Tither
This subject just keeps coming up, so I keep going back to the written word of God and checking, re-checking and the conclusion keeps coming to the same truth. This article is produced with an exegetical approach to studying the bible to find the truth.
Modern tithing is non-biblical when taking in the context of the New Testament and the new law that Christ introduced at His first appearance. If someone demands a tithe from you, consider the following three(3) points first:-
1. Change of the law
2. No Levite tribe is currently in existence
3. No temple is currently standing
1. Change of the law
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
(Galatians 2:21 ESV)
For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
(Galatians 3:10-14 ESV)
This should be enough clear evidence from the Bible to restrict the law of the tithe for gentiles, a.k.a. the modern church. Tithing is part of the Levitical law given by God through Moses, it should NOT be a Christian doctrine, because we would be following the law. Is the truth being nullified for the sake of success? Are churches abusing the old law of tithing for self-gain, to pay the bills, is it right?
2. No Levite tribe is currently in existence
And the LORD said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel.
“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, so that the people of Israel do not come near the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin and die. But the Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, and among the people of Israel they shall have no inheritance. For the tithe of the people of Israel, which they present as a contribution to the LORD, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore I have said of them that they shall have no inheritance among the people of Israel.”
(Numbers 18:20-24 ESV)
We have the Israelite nation again, restored soon after world war two. There are currently no tribes discerned within the nation though. If the Israeli tribe of Levi stands again, they might again exact the lawful collection of tithe from their fellow country men. The prerequisites for this though according to God's law is that they give up their inheritance and right's to land ownership, would they do this in a modern context? It's a big ask but completely speculative. The end result is that those who only have the right to request a tithe from you are the Levites.
3. No temple is currently standing
Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
(Matthew 24:1-2 ESV)
Jesus predicted it and it definitely happened and to this day there is no temple standing. Why is this relevant?
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.
(Malachi 3:10 ESV)
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse. The ancient Israeli temple (1&2) had storage areas around it to contain the grain that was brought in; stockyards for the animals brought. It was a sacrificial location, so it makes sense that these existed also. That aside there is no physical temple standing in Israel, there is no obligation to bring a tithe. No temple, no tithe to be stored.
Remember also, the veil was torn from top-to-bottom, the temple was ultimately destroyed. Why?
Miss used scripture - Malachi 3 & 2 Corinthians 9
“For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 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. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.
(Malachi 3:6-12 ESV)
A very misused piece of scripture in the modern church. Often verses 6 and 12 are left out as they reveal an explanation as to who God is referring to in His strong call to repentance to fulfill His law on this subject. Let's clear it up.
Malachi 3:6
Here God addresses the children of Jacob, not the children of Abraham.
Malachi 3:12
All nations will call you blessed, not all nations will call themselves blessed. The action is related to a finite single nation, Israel.
To conclude that this scripture is to be used in part to encourage or enforce tithing within the modern church begs the question about the motivation behind it?
So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
(2 Corinthians 9:5-7 ESV)
It sounds good and a compelling argument for an eisegesis on tithing, but looking closer and including verse 5 of this part of the letter reveals that we see a prior promise for a sum of money to partner in supporting another church and/or outreach. This is not in relation to tithing in any way and is purporting a lie if it is used as such. Be aware, the use of just verse 6 is bordering on pure deception for financial gain!
Closing words
I've been a tither, taught it, and even warned people about the dangers of not giving at least a 10th of their income. I was wrong, I was regurgitating what I have been told for many years, I trusted but a thorough look says otherwise. I cannot argue with the word of God, you believe it, or you don't.
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
(John 1:17 ESV)
It doesn't matter if respected pastors, books or theologians believe something about a particular subject if the Bible says something else, the written Word of God is the authority, not a hunch, new revelation or "hey, that sounds good, it fits what I want to preach this Sunday".
What to do... pray, read your Bible.