe as obedience to the Torah (the Law of Moses)...
"Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments."
To whom Malachi is writing to (including tithers and Priests) are the Children of Israel, who were at that time under the Law of Moses, which, the Body of Christ, New Testament Christians, are not under...
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."
Malachi was also recording his indictment of the corrupt Priests as a warning to future Priests who would consider robbing God, robbing the Temple Storehouse at Jerusalem of the portion of the tithe to be brought there to support Temple personnel.
CONCLUSION
Malachi writes the indictment of the real God robbers, and Nehemiah writes a history of what was happening and what he did about the robbers and their thievery.
Read carefully the entire thirteenth chapter of the Book of Nehemiah (and Nehemiah 10) to get an accurate record of why Malachi wrote "will a man rob God?" Without understanding the two chapters, Nehemiah 10, 13, tithing teachers and tithers routinely arrive at false doctrine regarding who Malachi was referring to, who Malachi called "God robbers."
Remember...
"And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 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 17:10-11
In reality, today's GOD ROBBERS are tithing teachers stealing money from their victims, their "tithers."
______________________________
Copyright 2019-2020, Anthony Todd, All rights reserved. Permission to copy and distribute this article must be obtained in writing from Tithing Study Online.
Permission can be requested at: tithingstudyonline@gmail.com. Upon permission to do so, it is granted under the strict condition that no content of any article be removed or altered, and that all articles are to remain intact as is when used. You must include a notation that any article distributed originated from Tithing Study Online, and include our blog URL as: https://ExaminingTithingDeceptions.blogspot.com.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Why the Book of Malachi Cannot be Used to Instruct Christians to Tithe.
There are two types of scriptures in God's Word; scriptures written directly to Christians and scriptures written indirectly to Christians.
The difference is that scriptures written indirectly to Christians are not commandments or promises directed by God to the Christian. When God commanded Noah to build an Ark He was not talking directly to Christians, no Christian is instructed by God in His word to build an Ark. We can learn biblical basic principles such as obedience to God from the record of Noah and the flood, but we have no direct instructions from God to build an Ark.
On the other hand, as an example, Christians are instructed by God to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15. That verse, being part of the New Testament, is written directly to Christians, and is a direct commandment to us, not a suggestion. Also, it tells us that we need to learn how to "rightly divide the word of God." Divide what? For one thing; divide between what was written directly to us and what was written indirectly to us.
Knowing the difference between scriptures written directly and indirectly to Christians is very important. Tithers and tithing teachers often use the Old Testament book of Malachi in an attempt to teach or justify "Christian tithing" sadly ignoring all of the obvious clues in Malachi that makes it clear that Malachi was not addressing or instructing New Testament Christians to tithe. The book of Malachi is in no manner instructing Christians, or for that matter, anyone but the Nation of Israel, to tithe.
>> Using Malachi's words in his book, here is why attempting to use the book of Malachi to coerce Christians into tithing is taking scripture written indirectly to Christians and use them as scripture written directly to Christians; that is to say take them out of proper context...
> 1. Malachi states that he is directly addressing the Nation of Israel (direct descendants of Abraham & Sarah, and Israel & Rachel, Leah) not New Testament Christians - Malachi 1:1.
> 2. Malachi states that he is directly addressing the Priests of Aaron, not New Testament Christians - Malachi 1:6, Malachi 2:1.
> 3. Malachi (along with Nehemiah) commands that a portion of the tithes (a "tithe of the tithe" that was taken, or what amounted to one percent of the total that was tithed on) are to be conveyed to the Temple Storehouses; no New Testament church or ministry is a Temple Storehouse - Malachi 3:10 (cross ref. Nehemiah 10:37-38).
> 4. No Christian is instructed to bring a "tithe of the tithe" into any Storehouse - Nehemiah 10:37-38 (cross ref. II Corinthians 9:7).
> 5. Malachi states that he who disobeys the commandments of God's Word regarding tithing under the Law of Moses are subject to curses. No New Testament Christian is cursed by God - Malachi 2:2-4 (cross ref. Galatians 3:13).
> 6. Malachi states that to whom he is writing are people who are under and subject to the Law of Moses; Christians are not under the Law of Moses and not subject to it - Malachi 4:4 (cross ref. Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:10, Romans 7:1-6, Ephesians 2:15, Acts 15:10, Romans 6:14, Acts 15:24).
> 7. Repeatedly, over and over again, Malachi addresses or references places and individuals such as Jacob (Malachi 1:2), Priest (Malachi 2:7), Levi (Malachi 2:8), Judah (Malachi 2:11), Israel (Malachi 2:16), Jerusalem (Malachi 3:4), Moses (Malachi 4:4), Gentiles (Malachi 1:11), etc., but NEVER a direct mention of any future New Testament Church that is instructed to tithe.
> 8. No verse of scripture in the New Testament references the Book of Malachi as a reason or instructions to tithe for New Testament Christians - Acts 15:24.
>>> Conclusion...
The context of the Book of Malachi addresses the Israelites failing to bring their tithes into the Temple Storehouse - Malachi 3:8 (cross ref. Nehemiah 10:37-38), not the New testament church or Christians.
In response to Israeli's disobedience, God had judged them cursing their harvest. God instructed them to bring the tithe of grain sacrifices (Leviticus 6:14-23) and to see that He would bless them with an abundance of future crops. The “storehouse,” mentioned in verse 10, is a place to store grain in the Temple (and **Levitical cities), it is NOT a reference to any New Testament church or other ministry. Nowhere in the Old or New Testament does God describe a church or other ministry as "the Storehouse" to be tithed to.
Malachi instructs the Nation of Israel to tithe, but he does not command that Christians are to give tithes to churches. Malachi was written more than 400 years before the start of the first church in Jerusalem. Applying it's command of temple tithing to the local church removes Malachi's instructions completely out of their original context and proper use.
Christians are to be free will givers, never tithers; there is no such thing as God commanded "New Testament Tithing." - II Corinthians 9:7
**The Levitical cities were 48 cities in ancient Israel set aside for the tribe of Levi, who were not allocated their own territorial land when the Israelites entered the Promised Land. There is no New Testament equivalent.
______________________________
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 difference is that scriptures written indirectly to Christians are not commandments or promises directed by God to the Christian. When God commanded Noah to build an Ark He was not talking directly to Christians, no Christian is instructed by God in His word to build an Ark. We can learn biblical basic principles such as obedience to God from the record of Noah and the flood, but we have no direct instructions from God to build an Ark.
On the other hand, as an example, Christians are instructed by God to "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15. That verse, being part of the New Testament, is written directly to Christians, and is a direct commandment to us, not a suggestion. Also, it tells us that we need to learn how to "rightly divide the word of God." Divide what? For one thing; divide between what was written directly to us and what was written indirectly to us.
Knowing the difference between scriptures written directly and indirectly to Christians is very important. Tithers and tithing teachers often use the Old Testament book of Malachi in an attempt to teach or justify "Christian tithing" sadly ignoring all of the obvious clues in Malachi that makes it clear that Malachi was not addressing or instructing New Testament Christians to tithe. The book of Malachi is in no manner instructing Christians, or for that matter, anyone but the Nation of Israel, to tithe.
>> Using Malachi's words in his book, here is why attempting to use the book of Malachi to coerce Christians into tithing is taking scripture written indirectly to Christians and use them as scripture written directly to Christians; that is to say take them out of proper context...
> 1. Malachi states that he is directly addressing the Nation of Israel (direct descendants of Abraham & Sarah, and Israel & Rachel, Leah) not New Testament Christians - Malachi 1:1.
> 2. Malachi states that he is directly addressing the Priests of Aaron, not New Testament Christians - Malachi 1:6, Malachi 2:1.
> 3. Malachi (along with Nehemiah) commands that a portion of the tithes (a "tithe of the tithe" that was taken, or what amounted to one percent of the total that was tithed on) are to be conveyed to the Temple Storehouses; no New Testament church or ministry is a Temple Storehouse - Malachi 3:10 (cross ref. Nehemiah 10:37-38).
> 4. No Christian is instructed to bring a "tithe of the tithe" into any Storehouse - Nehemiah 10:37-38 (cross ref. II Corinthians 9:7).
> 5. Malachi states that he who disobeys the commandments of God's Word regarding tithing under the Law of Moses are subject to curses. No New Testament Christian is cursed by God - Malachi 2:2-4 (cross ref. Galatians 3:13).
> 6. Malachi states that to whom he is writing are people who are under and subject to the Law of Moses; Christians are not under the Law of Moses and not subject to it - Malachi 4:4 (cross ref. Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:10, Romans 7:1-6, Ephesians 2:15, Acts 15:10, Romans 6:14, Acts 15:24).
> 7. Repeatedly, over and over again, Malachi addresses or references places and individuals such as Jacob (Malachi 1:2), Priest (Malachi 2:7), Levi (Malachi 2:8), Judah (Malachi 2:11), Israel (Malachi 2:16), Jerusalem (Malachi 3:4), Moses (Malachi 4:4), Gentiles (Malachi 1:11), etc., but NEVER a direct mention of any future New Testament Church that is instructed to tithe.
> 8. No verse of scripture in the New Testament references the Book of Malachi as a reason or instructions to tithe for New Testament Christians - Acts 15:24.
>>> Conclusion...
The context of the Book of Malachi addresses the Israelites failing to bring their tithes into the Temple Storehouse - Malachi 3:8 (cross ref. Nehemiah 10:37-38), not the New testament church or Christians.
In response to Israeli's disobedience, God had judged them cursing their harvest. God instructed them to bring the tithe of grain sacrifices (Leviticus 6:14-23) and to see that He would bless them with an abundance of future crops. The “storehouse,” mentioned in verse 10, is a place to store grain in the Temple (and **Levitical cities), it is NOT a reference to any New Testament church or other ministry. Nowhere in the Old or New Testament does God describe a church or other ministry as "the Storehouse" to be tithed to.
Malachi instructs the Nation of Israel to tithe, but he does not command that Christians are to give tithes to churches. Malachi was written more than 400 years before the start of the first church in Jerusalem. Applying it's command of temple tithing to the local church removes Malachi's instructions completely out of their original context and proper use.
Christians are to be free will givers, never tithers; there is no such thing as God commanded "New Testament Tithing." - II Corinthians 9:7
**The Levitical cities were 48 cities in ancient Israel set aside for the tribe of Levi, who were not allocated their own territorial land when the Israelites entered the Promised Land. There is no New Testament equivalent.
______________________________
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 Crazy Topsy Turvy World of Kenneth Copeland
According to Kenneth Copeland...
1. God instructed Adam to tithe. (Even though there exists NO SCRIPTURE recording God instructing Adam or Eve to tithe anything to anyone at anytime).
2. Adam and Eve's sin in the Garden of Eden was eating the forbidden fruit, which said forbidden fruit was actually Adam and Eve's tithe that Adam and Eve ate.
3. By eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve were in reality, according to Copeland, "not tithing as ordered by God to do so" (or stealing their tithe from God); therefore (Copeland creates a fantasy connection between Adam and Eve not tithing and a Christian not tithing)...
4. A Christian who doesn't tithe is eating their tithe exactly as Adam and Eve ate theirs. That is to say; you are eating the forbidden fruit (the forbidden fruit being your tithe) and failing to pay your tithe because you consumed it.
5. Copeland goes on to claim that Adam's lack of tithing caused the loss of Adam and Eve's blessing and plunged them and all of humanity into sin and into the fallen state of the world; the fall of mankind and the whole world was because of a failure to tithe, Copeland tells us.
"Let's go to the 14th chapter of Genesis; we know, we studied and found out that Adam blew that blessing off over his tithe."
- Kenneth Copeland
>> Some important points to consider regarding Copeland's sculpturally unsubstantiated claims;
Contrary to Copeland's unbiblical nonsense, the tree that had the fruit on it that Adam was told not to eat...
1. Did not belong to God; God gave it to Adam and Eve. (Genesis 1:27-30). That is to say that God claimed no part of it as His tithe to be paid to Him. There is no scripture stating that God claimed any portion of the fruit in question as something to be set aside as a tithe from Adam given to God. Copeland's claim is un-scriptural fantasy.
2. God did not in any manner tell Adam that it, the fruit, was to be tithed on. Adam was given no guidelines as to who the "tithe" was to be paid to, when it was to be paid, how often it was to be paid, or how to pay it.
3. God did not tell Adam that he couldn't touch it, look at it, smell it, or use it for a football if he wanted to; God simply told Adam..."But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." - Genesis 2:17. Nothing else.
4. The fruit was not the object of any requirement to tithe;
Do you really believe that taking a single bite out of a single fruit hanging from ONE TREE that was in the midst of hundreds or thousands of fruit trees constitutes "not paying his tithe?" In a garden that was large enough to live in (could have been several hundred square miles in size if not larger), that would have yielded a very large "tithe," I.e., thousands of fruit trees, that one bite out of ONE FRUIT was "not paying his tithe?"
Where is it recorded in scripture that in the mind of Adam when he took a bite of the fruit that he believed he was, and purposed to, refuse to tithe as ordered?
How was Adam to tithe? Pile up thousands of fruit trees in some section of the garden and announce to God; "OK, God, here's your tithe; what do you want me to do with it?" "Where do you want me to deliver it?" What was God going to do with His tithe, let it rot? God did NOT need ANYONE to tithe to Him.
What competent Bible teacher would ever teach such nonsense, let alone actually believe it?
5. Tithes and offerings were instituted AFTER the fall of mankind due to sin. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were not required to tithe or even give an offering to God or to anyone; the Bible records NO requirement of them to do so.
Copeland, by and large, teaches the "word of Copeland," not the Word of God. With Copeland, tithing is only a small tip of a large iceberg of deception.
6. We are instructed by God...
"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." - Acts 17:11
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." - 1 John 4:1
What he is teaching is demonic deception that has destroyed untold numbers of people with his lies concerning tithing. Or, as I posted on Facebook a while back...
Jesus Christ did not set us free so that men with their traditions, lies and false teachings, could seize upon us and place us back into bondage by compelling and coercing us to tithe.
Jesus Christ did not set us free to become economic slaves to greedy liars. We will not bow our knee to the lies of these liars.
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32
"So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free." - John 8:36
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." - Galatians 5:1-2
CONCLUSION
Copeland's claim of Adam and his tithe is pure rubbish and false doctrine.
ref.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOu84V6FGVA
UPDATE; the false teaching of Adam and his failing to tithe has sadly taken hold in many ministries that teach tithing as yet another way to keep the tithe money coming in. It has become part of the toolbox used by tithing teachers to deceive and pressure their listeners to tithe. It appears to have began with Kenneth Copeland in it's most recent popular form.
>> Additional information...
Copeland claims that by Adam eating the forbidden fruit, Adam was "eating his tithe." That is to say that Copeland claims that the tither is sinning by eating the forbidden (i.e., not paying) his tithe. The Bible makes no connection between Adam eating the forbidden and a Christian not tithing. Such claims are simply the fantasies of Kenneth Copeland wholly without scriptural authority.
As with virtually all tithing teachers, they fail to define which tithe they are referring to when teaching on tithing, and fail to inform their listeners that there are in fact three separate tithes totaling about 23 1/3%; Tithe one; Leviticus 27:30-33, Tithe two; Deuteronomy 14:22-27, Tithe three; Deuteronomy 14:28-29. Most tithing teachers don't know this or deliberately fail to acknowledge the three tithes.
In tithes number two and three, contrary to what Copeland is teaching that consuming or eating your tithe is a sin, the Word of God commands the tither to eat and/or consume his tithe;
To the tither God commands...
"Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always." - Deuteronomy 14:22-23
God lays down laws making it clear that the tithe is to be eaten, or not eaten, under certain conditions such as in sadness or in mourning (i.e., the tither was not to eat his tithes in state of sadness of mourning)...
"I have not eaten [the tithe - verse 12] thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me." - Deuteronomy 26:14
See also; Deuteronomy 14:28-29 as cross reference.
There were three separate tithes. All tree tithes had different instructions accompanying each tithe, and each tithe had a separate definition and reason or purpose for the tithe.
Pastors often rely on this tithe (this verse) taken completely out of context to persuade their listeners or congregations to tithe (this was written to the Nation of Israel, not New Testament Christians who are not under the law of Moses)...
"And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD." - Leviticus 27:30-33
Or this verse, also taken completely out of context...
"10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." - Malachi 3:10
They never read this verse to the same people they are persuading to tithe to them...
"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you." Malachi 2:1
Who is Malachi 3:10 written to?...the Priests of Malachi's time, Old Testament Priests; Malachi 3:10 is not an instruction from God to New Testament Christians to tithe anything to anyone. It was written to and indicting corrupt Priests who were stealing the "tithe of the tithe" from the Temple Storehouse. The Temple Storehouse IS NOT a New Testament Christian organization such as a church.
ref. Nehemiah 10:37-38, Nehemiah 13.
CONCLUSION:
Copeland's claim that eating the tithe was, and remains a sin, and is disobedience to God, is unsubstantiated by scripture, is contrary to scripture, and is utter rubbish, including his claim that Adam sinned by "eating his tithe" by eating the forbidden fruit, is also utter rubbish and ignorant nonsense.
ref. The three tithes...
Leviticus 27:30-33, Numbers 18: The First Tithe - a tenth of crops and animals and commanded to take the tithe to the Levites. This tithe is the one church leaders use (and change to fit their needs). This one is sometimes called The Lord's Tithe. It is the ONLY one of the three tithes that God claimed was His. This was a yearly tithe.
Deuteronomy 14:22-27: The Second Tithe aka The Festival Tithe - a tenth of crops, plus add to that the firstborn animals, and take for the yearly feast.
Deuteronomy 14:28-29: The Third Tithe aka The Three-Year Tithe aka The Poor Tithe - a tenth of crops, kept at home, and invite the Levites, widows, orphans, stranger to eat.
Tithing was a total of 23-1/3%, not 10%, there were three required tithes; two paid every year, one paid every third year...
>> THE FIRST TITHE (commonly called "The Temple Tithe," or "The Holy Tithe."). Leviticus 27:30-33 defines this tithe as a tenth of crops and animals in herds and flocks.
Numbers 18 and Nehemiah 10:37-38 gives the ordinances, or instructions, for this tithe, and commands this tithe be taken by the Levites.
> Purpose of this tithe: to support the Levitical Priesthood, the Temple and Temple workers.
>> SECOND TITHE (commonly called "The Festival Tithe.")
Deuteronomy 14:22-27: aka The Festival Tithe - a tenth of crops, plus add to that the firstborn animals, and take to the yearly feasts.
> Purpose of this tithe: that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
>> THIRD TITHE (commonly called "The Tithe for the Poor.")
Deuteronomy 14:28-29: aka, The Three-Year Tithe, aka The Poor Tithe - a tenth of crops, kept at home, and invite the Levites, widows, orphans, stranger to eat.
> Purpose of this tithe: to feed the poor, the needy and strangers in the land needing help.
______________________________
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.
1. God instructed Adam to tithe. (Even though there exists NO SCRIPTURE recording God instructing Adam or Eve to tithe anything to anyone at anytime).
2. Adam and Eve's sin in the Garden of Eden was eating the forbidden fruit, which said forbidden fruit was actually Adam and Eve's tithe that Adam and Eve ate.
3. By eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve were in reality, according to Copeland, "not tithing as ordered by God to do so" (or stealing their tithe from God); therefore (Copeland creates a fantasy connection between Adam and Eve not tithing and a Christian not tithing)...
4. A Christian who doesn't tithe is eating their tithe exactly as Adam and Eve ate theirs. That is to say; you are eating the forbidden fruit (the forbidden fruit being your tithe) and failing to pay your tithe because you consumed it.
5. Copeland goes on to claim that Adam's lack of tithing caused the loss of Adam and Eve's blessing and plunged them and all of humanity into sin and into the fallen state of the world; the fall of mankind and the whole world was because of a failure to tithe, Copeland tells us.
"Let's go to the 14th chapter of Genesis; we know, we studied and found out that Adam blew that blessing off over his tithe."
- Kenneth Copeland
>> Some important points to consider regarding Copeland's sculpturally unsubstantiated claims;
Contrary to Copeland's unbiblical nonsense, the tree that had the fruit on it that Adam was told not to eat...
1. Did not belong to God; God gave it to Adam and Eve. (Genesis 1:27-30). That is to say that God claimed no part of it as His tithe to be paid to Him. There is no scripture stating that God claimed any portion of the fruit in question as something to be set aside as a tithe from Adam given to God. Copeland's claim is un-scriptural fantasy.
2. God did not in any manner tell Adam that it, the fruit, was to be tithed on. Adam was given no guidelines as to who the "tithe" was to be paid to, when it was to be paid, how often it was to be paid, or how to pay it.
3. God did not tell Adam that he couldn't touch it, look at it, smell it, or use it for a football if he wanted to; God simply told Adam..."But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die." - Genesis 2:17. Nothing else.
4. The fruit was not the object of any requirement to tithe;
Do you really believe that taking a single bite out of a single fruit hanging from ONE TREE that was in the midst of hundreds or thousands of fruit trees constitutes "not paying his tithe?" In a garden that was large enough to live in (could have been several hundred square miles in size if not larger), that would have yielded a very large "tithe," I.e., thousands of fruit trees, that one bite out of ONE FRUIT was "not paying his tithe?"
Where is it recorded in scripture that in the mind of Adam when he took a bite of the fruit that he believed he was, and purposed to, refuse to tithe as ordered?
How was Adam to tithe? Pile up thousands of fruit trees in some section of the garden and announce to God; "OK, God, here's your tithe; what do you want me to do with it?" "Where do you want me to deliver it?" What was God going to do with His tithe, let it rot? God did NOT need ANYONE to tithe to Him.
What competent Bible teacher would ever teach such nonsense, let alone actually believe it?
5. Tithes and offerings were instituted AFTER the fall of mankind due to sin. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were not required to tithe or even give an offering to God or to anyone; the Bible records NO requirement of them to do so.
Copeland, by and large, teaches the "word of Copeland," not the Word of God. With Copeland, tithing is only a small tip of a large iceberg of deception.
6. We are instructed by God...
"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." - Acts 17:11
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." - 1 John 4:1
What he is teaching is demonic deception that has destroyed untold numbers of people with his lies concerning tithing. Or, as I posted on Facebook a while back...
Jesus Christ did not set us free so that men with their traditions, lies and false teachings, could seize upon us and place us back into bondage by compelling and coercing us to tithe.
Jesus Christ did not set us free to become economic slaves to greedy liars. We will not bow our knee to the lies of these liars.
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32
"So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free." - John 8:36
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing." - Galatians 5:1-2
CONCLUSION
Copeland's claim of Adam and his tithe is pure rubbish and false doctrine.
ref.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOu84V6FGVA
UPDATE; the false teaching of Adam and his failing to tithe has sadly taken hold in many ministries that teach tithing as yet another way to keep the tithe money coming in. It has become part of the toolbox used by tithing teachers to deceive and pressure their listeners to tithe. It appears to have began with Kenneth Copeland in it's most recent popular form.
>> Additional information...
Copeland claims that by Adam eating the forbidden fruit, Adam was "eating his tithe." That is to say that Copeland claims that the tither is sinning by eating the forbidden (i.e., not paying) his tithe. The Bible makes no connection between Adam eating the forbidden and a Christian not tithing. Such claims are simply the fantasies of Kenneth Copeland wholly without scriptural authority.
As with virtually all tithing teachers, they fail to define which tithe they are referring to when teaching on tithing, and fail to inform their listeners that there are in fact three separate tithes totaling about 23 1/3%; Tithe one; Leviticus 27:30-33, Tithe two; Deuteronomy 14:22-27, Tithe three; Deuteronomy 14:28-29. Most tithing teachers don't know this or deliberately fail to acknowledge the three tithes.
In tithes number two and three, contrary to what Copeland is teaching that consuming or eating your tithe is a sin, the Word of God commands the tither to eat and/or consume his tithe;
To the tither God commands...
"Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always." - Deuteronomy 14:22-23
God lays down laws making it clear that the tithe is to be eaten, or not eaten, under certain conditions such as in sadness or in mourning (i.e., the tither was not to eat his tithes in state of sadness of mourning)...
"I have not eaten [the tithe - verse 12] thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me." - Deuteronomy 26:14
See also; Deuteronomy 14:28-29 as cross reference.
There were three separate tithes. All tree tithes had different instructions accompanying each tithe, and each tithe had a separate definition and reason or purpose for the tithe.
Pastors often rely on this tithe (this verse) taken completely out of context to persuade their listeners or congregations to tithe (this was written to the Nation of Israel, not New Testament Christians who are not under the law of Moses)...
"And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD." - Leviticus 27:30-33
Or this verse, also taken completely out of context...
"10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." - Malachi 3:10
They never read this verse to the same people they are persuading to tithe to them...
"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you." Malachi 2:1
Who is Malachi 3:10 written to?...the Priests of Malachi's time, Old Testament Priests; Malachi 3:10 is not an instruction from God to New Testament Christians to tithe anything to anyone. It was written to and indicting corrupt Priests who were stealing the "tithe of the tithe" from the Temple Storehouse. The Temple Storehouse IS NOT a New Testament Christian organization such as a church.
ref. Nehemiah 10:37-38, Nehemiah 13.
CONCLUSION:
Copeland's claim that eating the tithe was, and remains a sin, and is disobedience to God, is unsubstantiated by scripture, is contrary to scripture, and is utter rubbish, including his claim that Adam sinned by "eating his tithe" by eating the forbidden fruit, is also utter rubbish and ignorant nonsense.
ref. The three tithes...
Leviticus 27:30-33, Numbers 18: The First Tithe - a tenth of crops and animals and commanded to take the tithe to the Levites. This tithe is the one church leaders use (and change to fit their needs). This one is sometimes called The Lord's Tithe. It is the ONLY one of the three tithes that God claimed was His. This was a yearly tithe.
Deuteronomy 14:22-27: The Second Tithe aka The Festival Tithe - a tenth of crops, plus add to that the firstborn animals, and take for the yearly feast.
Deuteronomy 14:28-29: The Third Tithe aka The Three-Year Tithe aka The Poor Tithe - a tenth of crops, kept at home, and invite the Levites, widows, orphans, stranger to eat.
Tithing was a total of 23-1/3%, not 10%, there were three required tithes; two paid every year, one paid every third year...
>> THE FIRST TITHE (commonly called "The Temple Tithe," or "The Holy Tithe."). Leviticus 27:30-33 defines this tithe as a tenth of crops and animals in herds and flocks.
Numbers 18 and Nehemiah 10:37-38 gives the ordinances, or instructions, for this tithe, and commands this tithe be taken by the Levites.
> Purpose of this tithe: to support the Levitical Priesthood, the Temple and Temple workers.
>> SECOND TITHE (commonly called "The Festival Tithe.")
Deuteronomy 14:22-27: aka The Festival Tithe - a tenth of crops, plus add to that the firstborn animals, and take to the yearly feasts.
> Purpose of this tithe: that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
>> THIRD TITHE (commonly called "The Tithe for the Poor.")
Deuteronomy 14:28-29: aka, The Three-Year Tithe, aka The Poor Tithe - a tenth of crops, kept at home, and invite the Levites, widows, orphans, stranger to eat.
> Purpose of this tithe: to feed the poor, the needy and strangers in the land needing help.
______________________________
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.
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Rebuke the devourer for our sake only if we tithe? Is that true; is it something we must do?
Recently I had a tither tell me with a very serous tone in his writing "I would never stop tithing, I want the devourer rebuked for my sake, I would never want go through life without the devourer rebuked, no sir!"
He went on to ask me why I wouldn't tithe and why I wouldn't want the devourer rebuked in my life also?" He also asked me "why don't you want to claim the promises in Malachi 3:10?" (for more on Malachi 3:10, and "claiming the promises" see below).
My answer was short and to the point; "I don't need the devourer rebuked for my sake, and I don't have to pay 10% of my income for it; Jesus rebuked the devourer for me on the cross forever, it's a done deal."
I went on to explain to him that no amount of "tithing" can rebuke the devourer better and more thoroughly than the power of the cross. The cross and the subsequent resurrection of Jesus from the dead was the ultimate rebuking of the devourer, and it had, and has, nothing to do with tithing.
In the promise made to the nation of Israel in Malachi 3:10, they had to continually tithe to have the devourer rebuked for their sake, if they stopped tithing, the devourer was free to devour once again. Not so with a New Testament Believer. For us, the devourer is rebuked forever based on and because of what Jesus did for us, not what we can do for ourselves, not by tithing!
We are told to beware of lies, including lies concerning tithing...
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." - Colossians 2:8. The tradition of men include so called "New Testament tithing" an instruction from God which simply does not exist in the New Covenant.
>> When Jesus went to the cross he paid the price to redeem us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13), he paid a very high price, the highest possible, to have the devourer forever rebuked in our lives in all respects. Jesus triumphed over the forces of darkness in our lives, and they now stand publicly rebuked forever unable to devourer us!
The roaring lion that seeks to devourer us is eternally rebuked; his vocal cords have been cut and his teeth have been knocked out! It wasn't tithing that did it, it was Jesus who did so; Jesus is our champion, tithing is not! Jesus is our redeemer, our rebuker, tithing is not!
>> In Colossians chapter two there are many wonderful events that reveal what Jesus Christ did for us that are now realities in our lives. Among some of them are;
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him..."
1. Rooted and built up in Him (Jesus), verse 7.
2. We are complete in Him, verse 10.
3. We are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in Him, verse 11.
4. We are buried with him in baptism (buried people do not need to tithe. When was the last time you saw a buried person tithing?), verse 12.
5. We are also risen with Him, verse 12.
6. All of our trespasses have been forever forgiven, verse 13.
7. And, concerning how Jesus forever rebuked the devourer for our sake, verses 14 and 15...
"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
> Look closely; Jesus rebuked them on our behalf for all to see; "having spoiled [REBUKED] principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
THAT WAS DONE WITHOUT TITHING; it was done through the blood of Jesus Christ! It was NOT accomplished by you paying ten percent of your income to anyone! You can't redeem anyone with money!...
"They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:" - Psalms 49:6-7
We are redeemed from the curse of the law, being redeemed is a present tense eternal reality, that redemption included having the devourer rebuked for our sakes, with no need to tithe, now and forever! This is reality NOW...
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." - Gal. 3:13-14
Look closely; "the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ" ...NOT THROUGH TITHING, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
Don't be deceived into thinking you have to pay someone 10% of your income or "God will not rebuke the devourer for your sake and will let you be devoured!"
Being devoured by the devourer was a result of the curse of the law, Jesus became a curse for us on the cross and we are NOW, ALREADY, redeemed from the curse of the law and the devourer has been permanently and forever rebuked in our lives.
You don't have to pay anyone anything to live in the reality of the devourer forever rebuked in your life. Your life is forever hidden in Christ and the devourer cannot touch you. How can the devourer devour what he cannot find?
This is what Jesus did for you, this is what you were given by Jesus when on the cross Jesus completely destroyed the devourer for your sake forever! This is what you are now, having been delivered from the devourer and his evil works against you. Because of what Jesus did for us who have received Him as our Savior, we now live free from the devourer who has been rebuked forever; we are NOW this in Jesus Christ, and these were NOT established by tithing, but rather by and through Jesus Christ...
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17
"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:19
"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:26
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." - Galatians 6:15
"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
The blessing in Ephesians 1:3 came through Jesus Christ, it was a free gift given to us paid for at the cross, NOT by tithing.
>>> Anyone who tells you that you must tithe, pay 10% of your income to them or their organization to have the devourer rebuked for your sake, is a demonic false teacher trying to place you once again under the curse of the law toiling under the law to have the devourer rebuked, WHEN IN FACT JESUS ALREADY PAID WITH HIS BLOOD TO REBUKE THE DEVOURER FOR YOUR SAKE. In short; they're liars, and you are being robbed if you believe them!
>>> Note; more on Malachi 3:10, and "claiming the promises"
MALACHI CANNOT BE USED TO INSTRUCT ANY CHRISTIAN TO TITHE...
> Malachi 1:1 - Malachi is speaking to the Nation of Israel, not the New Testament Church.
"The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi."
> Malachi 1:6 - Malachi is speaking to the Nation of Israel and the corrupt Priests of Aaron that despise God's name, not the New Testament Church.
"...saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name."
> Malachi 2:1 - The command to bring a portion of the Temple tithe to the Temple storehouses to support the porters and singers is to the corrupt Priests of Aaron, not the New Testament Church.
"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you." (cross ref. Nehemiah 10:37-39).
> Malachi 3:9 - This verse makes it very clear that the God robbers were from the Nation of Israel, not the New Testament Church.
"Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation." Note: "THIS whole nation (the Nation of Israel who Malachi is addressing)," not the New Testament Church. The New Testament Church is NOT the Nation of Israel. Also, the Nation of Israel were called by God to return to Him, which for people under the Law of Moses means to return to obedience to the Law of Moses....
"Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts." - Malachi 3:7
> Malachi 4:4 - The people who Malachi was talking to and addressing, the Nation of Israel, are under the Law of Moses, Malachi's commandments on tithing are based on the Law of Moses, not the New Testament which contains no commandment for anyone to tithe. New Testament Christians are not under the Law of Moses where God established tithing for the Nation of Israel, and have no guide lines for tithing.
"Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments" (cross ref. Romans 6:14, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:10, Romans 7:1-6, Ephesians 2:15, Acts 15:10, Acts 15:24).
>> The Book of Malachi cannot be used to instruct a Christian to tithe, to do so is a false teaching and taking the Book of Malachi out of proper scriptural context.
New Testament Christian "tithers"...financial slaves and victims of whom they tithe to.
______________________________
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.
He went on to ask me why I wouldn't tithe and why I wouldn't want the devourer rebuked in my life also?" He also asked me "why don't you want to claim the promises in Malachi 3:10?" (for more on Malachi 3:10, and "claiming the promises" see below).
My answer was short and to the point; "I don't need the devourer rebuked for my sake, and I don't have to pay 10% of my income for it; Jesus rebuked the devourer for me on the cross forever, it's a done deal."
I went on to explain to him that no amount of "tithing" can rebuke the devourer better and more thoroughly than the power of the cross. The cross and the subsequent resurrection of Jesus from the dead was the ultimate rebuking of the devourer, and it had, and has, nothing to do with tithing.
In the promise made to the nation of Israel in Malachi 3:10, they had to continually tithe to have the devourer rebuked for their sake, if they stopped tithing, the devourer was free to devour once again. Not so with a New Testament Believer. For us, the devourer is rebuked forever based on and because of what Jesus did for us, not what we can do for ourselves, not by tithing!
We are told to beware of lies, including lies concerning tithing...
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." - Colossians 2:8. The tradition of men include so called "New Testament tithing" an instruction from God which simply does not exist in the New Covenant.
>> When Jesus went to the cross he paid the price to redeem us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13), he paid a very high price, the highest possible, to have the devourer forever rebuked in our lives in all respects. Jesus triumphed over the forces of darkness in our lives, and they now stand publicly rebuked forever unable to devourer us!
The roaring lion that seeks to devourer us is eternally rebuked; his vocal cords have been cut and his teeth have been knocked out! It wasn't tithing that did it, it was Jesus who did so; Jesus is our champion, tithing is not! Jesus is our redeemer, our rebuker, tithing is not!
>> In Colossians chapter two there are many wonderful events that reveal what Jesus Christ did for us that are now realities in our lives. Among some of them are;
"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him..."
1. Rooted and built up in Him (Jesus), verse 7.
2. We are complete in Him, verse 10.
3. We are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in Him, verse 11.
4. We are buried with him in baptism (buried people do not need to tithe. When was the last time you saw a buried person tithing?), verse 12.
5. We are also risen with Him, verse 12.
6. All of our trespasses have been forever forgiven, verse 13.
7. And, concerning how Jesus forever rebuked the devourer for our sake, verses 14 and 15...
"Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
> Look closely; Jesus rebuked them on our behalf for all to see; "having spoiled [REBUKED] principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
THAT WAS DONE WITHOUT TITHING; it was done through the blood of Jesus Christ! It was NOT accomplished by you paying ten percent of your income to anyone! You can't redeem anyone with money!...
"They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:" - Psalms 49:6-7
We are redeemed from the curse of the law, being redeemed is a present tense eternal reality, that redemption included having the devourer rebuked for our sakes, with no need to tithe, now and forever! This is reality NOW...
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." - Gal. 3:13-14
Look closely; "the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ" ...NOT THROUGH TITHING, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
Don't be deceived into thinking you have to pay someone 10% of your income or "God will not rebuke the devourer for your sake and will let you be devoured!"
Being devoured by the devourer was a result of the curse of the law, Jesus became a curse for us on the cross and we are NOW, ALREADY, redeemed from the curse of the law and the devourer has been permanently and forever rebuked in our lives.
You don't have to pay anyone anything to live in the reality of the devourer forever rebuked in your life. Your life is forever hidden in Christ and the devourer cannot touch you. How can the devourer devour what he cannot find?
This is what Jesus did for you, this is what you were given by Jesus when on the cross Jesus completely destroyed the devourer for your sake forever! This is what you are now, having been delivered from the devourer and his evil works against you. Because of what Jesus did for us who have received Him as our Savior, we now live free from the devourer who has been rebuked forever; we are NOW this in Jesus Christ, and these were NOT established by tithing, but rather by and through Jesus Christ...
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17
"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:19
"For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus." - Galatians 3:26
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." - Galatians 6:15
"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
The blessing in Ephesians 1:3 came through Jesus Christ, it was a free gift given to us paid for at the cross, NOT by tithing.
>>> Anyone who tells you that you must tithe, pay 10% of your income to them or their organization to have the devourer rebuked for your sake, is a demonic false teacher trying to place you once again under the curse of the law toiling under the law to have the devourer rebuked, WHEN IN FACT JESUS ALREADY PAID WITH HIS BLOOD TO REBUKE THE DEVOURER FOR YOUR SAKE. In short; they're liars, and you are being robbed if you believe them!
>>> Note; more on Malachi 3:10, and "claiming the promises"
MALACHI CANNOT BE USED TO INSTRUCT ANY CHRISTIAN TO TITHE...
> Malachi 1:1 - Malachi is speaking to the Nation of Israel, not the New Testament Church.
"The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi."
> Malachi 1:6 - Malachi is speaking to the Nation of Israel and the corrupt Priests of Aaron that despise God's name, not the New Testament Church.
"...saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name."
> Malachi 2:1 - The command to bring a portion of the Temple tithe to the Temple storehouses to support the porters and singers is to the corrupt Priests of Aaron, not the New Testament Church.
"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you." (cross ref. Nehemiah 10:37-39).
> Malachi 3:9 - This verse makes it very clear that the God robbers were from the Nation of Israel, not the New Testament Church.
"Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation." Note: "THIS whole nation (the Nation of Israel who Malachi is addressing)," not the New Testament Church. The New Testament Church is NOT the Nation of Israel. Also, the Nation of Israel were called by God to return to Him, which for people under the Law of Moses means to return to obedience to the Law of Moses....
"Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts." - Malachi 3:7
> Malachi 4:4 - The people who Malachi was talking to and addressing, the Nation of Israel, are under the Law of Moses, Malachi's commandments on tithing are based on the Law of Moses, not the New Testament which contains no commandment for anyone to tithe. New Testament Christians are not under the Law of Moses where God established tithing for the Nation of Israel, and have no guide lines for tithing.
"Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments" (cross ref. Romans 6:14, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:10, Romans 7:1-6, Ephesians 2:15, Acts 15:10, Acts 15:24).
>> The Book of Malachi cannot be used to instruct a Christian to tithe, to do so is a false teaching and taking the Book of Malachi out of proper scriptural context.
New Testament Christian "tithers"...financial slaves and victims of whom they tithe to.
______________________________
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.
All The Tithes into the Storehouse; WHICH ALL?
Bring ALL the tithes into the Storehouse the Word of God commanded the Nation of Israel and the Priests of Levi...BUT WHY ALL OF THEM?
The tithe was the personal property of the Levite, they owned it. That which God had given them was theirs to do with what they wanted; consume it, sell it, give it away, etc.
"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
"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." - Numbers 18:24
>> Why then does Malachi 3:10 command that ALL of the tithes be brought into the Storehouse? Were the Levites to not take possession of the tithes they owned?
The answer is simple; we need GOD'S description as to what "ALL" is referring to, and what "ALL" the tithes were that were to be brought into the Storehouse, we need to find out in scripture what the ALL was, not the traditions of men that make void the Word of God.
It could be said this way...
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse THAT BELONG IN THE STOREHOUSE, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts..."
I think it is safe to say that God was calling for tithes to be brought into the Storehouse of what ever He designated should be there. So then the question remains; what tithes belong in the Storehouse per Malachi 3:10...
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." - Malachi 3:10
Malachi 3:10 says one thing, while Numbers 18:21 and Numbers 18:24 say something else. What appears to be a contradiction in God's Word is actually a key to understanding Biblical tithing and Malachi 3:10.
In the study of Biblical doctrine, the whole council of God must be examined. Here are the facts of what was to brought into the Storehouse, how much was the "ALL," and who was to bring it to the Storehouse. We must keep all scripture in textual, situational and historic context. LET THE BIBLE INTERPRET THE BIBLE...
>>> Q and A...
>> 1. Who was to bring the tithe Storehouse?
Answer; The Levites under the direct supervision of a Levite Priest descended from Aaron; NO ONE ELSE was authorize to do so. Ref.;
"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you." - Malachi 2:1
"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." - Nehemiah 10:38
>> 2. How much of the original tithe handed over the to Levites were to be brought to the Storehouse?
Answer; ten percent (one tenth of the tithe), which amounted to one percent of the original crop or clean livestock tithed on. Ref.;
"...the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house." - Nehemiah 10:38
>> 3. What was the tithe of the tithes to be used for that were delivered to the Storehouse?
Answer; to support the Priests that minister in the Temple, the Porters those who served in the Temple (usually as Gatekeepers, ref.; a gate-keeper (2 Samuel 18:26 ; 2 Kings 7:10 ; 1 Chronicles 9:21 ; 2 Chr. 8:14), of the Levites, 4,000 were appointed as porters by King David (1 Chronicles 23:5), who were arranged according to their families (1 Chronicles 26:1-19 ) to take charge of the doors and gates of the temple. They were sometimes employed as musicians (1 Chronicles 15:18), and the Singers (those who worshiped and lead worship in the Temple). Ref.;
"For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God." - Nehemiah 10:39.
"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." - Nehemiah 13:5
>> 4. Who were the thieves who were robbing God of the tithe in the Nation of Israel?
Answer; The corrupt Priests who were charged by God to convey the tenth of the tithe given to the Levites that was to be brought to the Temple Storehouse WHO WERE NOT DOING SO. Ref.;
"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." - Nehemiah 10:38
See also Nehemiah chapter 13 which records the action of the corrupt Priests who were robbing God of the Temple "tenth of the tithe" that was to be brought there. Case in point;
"And I perceived that the portions ("tenth of the tithe") of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field." - Nehemiah 13:10
"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." - Nehemiah 13:5
"And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field (to grow food). Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. - Nehemiah 13:10-11
>> 5. How much of the tithes collected by the Priests and Levites did they keep in their possession?
Answer; 90% of it. "...and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God..." - Nehemiah 10:38
>>> Conclusion; so then, what is the "ALL"..."all the tithes," Malachi was referring to?
Answer; The tithe of the tithes that God had commanded to be brought into the Temple Storehouses by the Levites under the supervision of a Priest descended from Aaron, NOT 10% of a Christians income; there is NO SUCH COMMAND under the New Testament.
NOWHERE in New Testament is "Storehouse Tithing" taught to a New Testament Believer. To claim so is false doctrine and a lie wholly without scripture basis.
We are called by God to be FREE WILL GIVERS, not tithers, and not tithing to any "storehouse."
>> Tithers...financial slaves and victims to whom they tithe to.
______________________________
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 was the personal property of the Levite, they owned it. That which God had given them was theirs to do with what they wanted; consume it, sell it, give it away, etc.
"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
"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." - Numbers 18:24
>> Why then does Malachi 3:10 command that ALL of the tithes be brought into the Storehouse? Were the Levites to not take possession of the tithes they owned?
The answer is simple; we need GOD'S description as to what "ALL" is referring to, and what "ALL" the tithes were that were to be brought into the Storehouse, we need to find out in scripture what the ALL was, not the traditions of men that make void the Word of God.
It could be said this way...
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse THAT BELONG IN THE STOREHOUSE, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts..."
I think it is safe to say that God was calling for tithes to be brought into the Storehouse of what ever He designated should be there. So then the question remains; what tithes belong in the Storehouse per Malachi 3:10...
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." - Malachi 3:10
Malachi 3:10 says one thing, while Numbers 18:21 and Numbers 18:24 say something else. What appears to be a contradiction in God's Word is actually a key to understanding Biblical tithing and Malachi 3:10.
In the study of Biblical doctrine, the whole council of God must be examined. Here are the facts of what was to brought into the Storehouse, how much was the "ALL," and who was to bring it to the Storehouse. We must keep all scripture in textual, situational and historic context. LET THE BIBLE INTERPRET THE BIBLE...
>>> Q and A...
>> 1. Who was to bring the tithe Storehouse?
Answer; The Levites under the direct supervision of a Levite Priest descended from Aaron; NO ONE ELSE was authorize to do so. Ref.;
"And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you." - Malachi 2:1
"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." - Nehemiah 10:38
>> 2. How much of the original tithe handed over the to Levites were to be brought to the Storehouse?
Answer; ten percent (one tenth of the tithe), which amounted to one percent of the original crop or clean livestock tithed on. Ref.;
"...the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house." - Nehemiah 10:38
>> 3. What was the tithe of the tithes to be used for that were delivered to the Storehouse?
Answer; to support the Priests that minister in the Temple, the Porters those who served in the Temple (usually as Gatekeepers, ref.; a gate-keeper (2 Samuel 18:26 ; 2 Kings 7:10 ; 1 Chronicles 9:21 ; 2 Chr. 8:14), of the Levites, 4,000 were appointed as porters by King David (1 Chronicles 23:5), who were arranged according to their families (1 Chronicles 26:1-19 ) to take charge of the doors and gates of the temple. They were sometimes employed as musicians (1 Chronicles 15:18), and the Singers (those who worshiped and lead worship in the Temple). Ref.;
"For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God." - Nehemiah 10:39.
"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." - Nehemiah 13:5
>> 4. Who were the thieves who were robbing God of the tithe in the Nation of Israel?
Answer; The corrupt Priests who were charged by God to convey the tenth of the tithe given to the Levites that was to be brought to the Temple Storehouse WHO WERE NOT DOING SO. Ref.;
"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." - Nehemiah 10:38
See also Nehemiah chapter 13 which records the action of the corrupt Priests who were robbing God of the Temple "tenth of the tithe" that was to be brought there. Case in point;
"And I perceived that the portions ("tenth of the tithe") of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field." - Nehemiah 13:10
"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." - Nehemiah 13:5
"And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field (to grow food). Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. - Nehemiah 13:10-11
>> 5. How much of the tithes collected by the Priests and Levites did they keep in their possession?
Answer; 90% of it. "...and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God..." - Nehemiah 10:38
>>> Conclusion; so then, what is the "ALL"..."all the tithes," Malachi was referring to?
Answer; The tithe of the tithes that God had commanded to be brought into the Temple Storehouses by the Levites under the supervision of a Priest descended from Aaron, NOT 10% of a Christians income; there is NO SUCH COMMAND under the New Testament.
NOWHERE in New Testament is "Storehouse Tithing" taught to a New Testament Believer. To claim so is false doctrine and a lie wholly without scripture basis.
We are called by God to be FREE WILL GIVERS, not tithers, and not tithing to any "storehouse."
>> Tithers...financial slaves and victims to whom they tithe to.
______________________________
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.
Some Answers Offered
Answers...
1. Tithing had nothing to do with securing individual financial prosperity. It was not instituted to make any individual rich. False "tithing makes you rich" claims come from deceivers such as teachers of the prosperity gospel heresy and other deceptive tithing teachers. God will supply your needs and He doesn't need you to tithe to do so. Philippians 4:19
2. God never called individuals to tithe. There is no scripture indicating that God intended to make tithing an individual activity per se'; yes, individuals did handle and administer the tithes, but the requirement to tithe was a national requirement on the Nation of Israel. Under the law, tithing was Israel's taxation system to support the Levite for their service in the Temple. Malachi 3:9 and...
"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
Even though God established rules as to how an individual was to handle the tithes (Deuteronomy 14:22-29, Nehemiah 10:37-38), tithing was a national requirement.
3. The requirement to tithe was placed solely on the Nation of Israel (descendants of Abraham and Sarah living on the Promise Land under the Law of Moses ONLY), not any other nation or people under any other covenant. God never called Gentiles to tithe. - Psalm 147:19-20, Deuteronomy 12:10, Malachi 1:1
4. The Nation was responsible for the tithe, and the tithe came from people who grew fruits, vegetables or raised clean livestock on the Promise Land (farmers and herdsmen / ranchers). Malachi 3:9
5. God's promise directly related to tithing was to bless and protect the Nation's water supply and therefore food supply (Malachi 3:10), and to protect Nation's land from destructive pestilence, not make individuals wealthy. Malachi 3:11-12
6. God declared that the Nation of Israel (descendants of Abraham and Sarah) were not to tithe until they were living on the Promise Land in safety. Deuteronomy 12:10
7. God's commanded tithe was not a form of free giving.
Authentic biblical tithing as commanded by God was NOT an offering, NOT a charitable contribution and was NOT a gift to the Levite; in was IN FACT an act of surrendering the sole property of the Levite to the Levite. Failure to surrender the tithes to the Levite was a violation of the Law that carried Godly curses for failing or refusing to do so. That was all commanded under the Law; we are not under the Law.
"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 7:8, Numbers 18:21-26, 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." - Nehemiah 10:38
8. Tithing as God had commanded tithing has nothing to do with Christianity / The New Covenant or Christians. As posted before...
In the New Testament no Apostle ever instructed tithing, asked for a tithe, rebuked any person or church for not tithing, or received a tithe. Not one of them. The early church (i.e. Book of Acts) NEVER tithed. We have NO record of them doing so. (Not to mention that Hebrews 7 clearly puts an end to tithing as God commanded tithing).
If tithing was required and taught in the New Testament for Christians, it would have to be clearly detailed and outlined in the terms and conditions of the New Testament like all promises and commands of the New Testament are. Tithing instructions would be clearly included in the New Testament. No such terms, conditions or details are outlined anywhere in the New Testament. Tithing was never, is not now, and will never be part of the New Testament.
>> What tithing WAS intended for...
1. To support the Levites, singers and porters for the work they did in the Temple -
"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, (and Nehemiah Chapter 13)
2. To support the poor and the needy in Israel, The Promise Land -
"And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest." - Deuteronomy 14:29
> Personally, I have never tithed a dime in my life, and as God has done in the past, God is blessing me financially to this day (I have experienced many financial miracles) . We are to be free will generous cheerful givers, not tithers. 2 Corinthians 9:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2
______________________________
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.
1. Tithing had nothing to do with securing individual financial prosperity. It was not instituted to make any individual rich. False "tithing makes you rich" claims come from deceivers such as teachers of the prosperity gospel heresy and other deceptive tithing teachers. God will supply your needs and He doesn't need you to tithe to do so. Philippians 4:19
2. God never called individuals to tithe. There is no scripture indicating that God intended to make tithing an individual activity per se'; yes, individuals did handle and administer the tithes, but the requirement to tithe was a national requirement on the Nation of Israel. Under the law, tithing was Israel's taxation system to support the Levite for their service in the Temple. Malachi 3:9 and...
"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
Even though God established rules as to how an individual was to handle the tithes (Deuteronomy 14:22-29, Nehemiah 10:37-38), tithing was a national requirement.
3. The requirement to tithe was placed solely on the Nation of Israel (descendants of Abraham and Sarah living on the Promise Land under the Law of Moses ONLY), not any other nation or people under any other covenant. God never called Gentiles to tithe. - Psalm 147:19-20, Deuteronomy 12:10, Malachi 1:1
4. The Nation was responsible for the tithe, and the tithe came from people who grew fruits, vegetables or raised clean livestock on the Promise Land (farmers and herdsmen / ranchers). Malachi 3:9
5. God's promise directly related to tithing was to bless and protect the Nation's water supply and therefore food supply (Malachi 3:10), and to protect Nation's land from destructive pestilence, not make individuals wealthy. Malachi 3:11-12
6. God declared that the Nation of Israel (descendants of Abraham and Sarah) were not to tithe until they were living on the Promise Land in safety. Deuteronomy 12:10
7. God's commanded tithe was not a form of free giving.
Authentic biblical tithing as commanded by God was NOT an offering, NOT a charitable contribution and was NOT a gift to the Levite; in was IN FACT an act of surrendering the sole property of the Levite to the Levite. Failure to surrender the tithes to the Levite was a violation of the Law that carried Godly curses for failing or refusing to do so. That was all commanded under the Law; we are not under the Law.
"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 7:8, Numbers 18:21-26, 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." - Nehemiah 10:38
8. Tithing as God had commanded tithing has nothing to do with Christianity / The New Covenant or Christians. As posted before...
In the New Testament no Apostle ever instructed tithing, asked for a tithe, rebuked any person or church for not tithing, or received a tithe. Not one of them. The early church (i.e. Book of Acts) NEVER tithed. We have NO record of them doing so. (Not to mention that Hebrews 7 clearly puts an end to tithing as God commanded tithing).
If tithing was required and taught in the New Testament for Christians, it would have to be clearly detailed and outlined in the terms and conditions of the New Testament like all promises and commands of the New Testament are. Tithing instructions would be clearly included in the New Testament. No such terms, conditions or details are outlined anywhere in the New Testament. Tithing was never, is not now, and will never be part of the New Testament.
>> What tithing WAS intended for...
1. To support the Levites, singers and porters for the work they did in the Temple -
"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, (and Nehemiah Chapter 13)
2. To support the poor and the needy in Israel, The Promise Land -
"And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest." - Deuteronomy 14:29
> Personally, I have never tithed a dime in my life, and as God has done in the past, God is blessing me financially to this day (I have experienced many financial miracles) . We are to be free will generous cheerful givers, not tithers. 2 Corinthians 9:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2
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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