What about tithing? What is a tithe? Are tithes required?

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Did you know the first tithes in the Bible were before the ten commandments?

The tithe was codified in the Mosaic Ten Commandment Law Covenant between God and the Children Of Israel who were rescued from bondage in Egypt. This law of tithing is very specific. But, there are many ways to interpret these passages: from not donating anything, excuses for donating too little, reasons for not donating one-tenth, requirements for donations of the whole one-tenth, or shaming into donating fifteen percent or even way more. The Bible truth is the Mosaic Ten Commandment Law required the children of Israel to set aside one-tenth of the produce of the land as an offering to the Lord.

This offering was to be given for the work of the Lord including the support of the priests from the tribe of Levi…

“One tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD and must be set apart to him as holy. (Leviticus 27:30)

“I am giving the Levites one-tenth of every Israelite’s income. This is in return for the work they do at the tent of meeting. The other Israelites must never again come near the tent of meeting. Otherwise, they’ll suffer the consequences of their sin and die. Only the Levites will do the work at the tent of meeting. They will be responsible for their own sins. This is a permanent law for future generations. They will own no property as the other Israelites will. Instead, I will give the Levites what the Israelites contribute to the LORD-one-tenth of the Israelites’ income. This is why I said about them, ‘They will own no property as the other Israelites do.'”  (Numbers 18:21-24)

In whatever city you live, you may slaughter and eat as much meat as you want from what the LORD your God has blessed you with. Clean and unclean people may eat it as if they were eating a gazelle or a deer. But never eat the blood. Pour it on the ground like water. You may not eat [the LORD’s offerings] in your cities. Those offerings are: one-tenth of your grain, new wine, and olive oil; the firstborn of your cattle, sheep, or goats; the offerings you vow to bring; your freewill offerings; and your contributions. Instead, you, your sons and daughters, male and female slaves, and the Levites who live in your cities must eat these in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose. There in the presence of the LORD your God enjoy everything you’ve worked for. Don’t forget to take care of the Levites as long as you live in your land. (Deuteronomy 12:15-19)

“You must set aside a tithe of your crops–one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year. (Deuteronomy 14:22)

The Levitical priests-in fact, the whole tribe of Levi-will receive no land or property of their own like the rest of the Israelites. They will eat what has been sacrificed to the LORD. These sacrifices will be what they receive. So the Levites will have no land of their own like the other Israelites. The LORD will be their inheritance, as he promised them.
This is what the people owe the priests whenever they sacrifice an ox, a sheep, or a goat: the shoulder, jaws, and stomach. Also, give them the first produce harvested: grain, new wine, olive oil, and the first wool you shear from your sheep. Out of all your tribes, the LORD your God has chosen the Levites and their descendants to do the work of serving in the name of the LORD forever. (Deuteronomy 18:1-5)

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! (Malachi 3:10)

Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins.
Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44)

By rightly-dividing, we understand this is the Age of Grace. Christians aren’t under the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13), so we are not bound by those requirements of the law. There is no Jew or Gentile in the church (Galatians 3:28), so there is no priestly tribe of Levites (1 Peter 2:5) to be supported by tithes. There is no physical temple on Earth (Mark 13). None of these laws apply to us. But, that does not mean we are free to selfishly hoard all our money for ourselves and squander it anyway we want.

The earth and everything it contains are the LORD’s. The world and all who live in it are his. (Psalm 24:1-2)

“I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud And your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.” (Isaiah 44:22)

You were bought for a price. So bring glory to God in the way you use your body. (1 Corinthians 6:20)

Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. (Romans 12:1)

If you are reaping a spiritual harvest from the ministry, worship, fellowship, and counselling at your church, then you owe them a material harvest of donations, tithes, and offerings to support the work.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for every one of you because the news of your faith is spreading throughout the whole world. I serve God by spreading the Good News about his Son. God is my witness that I always mention you every time I pray. I ask that somehow God will now at last make it possible for me to visit you. I long to see you to share a spiritual blessing with you so that you will be strengthened. What I mean is that we may be encouraged by each other’s faith. I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that I often planned to visit you. However, until now I have been kept from doing so. What I want is to enjoy some of the results of working among you as I have also enjoyed the results of working among the rest of the nations. I have an obligation to those who are civilized and those who aren’t, to those who are wise and those who aren’t. That’s why I’m eager to tell you who live in Rome the Good News also. (Romans 1:8-15)

But now I have no new opportunities for work in this region. For many years I have wanted to visit you. Now I am on my way to Spain, so I hope to see you when I come your way. After I have enjoyed your company for a while, I hope that you will support my trip to Spain. Right now I’m going to Jerusalem to bring help to the Christians there. Because the believers in Macedonia and Greece owe a debt to the Christians in Jerusalem, they have decided to take up a collection for the poor among the Christians in Jerusalem. These Macedonians and Greeks have shared the spiritual wealth of the Christians in Jerusalem. So they are obligated to use their earthly wealth to help them. When the collection is completed and I have officially turned the money over to the Christians in Jerusalem, I will visit you on my way to Spain. I know that when I come to you I will bring the full blessing of Christ. (Romans 15:23-29)

Let’s be pragmatic, preaching the gospel, getting out the word, caring for orphans and widows, and reaching the world, takes money. It took money when Jesus was on Earth. It took money when Paul made his missionary journeys. And, it takes money today. If this is important to you, you need to be helping physically by volunteering in your community and you need to be helping financially with your donations, tithes and offerings.

Mark 12:41-44 Let us not forget that Jesus still sees the treasury. He knows how much, and from what motives, men give to his cause. He looks at the heart, and what our views are, in giving alms; and whether we do it as unto the Lord, or only to be seen of men. It is so rare to find any who would not blame this widow, that we cannot expect to find many who will do like to her; and yet our Saviour commends her, therefore we are sure that she did well and wisely. The feeble efforts of the poor to honour their Saviour, will be commended in that day, when the splendid actions of unbelievers will be exposed to contempt. –Matthew Henry Commentary

This is not a prosperity gospel. God has not promised tithing will be a magic pathway to riches. God has promised when you tithe even a little, you will be blessed with more ability to tithe.

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One Reply to “What about tithing? What is a tithe? Are tithes required?”

  1. Joy From Giving Lasts Much Longer Than Joy From Getting, Study Shows

    CHICAGO — In this season of giving and getting, the findings are in. It is more blessed to give than to receive.

    According to two new studies conducted by researchers with the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, giving to others rather than to ourselves makes us happier.

    Have you ever noticed that your enjoyment in a repeated activity or event decreases over time no matter how wonderful it is? When this happens, you are experiencing what researchers call hedonic adaptation. The joy of having our own desires met is always fleeting. Perhaps surprisingly, however, giving to others creates a more lasting happiness.

    Researchers think that there might be an explanation. When we focus on outcomes, like getting paid, we are in comparison mode. This makes us lose out on the subtle feelings of each individual experience and leads to a feeling of “never enough.” On the other hand, each act of giving removes the comparison aspect and so has a fresh, new feel every time.