The basis of all giving is that God so loved us that He gave. As we look to our giving God it is not hard to understand the reasons why we should give. You know the media complex has made it sound like all the church wants is your money. Yes, there have definitely been corrupt practices in the history of the church and I can show you some real issues in some current parts of the church today. However, that doesn't make giving wrong nor does it make everyone in the church corrupt.
Paul was quoting the very words of Jesus when he said in Acts chapter 20 verse 35 that it is more blessed to give than to receive. The world has no concept of this kingdom idea. Paul saw giving as a pleasing sacrifice. In commenting about the financial gift that he received from the church in Philippi he said that it was, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice and well-pleasing to God, that’s in Philippians chapter 4 verse 18. Do you notice how Paul uses terminology that describes the sacrifice system used under the Mosaic law in the Temple? As a holy priesthood, giving is part of offering up our spiritual sacrifices.
If Jesus is Lord of your life, then He must be Lord of everything you have.
The first New Testament sacrifice we discussed in this course was the sacrifice of our bodies. Paul in I Corinthians chapter 6 verses 19 and 20 says concerning our bodies that do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body. Now if we follow scripture through logically then we can reasonably conclude that if Jesus is Lord of our bodies, then he is Lord of all that we have and we are simply stewards of the good things God has given to us.
As stewards we are called to be faithful over the things God has given into our hands.
Now the common way for us to make money is to use our God-given abilities performing some type of labor or skill for a monetary return. You may have your own business, work for a company or even be a government employee. Whatever you do, you are using your God-given talents, body and mind to make a living whether that is using a manual labor skill or sitting behind a computer. Even though you are exerting your energy, using your God given talents, using your body and mind: the ability to make money is still a God-given gift. Since all that we have is a result of God’s grace and we have been bought with a price then we need to understand how as part of the New Testament priesthood we should offer up the sacrifice of giving.
The church has a few of what I call sacred cow doctrines and one that I need to sacrifice is the doctrine of the tithe.
It is a pillar and foundation of many believers’ ideas of giving. It many times is one of the central parts of a church's weekly service as they gather together worshiping as a community of believers. I feel it’s extremely important to address this topic on the tithe first because it’s the elephant in the room. Please understand as I share what I consider the word of God teaches concerning this subject that I’m not being critical if you or the group of believers you meet with holds to the doctrine of tithing. I understand this is a controversial subject and good people can have differing views. It’s not a foundational doctrine and will not affect your eternal destiny, but I believe it’s very important to address because we want to accurately offer up the sacrifice of giving as being a part of the royal priesthood of Christ.
Let’s first take a look at what the Bible has to say about the first fruits and then we are
going to look at the tithe because they are two separate ways the sons of Israel were to provide for the Levitical priesthood. Under the Old Covenant the Israelites were told to present to the Lord the first fruits of their harvest and firstborn of their livestock and even dedicate their firstborn children. It was to be one of the ways the tribe of Levi was to be cared for since in the land of Israel they were not given an inheritance like the other tribes.
You can read about this in Numbers chapter 18 verse 12 thru 20. It says that the priests were to be given all the best of the oil and all the best of the wine and of the grain, the first fruits of what the other tribes give to the Lord, I give to you. The first ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to the Lord, shall be yours. Everyone who is clean in your house may eat it. Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours. Everything that opens the womb of all flesh, whether man or beast, which they offer to the Lord, shall be yours.
Nevertheless, the firstborn of man you shall redeem and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem. And their redemption price at a month old you shall redeem them, you shall fix at five shekels in silver, according to the shekel of the Temple. But the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem they are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar and shall burn their fat as a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. And the Lord said to Aaron, You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel.
Now the giving of the first fruits was a demonstration of faith which declared that all they had was due to the blessings of God. Through the first fruits God was giving the children of Israel a chance to acknowledge Him as their covenant partner by putting him first, to worship Him through their giving and was one way for providing sustenance to the Levitical priesthood.
First fruits are never mentioned in the New Testament in regard to giving money so we can conclude that they were specifically for the children of Israel in the land of promise to support the priesthood.
In the New Testament the first fruits are mentioned in regard to salvation which we see in James chapter 1 verse 17 and 18. It says every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
It is also spoken of in the receiving of the Holy Spirit and our coming bodily resurrection in Romans chapter 8 verse 23. It says we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Paul also sees Christ as being the first fruits of those who will rise from the dead I Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 20 and 23.
Now let’s take a look at the tithe because it is distinctly different from the first fruits. The tithe, which means 10%, is first mentioned in Genesis chapter 14. In Genesis chapter 14 Abraham had just defeated several kings when the king/priest Melchizedek met him with bread and wine. Abram gave Mechizedek a tenth of all the spoils of war. Abraham was a herder of large amounts of animals, but he did not tithe on his livestock, he was not commanded to tithe and this was a one time act.
The New Testament only mentions the tithe two times.
Once by Jesus in speaking to the Pharisees recorded in Luke and Matthew. Then the other time in the book of Hebrews chapter 7 referencing Abraham and Melchizedek mentioned here in Genesis chapter 14.
The tithe is mainly mentioned in the Torah instituted under the Mosaic Law established through Moses for the children of Abraham who lived in the promised land. Let’s take a look at the tithe and see what the Torah teaches about it.
Under the Old Covenant law, the tithe was mainly about sustaining the temple and the priesthood which included the tribe of Levi who supported the lineage of Arron the high priestly line. Israel as a nation was to sustain itself economically, politically and spiritually when they entered the promised land. Israel was set up as a Theocracy ruled by a priesthood with the high priest being the representative of the nation.
The twelve tribes of Israel derived from the 12 sons of Jacob were promised an inheritance in the land of Canaan. God spoke to Moses and instructed him as to how he was to allot the land to the various tribes. Each tribe of Israel was given a portion of the land and they were instructed to farm and ranch the land to sustain themselves economically.
All of the tribes were given an inheritance in the promised land except for the tribe of Levi. The tribe of Levi was set apart to support the temple worship along with the family line of Aaron the high priest which was a part of the tribe of Levi.
Now the priesthood and the temple were to be supported by the other tribes through the tithe system setup under the law. The specific purpose for the tithe was to provide for the Levites who had no inheritance in the land of Israel. The Levites received the tithe from the remaining 11 tribes of Israel.
The tithe included crops, flocks and herds, meaning that the only ones God said were to tithe were those that grew produce and raised livestock. A lot of people don’t realize it, but the tithe was not only to support the priest, but it was also for the stranger, the fatherless and the widow.
It was a system set up to care for those who could not care for themselves. Numbers chapter 18 verses 20 thru 24 says the Lord said to Aaron, You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel. To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting.
As we read the Law of Moses, it is not completely clear how many tithes there were, or exactly how often each one had to be given. Many Jewish Rabbis said there were three different tithes which were on a 7-year cycle with the 7th year being a sabbath rest for the land of Israel. The feast tithe was the first tithe and it could be partaken of by the family during the feast they were attending in Jerusalem at the temple as they were presenting the tithe offering at the sanctuary. The nation of Israel had 3 main feast they celebrated throughout the year which was the Feast of Passover, then Feast of Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles. The second tithe was for the Levites and the Levites tithed to the high priestly line of Aaron. The third tithe was for the poor specifically the widows, orphans and strangers.
The Sabbath year was every 7 years and there would have been no tithe in the Sabbath year as no crops had been grown. Summarizing the three types of tithes in the Old Testament period, we find a much broader concept of giving than we generally assume, giving that included first, God, second, man's own physical and spiritual welfare and third, their neighbor's need.
Under the Mosaic law everyone was not required to tithe. The tithe was only required for farmers and herdsmen.
It was not even mandatory for herdsmen who had small herds because as an example if you only had 9 sheep then you did not have to tithe. It was only required for those who had 10 or more sheep and they tithed on the 10th lamb. If you were a craftsman, fisherman or a tradesman like a carpenter then you were not required to tithe. If you were poor, you were not required to tithe, but supported by the tithe. The tithe was setup so that those who benefited from the land were required to support the priesthood, temple, sacrifice system and needy.
Israel was a theocracy and it was also kind of a socialist system where those who had plenty cared for those who did not have.
The tithe was just one of a number of Laws that the Jews had to obey, but as I just stated it wasn’t required for everyone to follow. I could go over more of the Torah in regard to the tithe, but I think this is sufficient to make the point I am wanting to make in this lesson. Just to be clear I’ll say it again.
The tithe was specifically for the children of Israel living in the promised land to sustain the temple, priesthood, sacrifice system and a support system for the needy and everyone was not required to tithe.
One of the main scriptures that I hear quoted concerning the tithe being a present-day practice for the church is from the book of Malachi. The scripture used says, will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, how have we robbed you? In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts now that’s in Malachi chapter 3 verse 8 thru 11.
Let’s get a full context of this period so we can see who God is talking to and what he is trying to teach us.
The Jewish temple that king Solomon built in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC and over 10,000 mainly leading families in the nation were taken captive to Babylon which is in modern day Iraq. Not only was the temple destroyed, but Jerusalem was left in ruins and for 70 years during this period there was no Jewish feast, no sacrifice, no tithe or functioning priesthood in Jerusalem.
The Babylonians were then conquered by the Persians and in 538 BC, a man named Zerubbabel was given permission by Cyrus, the king of Persia, to return to Israel and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The process of rebuilding the temple experienced many setbacks and difficulties, so the prophets Haggai and Zechariah encouraged the people to continue rebuilding the temple despite all of the problems. Finally, after over 20 years, the temple was completed in 515 BC as recorded in Ezra chapter 6. However, a completed temple did not restore Israel’s obedience to God’s law.
The priesthood was corrupt and were intermarrying with pagans, abusing the tithe, taking the best part of the sacrifices for themselves and not caring for the needy.
So Ezra the priest who was also a scribe traveled to Jerusalem and worked to correct these moral failures. A little after this Nehemiah the prophet also traveled to Jerusalem, this time with the goal of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Along with rebuilding the walls, he is also able to enact many reforms to the way people lived and worship. It was during this time of reforms under Nehemiah that Malachi the prophet lived and taught. Some of the issues that Malachi addresses are the same issues which Nehemiah addressed. One of these issues is bringing the tithes and offerings into the storehouse of the Temple.
In the historical record of Nehemiah, the people were rejoicing in giving the tithe of their crops and herds to support the rebuilt temple and priesthood.
It had been 70 years with no active priesthood, no Temple and no active sacrifice for worship so the children of Israel were excited to follow the Torah once again. Nehemiah specifically says that in his days, all Israel joyfully participated in giving the portions required by the law. Nehemiah chapter 12 verses 44 thru 47 says on that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the first fruits and the tithes, to gather the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered. And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon. Just like during the days of David’s Tabernacle the people appear to be giving joyfully and generously.
The issue Nehemiah had was not with the people, but the issue was with corrupt priestly practices.
In Nehemiah 13, we read of a priest named Eliashib who had been given the authority over the storehouse in the Temple. It was his job to make sure that all the singers, gatekeepers, priests and Levites who served in the Temple received their portion of the grain, wine and oil that had been brought by the people of Israel. However, Eliashib was corrupt and was not using the tithe for its intended purpose. It does not tell us exactly what he did with the tithe, but he had removed all of the grain, wine and oil and had allowed a man named Tobiah to begin living in the storehouse. Who was this Tobiah? He was an Ammonite official who Nehemiah called an enemy of God and this Tobiah was trying to stop the people from rebuilding the walls around the city of Jerusalem.
Now let’s look at the book of Malachi because he was a contemporary of Nehemiah and it was in this same context that the book was written. Who did Malachi have in mind when he wrote? It’s pretty easy to answer that question when you read Malachi because he refers to his audience several times.
Malachi reveals that he is addressing the priests of Israel and the sons of Levi. He was speaking to those priests who had become corrupt.
Among the priests there were those who were taking the best sacrifices for themselves. They were taking wives who were pagan and not faithful to the covenant. They were not caring for the poor, needy and widow, but taking advantage of them.
Malachi chapter 1 verses 6 thru 8 says O priests, who despise my name. But you say, How have we despised your name? By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, How have we polluted you? When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? So, it appears that the section on tithing in Malachi 3:8 thru 10 is not so much addressing the people of Israel, who apparently were doing a good job of bringing their tithes and offerings to the storehouse, but to the wicked and wayward priests and specifically Eliashib, who was removing the tithes and offerings from the storehouse for his own personal gain.
In this case, the rebuke of Malachi is not at all directed toward the people who were failing to tithe, but upon a priest and his friends who were not using the tithe properly, but were selling it or hoarding it all for themselves.
They were not giving the full portion that was due to those who worked and ministered in the temple. It is these priests who were robbing from God. This puts the message of Malachi chapter 3 in a different light because the rebuke is directed at the corrupt priests for their misuse and mishandling of the tithe which had been brought by the people. The rebuke was directed at the priests, not at the people.
Now if you look at the context of the book of Malachi it does not have anything to do with believers under the covenant of Christ.
It certainly does not teach us that if as believers in Christ we would only give 10% of our income to the church then we would be blessed with greater amounts of money. So, to sum up the teaching of the tithe under the Mosaic law it was to care for the tribe of Levi who ministered in the temple supporting the high priest lineage of Aaron. It supported the sacrifice system and it also served as a social safety net to care for the needy. Everyone was not required to follow the law of the tithe, but it was only mandatory for landowners who farmed and raised livestock.
Now let’s take a look at the New Testament teaching of the tithe. The tithe is only mentioned a few times in the New Testament. Once by Jesus found in Matthew and Luke then in the book of Hebrews. Now one question we need to answer is did Jesus teach us to tithe?
The main scripture used to support Jesus teaching us to tithe is found in Matthew chapter 23 verse 23 which says woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. I have heard people use this text to support tithing for the believer in Christ.
One thing we need to understand is that Jesus was living as a Jew under the Mosaic law and ministering to the Jewish nation, but Jesus was not required to tithe because he was raised as a carpenter.
Galatians chapter 4 verse 4 says when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law. Jesus was a Jew born of the tribe of Judah. He said do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. Jesus never spoke against the Torah, the sacrifice system or the Temple. Jesus sole purpose was to be the only man born of woman who could fulfill the Torah because He was the word made flesh.
If you look at the context of Matthew chapter 23 you will see that the whole chapter is a complete rebuke of the Pharisees hypocrisy and corruption.
He calls them hypocrites 5 times basically telling them they are nothing, but religious frauds who do nothing, but oppress people with their legalistic bondage. The Pharisees turned the Torah into 613 different commands to follow. It was these traditions, not the Torah, that Jesus was referring to when he told the Pharisees that they tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear and lay them on people’s shoulders. The Torah never said anything about tithing a herb garden of mint, dill and cumin, but the Pharisees made this one of their priorities. Jesus didn’t say not to do it. He said if you want to be so legalistic that you tithe mint, dill and cumin from your herb garden then go ahead, but you should really be focused on justice, mercy and faithfulness which is the intent of the Torah. In my opinion if you interpret this text as a command for New Covenant believers to give 10% of their income then you’ve become a Pharisee straining at gnats.
Jesus never taught the tithe and the apostles never taught the tithe. I will agree neither did they teach against the tithe, speak against the Torah, the Temple or the sacrifice system because they were faithful Jews.
The church was birthed out of the soil of the Jewish faith. Jesus died as the Passover Lamb during the feast of Passover and established the New Covenant through his broken body and blood. 40 days later at the feast of Pentecost the church was birthed when the Holy Spirit filled the new temple and over 3,000 Jews were saved.
The church was considered a part of the Jewish faith in its infancy and not separate. It was not until some 20 years after Jesus’s death at the Jerusalem council when the apostles set guidelines for the Gentile believers to follow. The reason for this gathering was because Paul was preaching in Asia Minor to Gentiles and some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. And after Paul and Barnabas had no small argument and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question.
The whole issue arose because of legalist believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees who believed it was necessary to circumcise Gentile believers and to order them to keep the law of Moses.
After Peter, Paul and Barnabas spoke James settled the matter saying therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood as recorded in Acts chapter 15 vs 19 thru 20. We do see later in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians that he loosened some of the eating restrictions, basing it on the matter of a person’s conscience which is found in I Corinthians chapter 10 verse 23 thru 33. If tithing was such an important requirement for the believer, don’t you think it would have been mentioned?
The point being made is that the dividing wall of the law that separated Jews and Gentiles for centuries was abolished and destroyed in Christ.
Ephesians chapter 2 verses 11 through 22 says remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So, then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Let’s now take a look at the book of Hebrews concerning the tithe.
The second temple was finished 70 years after the Babylonian exile during the time of Malachi. The book of Hebrews was written before the second temple was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans. The author of Hebrews is not known, but he definitely understood Jewish history, the Torah and had a clear understanding of the purpose of the Messiah. The reason understanding the book of Hebrews is so important is because it helps you to truly understand how the risen Christ fulfilled the Torah, the Temple, the Sacrifice system and Hebraic worship.
Hebrews chapter 1 opens up with the supremacy of Christ and His fulfillment of the prophetic scriptures. Chapter 2 tells us about his identification with humanity by becoming man and how we cannot neglect the gospel. Chapter 3 and 4 continues with this message and contrast how we cannot neglect salvation like many of the children of Israel did when they were brought out of Egypt and wanted to turn back. Chapter 5 and 6 discusses Jesus, our High Priest and how we cannot neglect or turn away from Him.
It’s chapter 7 that mentions the tithe so let’s look at this chapter and see why it’s mentioned along with what the author is wanting us to understand. First let me say that the mentioning of the tithe in this chapter is not a directive to tithe, but its part of a larger point the author is making in regard to turning away from the earthly Temple, earthly priesthood and earthly sacrifice system still standing at this time and looking unto the permanent priesthood of Christ the author and finisher of our faith.
Again, the whole purpose of the book is encouraging Hebrew believers to turn away from the law that has been fulfilled and replaced by a new law, a heavenly Temple and a new High Priest all found in the final sacrifice of Christ and his resurrection.
Hebrews chapter 7 verse 11 thru 16 sums up the emphasis of this chapter which is not about the tithe, but the change from the law of Moses, the Levitical priesthood and sacrifice system to an entire new order under the new High Priest who is the resurrected Christ. Verse 11 starts saying now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood for under it the people received the law, what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.
Jesus as the word made flesh came to fulfill the prophetic promises which were summed up in the Torah, Psalms and Prophetic declarations of a coming Messiah.
I taught this in Lesson 5: Why the Law? And Lesson 6: Messiah so if you have not listened to those lessons, I encourage you to do that.
Jesus is a fulfillment of the Son of David being from the tribe of Judah combining the king priest ministry.
Verse 13 says For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. Remember it was the tribe of Levi that received tithes under the law. Jesus fulfilled that law because on the cross he said, it is finished.
The Torah was brought to perfection in the one sacrifice of Christ, that’s what the book of Hebrews is teaching. It’s teaching the simplicity of the cruciform life focused on the risen Christ.
Verse 15 goes on to say, this becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, you are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness for the law made nothing perfect, but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
Perfection could not be achieved through the law, but only through Christ indicating the limitations of the Old Covenant system and tithing. The entire tithing system provided for the Levitical system, but the system was temporary pointing us to the time of Messiah when it would be replaced. The Priesthood therefore with all its ordinances was in need of replacing.
This replacement puts the law of tithing into no effect because the tithe supported the entire old covenant system with its old Levitical priesthood, sacrifice system and temple which were soon to be destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Like the book of Hebrews Paul uses a similar analogy in the book of Galatians in reference to the law. Similar to Hebrews 7 he uses Abraham, but instead of contrasting Melchizedek and Aaron he contrasts his wife Sarah and Hagar to prove the same point.
Galatians chapter 4 verses 22 thru 26 says Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through promise. Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery, she is Hagar. Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free and she is our mother.
Again, the tithing system was part of the Law and it actually undergirded the entire priesthood, temple and sacrifice system. If you didn’t have the tithe the system didn’t work.
Paul goes on to say in Galatians chapter 4 verse 29 thru 31 that now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now. But what does the Scripture say? Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman. So, brothers, we are not children of the slave, but of the free woman.
The book of Hebrews was an exhortation to leave the old temporal order of the Levitical priesthood, Temple worship and sacrifice system for a new and living way inaugurated through the body and blood of Christ.
Hebrews chapter 13 verses 8 thru 16 says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So, Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore, let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. This was the ending of the book Hebrews and it was a clear exhortation to leave the Old law system which had been fulfilled.
Galatians goes on to say for freedom Christ has set us free, stand firm therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
I Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
The context of falling from grace in this text is returning back to the slavery of the Old Covenant Law to be accepted and blessed by God based on your dead works.
I think I’ve shown you that trying to keep the tithing system alive is what Paul called leaven and bringing yourselves back under the Law to attain God’s righteousness and blessing. You can’t teach the New Covenant priesthood of the believer and the tithe because they are antithetical to one another. The tithe was too support the Levitical priesthood. In the New Covenant we are not under the law of the tithe and we do not support a hereditary priesthood.
The book of Hebrews, Galatians and Romans clearly declares that we are no longer under the Law, but under Christ. The tithe is under the Law and was specifically given to the nation of Israel. No legal mandate exists in the New Testament to tithe, now if you want to give 10% of your income there is nothing that says you can’t either.
I know some of you will ask. Well, what about for the Jewish believer? Don’t Messianic Christians have to keep the Torah, its feast’s and giving requirements? It’s a simple answer and it’s no. You can’t truly tithe, sacrifice and support a priesthood if you don’t have a temple. The Temple Mount has had no temple since 70 AD when the Romans destroyed it as Jesus prophesied they would.
Jew and Gentile have been brought under one covenant, one High Priest, one heavenly temple, one eternal sacrifice and joined together to form the ONE NEW MAN in the earth, the church with Christ as the head.
Now if Messianic Christians or Gentile Christians want to follow aspects of the feast of Israel, give 10% of their income and follow Jewish customs I don’t see a problem as long as you are doing it by faith working through love to grow in Christ. However, if someone is mandating these ideas upon you as if it’s going to make you some superior believer then I encourage you to leave those who are troubling you and find a community of believers who understand grace and the cruciform pathway of following the Messiah.
Am I saying we should not give? Absolutely not!
The lesson we are going over is called the sacrifice of giving and in the next lesson we will fully cover what this means. In closing I wholeheartedly believe that as a New Covenant priesthood we are to give. Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 16 verses 1 thru 2 says now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper.
Our giving is to be presented as a sacrifice unto God, but we give it to the people who have stewardship in the church over the finances. As New Covenant priests we are stewards of all that God has given us and we are to use it to bless others through giving. We are blessed so that we may be a blessing. However, giving under our High Priest Christ is not based on a legal requirement, but a generous heart. In II Corinthians chapter 8 verses 8 thru 9 Paul says that giving is not a command, but in following our Lord Jesus Christ's example, we should freely give.
Giving offerings should be done according to our ability to give. God does not expect us to go broke by giving.
He may at times have you take a step of faith and give all that you have, but this would not be a common practice. Whether you have much or little you should give within your standard of living. We should not give grudgingly, or under some sort of a demand, but from a heart of love and faith.
Primarily our giving should go to support the community of believers that we assemble together with on a regular basis. However, there are a variety of ways we can be a blessing to others. Supporting various ministries. Giving to the poor. Helping a Christian in a time of need. We are going to fully explore this in the next lesson, but remember that when you give you are not throwing your money away. You are planting seed that will bring a harvest, so you want to make sure that you are planting in good ground and reaching out in faith.
When you present your giving to the Lord, make it a time of worship as a covenant commitment to God. It’s also a time of planting seeds that will bring forth a plentiful harvest.
As we give, we must give in faith knowing that it’s the will of God. God desires to bless us and for us to be a blessing. Let us offer up to God the spiritual sacrifice of our giving and see the hand of God move upon our finances, as we allow Him to be our financial partner.
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Next Lesson: Lesson 31 - Part II The Sacrifice of Giving
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