To Tithe - or - Not To Tithe

To Tithe - or - Not to Tithe?

JOHNNY D. HINTON·TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 2016

To Tithe - or - Not To Tithe?

Defining the terms:

Tithe simple means 1/10th or 10% It is a portion or percentage Many use the term incorrectly As a synonym for giving To anything In any amount

New Testament references

:23Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone. (cp. ):12I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I get. (ASV)-10And they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest's office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham: but he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes of Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath the promises. But without any dispute the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there one, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes; for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him. (ASV)

Old Testament references

-32Nu. 18:21, 24, 26, 28Dt. 12:6, 11, 17Dt. 14:22-23, 28Dt. 26:122 Ch. 31:5-6, 12Neh. 10:37-38Neh. 12:44Neh. 13:5, 12Amos 4:4

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Will a man rob God?

What was Tithed?

VegetationNOTE: ground/tillageSeed of the landFruit of the treeGrainNew wineOilHoneyDoughHerbsLivestockOxen (herd)Sheep (flock)

To Whom was It Given

The children of LeviFor their serviceSingers; porters; priestsAlso to…SojournerFatherlessWidows

PURPOSE: Food to eat and be filled

Based on increase (4x)From the first-fruitsIt was to be collected every three yearsIt was to be storedThe house of our God; My houseThe store house; the treasure houseA great chamber; the chambersDistinct from sacrifices & other offeringsNever called an act of atonementTithing never referred to as moneyIt was essentially a taxTo supply the needs of the tribe of LeviTo supply the needs of the poorIt was a practical national support systemIsrael was initially an agrarian cultureThey still had access to money: gold & silver coinsAs food it was...PerishableRenewableLess abuse or greed Tithing was never placed upon the churchNo command; no example; no implicationWe pay taxes to whatever nation we are inBut we can learn some thingsNeed to support the ministry1 Cor. 9:3-14; ; -18Need to support the poorEspecially from the household of faithGal. 2:10; 6:10

NT Giving -- /

Periodic: On the first day of every week

Personal: each of you is to put something aside and store it up

Proportionate: as he may prosper

Preventive: so that contributions need not be made when I come

Purposeful: Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion

For God loves a cheerful giver

And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. (, RSV)