My Study on The Tithe

 First off I want to say this is ment to educate and not to challenge anyone. That said this is my understanding of the tithe.

1St: Christ is our only requirement to say if I don’t tithe my finances are compromised is to say Christ is not enough. It’s like saying if you’re not circumcised you’re not saved, and we all know what Paul says about that.

2nd: The tithe was a civil law not a moral law read Leviticus 27.

3rd: The tithe system we have now is completely different than the one Israel had for example Israel’s tithe was the law of the land, it was part of their financial system.

Also with Israel’s tithe people could redeem their tithe (Leviticus 27:31) but if they did so a 5th of its value was added to it. And 4th it is important to remember that God call Israel to be a separate nation unto himself (Lev 20:26 You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.) but he has called the church to be a separate people and sent them to all nations. (the great commission) Mk 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

Leviticus 27:1-34 NIV

[1]The Lord said to Moses,
[2] “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate a person to the Lord by giving the equivalent value,
[3] set the value of a male between the ages of twenty and sixty at fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel ;
[4] for a female, set her value at thirty shekels ;
[5] for a person between the ages of five and twenty, set the value of a male at twenty shekels and of a female at ten shekels ;
[6] for a person between one month and five years, set the value of a male at five shekels of silver and that of a female at three shekels of silver;
[7] for a person sixty years old or more, set the value of a male at fifteen shekels and of a female at ten shekels.
[8] If anyone making the vow is too poor to pay the specified amount, the person being dedicated is to be presented to the priest, who will set the value according to what the one making the vow can afford.
[9] “‘If what they vowed is an animal that is acceptable as an offering to the Lord, such an animal given to the Lord becomes holy.
[10] They must not exchange it or substitute a good one for a bad one or a bad one for a good one; if they should substitute one animal for another, both it and the substitute become holy.
[11] If what they vowed is a ceremonially unclean animal—one that is not acceptable as an offering to the Lord—the animal must be presented to the priest,
[12] who will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, that is what it will be.
[13] If the owner wishes to redeem the animal, a fifth must be added to its value.
[14] “‘If anyone dedicates their house as something holy to the Lord, the priest will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, so it will remain.
[15] If the one who dedicates their house wishes to redeem it, they must add a fifth to its value, and the house will again become theirs.
[16] “ ‘If anyone dedicates to the Lord part of their family land, its value is to be set according to the amount of seed required for it—fifty shekels of silver to a homer of barley seed.
[17] If they dedicate a field during the Year of Jubilee, the value that has been set remains.
[18] But if they dedicate a field after the Jubilee, the priest will determine the value according to the number of years that remain until the next Year of Jubilee, and its set value will be reduced.
[19] If the one who dedicates the field wishes to redeem it, they must add a fifth to its value, and the field will again become theirs.
[20] If, however, they do not redeem the field, or if they have sold it to someone else, it can never be redeemed.
[21] When the field is released in the Jubilee, it will become holy, like a field devoted to the Lord; it will become priestly property.
[22] “ ‘If anyone dedicates to the Lord a field they have bought, which is not part of their family land,
[23] the priest will determine its value up to the Year of Jubilee, and the owner must pay its value on that day as something holy to the Lord.
[24] In the Year of Jubilee the field will revert to the person from whom it was bought, the one whose land it was.
[25] Every value is to be set according to the sanctuary shekel, twenty gerahs to the shekel.
[26] “ ‘No one, however, may dedicate the firstborn of an animal, since the firstborn already belongs to the Lord; whether an ox or a sheep, it is the Lord’s.
[27] If it is one of the unclean animals, it may be bought back at its set value, adding a fifth of the value to it. If it is not redeemed, it is to be sold at its set value.
[28] “ ‘But nothing that a person owns and devotes to the Lord—whether a human being or an animal or family land—may be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the Lord.
[29] “ ‘No person devoted to destruction may be ransomed; they are to be put to death.
[30] “ ‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.
[31] Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it.
[32] Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord.
[33] No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If anyone does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed. ’ ”
[34] These are the commands the Lord gave Moses at Mount Sinai for the Israelites.

These are civil laws on how to govern. Remember this was before the Israelites rebelled against God and installed a king The tithe was a system to support the Levites because the Levites were not allowed to work anywhere other than the temple or tent. Another difference between tithing then and tithing now is a tenth of the tithe was set aside for Aaron and not just a tenth but the best of the tithe. A tenth of a tenth or a tithe of the tithe When they gave it to Arron he would then present it (best tenth of the tithe) so that their guilt would be cleansed. That’s no longer necessary Christ cleansed our guilt. But the tithe was a system set in place to support the priest so they could devote their time to ceremonies to God on Israel’s behalf. Those ceremonies are no longer required. Christ is our only requirement. And since the ceremonies are no longer required there is no need for the system (tithing) to support the levites who performed them. We have a new system the church and it is supported through faith, giving, and many other means. Remember the levitical priesthood was part of Israel’s national system. Before and after the installment of a king. So the tithe we have today functions in a completely different way which to me is proof that the tithe is a civil law of God not a moral law. This is how God intended Israel to Govern itself. These are Gods law on Israel’s government system as a nation.
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Numbers 18:21 NIV“I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.

Another difference between tithing then and tithing now is a tenth of the tithe was set aside for Aaron and not just a tenth but the best of the tithe. A tenth of a tenth or a tithe of the tithe
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Numbers 18:26 NIV “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering.
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Numbers 18:27-32 NIVYour offering will be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing floor or juice from the winepress.
[28] In this way you also will present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the Lord’s portion to Aaron the priest.
[29] You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.’
[30] “Say to the Levites: ‘When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress.
[31] You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the tent of meeting.
[32] By presenting the best part of it you will not be guilty in this matter; then you will not defile the holy offerings of the Israelites, and you will not die.’ ”

Notice the Levites inherited the tithe not the church because the tithe was Israel tax system remember their was no separation of religion and government “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.

When we pay taxes it is to pay government workers for their service. I want to say this and I want to be clear there is absolutely nothing wrong with deciding to set aside ten percent of your income to support your church or a ministry but it is wrong and even shameful for the church or a pastor to place a burden and or curse of a law on a people whom that burden or law was not intended for.
We are now under a new priesthood and have a new and eternal sinless high priest Christ Jesus. Because Christ is sinless there is no longer the need for a sin sacrifice because our high priest Christ Jesus already presented the sin sacrifice when he gave his own life and hung on the cross. He rose from the dead and is eternal and because he is sinless we were made innocent through the sin sacrifice because the requirement of sin is death (Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord)
There is no more need for a sin sacrifice.

Heb 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest  who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  
Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest s  who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are t  —yet was without sin. 
Heb 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence,  so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Heb 5:1 Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices y  for sins. 
Heb 5:2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.
Heb 5:3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.  
Heb 5:4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. 
Heb 5:5 So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.
Heb 5:6 And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Heb 5:7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.  
Heb 5:8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered  
Heb 5:9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
Heb 5:10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Something key here is the order of Melchizedek! What does this mean? Melchizedek first appears  in Genesis 14 so what is the order of Melchizedek. Durring the time of Genesis 14 when Melchizedek appears the law had not been issued yet. This was during Abraham’s life the law isn’t introduced until Mosses about 500 years later. So in the order of Melchizedek means outside the law or before the law. Melchizedek wasn’t under leviticus law because it hadn’t been issued yet. The order of Melchizedek is also a forever priesthood.
 

Read Hebrews chapters 7,8, & 9,

Someone right now is saying but wait even Abraham Tithed to Melchizedek! Yes this is correct and the question is why did Abraham tithe to Melchizedek in Genesis 14:20. For this answer we turn to Hebrews 7:1-28

Heb 7:1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 
Heb 7:2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”
Heb 7:3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.
Heb 7:4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 
Heb 7:5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people that is, their brothers even though their brothers are descended from  Abraham.
Heb 7:6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 
Heb 7:7 And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater.
Heb 7:8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, byhim who is declared to be living. 
Heb 7:9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through  Abraham,
Heb 7:10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
Jesus Like Melchizedek
Heb 7:11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for onthe basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?
Heb 7:12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of thelaw.
Heb 7:13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one fromthat tribe has ever served at the altar. 
Heb 7:14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
Heb 7:15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedekappears,
Heb 7:16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.
Heb 7:17 For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
Heb 7:18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 
Heb 7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
Heb 7:20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath,
Heb 7:21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn andwill not change his mind: You are a priest forever. 
Heb 7:22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 
Heb 7:23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office;
Heb 7:24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 
Heb 7:25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, becausehe always lives to intercede for them. 
Heb 7:26 Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 
Heb 7:27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins  once for all when he offered himself.  
Heb 7:28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

There are two key things here #1 The lesser tithes to the greater verse 4. You might be saying that we should be tithing to christ cause we are lesser and he is greater but you would be forgetting that through Christ’ sacrifice we have been made equals of Christ and children of God. As far as God sees us when he looks at us he sees the rightousness of Christ if indeed we are in Christ.

Remember Jesus said 
Jn 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
(this is where  it get’s tricky because we are only equal with Christ when we are in Christ and to be in Christ we must submit to Christ.  In other words there is only one path that leads to equality with Christ. John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.)

And Paul said

Ro 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs, heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

So then what is going on here why did Abraham tithe to Melchizedek? The answer to this question lies in the 2nd key point which is found in Hebrews 7:9.

Heb 7:9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.

Why is this key?

Well let’s review we know that the lesser tithes to the greater (Hebrews 7:4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!) We also know that the lesser is blessed by the greater (Hebrews 7:7 And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater.) and now we know from verse 9 that the Levi through Abraham both thithed and was blessed by Melchizedek. So why is this so key and what does this mean?  This is key because through Abraham The Leviticus Priesthood tithed to the Melchizedek Priesthood which Christ is in the order of (Hebrews 5:6 & 10, 7:11&17,) therefore stating that the Melchizedek Priesthood (Christ) is greater than the Leviticus Priesthood! So there you have it. We are no longer under a levitcus priesthood but under a greater one Christ! I hope this helped you in some way when it comes to the tithe. Thank you and God bless!