Sermon Tone Analysis

Tithing In The New Testament

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

As we have been going through our 40 day devotional as a church – I pray that the scripture is bringing to light the importance the Lord places on stewardship.

We are 1 week in, and it happens to be that our text this morning is the parallel to the very first verse we read in our devotional.

In the scripture, we find God not only expecting, but requiring good stewardship.

Too often people get the idea that since tithing was presented in the OT that we do not need to practice it in the NT

That premise of course is a flawed premise...

There are a lot of things that are given in the OT - but are still in full force today -

Thou shall not kill

In the NT the Lord referred to the Law in - & Paul referred to the law again in Rom13 concerning murder - but it wasn’t given as another thou shalt not - it was referred to - understood that these are still in effect...

is full of commands against all sort if immoral practices - giving guidelines to protect from immoral behavior - incest, inbreeding, all manner of unholiness…

Not given again in the NT - but just as valid and definitely in effect...

When it comes to money - we have a hard time giving it up...

We are connected in a way that we cannot even understand -

It represents:

Power

Prestige

Accumen

Accomplishment

Identity

Independence

As I have taught you in the past -

Tithing was Before the Law - Abraham

During the Law - Moses

After the Law - NT - Jesus reaffirming it in out text...

Tithing In The New Testament

the word Tithe - simply means a 10th...

10%

the base giving that the Lord requires is 10 %

Brian Kluth says it this way:

“Giving 10% isn’t the ceiling of giving; it’s the floor.

It’s not the finish line of giving; It’s just the starting blocks”

1.

New Testament Precepts:

A. The Commendation of Christ –

these ought ye to have done…

these: pay tithe of mint, anise, and cumin (spices / herbs)

Tithe:

The Lord did not:

Discontinue

Devalue

Discourage the tithe

If the tithe was going to be replaced by “grace giving” he would have done it right here...

Grace giving...

This grace also… is up and above - not below.... (Tonight we will be looking at Grace Giving)

B. The Condemnation of Christ

…, and not to leave the other undone.

Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

Christ was harsh on these men…

They were hypocrites:

ὑποκριτής

hupokritēs

hoop-ok-ree-tace'

From G5271; an actor under an assumed character (stage player), that is, (figuratively) a dissembler (“hypocrite”): - hypocrite.

G5271

ὑποκρίνομαι

hupokrinomai

hoop-ok-rin'-om-ahee

Middle voice from G5259 and G2919; to decide (speak or act) under a false part, that is, (figuratively) dissemble (pretend): - feign.

2. New Testament Practices:

A. Give with generosity:

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.

For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

B. Give with gladness:

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

C. Give without greed:

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: