Tithing (2)

Tithing was practised before the giving of the OT law

Abraham offered a tenth of the goods taken in battle, apparently in thankfulness to God for victory.

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Tithing under the law

Tithing extends to all kinds of produce and livestock

Cereal and fruit offerings could be commuted to money.

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All tithes were paid to the Levites

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Tithes were to be paid in a designated place

; ; Tithes were paid in Jerusalem, or every three years in towns where the tithe feast was eaten.

Levites offered a tenth to the Lord

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Uses of the tithe

Support of the Levites

Numbers 18:21 ESV

“To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting,

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The tithe meal

Deuteronomy 14:23 ESV

And before the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.

A three-yearly gift to the poor

Deuteronomy 14:28–29 ESV

“At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.

Tithing of minor items must not lead to neglect of major matters

Matthew 23:23 ESV

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

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Freewill offerings were made in addition to the tithe

They were given freely

Exodus 36:3 ESV

And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning,

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They were given according to ability

Deuteronomy 16:10 ESV

Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the Lord your God blesses you.

See also ; ; ; There is no specific command in the NT for the church to tithe, but many commands to give generously and to support the Lord’s work.

Blessing promised to those who tithe

Malachi 3:10 ESV

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

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Failure to tithe and abuses of the tithe

Malachi 3:8–10 ESV

Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

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