ABRAHAM; NOT AN EXAMPLE TO BE FOLLOWED IN TITHING

ABRAHAM; NOT AN EXAMPLE TO BE FOLLOWED IN TITHING

Abraham was the Father of the Jewish people, the Nation of Israel. He is highly revered by the Hebrews;

John 8:33a - "They answered him, We be Abraham's seed,"

John 8:56 - "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad."

Genesis 17:5 - "Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee."

Yet, there exists not a single scripture instructing the Nation of Israel, or any Israeli Hebrew person, to tithe because or as Abraham did. 

Given the fact that no scripture instructs the seed of Abraham, the Jewish people, to tithe as or because Abraham did; why would God instruct the Church to tithe as or because Abraham did when God never instructed the Nation of Israel to do so?

In fact; God has done NO SUCH THING. The Church (as with Israel) is also the Seed of Abraham, yet has no instructions to tithe to anyone, and no instructions to tithe as or because Abraham did.

Galatians 3:29 - "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

Neither the Nation of Israel or the Church were ever instructed to tithe using Abraham as their example of tithing, or a reason to tithe, and as with the Nation of Israel, the Church of Jesus Christ has no instruction or reason to tithe using Abraham as their example of tithing. The Old and New Testament provides no instructions for tithing for Christians for any reason at all.

Abraham is not an example of tithing to be followed by anyone. The Bible does not instruct anyone to do so. We are to walk in faith as Abraham did, but that is not an instruction to do everything Abraham did.

In Genesis 15:6 we are told that Abraham “believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” The apostle James cites this verse and states that because of his faith Abraham became the “friend of God” - James 2:23.

CONCLUSION 

Stop deceiving people, tithing teachers, with your lies and abuse of Abraham's singular tithe to Melchisedec.

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Copyright 2023, Anthony Todd, All rights reserved. Permission to copy and distribute this article must be obtained in writing from Tithing Study Online.

Permission can be requested at: tithingstudyonline@gmail.com. Upon permission to do so, it is granted under the strict condition that no content of any article be removed or altered, and that all articles are to remain intact as is when used. You must include a notation that any article distributed originated from Tithing Study Online, and include our blog URL as: https://ExaminingTithingDeceptions.blogspot.com 

 

STOP STEALING MONEY, PASTORS!! YOUR DAY OF JUDGEMENT IS COMING, AND COMING QUICKLY

 

STOP STEALING MONEY, PASTORS!! YOUR DAY OF JUDGEMENT IS COMING, AND COMING QUICKLY;

2 Peter 2:3 - "And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."

The book of Malachi, INCLUDING MALACHI 3:10, was written to, and was directly addressing THE CORRUPT PRIESTS OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL (Nehemiah 10:37-39) who were stealing, and failing to bring the TITHE OF THE TITHE to the Temple Storehouse in Jerusalem. It was NOT written to New Testament Christians, NOT written to New Testament churches authorizing anyone, including pastors, to take ten percent of anyone's income.

>> Read carefully and understand in PROPER CONTEXT;

Who was Malachi written to? Who were the commands of Malachi written to? Who's sin is being addresses? Malachi tells us very clearly...

1. Malachi 1:1 - "The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi."  ...TO ISRAEL, NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

2. Malachi 1:2 - "I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,"  ...TO JACOB / ISRAEL, NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

3. Malachi 1:6 - "A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?"  ...TO ISRAEL, TO THE CORRUPT PRIESTS OF ISRAEL, NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

5. Malachi 2:1 - "And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you."  ...TO ISRAEL, TO THE CORRUPT PRIESTS OF ISRAEL, NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

6. Malachi 2:8 - "But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts."  ...TO ISRAEL UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES, NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

7. Malachi 2:9 - "Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law."  ...TO ISRAEL, TO THE CORRUPT PRIESTS OF ISRAEL, NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

8. Malachi 2:11 - "Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god."  ...TO JUDAH OF ISRAEL, NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

9. Malachi 2:16 - "For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously."  ...TO ISRAEL, NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

10. Malachi 3:1 - "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts."  ...TO ISRAEL, THE FUTURE TEMPLE IN ISRAEL, NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

11. Malachi 3:7 - "Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?" ...TO ISRAEL UNDER THE LAW ("MINE ORDINANCES") OF MOSES, NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH. THE NEW TESTAMENT CHUCH IS NOT UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES.

12. Malachi 3:8-9 - "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation." ...TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL, TO THE CORRUPT PRIESTS OF ISRAEL, NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

13. Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."  ...THE TITHE OF THE TITHE BROUGHT TO THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM IN ISRAEL BY LEVITES, NOT TO A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH;

Nehemiah 10:37-39 - "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. 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."

14. Malachi 3:12 - "And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts."  ...WHO WILL CALL WHO BLESSED? OTHER NATIONS WILL CALL ISRAEL BLESSED, NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH WHO ARE BLESSED THOUGH GRACE AND JESUS CHRIST.

WHY WILL ISRAEL IN THAT TIME BE CALLED "BLESSED?" BECAUSE IF THEY WOULD HAVE OBEYED THE LAW OF MOSES THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN BLESSED; THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH IS NOT UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES AND CANNOT BE BLESSED BY KEEPING IT;

"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." - Romans 6:14

15. Malachi 3:14 - "Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?"  ...WHO WAS CALLED TO KEEP THE LAW OF MOSES? THE NATION OF ISRAEL, NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH;

"He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel." Psalm 147:20 - "He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord." - Psalm 147:19-20

16. Malachi 4:4 - "Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments."  ...TO ISRAEL UNDER THE LAW OF MOSES, NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH.

17. Malachi 4:5-6 - "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."  ...A PROMISE TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL, A BENEFIT TO THE WHOLE EARTH, YET REMAINS A PROMISE TO THE NATION OF ISRAEL.

>> CONCLUSION;

Who was Malachi 3:10 written to, tithing teachers?? ANSWER; THE NATION OF ISRAEL, NOT TO THE NEW TESTAMENT CHUCH. The New Testament Church can learn much from the Book of Malachi, but the Book of Malachi was directed to the Nation of Israel, not a direction for New Testament pastors or other ministers to take ten percent of anyone's income.

THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH IS NOT THE NATION OF ISRAEL, AND HAS NO COMMANDMENT TO TITHE. The New Testament Church has NO PASTOR, or other minister authorized to take tithes from anyone. STOP STEALING MONEY, PASTORS!!

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Copyright 2023, Anthony Todd, All rights reserved. Permission to copy and distribute this article must be obtained in writing from Tithing Study Online.

Permission can be requested at: tithingstudyonline@gmail.com. Upon permission to do so, it is granted under the strict condition that no content of any article be removed or altered, and that all articles are to remain intact as is when used. You must include a notation that any article distributed originated from Tithing Study Online, and include our blog URL as: https://ExaminingTithingDeceptions.blogspot.com

FOOLISH ARGUMENTS FROM TITHING PROMOTERS

Tithers and tithing teachers, in their desperation to keep tithing continued into the New Testament often make the foolish claim that "nothing in the New Testament tells us not to tithe." In fact, the New Testament does clearly put and end to tithing (see comments below). But, in regards to the fools claim of the New Testament "not putting an end to tithing therefore it should continue;" why haven't these commandments been ended also? Why do we not obey them? Are they to continue, why only tithing?...

Other Old Testament Laws that Were Not Specifically Repealed in the New Testament...

Deuteronomy 23:2 – Don’t let illegitimate children in the Assembly of God.

Deuteronomy 25:5-10 – If your brother dies, you have to marry his wife so she can have a son.

Deuteronomy 25:11-12 – If a woman hurts a man’s testicles, you should cut off her hand

Deuteronomy 21: 20-21 – You can beat your slave within an inch of his life.

Leviticus 15:19 – A woman must be quarantined for 7 days if she’s on her period.

Leviticus 19:19 – Don’t mix cotton with polyester in your clothes.

Leviticus 21:5 – Ministers can’t shave their head or their beard.

Leviticus 21:16-23 – No one with a defect can approach the altar of God.

Numbers 8:24 – Ministers can only serve if they are older than 25, and the can’t serve more than 25 years.

Leviticus 20:9 – Rebellious children are to be put to death.

ARE THE ABOVE COMMANDMENTS TO CONTINUE INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT ALONG WITH TITHING? Why not? ...nothing in the New Testament specifically ends any requirement in that list. If tithing has not been put to an end, why hasn't Deuteronomy 23:2, Deuteronomy 25:5-10, Deuteronomy 25:11-12, etc?

TITHING HAS IN FACT CLEARLY BEEN ENDED BY THE NEW TESTAMENT;

HEBREWS CHAPTER SEVEN...

What is DISANNULLED? What is WEAK? What is UNPROFITABLE? These three...

1. The Levitical Priesthood (which could bring perfection [salvation] TO NO ONE, Hebrews 7:11).

2. The Law of Moses relative to New Testament Christians who are NOT UNDER THE LAW (Romans 6:14, Acts 15:24).

3. Tithing, which is of the law of Moses (Hebrews 7:5, Numbers 18:21-24, Matthew 23:23).

In Hebrews Chapter Seven tithing is mentioned 7 times, verses number; 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 9 again, focusing CLEARLY ON TITHING, and while proving the superiority of Christ's priesthood, ALSO places tithing (along with the rest of the law of Moses) in a position of INFERIORITY and declares...

ALL THREE ARE WEAK, ALL THREE ARE UNPROFITABLE, AND ALL THREE ARE DISANNULLED (CANCELED)...INCLUDING TITHING.

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

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Copyright 2023, Anthony Todd, All rights reserved. Permission to copy and distribute this article must be obtained in writing from Tithing Study Online.

Permission can be requested at: tithingstudyonline@gmail.com. Upon permission to do so, it is granted under the strict condition that no content of any article be removed or altered, and that all articles are to remain intact as is when used. You must include a notation that any article distributed originated from Tithing Study Online, and include our blog URL as: https://ExaminingTithingDeceptions.blogspot.com

THE PURPOSE OF GOD IN ABRAHAM'S TITHE

THE PURPOSE OF GOD IN ABRAHAM'S TITHE

 

We have recorded for us the following...

 

Genesis 14:18-20 - "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all."

THE PURPOSE

 

Abraham's tithe was a one time event that included a component of the Law of Moses by the Levites being present in Abraham's loins. (See; Hebrews 7:9)

It's purpose; it was used by God to demonstrate the superiority of the eternal Priesthood of Melchisedec over the temporary and inferior Priesthood of Levi. (See; Hebrews 7:6-7) It is not an excuse for your pastor or anyone else to pressure you into "paying your tithe because Abraham did." Abraham's tithe was NOT for the purpose of supporting a church or some other New Testament ministry.

Abraham's tithe had no other spiritual purpose and would have been spiritually useless unless it included the paying of a tithe in Abraham by the Levites to Melchisedec. If Abraham had not possessed the Levites in his loins representing the Law of Moses (See; Hebrews 7:11) upon paying a tithe to Melchisedec, it's highly unlikely that the tithing event would have been considered to be of a significant episode in Abraham's life and subsequently recorded in Genesis chapter fourteen, and then later referenced in Hebrews chapter seven along with explaining it's true purpose. 

HEBREWS CHAPTER SEVEN

Hebrews 7:6-7 - "But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better." 

Hebrews 7:9 - "And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham."

Hebrews 7:11 - "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?"

WHY MELCHISEDEC THE GREATER? 

Scripture reveals why;

Hebrews 7:15-16 - "And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life."

Levi; "the law of a carnal commandment" ...that fades away; 2 Corinthians 3:4-11, "a ministry of death." Hebrews 7:8 - "And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth."

Melchisedec; "the power of an endless life" ... Hebrews 7:24 - "But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood."

CONCLUSION

Proving the superiority of the Priesthood of Melchisedec to the Hebrews (and the entire world) has been accomplished; you don't need to tithe again and again to prove it again and again.

You are NOT Abraham, you cannot pay a tithe to Melchisedec, or to anyone else, as Abraham did because you do not have the Levites in your loins and cannot prove the superiority of Melchisedec.

Paying a tithe as Abraham did is utterly useless and absolute unproductive nonsense for a Christian. No scripture in God's word instructs neither Jew or Gentile, in either the Old or New Testament to tithe as, or because Abraham did. 

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Copyright 2023, Anthony Todd, All rights reserved. Permission to copy and distribute this article must be obtained in writing from Tithing Study Online.

Permission can be requested at: tithingstudyonline@gmail.com. Upon permission to do so, it is granted under the strict condition that no content of any article be removed or altered, and that all articles are to remain intact as is when used. You must include a notation that any article distributed originated from Tithing Study Online, and include our blog URL as: https://ExaminingTithingDeceptions.blogspot.com

 

NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE

 

NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE...

1. A requirement to tithe from one's income.

2. The tithing of money, monetary tithing, instructed or recorded as a New Testament practice.

3. Instructions in the New Covenant to tithe.

4. A pastor or church, or any other New Testament minister or ministry authorized by God to collect a tithe.

5. Instructions to tithe because Abraham did, or because Jacob said he would tithe.

6. A "cursed Christian" because they're not tithing.

7. A Christian losing a blessing because they're not tithing. 

8. A statement in the New Testament making the argument to tithe because "tithing is not forbidden, is not a sin, or prohibited in the New Testament."

9. Instructions to "continue tithing" from the Old Testament.

10. A command from any New Testament Apostle to tithe, or a rebuke to anyone for not tithing.

11. A New Testament church or other ministry supported by tithes.

12. Details in the New Testament as to who must tithe, what the tithe will consist of, when to tithe, or who should receive the tithe.

13. A universal "tithing principle" instructed and continued into the New Testament.

14. Jesus or His disciples tithing anything to any one, or any Apostle referring to Matthew 23:23 as a command for Christians to tithe.

15. Any individual referred to as a "tither."

16. Any church that has a right to enact a rule, policy, program or law requiring tithing.

...NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE.

BELIEVE I'M WRONG? PROVE IT WITH SCRIPTURE, OTHERWISE YOU HAVE NO PROOF.

"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

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17

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

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." - Psalm 119:105

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Copyright 2023, Anthony Todd, All rights reserved. Permission to copy and distribute this article must be obtained in writing from Tithing Study Online.

Permission can be requested at: tithingstudyonline@gmail.com. Upon permission to do so, it is granted under the strict condition that no content of any article be removed or altered, and that all articles are to remain intact as is when used. You must include a notation that any article distributed originated from Tithing Study Online, and include our blog URL as: https://ExaminingTithingDeceptions.blogspot.com

PASTORS CLAIMING TO BE "NEW TESTAMENT LEVITES"

PASTORS CLAIMING TO BE "NEW TESTAMENT LEVITES"

One of the deceptions used by false tithing teachers, especially by pastors, is to claim that a pastor is a "modern day Levite" or a "New Testament Levite." This, of course, is a tactic employed by them because they cannot deny that the tithe was given to the Levites as undeniably stated in Numbers 18:21, 24;

"Numbers 18:21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation."

And...

Numbers 18:24 - "But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance."

Also, seen in Hebrews 7:5;

Hebrews 7:5 - "And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:"

Furthermore, tithing teachers routinely employ the deception of claiming that their church is a "storehouse to be tithed to." Malachi states that the tithe was to be brought into the Storehouse in Jerusalem by the Levites (remember; Malachi is addressing the Levite-Priesthood of his day, Malachi 2;1); NOT to a New Testament church. The New Testament Church is not the Storehouse; Ref.; Nehemiah 10:38 - "And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house." NO SCRIPTURE designates a New Testament church, or any other person or ministry in the New Testament as a "storehouse to be tithed to."

Tithing teachers like to claim "the storehouse is where you get fed from." In fact the common people were NEVER fed from the storehouse, only those serving in the ministry were fed from the storehouse; the priests on duty in the temple in Jerusalem, and the singers and the porters of the temple; 

Nehemiah 13:4-5 - "And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests."

The common people were not even permitted to bring a tithe to the temple, and if they attempted to do so, it was the death penalty; If you were not a Levite accompanied by a Priest descended from Aaron and you brought a tithe to the Storehouse, the penalty was death...

Numbers 18:22 - In the clear context of tithing... "Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die."

There is no such New Testament principle or instructions concerning any "storehouse tithing" that a Christian must follow. It simply does not exist except in the minds of deceptive tithing teachers and in the gullible people they deceive.

THE FOLLOWING ARE MANY SOLID REASONS WHY A NEW TESTAMENT PASTOR IS NOT A LEVITE, AND HAS NO RIGHT TO TAKE ANY TITHE FROM ANYONE

>> 1. Levites were called by God to bear the burden of sin of the congregation. No New Testament pastor bears the burden of sin for his congregation.

Numbers 18:22-23 - "Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die. But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance."

>> 2. No New Testament pastor serves at the alter of sacrifice for sins for the congregation, or paid for the sins of the people, and does not offer any sacrifice for sin. Jesus is our final sacrifice for sin. NO PASTOR can offer a sacrifice for sins for the congregation. Hebrews 7:13-14 - "For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood."

Even Jesus did not, AND COULD NOT, bear the sins of the people as a Levite Priest because He was NOT a Levite, He was born to the tribe of Judah. Again; "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood."

Jesus bore the sins of the world on the Cross as a Priest after the Order of Melchisedec, NOT AS A PRIEST AFTER THE TRIBE OF LEVI. Hence...

Hebrews 6:20 - "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."

Hebrews 7:11 - "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?"

Hebrews 7:17 - "For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."

Hebrews 5:6 - "As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." That "other place" was Psalms 110:4 seen below.

Which said Priesthood existed even before Jesus was born on earth; that is to say that the Priesthood of Melchizedek was established on earth before the birth of Jesus Christ so that Jesus could in fact be a Priest after the Order of Melchizedek when He went to the Cross to bear our sins...

Psalms 110:4 - "The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."

Genesis 14:18-19 - "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:"

Jesus' sacrifice was not after the law of carnal command that fades, but rather after the POWER OF ENDLESS LIFE. This is why we are told this...

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

That "commandment going before" refers to the Law of Moses which faded and could not provide eternal life. But, Jesus, a Priest after the Order of Melchizedek is an eternal Priest after the power of endless life...

Hebrews 7:15-17 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 

The Levite's sacrifices could not result in endless life because they were established after the law of carnal command which faded. The Apostle Paul referred to the Law, using the Ten Commandments as an example, as a "ministry of death." NO "ministry of death" can provide eternal life to anyone. Concerning Jesus, His sacrifice for our sins on the cross DID PROVIDE for eternal life.

A Ministry of death...

2 Corinthians 3:4-11 - "And we have such trust through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones [THE TEN COMMANDMENTS], was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious."

>> 3. The Levites came from a specific physical bloodline, that of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, to Levi. The appointment of the Levite Priesthood recognized and ordained by God came from that bloodline and was established under the law; there is no Levite priesthood established by God under the New Testament. 

Hebrews 7:11 - "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?"

The Levitical priesthood was never intended to be permanent; Hebrews 7:11. The death of Christ put an end to the Old Covenant and the Levitical priesthood, as evidenced by the rending of the temple veil; Matthew 27:51. Now, in the New Testament, Jesus Himself serves as the believer’s Great High Priest; Hebrews 4:14, called according to the order of Melchizedek, not of Levi; Hebrews 7:11–17. Through His death and resurrection, we have access to God’s presence, where we can freely enjoy with God forever; Hebrews 6:19–20.

Born-again believers in Jesus Christ have replaced priests in that since the Resurrection believers now have direct communication with God. God chose the tribe of Levi to be His priests. The Levitical priesthood began with Aaron, but the Levitical priesthood was never intended to continue into the New Testament. As Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was completed, the Old Testament priesthood was no longer necessary. Now we have the priesthood of all believers, all Christians are the priests now.

>> 4. We, Believers, are ALL priests under the New Testament. If a tithing teacher is to be paid a tithe for being a priest [i.e., a Levite], then why shouldn't YOU be paid a tithe FROM the "priest-pastor" to YOU? We are all priests...

1 Peter 2:9 - "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"

Revelation 1:6 - "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

Therefore, any pastor that claims to be a Levite is a liar and destitute of the word of God. No pastor should collect a tithe as a Levite. It is very clear that Jesus ended the sacrificial laws with His death on the cross, and that we don't have to perform any sacrifices, therefore the Levitical office has became useless...

Hebrews 7:11 - "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?"

>> 5. There is no scripture, New or Old Testament, that uniquely establishes a pastor, or for that matter, a New Testament apostle, a teacher, a prophet, or evangelist, as a "Levite," or a "Levite" authorized to take and receive tithes from anyone.

The Tribe of Levi is one of the tribes of Israel, descended from Levi, son of Jacob. The descendants of Aaron, who was the first kohen gadol (high priest) of Israel, were designated as the priestly class, the Kohanim. The Levites come from a bloodline that does not continue into the New Testament as priests to be tithed to.

In the Law of Moses, the Torah, the tribe is named after Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob (also called Israel). Levi married a woman named Adinah, according to the Book of Jasher, and had three sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari (see; Genesis 46:11). Levi also had a daughter named Jochebed (see; Exodus 6:20).

While there may be some similarities between a Levite, such as teaching God's word, there is no indication in the New Testament that a pastor is in fact a Levite or replaces a Levite. Apostles, teachers, evangelists and prophets of the New Testament teach and preach God's word; are they to be tithed to also?

Does your pastor fulfill this?...

"Deuteronomy 18:1-2 says that the Levites had a very special inheritance from God: “The Levitical priests—indeed, the whole tribe of Levi—are to have no allotment or inheritance with Israel. They shall live on the food offerings presented to the Lord, for that is their inheritance. They shall have no inheritance among their fellow Israelites; the Lord is their inheritance, as he promised them.” The other tribes of Israel received a land inheritance in Canaan, but the Levites received no land. Instead, the Levites were given certain cities within the other tribes’ territories.

God was the unique inheritance to the Levites. He was the focus of their service, the source of their sustenance, and the significance of their calling. Their inheritance included cities, daily food, and a constant vocation, but it did not include the same type of land inheritance given to the other tribes of Israel."

>> 6. If New Testament pastors are true Levites, they should not be paying any taxes or government fees of any kind...

Ezra 7:24 - "Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them."

>> 6. If New Testament pastors are true Levites, they should be obeying ALL of the Law of Moses...

Nehemiah 10:28-29 - "And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;"

CONCLUSION

Pastors are not Levites, and have no right or authorization from God to demand or receive tithes from anyone. And, certainly not as a "New Testament Levite"

ADDTIONAL RESOURCES

Pastoral Pay and the Levitical Priesthood...

https://redeeminggod.com/pastoral-pay-levitical-priesthood/ 

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Copyright 2023, Anthony Todd, All rights reserved. Permission to copy and distribute this article must be obtained in writing from Tithing Study Online.

Permission can be requested at: tithingstudyonline@gmail.com. Upon permission to do so, it is granted under the strict condition that no content of any article be removed or altered, and that all articles are to remain intact as is when used. You must include a notation that any article distributed originated from Tithing Study Online, and include our blog URL as: https://ExaminingTithingDeceptions.blogspot.com

 

TWELVE REASONS WHY THERE IS NO "UNIVERSAL TITHING PRINCIPLE" CONTINUED INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT

TWELVE REASONS WHY THERE IS NO "UNIVERSAL TITHING PRINCIPLE" CONTINUED INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT

1. Not one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ were ever recorded as tithing themselves to anyone, teaching anyone to tithe, receiving a tithe, reprimanding churches or individual Christians for not tithing, or wrote any guidelines for New Testament tithing. These Apostles taught no one to tithe anything to anyone at anytime; Peter; James; John; Andrew; Philip; Matthew; Thomas; James, the son of Alpheus; Bartholomew; Judas Thaddeus; Simon Zelotes or Paul. Tithing teachers seem to believe that they know more than the Apostles did and can add their own doctrines of tithing to the teachings of the Apostles.

2. The New Testament contains no guidelines as to who a tithe is to be given to. The assumption that a "tithe" must be given to a church or ministry are nothing more than the traditions of men making void the Word of God, and are not found in New Testament scripture. There are no statements in the New Testament that a tithe of any kind is to be given to a church, other type of ministry, or to any Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, or Teacher. There are no guidelines for tithing found anywhere in the New Covenant.

3. God's tithe was given to the Levites, not to any Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, or Teacher. God has never taken the tithe from the Levites and given the tithe to anyone else. Numbers 18:21 clearly states "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." That has never been repealed, changed or altered in any manner at all.

4. Abraham tithed to Melchisedec, not to any New Testament Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, or Teacher. The Bible contains no instructions, not to Jew or Gentile, not to anyone under the New Testament (of which a Christian is under) to tithe because, or as, Abraham did to Melchisedec. Being the seed of Abraham, which a Christian is, does not conclude that a Christian must tithe as Abraham did. Abraham circumcised 300 in his household; should we do as Abraham did in circumcision, why only in tithing? Abraham's tithe to Melchisedec succeeded in proving the superiority of the priesthood of the Order of Melchisedec, which is established after the power of endless life, over the priesthood of the Levites, which was established after the law of carnal commandment. It does not have to be further proven again with any New Testament Christian tithing to Melchisedec or to anyone else.

Referring to Melchisedec, Hebrews 7:16 states "Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life." Abraham's tithe was given pursuant to the law of the land, not the Law of God. He gave ten percent of the spoils of war to Melchisedec (God's tithe does not come from war), not the tithe of the increase of the land provided by God. Furthermore; Abraham gave a little less than 90%, after his tithe to Melchisedec, to a pagan king, the King of Sodom; if a Christian is to "tithe as Abraham;" should the New Testament tither give the remaining 90% to pagans after tithing? Abraham did; why not the New Testament Christian to do the same if Abraham is to be our "example of tithing?"

5. There is no scripture that indicates that God has transferred the tithing requirement under the Law of Moses for Israel to Grace under the New Testament to Christians.

6. The first Church Council, held in Jerusalem in 50AD, did not conclude or instruct that anyone had to tithe anything, and did not refer to any form of "New Testament tithing."

Additionally; Hebrews 7:8 instructs no New Testament Christian to tithe, as many tithing teachers claim, and Hebrews 7:18 clearly puts an end to, and cancels tithing for anyone under the New Testament, Jew or Gentile. The council concluded;

Acts 15:19-20 - "Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood." ...NOT ONE WORD ABOUT TITHING.

And...

"Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave NO such commandment:" - Acts 15:24 ...NOT ONE WORD ABOUT TITHING.

If there existed a "tithing principle" extended into the New Testament for Christians, the first church council knew nothing about it and expressed no guidelines or instructions for any such "principle" or requirement.

7. 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, there are NO SUCH INSTRUCTIONS TO BE FOUND. 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. The New Testament KNOWS NOTHING OF ANY COMMAND FOR A BELIEVER TO TITHE.

8. In Hebrews Chapter Seven tithing is mentioned 7 times, verses number; 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 9 again, focusing CLEARLY ON TITHING, and while proving the superiority of Christ's priesthood, ALSO places tithing (along with the rest of the law of Moses) in a position of INFERIORITY and declares ALL THREE ARE WEAK, ALL THREE ARE UNPROFITABLE, AND ALL THREE ARE DISANNULLED (i.e.; ENDED, CANCELED, DISCONTINUED)...INCLUDING TITHING. "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof." - Hebrews 7:18

9. There are three tithes in the Old Testament established and commanded by God NOT FOUND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, they are;

>> THE FIRST 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, Temple and Temple workers.

>> SECOND 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 - 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 and support the Levites.

None of these three tithes are found anywhere commanded to be paid under the New Testament.

10. Malachi states that the tithe was to be brought into the Storehouse by the Levites (remember; Malachi is addressing the Levite-Priesthood of his day, Malachi 2;1); the New Testament Church is not the Storehouse; Ref.; Nehemiah 10:38 - "And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house." NO SCRIPTURE designates a New Testament church, or any other person or ministry in the New Testament as a "storehouse to be tithed to." Tithing teachers like to claim "the storehouse is where you get fed from." In fact the common people were NEVER fed from the storehouse, only those serving in the ministry were fed from the storehouse; the priests on duty in the temple in Jerusalem, the singers and the porters of the temple. The common people were not even permitted to bring a tithe to the temple, and if they attempted to do so, it was the death penalty; 

If you were not a Levite accompanied by a Priest descended from Aaron and you brought a tithe to the Storehouse, the penalty was death.

Nehemiah 10:38 - Who brings the tithe to the Storehouse?... "And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house."

Numbers 18:22 - In the clear context of tithing... "Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die."

11. The tithing that God established, i.e., in the Torah (The Law), was the Law Malachi was writing under the authority of. The Law was, and is, the details of the Covenant between God and the People (or Nation) of Israel. Though Gentiles would ultimately benefit from the Covenant (i.e.; Jesus our Savior), nowhere did God call or command Gentiles to tithe in The Law or in the New Testament.

12. God has never commanded that a tithe be paid from anyone's income. "Income tithing" does not exist in God's word. The tithe that God commanded was from the increase of the land and of the herd, and was the personal inheritance, personal property by inheritance from God Himself given to the Levites, NOT the property or income of the rancher (herdsman) or farmer. See Numbers 18:21-24. The tithe of the land from the farm or ranch was never the income or property of the rancher or farmer, it was the Levites property by Divine decree; hence the Levites were instructed to "take the tithe;" Hebrews 7:5 - "And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:" They were told to TAKE IT because they owned it.

...THERE YOU HAVE TWELVE REASONS, AND THERE ARE MANY MORE.

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Copyright 2023, Anthony Todd, All rights reserved. Permission to copy and distribute this article must be obtained in writing from Tithing Study Online.

Permission can be requested at: tithingstudyonline@gmail.com. Upon permission to do so, it is granted under the strict condition that no content of any article be removed or altered, and that all articles are to remain intact as is when used. You must include a notation that any article distributed originated from Tithing Study Online, and include our blog URL as: https://ExaminingTithingDeceptions.blogspot.com