tithing

Breaking Free Ministries USA
USA

Tithing & Giving in the Church Today

James L. Swinton

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 9:3). 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
(1) OFFERING - Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek and the remainder to the king of Sodom (Gen.14:18-
24 [Moses commanded that the priests receive 1/500th of goods from those who had gone to war; v. 30-the
Levites received 1/50th of the congregation’s half of the spoil - Numbers 31:9,25-29]). “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 the vow made the tenth that Jacob said he would pay as being
entirely conditional (Genesis 28:22). Twenty percent to Pharaoh and 80 to themselves (Genesis 47:23,24); the
priests had their own land and produced their own food (v. 22,26). The Lord asked the children of Israel for
an offering (Exodus 25:1-8); the Lord also asked them for an offering of a half of shekel for the service of the
tabernacles ((Exodus 30:112-116). The people of Israel gave offerings (Exodus 35:20-29, 36-37). Offerings
were commanded to be given (Deuteronomy 16:17).
(2)TITHES TO THE LEVITES (Israelites in the wilderness) - Tithes were for the Levites services (Numbers 18:
20-24) and a 10th of tithe for the family of Aaron - the priests (verse 25-32). The tithe was only required on
agricultural crops, herbs, and flocks (Leviticus 27:30-33).
(3) 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 112:5-7, 11-18, 14:21-23). Please note that Israelites
did have money (Exodus 30:12-16; Numbers 3:47), but were not required to tithe on it: fishermen (Leviticus
11:9-12, 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; 26:12-113); fatherless and widows also received the tithe. The Levites worked for a living - they had
land for cattle and farming (Numbers 35:1-5).

TITHES IN THE STOREHOUSE (Malachi 4:10):
This referred to the temple in Jerusalem,which held grain only not money (II Chronicles 3:4-10); Malachi
promised relief (3:11). A parallel account of Malachi’s situation (Nehemiah 13:10-12 [Israelites neglecting
paying their tithe offerings to the house of God]). Poverty and food shortage existed (Nehemiah 5:2-6).

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) and 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); kept the Feast of Passover with His parents (Luke 2:41,42); and taught
during the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:2,14,37). Christ paid tribute for the upkeep of the temple (Matthew
17:24-27).Christ told a man He had healed to offer animal sacrifice (Luke 5:14). Christ accepted free will
offerings (Luke 8:11-3).The disciples were told by Christ that the Scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat, to
obey and keep the law (Matthew 23: 2,3; 28:23). Paul financed himself by working with his own hands (Acts
20:28, 33-35). “In the New Testament the words tithe and tithing appear only eight times (Matthew 23:23;
Luke 11:42; 18:12; Hebrews 7:5-6, 8-9). All of these passages refer to Old Testament usage and to current
Jewish practice. 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
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). But it is the minimum amount you should give, if you are able and it is done from the heart. Paul
quoted Jesus, saying, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:25). You also should consider these
verses: Give "as God prospered"
(I Corinthians 16:2) and according to what we have (II Corinthians 9:6-9).

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.

Note: If this article has been of any help to you, please e-mail me [see "contact us" form]. I would appreciate
it very
much.
God bless you,
James