TITHE
Tithing can be a touchy subject in most Christian congregations but the real questions should be -
1- Are we supposed to tithe? and if so
2- How much tithe do we pay?
3- Who do we pay tithe to?
4- Is tithe used for charity?
I hope that you get some clarity once and for all from this teaching
Lets start with probably the most popular scripture used by Pastors all over the world as evidence to why we should all be tithing, and if you don’t know what a tithe is, it is ten percent of your earnings and that’s before tax.
Malachi 3:8
8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
So on first reflection of this one verse of scripture it’s fair to say some one has been robbing God of ten percent of tithes and offerings…
but when we read on…
Malachi 3:9-10
9Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10Bring 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.
11And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
12And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
…It becomes clear the Father is talking about a specific people, more specifically the Israelites, “Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.” the cursed nation here is the Israelites.
We then see that the tithes were supposed to be used to fill the Fathers house, and once given the Father would “rebuke the devourer”, The devourer here is Satan and the insects which came and destroyed the produce so this is talking about the protection of the “fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time”. This is clearly reference to produce not being destroyed by pests or growing before its time. (today harmful insects are tackled by the use of harmful pesticides!!)
So that rules out these particular scriptures as justification for extracting tithe as money from congregation members.
Lets investigate why the Father wants tithe and what it is for.
Deuteronomy 14:22-23
22Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
23And 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.
If you read the scriptures above tithes were given from the givers food produce increase yearly so that the Father would continue to bless the giver and so that the giver would learn to FEAR the Father, or reverence him, acknowledging him as their life source.
23 “….that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always”.
It’s clear these specific scriptures are talking about the increase which is food produce i.e. “thy seed”…..
But do the scriptures say anything about giving money as tithe? lets see…
Deuteronomy 14:22-26
24And 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:
25Then 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:
26And 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,
So we see that tithe can be turned into money, this brings us to the present day where people don’t commonly have their own farms or produce, but are paid a salary, with which they can buy food such as
“…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”
So yes, there is a law to tithe but it has nothing to do with giving it to a church or established organization, the tithe is a covenant between the Father and the giver, which is to be eaten before him as a celebration and acknowledgment of him….
Tithe it is not to be given to any man asking for it because they are a Pastor who owns a church.
Once the tithing law is kept, then a you can give for other cause, in fact the scriptures required the giver to donate all their tithe every 3 years read on…
***Offering is no longer required to the Father as the Messiah fulfilled that law, BUT GIVING IS ALWAYS ENCOURAGED***
Now lets finish the these scriptures and see who else was entitled to tithe…
Deuteronomy 14:27-29
27And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.
28At 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:
29And 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.
So every three years tithe were used to feed the needy “…the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates…” and Levite tribe in Israel (Levites had no inheritance)
***Today the Levite tribe is amongst all other nations so there is no need to give to them***
So the questions about tithe -
1- Are we supposed to pay tithe? answer is YES
2- How much tithe do we pay? Answer a tenth part of your gross earnings
3- Who do we pay tithe to? You are to take the tenth part of your money with is tithe and use it for eating in honor of the Father, suggested times for this are the weekly Sabbaths, new moon celebrations and feast days, a tenth of your income should be more than enough for these holy days.
4- Is tithe used for charity? YES every three years it is to be used for charity.
But there is no Law which says you give your tithe (ten percent or your earnings) to a man with a church or to a charitable organisation.
Also take a look at how to interpret the bible
Peace and shalom
