Tithing, what was it's purpose and should we do it?

A very hot topic. Please read. I've researched this and studied this time after time. Money was never tithed under the LAW. It was however, used to pay for animals to sacrifice. Animals to sacrifice had to be bought from local Israelites. If you were poor, provisions could be made.

There was more than one tithe required under the LAW. When I say under the LAW, I mean all the 613 plus laws given under Moses At Mount Horeb/Sinai and the wilderness of Sinai, to include Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 14:

Verse 22: "You shall truly TITHE all the increase of your SEED, THAT THE FIELD BRINGS FORTH year by year." Verse 23: "And YOU SHALL EAT before the Lord your God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, THE TITHE OF YOUR CORN, of YOUR WINE, and of YOUR OIL, and the FIRSTLINGS OF YOUR HERDS and of YOUR FLOCKS; that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always." Verse 24: "And if the way be too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from you, which the Lord your God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord your God has blessed you." Verse 25: "Then you shall turn it (note: "it" refers to the tithe of the corn, the wine, the oil, the firstlings of the herds and flocks) into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shall go unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose. Verse 26: "And YOU shall bestow that money FOR WHATSOEVER YOUR SOUL LUSTETH (King James Version) after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever your soul desires: and you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household."

This tells us, that this particular "tithe" was not money, but rather it was the "tithe" of corn, wine, oil, firstlings of the herd and flock. This "tithe" used to EAT before the Lord and to be consumed by the individual and his family..

Deuteronomy 26:12: "When you hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of your increase THE THIRD YEAR, WHICH IS THE YEAR OF TITHING, and HAVE GIVEN IT UNTO the Levite, THE STRANGER, THE FATHERLESS, and THE WIDOW, that they may eat within your gates, and be filled.

Deuteronomy 26:12.....it was always about helping the poor in the land. Tithing was done in a way to help those in need, according to the LAW.... When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied...Under the LAW, crops, produce and animals were tithed. nothing more, nothing less. it wasnt about money, it was all agricultural and they also gave a portion of their tithes to the fatherless, widows and those in need. Churches take money but it's not required and never was required. It was all about giving an increase of the land. Under the Mosaic Covenant whenever the tabernacle was to be built, it was all about contributions. How do we know? (Exodus 35:1-36:7)...Contributions—the offerings of the Israelites for the tabernacle:

Exodus 35:1—36:7.

Construction—the making of the tabernacle: Exodus 36:8—39:43...today it should be the same way, contributing. the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution. And this is the contribution which you are to raise from them: gold, silver and bronze, blue, purple and scarlet material, fine linen, goat hair, rams’ skins dyed red, porpoise skins, acacia wood, oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones and setting stones and setting stones, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. And let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:1-8).

Tithing was required on flocks: “every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod”3(Leviticus 27:32). “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:30).4 The tithes and firstfruits belonged to God, and he assigned the Levites to receive them on his behalf (Numbers 18:12-13, 21, 24). They could keep 90 percent of what they were given, but had to give 10 percent as an offering (verses 26-32).

Tithing is in the New Testament. Jesus acknowledged that the Pharisees were very careful about tithing (Luke 18:12), and he said that they should not leave it undone (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42).

The only other New Testament mention of tithing is in Hebrews. The fact that Abraham was blessed by and gave tithes to Melchizedek illustrates the superiority of Melchizedek and Jesus Christ over the Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 7:1-10). The passage then goes on to note that “when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also” (verse 12).

There was a change of the priesthood from the Levites to Jesus Christ, and this implies a change in the law that assigned the Levites to be priests. How much has been changed? Hebrews says that the old covenant is obsolete. The package of laws that commanded tithes to be given to the Levites is obsolete.

Humans should honor God by voluntarily returning some of the blessings he gives them — this is still a valid principle. The only place that a percentage is required is within the old covenant.

Christians need to give, to share their resources and blessings with others. They have a duty to support the preaching of the gospel, to give financial support to their spiritual leaders, and the church needs this support. If disciples of Jesus Christ can give, but do not, they are falling short.

The old covenant required 10 percent. The new covenant does not specify a percentage, nor do we. However, the new covenant admonishes people to give what they can, and tithing still provides an instructive point of comparison. For some people, 10 percent may be too much. But some will be able to give more, and some are doing so. Christians should examine their own circumstances and the better blessings they have been given in the new covenant through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for us and the gift of the Holy Spirit to us. Contributions should be given to the church for its collective work of preaching the gospel and the expenses involved in the local ministry and congregational needs.

Likewise, the new covenant does not specify any particular percentage for assisting the poor. Instead, it asks for equity — and we certainly have room for improvement in this.

The old covenant required simple percentages. Everyone knew how much was required. The new covenant has no set percentages. Instead, it requires more soul-searching, more training for the conscience, more selfless love for others, more faith, more voluntary sacrifice and less compulsion. It tests our values, what we treasure most, and where our hearts are.

Therefore, under the covenant of Grace, it’s all about liberal giving, giving in love and generosity, and it does not have to be about money. Give anything and all you are able to give to anyone who needs it. As for the Church, it does help to give money to pay for expenses, i.e bills and for maintaining the church, but give as much as you are feel led to give. If need be, contribute things to the church instead of giving money if you wish. As long as you give, and give generously, that’s what GOD is looking for, giving from the heart.

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