Tithing …an Old Testament Law?
Tithing is one of the most controversial topics in today’s modern churches. Many Pastors are quick to pronounce a curse on their congregants via Malachi Chapter 3 if they don’t give 10% of their MONEY to the church. But what does the bible say about tithing? Is it an Old Testament law? Are New Testament believers required to give a tithe? Was the tithe ever Money? When Abraham tithed was it a requirement? Who is Malachi talking to regarding the “cursed with a curse” scripture? How are New Testament believers instructed to give? Let’s see what the bible says.
What was the tithe? The tithe was 10% of seeds, fruits/vegetables and herds of the land that was to be given to the Levites because they did not have an inheritance as the other 11 tribes of Israel had. The tithe was also food for the widows, fatherless, strangers and poor who lived among the Israelites.
Tithing was a law and a requirement.
Deu 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
Deu 14:23 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.
Deu 14:24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
Deu 14:25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:
Deu 14:26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
Deu 14:27 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.
Deu 14:28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:
Deu 14:29 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.
The bible Clearly tells us what the tithe was, and what is was used for, it was food (not money) to feed God’s people, again the tithe was never money but food. Some pastors will say, "they didn't have money back then so they tithed in food", this is incorrect. We just read were God said if the place where he leads the Israelites is too far to travel (with all the fruits, seeds and herds) then turn the tithe into money, and when you get there buy the tithes (fruits, seeds and herds) with that money so that everyone can eat and enjoy themselves in the presence of the Most High. So they did have a money system back then, but as we just read the tithe was not money.
Now some will say, "but Abraham tithed way before the laws were given to Moses on Mount Sinai". Yes indeed, Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils from war, (read Genesis 14). Abraham was not required to do so under any law; he gave a tenth of someone else's goods to Melchizedek as an appreciation for God delivering Lot (his nephew) from war. Some preachers will say, Jesus is our Melchizedek therefore we are still required to tithe, then I say why not give the way Abraham did, he gave from his heart and not out of fear of some curse or bad thing happening to him, and he also give of someone’s else goods, should we also gave a tithe from the spoils of war or from someone else property?
Now here is the most overused, overabused, subtle use of a scripture I have ever seen, ...Malachi Chapter 3.
The Levite priest were not doing what the law required them to do with the
tithes. They did not give unto the poor, widows, stranger and fatherless, they
were keeping it for themselves out of a spirit of greed. Malachi chapter 3 is a
warning to priest, (or bishops, pastors, preachers) about their abuse of this law,
the bible starts with this warning in chapter 2.
Mal 2:1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.
Who is Malachi talking too ?, The Priest !
Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Mal 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Mal 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.
In the New Testament Jesus gives an example of which it means to rob God , Mat 25:42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
The Levite priest were robbing the people of the tithes which was to be given to them for food, therefore they were robbing God. The curse was against the priest and not the people, but many Pastors will declare a curse on the poor members in their Churches because they did not give their tithes.
Moses was given 613 laws on Mount Sinai, tithing was one of them, if a Pastor is going to teach his members to keep one of the LAWs out of 613 from the old covenant, then he must teach them to keep all of it. James said,
Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
If you don’t keep everything written in the law then you have broken all of them, even if you tithe faithfully. And why would you want to stay under an old law that has been fulfilled?
Apostle Paul makes it clear that we are under a New Covenant not like the old one, ( Hebrews 8:9), if people want to stay under the old law but not follow everything written in it, the bible calls them cursed,
Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
What is Paul saying here, those who want to try and obtain salvation and righteousness through the works of the old law and don't do everything that the 613 laws requires, you are under a curse.
So when your Pastor tells you that you are cursed with a curse for not tithing, tell him the bible says those who don’t continue in all of the law (613 percepts) are under a curse.
Christ came to redeemed us from curse the law,
Gal 3:13 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:
Why would anyone want to continue under a law that has been nullified, or as Paul said "waxed old". Why out of all the 613 laws of the Old Testament, tithing is the only one that is still required for New Testament believers?
In his book, “The Great Tithing Debate: Condemned if you do Condemned If You Don’t”, A. Bruce Wells gives a great example of those who continue in the old law,
“To continue to honor this one little part of Malachi is the same as going to your files and digging out your “OLD” paid-off mortagae contract to honor just one clause, even after it has been replaced by a new and better title-deed based on “better promise”
He goes on to say in the book what many Pastors are telling their congregations.
“You’re cursed with a cruse: you’re robbing God, you’re not faithful, you’re not a good steward, you’re a theft, your never going to prosper, your cut off from his blessings, and so on.”
Many preachers will say, tithing is mentioned in the new testament so therefore we must keep it, …let see what the bible says, because when Christ was still alive the Old Covenant was still effective, but when he shed his blood, and died for our sins, the New Covenant has now replaced the old one), the bible says,
Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the Law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Col 2:14 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…
Does this mean we should not give?, Absolutely Not. We are to Give cheerfully, and with a happy heart, we are to Give to those who are in need, we are to Give with a thankful heart, not out of fear of being cursed or punished if we don’t give a certain amount to a local church.
Paul said,
2Co 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
2Co 9:9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
New Testament believers are to give from their hearts, our giving is not to be calculated by percentages (because truth be told when we have it, we give way more then 10%). Our giving is unto those who are need. God see and know are hearts, so our giving should not be about what God will do for me, or what wonderful things I will get if I give, No, we should give without even thinking about what we will get in return, for it is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35
Many churches have placed themselves under a curse because they have placed themselves back under the old covenant law. Pastors who read Malachi 3 to scare people into giving are false teachers. I challenge everyone to study the scriptures regarding tithing and then ask your Pastor, "Are we still under the Mosaic law ?, if he says No then ask him, Why are we required to keep one part of it…tithing?
In the book of Acts, The New Testament believers showed all of us the true meaning of giving from ones heart,
Act 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
Act 2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Giving is Good, Giving is Godly, Giving with good intentions is Honorable, that's why I thank God for Jesus Christ who has redeemed us from the curse of the law (tithing) and has taught us under the New Covenant ( the spirit of the law) that our Giving is freely, cheerfully and from our hearts, just like the gift of eternal life has been freely given to all those who are in Christ Jesus. Selah
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