is tithing a new testament practice?

IS TITHING A NEW TESTAMENT PRACTICE?

IS TITHING A NEW TESTAMENT PRACTICE?

THE TRADITIONALPOINT OF VIEW

You must give your tithe!

If you don’t, God will curse

you!

Their argument . . .

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into thestorehouse, that there may be meat in minehouse, and prove me now herewith, saiththe LORD of hosts, if I will not open you thewindows of heaven, and pour you out ablessing, that there shall not be roomenough to receive it.

11 And I will rebuke the devourer for yoursakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits ofyour ground; neither shall your vine cast herfruit before the time in the field, saith theLORD of hosts.

THE COUNTER-POINT AS SEEN IN

SCRIPTURE

WHAT IS THE CONTEXT OF MALACHI 3:10?

7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mineordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return untoyou, 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 werobbed thee? In tithes and offerings.9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this wholenation.10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat inmine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I willnot open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, thatthere shall not be room enough to receive it.11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroythe fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before thetime 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.

3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,that there may be meat in mine house, and proveme now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I willnot open you the windows of heaven, and pouryou out a blessing, that there shall not be roomenough to receive it.

3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are goneaway from mine ordinances, and have not keptthem. Return unto me, and I will return unto you,saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shallwe return?

Tithing is an Old Testament concept.

• The tithe was a requirement of the law in whichall Israelites were to give 10 percent ofeverything they earned and grew to theTabernacle/Temple (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers18:26; Deuteronomy 14:24; 2Chronicles 31:5).

– Some understand the Old Testament tithe as amethod of taxation to provide for the needs of thepriests and Levites in the sacrificial system.

The context: God is reminding Israel of their agreement (covenant) in Deuteronomy 28

• The BLESSINGS and CURSES

– God was rebuking them for their rebellion against HisLaws.

– Simple obedience would bring them back under Hisblessings once again and they would no longer bepunished.

• In Malachi 3:7-9 … But you say, in what way havewe robbed you? In tithes and offerings. You arecursed with a curse (or broke the law) for youhave robbed me even this whole nation” (Israel)

So the Lord tells them in Malachi 3:10 “Bring yeall the tithes into the storehouse, that theremay be meat in mine house, and prove me nowherewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will notopen you the windows of heaven, and pour youout a blessing, that there shall not be roomenough to receive it.”

This was meant to encourage the Jews to once again bring their tithes to the house of God so that they could receive blessing once again..

The ONLY verses in the ENTIRE King James NT that mention the word “tithe” or “tithing” are:

Luke 11:42

But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint andrue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgmentand the love of God: these ought ye to have done,and not to leave the other undone. (Also, Matthew23:23)

In BOTH cases, the Lord was rebuking Pharisees for their failure to exercise justice and love

BOTH cases were regarding the Law of the OT

Are Christians under the LAW?

• Since tithes and offerings are decreed in the Mosaiclaw, if we want to follow the law, shouldn’t weinclude the others as well?

• For example, in the area of FOOD. Some creaturesforbidden for food include:

– Pig, squid, shrimp, etc; any animal that walks on its paws,and all reptiles (Leviticus 11: 3-47).

– The fat of any acceptable animal was also forbidden forfood (Leviticus 7: 22-27).

– The blood of any creature (Deuteronomy 12:23).

If you want to be under the LAW, What other laws have we broken?

How often do Christians break these laws?

– There are laws of festivals to be observed (Leviticus23: 1-44).

– When has a Christian congregation stoned adulterers(Deuteronomy 22: 20-24)?

• These are only a few of the law of Moses!

– There are a TOTAL of 613!

The New Testament NOWHERE commands believers to tithe:

• The New Testament talks about the importanceand benefits of giving.

– BUT, we are to give as we are able.

• Sometimes that means giving MORE than 10percent; sometimes that may mean giving LESS.

• It all depends on the ABILITY of the Christian andthe NEEDS of the church.

Jesus Christ brought us, Jew and Gentile, a “new and living way” (Hebrews 10:20).

• Jesus Christ brought grace (John 1:16)

• He freed us from being bound to obeythe law (Romans 8:2)

• He brought us freedom (Romans 3)

• He brought us liberty (Galatians 5:1)

1Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the weeklet every one of you lay by him in store, as Godhath prospered him, that there be no gatheringswhen I come.

2Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as hepurposeth in his heart, so let him give; notgrudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth acheerful giver.

2Corinthians 8:12 For if there be first a willingmind, it is accepted according to that a man hath,and not according to that he hath not.

Acts 11:29 Then the disciples, every man according tohis ability, determined to send relief unto thebrethren which dwelt in Judaea:

1Corinthians 13:3 And though I bestow all my goodsto feed the poor, and though I give my body to beburned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

2Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which sowethsparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he whichsoweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully… (8) AndGod is able to make all grace abound toward you; thatye, always having all sufficiency in all things, mayabound to every good work:

Christ became our SUBSTITUTE on theCross and literally fulfilled the Law foryou and me.

• When He died to the Law, so did we. (Galatians2:19-20, Colossians 2:20, 3:3, II Timothy 2:11 )

• The Scriptures prove that tithing was an ordinanceinstituted under the Law of Moses and is NOT aNew Testament ordinance.

• NOWHERE in the New Testament do we find theChurch teaching or practicing tithing

1. Why GIVE?

2Corinthians 9:1 For as touching theministering to the saints… (12) For theadministration of this service not onlysupplieth the want of the saints, but isabundant also by many thanksgivings untoGod.

To minister to needy saints

To the glory of God

2. Why GIVE?

Romans 15:26 For it hath pleasedthem of Macedonia and Achaia tomake a certain contribution for thepoor saints which are at Jerusalem.

To help needy churches

3. Why GIVE?

2Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the graceof our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though hewas rich, yet for your sakes he becamepoor, that ye through his poverty mightbe rich.

It follows the example of the Lord Jesus Christ

4. Why GIVE?

Luke 11:41 But rather give alms ofsuch things as ye have …

To help the poor

5. Why GIVE?

2Corinthians 8:24 Wherefore shewye to them, and before the churches,the proof of your love, and of ourboasting on your behalf.

A demonstration of love for the saints

6. Why GIVE?

1Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rulewell be counted worthy of doublehonour, especially they who labour inthe word and doctrine.

To honor spiritual leaders who (1) are good leaders, and who (2) labor in the

word (thus, “double honor”)

7. Why GIVE?

1Corinthians 9:14 Even so hath theLord ordained that they whichpreach the gospel should live of thegospel.

To provide for the needs of missionaries

(*note: “preach” the Gospel)

Money that is spent on elaborate buildings could be used to:

1. To MINISTER to needy saints

2. To MINISTER to needy churches

3. To MINISTER to the poor

4. To MINISTER to (good) spiritual leaders

5. To MINISTER to missionaries (apostles)

Financial giving is a ministry that everyone can take part in!

In the NT, financial giving is a matter of the HEART

In this case, we must contrast the OLD and

the NEW covenants, in order to dispel the traditions of men.

This has been an excerpt from:

Ministry Essentials Training

Prepared by Dr. Jerry Smith, Missionary Pastor-Teacher of Faith Missionary Church, USA

http://fmcoutreach.blogspot.com

http://ptrjerrysblog.blogspot.com/

Email: jfrsmth@gmail.com