TITHE

Deuteronomy 14:22-23,27

“You must set aside a tithe of your crops—one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year.

Bring this tithe to the designated place of worship—the place the lord your God chooses for his name to be honored—and eat it there in his presence. This applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn males of your flocks and herds. Doing this will teach you always to fear the Lord your God.

And do not neglect the Levites in your town, for they will receive no allotment of land among you.

We have some old testament practices of the Jews that has been in contention in certain times with the church, they include circumcision, Sabbath, priesthood, tithes etc. 

Today we look at tithe and what the commandment about it was.

We see it in verses 22 to 29 of the 14th chapter of Deuteronomy.

The instruction was to bring 10% of their farm produce to the Lord's chosen place of worship, if the place was too far they should convert the farm produce to money then when they get to the place of worship they buy farm produce there with the same money and eat in celebration there with their household. 

Deuteronomy 14:22,24-26

“You must set aside a tithe of your crops—one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year.

“Now when the Lord your God blesses you with a good harvest, the place of worship he chooses for his name to be honored might be too far for you to bring the tithe.

If so, you may sell the tithe portion of your crops and herds, put the money in a pouch, and go to the place the Lord your God has chosen.

When you arrive, you may use the money to buy any kind of food you want—cattle, sheep, goats, wine, or other alcoholic drink. Then feast there in the presence of the Lord your God and celebrate with your household.

Can we see it, have your pastor or minister expounded this to you?

Now further the Lord then commanded that the Levites be part of this celebration. For they are instructed to remember the Levites that they partake in this celebration.

Deuteronomy 14:22,27

“You must set aside a tithe of your crops—one-tenth of all the crops you harvest each year.

And do not neglect the Levites in your town, for they will receive no allotment of land among you.

Listen, 

The Levites had no inheritance in the land. They had no stack of wealth somewhere or any business that yields them money!

Get this, who was a Levite?

They were separated specially to the Lord for work in the temple, their primary assignment was to worship God and help the people worship God in the temple.

Deuteronomy 18:1-8

“Remember that the Levitical priests—that is, the whole of the tribe of Levi—will receive no allotment of land among the other tribes in Israel. Instead, the priests and Levites will eat from the special gifts given to the Lord, for that is their share.

They will have no land of their own among the Israelites. The Lord himself is their special possession, just as he promised them.

“These are the parts the priests may claim as their share from the cattle, sheep, and goats that the people bring as offerings: the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach.

You must also give to the priests the first share of the grain, the new wine, the olive oil, and the wool at shearing time.

For the Lord your God chose the tribe of Levi out of all your tribes to minister in the Lord’s name forever.

“Suppose a Levite chooses to move from his town in Israel, wherever he is living, to the place the Lord chooses for worship.

He may minister there in the name of the Lord his God, just like all his fellow Levites who are serving the Lord there.

He may eat his share of the sacrifices and offerings, even if he also receives support from his family.

The question is: do we have Levites in the church today?

The obvious answer is NO!

This is why the tithing is not a new testament teaching, Christ didn't teach it, the disciples never practiced it, neither did the church.

Even this title of priesthood we see in orthodox churches was never there when the church began. They were all incorporated as a form of the old temple practice in Israel.

So are we to tithe as believers?

That question is left for you to answer.

Deuteronomy 14:28-29

“At the end of every third year, bring the entire tithe of that year’s harvest and store it in the nearest town.

Give it to the Levites, who will receive no allotment of land among you, as well as to the foreigners living among you, the orphans, and the widows in your towns, so they can eat and be satisfied. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all your work.

Who were the tithe meant for?

The person who is bringing the tithe, the Levites who had no inheritance or any business, strangers who need help, orphans and widows.

This is very clear from scriptures, even the commonly quoted verse in the book of Malachi:

Malachi 3:10-11

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!

Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the lord of Heaven’s Armies.

There will be enough food in my house. The tithe was only about farm produce then (not money - read Deut. 14:22-29 again). That the Levites, strangers, orphans and widows would always have something to eat.

No wonder scripture emphasizes through Paul:

2 Timothy 2:15

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

Laziness is never encouraged in scriptures. We are all to study the scriptures and have full understanding of it. This is the main reason of God's Holy Spirit in us.

Now, what then is giving as a believer/Christian?

Offering.

Which you bring willingly without compulsion. Remember that even the tithe is from what the Lord has given to you. Offerings is even much more than that. There is no limit to it, you give as you will according to how the Lord has blessed you.

This is the true teaching.

Remember the widow who gave everything she had, no one knew except Christ who could see the heart.

This is true giving. No compulsion, no intimidation or building of fear, such as:

"Tithe or your pocket will be tight" and all those other evil sayings.

If you decide that you want to use the tithing method go ahead, but give it willingly and with joy in your heart:

2 Corinthians 9:7-9

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

As the Scriptures say, 

“They share freely and give generously to the poor. 

    Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

It is our nature to give as believers the Holy Spirit directing us appropriately.

Remember:

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

I always say this:

The Lord has set us free, let no one, no matter their title, put us in bondage again!

Help us Good Lord.

Give to the Lord.

PRAYER

Dear Loving Father, You have set me free in Christ Jesus, may no one put me in bondage again. Help me Lord to live to please You in all things. Help me Father to be a cheerful giver directed by Your Spirit to give accordingly. Glory to Your name Lord forevermore.

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher.