Are Tithes Required Today?

[Previous Page][Up][Home Page][Mail][Contents]

 

 

Under the Old Covenant the Levites had no land inheritance and did not have secular jobs to support themselves. Their sole function was to serve as priests of Yahweh in the temple. They paid their tithes from the collections from the other tribes.     

 

 

      Num 18:24  But the tithes 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. 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. 27  And 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.  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. 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.      

 

      Neh 10:37  And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.      

 

      Neh 12:44  And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.      

 

 

Paul shows in his New Testament letters that this same principle has been carried into the New Covenant of support for those who serve at the altar being provided for by those who receive the blessing of the service: 

 

 

      2 Timothy 2:6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. 

 

      1 Cor 9:1  Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? 2  If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.            3  Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, 4  Have we not power to eat and to drink? 5  Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 6  Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? 7  Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? 8  Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? 9  For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10  Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11  If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12  If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. 13  Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14  Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 15  But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.   

 

      1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18 For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 

 

      Galatians 6:6 Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.  7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.  8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 

 

 

Because of the persecution at the time, only the apostles were left in Jerusalem. As the gospel was spread abroad, the apostles would go to the new areas that received the word and give spiritual blessings. Paul says they were owed a carnal debt as the priests in the Old Testament temple.

 

 

      Acts 8:1  And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles... ...14  Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

     

      Rom 15:25  But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. 26  For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. 27  It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.        

 

 

Paul actually says that he has wronged the Corinthian church by not taking of their carnal blessing as stated in 1 Cor 9.          

 

 

      2 Cor 12:13  For what is it wherein ye were inferior to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? forgive me this wrong.    

 

 

He makes a point that as in Romans where the collection for Jerusalem was a tithe debt, the collection should be gathered from each in a percentage proportion to the amount that Yahweh prospered them.  

 

 

      1 Cor 16:1  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. 3  And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.           

 

 

That tithes were not only a product of the law was proven in that the first tithes paid were paid to the priest of Yahweh, Melchisedec, before the Law was given to Moses at mount Sinai, whereas under the law, only Levites can take tithes. This was pointed out in Hebrews.

 

 

      Gen 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. 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: 20  And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

 

      Heb 6:20  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

 

      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; 2  To 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. 4  Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 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: 6  But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.  7  And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8  And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9  And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10  For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. 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? 12  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13  For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14  For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 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. 18  For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19  For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.  20  And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: 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:) 22  By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23  And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24  But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27  Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28  For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

 

 

Hebrews makes the point that Yahshua who is now Yahweh’s high priest, was ordained into the priestly order of Melchisedec

 

 

      Heb 5:1  For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:.2  Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. 3  And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. 4  And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. 5  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. 6  As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10  Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

 

 

If Yahshua is in the order of Melchisedec, and Melchisedec took tithes before the order of Aaron under the Law, it is obvious that Yahshua takes tithes as Melchisedec did because they are in the same priestly order. 

 

 

      Heb 7:6  But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7  And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8  And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 

 

 

Yahweh considers the tithe as HIS. He will curse those who steal his tithe and bless those who tithe.

 

 

      Lev 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. 31  And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. 32  And 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.   

 

      Mal 3:7  Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? 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. 11  And 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. 12  And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.   

 

 

As under the Old Covenant, the tithe should be “tithed” by proclaiming over it the blessings of Yahweh in your salvation, and life, and your worthiness/cleanness (lack of sin) to offer them to Yahweh, and call upon Yahweh for his blessings.

 

           

      Deu 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; 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: 14  I 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. 

 

 

[Previous]

Local Church Administration

[Next]

Home Page

[Up]

Home Page

[Home]

Home Page

[Mail]

Send EMail to The Gospel according to the Scriptures.

[Contents]

The Gospel according to the Scriptures. Contents

It's Not What You Think, It's What The WORD Says!