There is a ongoing misunderstanding on the issue of tithing. First of all, in order to get a clear understanding on tithing one must rightly divide the word of truth(2Timothy 2:15) by doing that we see that God has two different programs (PROPHETIC) which is for the Nation of Israel and the (HEAVENLY, THE CHURCH THE BODY OF CHRIST.) When one is able to clearly distinguish the two then many misunderstandings and questions become much clearer. When we study the scripture one must ask these questions 1. Who wrote the book? 2. Who is he writing to? 3. When did he write it? These are important when studying scripture. The word of God is separated into three sections or dispensations ( TIME PAST,BUT NOW,AGES TO COME Ephesians 2:11-12;2:13;2:7). Are we supposed to pay tithes or not? Now, before the Mosaic law was given there were examples of men giving tithes but these gifts were not a mandatory instruction given by God at this time, (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:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.) Notice the scripture said gave and not paid don’t forget the details. Also in the example of Jacob( Genesis 28:20 And 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, 21 So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God:22 And 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.)
Notice that this was a vow that Jacob made to God and not God to Jacob, I put those examples to say that before the law tithing was not instituted by God for mans obedience. When God did institute tithing for mans obedience it was administered through the Mosaic law and had a specific purpose for specific people namely the Nation of Israel, there were three tithes that Israel were commanded to pay a Levitical tithe, tithes for the blessing of increase to be celebrated unto The Lord and a welfare or charity tithe for the poor. The tribe of Levi did not get an inheritance of land so God gave a tenth to them for their service in the temple as the leaders of the children of Israel (Numbers 18:20 And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them:I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. 21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.) Tithing was never money,when money is mentioned in association with tithes it was for a specific purpose as a means to ease the burden of traveling long distances for the celebration of The Lord, and wherever He would have them to go to, sometimes it was very far,these scriptures will give a clear understanding in the tithing system for Israel (Deuteronomy 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. 23 And 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. 24 And 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:26 And 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. 28 At 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: 29 And 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. So the answer to tithe or not to tithe is NO! We are not under the law but under grace (Romans 6:14) One can’t claim to be saved by Grace and yet teach and preach the scriptures from the law(WHICH IS NOT OUR PROGRAM). One can’t take the parts of the law that fit a philosophy or a organizational doctrine, as this is (UNSCRIPTURAL) and leave the rest of the law behind (Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse:for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.) The way we should give now in the dispensation of the grace of God is found in the epistles of Paul who is our Apostle today ( TO THE BODY OF CHRIST,”GRACE BELIEVERS”). 2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 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. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: May the Grace of God be with you all Amen! Pastor G. Elpheage
