Is New Testament Tithing Biblical?
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LET THE DEBATE CONTINUE. The debate over tithing is an ongoing and passionate one. Most people fall into one of two camps. The New testament believer is obligated to offer tithes of 10% of their income (this is usually in the form of money) or the New Testament believer is under no obligation to offer a tithe.
Those that argue against a NT tithe often stating that the tithe was part of the Mosaic law and as we are no longer under the law there is no obligation under the law to tithe. Most proponents of the no obligation to tithe stance will, however, hold the belief that “free will offerings” are required. This though would be between the person offering the free will offering and God, there would be no set amount, no set timescale and no obligation as when to make any offerings.
Those that say tithing is for the New Testament believer today will more often than not refer back to the Old Testament in order to prove “tithing”. They will use Abraham, Jacob and the Israelites and very often point to a passage in Malachi about in tithes robbing God. In this writing I shall look at the main verses and arguments associated with tithing in the Old and New Testament and explore what the Bible actually says on the matter.
In order to answer this question we have to first establish what a tithe actually is.
If a person is going to quote the Bible in order to promote the biblical tithe then they should at least use the Bible to define what a tithe is.
First things first – What is a tithe?
The first thing that we need to understand is that unlike what many people believe and teach, a tithe does not mean a 10% giving or offering to God. Many people see the word tithe and automatically read into the word what they understand tithe to mean or have been taught that it means, an offering to God (normally taught as 10% of a person’s income although gross or net is another argument in of itself). However the word tithe simply means a tenth, a tenth of anything or more simply 10% of something.
There are actually 2 Hebrew words translated as tithe one is עָשַׂר Asar. It means a tenth.
If you have 10 children then one tenth or one child is a Asar or tithe of your children, 10% of your children. Contrary to what is most often taught about the word tithe it does not simply mean a tenth that is paid to God. It can, but is not explicitly.
The second is מַעֲשֵׂר maaser or maasar or maasrah again meaning a tenth but also means a tithe. Tithe has became a “slang” term for the 10% offering to God. This part is very important to understand. We need to distinguish between when the Bible’s use of tithe is referring to a tenth or a slang term for an offering.
The word Asar is translated as tenth and not tithe in passage such as 1 samuel 8:15 and 17
1 Samuel 8:15 And he will take the tenth of your seed,and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put[them] to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
These verses are not related in any way to a “tithe” offering to God. A tithe in of itself is not a offering to God.
Now under the Law God did command a “tithe” offering. Which means God commanded an offering of a tithe or a tenth and this is where much of the confusion comes from. When what a tithe and a tithe offering are are not understood it leads to incorrect teaching. It is very important to establish what this tenth which God commanded was from, to whom it was given and for what purpose.
The Jewish people believe that there were 3 separate tithes. NONE of which however involved the tithing of Money. If tithing is for a NT believer then surely it should at least be the same as what the believers of the OT only tithed.
Some proponents of the New Testament tithe will claim that the Jewish people did not tithe money because when the Tithe was instructed by God money was not in use.
However money was in use all the way back In the days of Abraham long before the time the law was ever given. There are many many examples of money being used before the law, I shall just give a couple of examples.
Genesis 17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed
And Joseph was sold by his brothers
Genesis 37:28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
Anyone who uses this argument is either Biblically ignorant or deliberately trying to mislead. Either way it is a simply false claim.
Introduction to the Tithe
We are first introduced to God’s tithe in Leviticus. (God’s tithe will become relevant later)
Leviticus 27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD.
So the verse actually states that simply a tithe of the land, the seed or fruit of, is the Lord’s and it is holy. So the command is that all the tenth of the land and produce of the land is the Lord’s. Quite simply 10% of the land and produce belongs to the Lord. God’s tithe is not an offering but a tenth that belongs to him.
Then we are told that a man can redeem any part of this tithe back by adding a fifth part of it.
Leviticus 27:31And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
Simply meaning he can purchase back his “tithe” , if the tithe was money this would mean a person could redeem their money let’s just say $1 buy paying $1.20 for it…This makes no sense whatsoever.
Then we are told about the tithe of the livestock.
Leviticus 27:32And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD. 33 He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
Again simply that a tenth of the herd or any live animal that passeth under the rod (the shepherd’s rod. This is the way the livestock used to be counted.) is holy to the Lord. Importantly it did not matter in what condition the livestock was in ,the Israelite was not to separate good and bad just that a tenth of was Gods, again this will become important later on.
There is no command here to give anything to anyone. The command simply states that a tenth of what a person has in terms of land and produce is the Lord’s and that it is holy. (we will also see this is only in regards to the promised land, the land that God had set aside for the Israelites)
It isn’t until numbers 18 that we are told the command concerning the tithe, the tenth part that belongs to the lord.
Numbers 18:21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth (Asar) in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. 22 Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die. 23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance. 24 But the tithes (Asar) of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
So the tithe or the 10% of the produce of the land and the livestock of a person (that would be offered to the Lord as a heave offering) would be the inheritance of the Levites. Heave is the Hebrew word תְּרוּמָה terumah, it means a contribution specifically one for sacred use.
So actually the Israelites were commanded to offer a heave offering, a contribution which was a tithe (tenth) of what they had in terms of produce which the Lord had stated was his and this would be the inheritance of the Levites. This was because they were given no inheritance of land themselves. They were to look after the Tabernacle. They were exempt from the inheritance of any land and therefore did not produce anything so could not offer a “tithe” a tenth, a heave offering from their produce.
Numbers 1:47 But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them. 48 For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying, 49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel: 50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle. 51And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. 52And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts. 53 But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony. 54And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.
They were classed as the firstborn of Israel.
Numbers 3:12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;
The tithe (heave offering of 10%) was going to take place in the promised land and was ONLY for the promised land. The tithe was never imposed on anyone other than the Israelites living in the promised land and only came into effect when they had entered into the promised land. At the time the law was given the Israelites were eating manna in the wilderness. There was no produce or land at this time.
Deuteronomy 12:1 These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth.
All the tithes of the people (and all other offerings) were to be taken to the place the Lord God would choose.
Deuteronomy 12:5But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: 6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
Deuteronomy 12- 8 Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes. 9For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God giveth you. 10But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety; 11 Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD: 12And ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you.
I have heard some preachers use this to claim that God should choose your church, however, this clearly is not what is being referred to here. This was simply referring to where the tabernacle would eventually be sited in the promised land.
There is the command that this is where they would EAT those tithes and other offerings.
Deuteronomy 12:7 And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.
The “tithe” of the promised land, the land that God had given was to be taken to the place God would choose and be eaten there.
God commands that the people could not EAT their offerings (including their tithes) within their own gates (within their own part of the land)
Deuteronomy 12:17 Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand: 18 But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto. 19 Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.
The people were told to eat them before the Lord (in his chosen place) including the Levites who would share in the people’s heave offering.
Unlike what people commonly believe it did not mean that the Levites would receive this 10% as their support, it meant that the 10% was counted as if they themselves had produced it, it was counted as their yearly produce. The Levites took the heave offering of the people as their own produce. However the people ate their own “tithes”. The Levites joined in and feasted on the tithe also. The Levites were supported by the remainder of the tithe that was left after the feast and by the other offerings including free will offerings.
God had sanctified them to himself and his 10% that belonged to him that the Israelites would offer as a contribution would be used as if the Levites had produced it themselves seeing they had no land in which to produce.
Aaron and his lineage had charge over the “tithe”, heave offering of the people.
Numbers 18-:8 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.
They specifically would also get any sin sacrifice, meat offerings and trespass offerings which they would have to eat at the place God has set aside.
Numbers 18:9 This shall be thine of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of theirs, every meat offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, shall bemost holy for thee and for thy sons. 10In the most holy place shalt thou eat it; every male shall eat it: it shall be holy unto thee. 11And this is thine; the heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Israel: I have given them unto thee, and to thy sons and to thy daughters with thee, by a statute for ever: every one that is clean in thy house shall eat of it.
Aaron who was a Levite being a son of Levi and his sons were given the priesthood. All priests therefore were Levites but not all Levites were priests. Only those that descended from Aaron could be high priests.
Exodus 28:1And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
The Levites would take the tithe, heave offering from the people
The Levites themselves were to make a “heave” offering to the Lord. They would “take” 10% of the 10% that was counted as their produce and then they would get to “give” this as their heave offering. From the heave offering of the Israelites (literally 1% of the original total amount of produce) to the Lord. Giving in this sense was to use this in a special feast to the Lord. They also were to EAT this heave offering
Numbers 18-:25 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe. 27And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.
The Levites would give their “tithe” tenth to Aaron who was the high priest.
Numbers 18:28 Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD’S heave offering to Aaron the priest.
This offering, their heave offering was to be the best 10% of the heave offering that they received from the Israelites.
Numbers 18:29 Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the LORD, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it. 30 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress. 31And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation. 32And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die.
The Levites are told in verse 31 that their heave offering could be eaten anywhere, in every place this 1% (the 10% of the 10%) did not have to be eaten in the most holy place unlike the other Israelites who had to eat theirs at the most holy place.
Numbers 18:31And ye shall eat it in every place, ye and your households: for it is your reward for your service in the tabernacle of the congregation
The “tithe” clearly was only food and drink and nothing more.
So the 10% that the Israelites gave as a heave offering counted as if it was the produce of the Levites the best 10% of “their” produce would be taken as their heave offering by Aaron (the high priest). All these offerings were to be eaten.
Then again the people are told that they should tithe (tenth) all the increase of the seed that the field produced each year, and that the tithe should should be eaten in the place that the Lord would choose to put his name. Once a year there would be a feast to the lord at the temple and would be eaten by the people and the levites that dwelt within their lands.
Deuteronomy 14:22 Thou 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
This was to be a tithe, a tenth of ALL the increase of the seed. So literally 10% of everything that was produced that year
The “tithe” of the Israelites was not to be used to support the Levites. The “tithe” only happened once a year. The Israelites would tithe 10% of what they produced to be counted as the Levites produce.
They are told that if the place that they were required to take that tithe (the 10% of the produce) was too far away for them to carry it then they could sell the items, take the money and then buy whatever they wanted when they arrived and would eat that before the Lord at the appointed place.
Deuteronomy 14:24And 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: 25 Then 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,27 And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.
Some people who try to say that tithing can be money twist this to say that they could tithe the money as it says they could bestow that money for whatever their soul desired and so if the soul desired to tithe money then they could tithe money. This is completely misunderstanding the tithe. The tithe as shown was to be eaten as verses 26 and 27 clearly states. It was to be eaten by the person tithing and the Levites that dwelt within the gates of the person tithing.
In simple terms once a year there would be a feast at the temple where all the people would come to eat and drink in a feast to rejoice in the Lord. They would take 10% of what they had produced that year. They would use this produce to feed their household and 10% of the 10% produce would be used by the levites that dwelt in their land at this feast as their own offering.
Every 3 years however the tithe was to be eaten WITHIN the person’s own land and not at the place the Lord had called his.
Deuteronomy 14:28At 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:
In this 3rd year it wasn’t just the Levites who would share that years offering, but also the stranger, the fatherless and the widow would be invited to participate in the feast. How many pastors and preachers point this out when preaching tithing.
Deuteronomy 14:29And 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.
Again the very clear statement they shall EAT.
Deuteronomy 26 :1-11 is a one off offering. It was the first of all the fruit of the earth that the promised land gave. The Israelites would make a declaration to God and acknowledge that God had given them the land that was promised. This included the Levites and the strangers.
Deuteronomy 26 1: And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessed it, and dwellest therein; 2That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name there. 3And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto the LORD thy God, that I am come unto the country which the LORD sware unto our fathers for to give us. 4And the priest shall take the basket out of thine hand, and set it down before the altar of the LORD thy God. 5And thou shalt speak and say before the LORD thy God, A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous: 6 And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage: 7 And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labour, and our oppression: 8 And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders: 9 And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.10 And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God: 11 And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.
And again on the 3rd year once the tithe has been made, the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless and the widow have been fed
Deuteronomy 26:12 When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;
The people would declare again unto the Lord that they have done so. This also would be just the first time on the first 3rd year.
13 Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them: 14I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me. 15 Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
In every single use of the tithe by the command of God in the law it is a reference to food or drink. There is NO other reference in the command of God other than food or drink. Tithing in the Old Testament in the Old covenant was NEVER money. It was NEVER to support the Levites throughout the year. It was to provide a feast unto the Lord once a year, that the people of Israel would eat the “tithe” in celebration to the Lord who had brought them into the promised land. They would offer 10% of the blessing that they had RECEIVED during the year, an offering BECAUSE of the blessing not an offering to receive a blessing as most pastors today state.
It is very true however that if they did not offer the heave offering AFTER the already given blessing then the next year they would receive no blessing. This though meant they were not being blessed for reason of not offering after being blessed not before it.
And this is actually where the verses in Malachi come into their real truth.
Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
These verses are very often used by pastors to prove that not giving tithes is robbing God. They then use verse 9 as a scare tactic in order to make people tithe money.
Malachi 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
So this is used to scare people into giving a tithe, 10%. If you do not give God his 10% then he will curse you.
Furthermore they will then use verse 10 to demonstrate that if you do tithe then God will pour out blessings upon you.
Malachi 3:10 Bring 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.
So if you tithe then you will receive blessings. However we already saw that the blessing came first and the tithe, the offering came from the already given blessing. The Israelites were not told to give to receive but to give from what they had received already.
We also have to apply the true “tithe” to the verse which simply does not support a financial offering in any way shape or form. The offering was always produce.
The biggest mistake (and this isn’t simply for this doctrine alone) is to simply take a verse, rip it out of context and then present that as full evidence for what we are trying to prove. The Bible is simply not meant to be used in this way. The book of Malachi is only 4 chapters long and actually the answer to what God meant is found within the book itself.
Firstly notice that God says IN tithes you rob me. God did not say through LACK of tithes, or because you don’t give tithes you rob me. It wasn’t because they were not tithing that they robbed God but with the tithe they were robbing him. But WHO was God saying was robbing him. Tithe preachers today will say this is anyone who doesn’t pay their 10% tithe. However when we actually look at the verses in context we get a totally different referent.
God was speaking specifically and only to the priests. We have to go back to the beginning of Malachi in order to get full context and understanding.
He makes a series of statements to the Priests which precede a series of questions and then a series of answers to those questions. The questions revolve around the “offerings”
Malachi 1:6A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 7Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.
The offerings that the priests were offering were polluted
Malachi 1:8 And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person?
God then tells them that he will not accept their offerings
Malachi 1:10 Who is thereeven among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
His name is great but the priests had corrupted it
Malachi 1:11For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall begreat among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts. 12 But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is contemptible.
They were offering the torn, lame and sick animals upon the alter.
Malachi 1- 13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD. 14But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
God continues talking to the priests in Malachi 2
Malachi 2- 1And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. 2If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.
The priests had fallen away from their covenant with God.
Malachi 2:3 Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. 4And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 5My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. 6The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. 7For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.
Judah had gone after strange gods.
Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? 11 Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. 12The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.
God said he would not accept the offerings. This means that the offerings were still being made. But through their contempt of God and his alter and the sacrificing of unacceptable sacrifices God would not accept them.
Malachi 2:13And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.
Then in Malachi 3 we get the passage about robbing God.
Malachi 3-8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring 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.
Malachi 3 starts with God telling of his coming Messiah.
Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 2But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap
And then in verse 3 and 4 we see that God is still directing his words at the sons of Levi and telling them that the offerings will again be pleasant, like they used to be.
Malachi 3- 3And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. 4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.
It was the priests who were robbing God. The way in which they were robbing God was that they had gone away from his covenant. They were offering polluted “tithes”. It wasn’t that they were not offering them but as we saw in numbers 18-30 it was to be the “best” of the offerings.
Numbers 18:30 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, When ye have heaved the best thereof from it, then it shall be counted unto the Levites as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the increase of the winepress
The priests were to take the “best” 10% of the 10% given to the levites and use this as the heave offering of the levites, however there was no stipulation imposed upon the 10% that was given to the Levites by the Israelites.
Leviticus 27:33 He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
The priests were not doing as the covenant with levi and the Lord had set out. They were offering bad offerings and keeping the best for themselves, and so the Lord had rejected those offerings.
The only ones robbing God were the priests. THROUGH their corrupted offerings not because they were not or the people were not giving offerings. They were not trusting God to provide, they were keeping all the good offerings and giving God all the bad ones. Which is why God tells them to bring all the tithes into the storehouse and he promises to open the windows of heaven and give blessings.
Malachi 3:10 Bring 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.
When the Israelites did as they were commanded there was plenty of produce
available and plenty left over through the blessings of God. Just as in the days of Hezekiah.
2 chronicles 31:8 And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel. 9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 10And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.
To teach that God will curse those that don’t give 10% of their income is to simply manipulate the scriptures.
New Testament
But what about the New Testament, what does it say and teach about tithing after the law.
Interestingly many advocates of the NT tithe will use Abraham from the OT to prove tithing is indeed for the NT believer.
Those who acknowledge that the tithing referred to in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are all part of the Levitical law given through Moses and that NT believers are not under the law therefore can not be obligated to pay tithes as per the law will point to Abraham and say that Abraham tithed before the law was given and so tithing preceded the law. “Tithing did not end with the law because it did not start with the law.” Tithing is not dependent on the law and therefore tithing also post dates the law.
The story of Abraham’s tithe is found in Genesis 14 where Abraham gave a tithe to Melchisedek.
Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Many will often then point to the book of Hebrews in the NT, particularly chapter 7 in order to support the pre law tithe of Abraham. Many will state that in the same way Abraham gave a pre law tithe new testament believers must give a post law tithe to men on earth which is received of by Jesus who is our high priest in heaven after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: 6But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
When we actually examine Hebrews 7 however it has nothing at all to do with teaching Tithing. The tithe is used only as an example to demonstrate the superiority of the priesthood of Jesus over that of the Levitical priests. The whole book of Hebrews is written to the Hebrews with the main purpose of highlighting the superiority of Jesus over the whole law. Jesus being a priest after the order of Melchizedek and not by the law unlike the Levitical priests.
The chapter starts by going back and telling that Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek in Genesis chapter 14
Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace
Verse 3 is often used by some to say that Melchizedek was the pre incarnate Jesus.
Hebrews 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
This would need a whole separate writing to disprove in full and is a different argument than the tithe so I won’t deal with this in detail here, but Melchisedec was made LIKE unto the son of God. The Greek word translated as without descent ἀγενεαλόγητος, agenealogētos means of unrecorded genealogy. Melchisedec simply had no recorded genealogy not that he didn’t have any at all. Jesus by the way did have a recorded genealogy. The purpose of this verse is to actually show that Melchisedec remained a priest outside of the levitical priesthood given through the law LIKE the son of God who is a priest in the same way, a priest not according to the law.
The author of Hebrews then uses the tithe of Abraham to demonstrate that the priesthood of Melchizedek is greater than that of the Levitical priests, they, the Levitical priests who received tithes from others according to the law being in the loins of Abraham paid the tithe to the high priest Melchisedec along with Abraham.
Hebrews 7:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
Melchisedec however was a priest who did not come from this lineage (of Levi). A priest NOT according to the law. But he received the tithe from Abraham and blessed him.
Hebrews 7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
Jesus also is a priest not according to the law but after the order of Melchisedec.
Jesus is referred to as a priest after the order of Melchisedec 7 times in the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
Psalm 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
This fact is often used to support the tithe to Jesus. Jesus being a priest in the order of Melchisedec meaning that New Testament believers are required to tithe in the same way that Abraham tithed to Melchizedek.
We are then told that Abraham is the less but was blessed by the better
Hebrews 7:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
Simply another reference to Melchizedek being greater than Abraham, his priesthood being greater than that which would come through Abraham.
Then comes a verse that is used, incorrectly either by ignorance or deliberately trying to misguide, by many to prove that when we tithe here on earth, men, mortal men receive those tithes but Jesus in heaven also receives them.
Hebrews 7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth
The referents of HERE in verse 8 is not men on earth in general but referring solely to those in Jerusalem, where the tithe was offered. The men that die are the priests that are in Jerusalem who received the tithes. The book of Hebrews is written to the Hebrews. There is no reference to Jesus and heaven in this verse. To imply the he is Jesus and the there is heaven is to totally rip the verse of any context and apply a meaning that simply does not come from the text itself a very clear case of a bad eisegesis. There have only been 3 referents in the preceding verses of chapter 7, Abraham, the Levitical priests and Melchisedec. HE receiveth them is referring to the referent in verses 5-6 and 7, Melchizedek. The HE is Melchizedek and the THERE is where he received the tithe of Abraham.
Hebrews 7 does not support tithing. Its purpose is to highlight that Jesus is greater than the Levitical priests. That although they are from Abraham, Melchisedec was greater than Abraham in the sense his priesthood superseded Abraham when Abraham gave him a tenth. Jesus is a high priest after the order of Melchisedec as in a priesthood that is not derived from and is greater than the Levitical priesthood which came from Abraham who was less than Melchisedec.
Jesus however is the referent in verses 11 through 17. The law being compared to the new priest who is called after the order of Melchisedec and not of that of Aaron through the law.
Hebrews 7:11If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
A change of priesthood requires a change of the law.
Hebrews 7:12For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
Jesus being of the line of Judah and not Levi did not qualify to be a priest under the law. The new priest Jesus however was not made priest by the law.
Hebrews 7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
The purpose of the passage again is to show that Jesus priesthood is greater than the priesthood made by the law. Jesus priesthood is forever unlike the Levitical priesthood which came to an end with the end of the law.
Hebrews 7 cannot be used to support a NT tithe.
We should also look at the actual tithe of Abraham itself.
While it is very true that the incident with Abraham where he gave a tithe, a tenth to Melchizedek did happen approx 1000 years before the law was given it is incorrect and misleading simply say that this was a “tithe” and that this is proof that we must tithe 10% of our income today. When we look at the passages in context and apply understanding we will see they actually teach something completely different.
So let’s have a closer look at the tithe of Abraham
The first thing we notice is that Melchisedec suddenly shows up in Genesis 14 he is not mentioned before and he doesn’t get mentioned again (apart from one verse in psalm 110) until the book of Hebrews.
Genesis 14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. 18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
We are not told who he is or any other details about him apart from that he is the
King of Salem and he was the priest of the most high God.
Abraham gave a tithe to Melchisedec
Genesis 14:0 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
However if we apply the true understanding of the word tithe what we actually see is that Abraham did not “tithe” he simply gave a tithe in terms of a tenth, he gave 10% to Melchisedec. There was no command to do so. It was not from God’s 10% of the land, it was not God’s holy 10% which was only to be from the promised land.
It is often argued that Abraham became rich because he was blessed by Melchizedek after he tithed to him.
However those that state this are again either ignorant of the scriptures or simply being deceptive. When we read the scriptures we will see just like in the promised land where the people would give a tithe, a tenth from the already given blessing, Melchizedek blessed Abraham BEFORE Abraham gave the tithe.
Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
It was after the already given blessing that Abraham gave a tithe, a tenth.
It is also claimed by some that Abraham became wealthy after he was blessed, but yet again this is incorrect. Abraham was already rich before he gave a tithe to Melchizedek or received the blessing which we find out back in Genesis 13.
Genesis 13:1 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
2And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
Abraham did not give ANY of his own personal possessions that he already possessed, or from his personal income.
Abraham was met by Melchizedek after Abraham returned from war having gone to rescue his nephew Lot from captivity.
If we go back to verses 13 through 16 we will see that Abraham was successful in his “war” and brought with him goods, woman and the people or the spoils of the war.
Genesis 14:13And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram. 14And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
Unlike what is often taught Abraham did not give a tithe of 10% of everything that was his. It was only from these spoils of war of which Abraham gave 10% to Melchizedek.
What is also not stated by those using Abraham to support tithing is that Abraham after he had provided for his men gave ALL the remainder back to the king of Sodom.
Genesis 14: 21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.22And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.
None of the spoils of war belonged to Abraham. He gained them from the war. Abraham though did not keep ANY of the spoils of the war, so that it could not be said that it was the king of Sodom who had made him rich.
If the story of Abraham teaches that we must tithe 10% of our income it also teaches that we should give away the remainder to where we obtained it from in the first place.
The tithe was not to support Melchisedec. It was not to support a “church”. It did not come from Abraham’s personal possessions or any produce. It was not money, it was not a weekly, monthly or yearly donation, it did not come from Abraham’s income and Abraham never repeated this again. It was from the spoils of war after Melchisedec had blessed him, after Melchisedec had recognised that Abraham’s enemies had been delivered to him by God as per verse 20.
If we are to copy the Abrahamic tithe and in the same way offer a tithe to Jesus then we can forget tithing from our income, we simply give 10% of all that we obtain from war.
As well as Abraham some will also point to Jacob and say that he told God that if he was with him he would give the lord a tithe and this also supports a pre law tithe. I shall also show how this is incorrect.
Genesis 28:20And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 22And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
So it claimed this is showing that like Abraham Jacob tithed to God pre law. However when we put this into context we see that Jacob was actually asking for God’s blessings. If God would be with him and bless him then he would OFFER a tenth to God not that he would give the tenth that was already God’s
Genesis 28:18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. 20And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 22And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
What is clear to see is that Jacob offered to give God a tenth not a tithe under the Law or a tithe in the same way that Abraham gave to Melchizedek. If Jacob was required to give God a tithe then saying that if God would be with him he would give a tenth would be a rather pointless statement. It would be a bit like if your landlord comes to collect their rent and you saying to them well I will give it to you if you provide some food and clothes for me. If the rent is due it is due regardless of any bargaining offer on your part. You cannot bargain with what you rightfully owe.
Jacob was not saying I will give you YOUR tithe as long as you are with me. He stated he would give God a tenth IF God would be with him.
Again Jacob like Abraham did not “tithe”.
Jesus himself is used to prove tithing as he spoke of tithing in Matthew 23:23
Matthew 23:23 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.
However this is the only mention that Jesus gave to tithes and was to condemn the scribes and pharisees who paid their tithe (again no monetary value) but who did not hold on to the weightier matters of the law.
We have to also remember that the law was still in force when Jesus was alive before his death and resurrection. Even if it could be proved that Jesus taught tithing here it would be pre death and resurrection and therefore would have been under the law which had not yet ended.
With there being no current Levitical priesthood and the law has been changed as has the priesthood it must be asked to whom are any tithes meant to be given.
Advocates of the NT will state that they take the tithes for Jesus who receives them. However we have already seen that is not what is stated. Under the law the priests received the tithes however under the new high priest we are all priests.
Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him beglory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Now even though a New Testament believer is not required to tithe this does not mean that the New testament believer is not required to give.
Paul tells us that we should sow
2 corinthians 9:6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
However if we again don’t simply take this verse alone and actually put the verse into context we will see Paul explains what this means in the very next verse.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Every man should give according to his own heart. Not grudgingly and NOT THROUGH NECESSITY. God loves a giver who gives through his own heart.
Something echoed by Peter
1 peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Filthy lucre is translated from the Greek αἰσχροκερδῶς aischrokerdōs which means greedily. Peter stating that a person should give willingly NOT for greed of what can be gained in return which is what most preachers who preach tithing actually depict. If you want to be blessed then you must tithe. This is almost always in terms of money. There are many ways in which a new testament believer can give.
Jesus explains this in the parable of the sheep and the goats
Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
There is no tithe for the new testament believer there is only a giving which should be one with a willing heart and NOT simply in order to receive. It does not have to be financial it can be your time or through food, drink and clothing. The Old Testament tithe under the requirement of the law has been replaced with the New Testament giving under grace.
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