Tithing & Giving in the Church Today
TITHING HISTORY
The Christian church depended at first on voluntary gifts from its members, from which the local bishops paid the clergy, maintained the church buildings, and relieved the poor. Early Christian writers tended to consider tithing as one of the Jewish laws not enjoined on Christians. The people who have, as Irenaeus said, “received liberty” and who should thus give freely. As the church grew, some provision had to made for its support, and Christians began to be exhorted to follow Old Testament practice, supported by implication by the New Testament (Matt.10:10; Luke 10:7; I Corinthians 9:13). By the 6th century many Christians were setting aside a tenth of their income and paying it to the church. The tithe was not regarded as a gift to the church but as God’s property. [Encyclopedia Britannica, 1971]
TITHES Paid in Three Stages in Old Testament
This referred to the temple in Jerusalem, which held grain only not money (II Chronicles 3:4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10); Malachi promised relief (Malachi 3:3, 11). A parallel account of Malachi’s situation is Nehemiah 13:10-11, 12 [Israelites neglected paying their tithe offerings to the house of God]).
TITHES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT: Christ told the Scribes and Pharisees it’s scriptural to pay tithes (Matthew 23:23). Why?
"No where does the New Testament expressly command Christians to tithe” [Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Carmel & N. Y.: Thomas Nelson Publisher, 1986,p. 1057].
Conclusion
Looking back in history, we can easily see God commanded the Israelites to pay tithes to support the temple/sanctuary and priests. Today, we are the temple of God; it dwells in us individually. We don't tithe to support it.
But God still want us to give to support God's servants whether it's your local church or others caring out God's commission to preach and teach the Word of God to reconcile the unsaved to Him. We should voluntarily give a minimum of 10%, if you have the ability to do so, to support God's work. God isn't legalistic, but He expects us to give from our heart. Read the following scripture: "The Lord spoke to Moses, asking him to say to the children of Israel 'bring Me an offering from everyone who gives it willingly with his heart...'" (Exodus 25:2). See also II Chron. 29:30,31.
God does not command believers in the Body of Christ to pay tithes today because believers are not under the Mosaic law as Christ, the disciples, and the Israelites (Acts 15: 5,24; Romans 6:14; Galatians 2:19; 3:24-25). Paul quoted Jesus, saying, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). You also should consider these verses: Give "as God prospered" (I Corinthians 16:2) and according to what we have (II Corinthians 9:6-7,8-9).
Who should you give too?:
* First, you should support your local church you are attending.
* Secondarily, support any other ministry you are being fed the Word of God.
* Thirdly, support any charity you are led by the Holy Spirit to support.
DON'T GIVE LEGALISTIC OR TO BE BLESSED,
BUT GIVE FROM THE HEART
Note: If this article has been of any help to you, please email me on the form below. I would appreciate it very much.
God bless,
James
Read also from Associates For Scriptural Knowledge(A.S.K.):
"Jews Do Not Tithe Today"
The Christian church depended at first on voluntary gifts from its members, from which the local bishops paid the clergy, maintained the church buildings, and relieved the poor. Early Christian writers tended to consider tithing as one of the Jewish laws not enjoined on Christians. The people who have, as Irenaeus said, “received liberty” and who should thus give freely. As the church grew, some provision had to made for its support, and Christians began to be exhorted to follow Old Testament practice, supported by implication by the New Testament (Matt.10:10; Luke 10:7; I Corinthians 9:13). By the 6th century many Christians were setting aside a tenth of their income and paying it to the church. The tithe was not regarded as a gift to the church but as God’s property. [Encyclopedia Britannica, 1971]
TITHES Paid in Three Stages in Old Testament
- OFFERING - Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek and the remainder to the king of Sodom (Genesis 14:18-19, 20-21, 22-23,24). Moses commanded that the priests receive 1/500th of goods from those who had gone to war (Numbers:28-29). The Levites received 1/50th of the congregation’s half of the spoil (Numbers 31:30). “There is no recorded demand of Abraham for a tenth.” [Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Carmel & New York: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1986, p. 1056]. “If” in this vow (Gen. 28:20-21,22) made the tenth that Jacob said he would pay as being entirely conditional. Twenty percent to Pharaoh and 80 to themselves (Genesis 47:23-24); the priests had their own land and produced their own food (Gen.47:22,26). The Lord asked the children of Israel for an offering (Exodus 25:1-2,3-4,5-6,7-8); the Lord also asked them for an offering of a half of shekel for the service of the tabernacles (Exodus 30:11-12,13). The people of Israel gave offerings (Exodus 35: 20-21,22-23, 24-25,26-27; Genesis 35:28-29, 36-37). Offerings were commanded to be given (Deuteronomy 16:17).
- TITHES TO THE LEVITES (Israelites in the wilderness) - Tithes were for the Levites services (Numbers 18:20-21,23-24)and a 10th of tithe for the family of Aaron - the priests (Numbers 18:25-26,27-28,29-30,31-32). The tithe was only required on agricultural crops, herbs, and flocks (Leviticus 27:30-31,32-33).
- TITHES BY ISRAEL & TO THE LEVITES (Israelites in the promise Land): 10% for Festival 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th year - Moses ordered that all Israelites set aside 10% of their agricultural and animal production each year, and commanded that those tithes be brought to a central place where the tabernacle (later called the temple) would be located (Deuteronomy 11:5-6,7, 11-12,13-14,15-16,17-18; 14:21-22,23). Please note that Israelites did have money (Exodus 30:12-13,14-15,16; Numbers 3:47), but were not required to tithe on it: fishermen (Leviticus 11:9-10,11-12), miners (Deuteronomy 8:9), or ranchers who had fewer than ten cows (Leviticus 27:32). Ten% for the Levites (3rd and 6th year) - Levites were only to receive the full tithe every 3rd and 6th year (Deuteronomy 14:28-29; 26:12-13); fatherless and widows also received the tithe. The Levites worked for a living - they had land for cattle and farming (Numbers 35:1-2,3-4,5).
This referred to the temple in Jerusalem, which held grain only not money (II Chronicles 3:4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10); Malachi promised relief (Malachi 3:3, 11). A parallel account of Malachi’s situation is Nehemiah 13:10-11, 12 [Israelites neglected paying their tithe offerings to the house of God]).
TITHES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT: Christ told the Scribes and Pharisees it’s scriptural to pay tithes (Matthew 23:23). Why?
- Christ was born a Jew (Matthew 2:1-2; Luke 2:1-24).
- He came not to destroy the law (Matthew 5:17).
- He was subject to the law of Moses/made under the law (Galatians 4:4).
- He was circumcised (Luke 2:21).
- A sacrificial offering was made upon His behalf (Luke 2:24).
- Jesus kept the Feast of Passover with His parents (Luke 2:41-42).
- He taught during the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2,14,37).
- Christ paid tribute for the upkeep of the temple (Matthew 17:24-25,26-27).
- Christ told a man He had healed to offer animal sacrifice (Luke 5:14).
"No where does the New Testament expressly command Christians to tithe” [Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Carmel & N. Y.: Thomas Nelson Publisher, 1986,p. 1057].
Conclusion
Looking back in history, we can easily see God commanded the Israelites to pay tithes to support the temple/sanctuary and priests. Today, we are the temple of God; it dwells in us individually. We don't tithe to support it.
But God still want us to give to support God's servants whether it's your local church or others caring out God's commission to preach and teach the Word of God to reconcile the unsaved to Him. We should voluntarily give a minimum of 10%, if you have the ability to do so, to support God's work. God isn't legalistic, but He expects us to give from our heart. Read the following scripture: "The Lord spoke to Moses, asking him to say to the children of Israel 'bring Me an offering from everyone who gives it willingly with his heart...'" (Exodus 25:2). See also II Chron. 29:30,31.
God does not command believers in the Body of Christ to pay tithes today because believers are not under the Mosaic law as Christ, the disciples, and the Israelites (Acts 15: 5,24; Romans 6:14; Galatians 2:19; 3:24-25). Paul quoted Jesus, saying, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). You also should consider these verses: Give "as God prospered" (I Corinthians 16:2) and according to what we have (II Corinthians 9:6-7,8-9).
Who should you give too?:
* First, you should support your local church you are attending.
* Secondarily, support any other ministry you are being fed the Word of God.
* Thirdly, support any charity you are led by the Holy Spirit to support.
DON'T GIVE LEGALISTIC OR TO BE BLESSED,
BUT GIVE FROM THE HEART
Note: If this article has been of any help to you, please email me on the form below. I would appreciate it very much.
God bless,
James
Read also from Associates For Scriptural Knowledge(A.S.K.):
"Jews Do Not Tithe Today"
- Another resource video on tithing is
