I will never forget hearing the strong loving voice of the Lord speak this reprimand to my spirit. It sounded almost audible; "Where did I tell Christians to tithe in the New Testament?" I sat up and wiped away my tears. I thought, it had to be somewhere in the New Testament because every church I knew taught you have to tithe 10 percent of your gross income or you will be "cursed with a curse." I began to study the scriptures from Genesis to Revelations with the help of the Holy Spirit.
In scripture, the "first covenant" in the Old Testament was with defect and a new covenant was created:
For if that first covenant had been without defect, there would have been no room for another one or an attempt to institute another one. However, He finds fault with them [showing its inadequacy] when He says, Behold, the days will come, says the Lord, when I will make and ratify a new covenant or agreement with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their forefathers on the day when I grasped them by the hand to help and relieve them and to lead them out from the land of Egypt, for they did not abide in My agreement with them, and so I withdrew My favor and disregarded them, says the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Hebrews 8:7-10 AMP
Law of Tithing in the Old Testament
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. 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. Numbers 18:20-21
The Levite tribe was set apart for service to God and they received tithes because they could not possess their own land and therefore could not farm (Num 1:47-54). That is why people tithed land products only even though they did have currency. It was against the law for anyone outside of the tribe of Levi to receive the tithe. The Levites paid their tithes to the high priests who were only from the sons of Aaron. Jesus did not ask for or receive a tithe during His ministry because he was from the tribe of Judah and not Levi. If he did he would have broken the law and been in sin.
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. 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.Deuteronomy 14:22-23
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; Deuteronomy 26:12
Israel never tithed from their poverty, but on their INCREASE. God never intended for the Israelites to tithe on what they didn’t have, but only on the increase of what God gave them.
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 to the Lord. And if a man wants to redeem any of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it. And all the tithe of the herd or of the flock, whatever passes under the herdsman's staff [by means of which each tenth animal as it passes through a small door is selected and marked], the tenth shall be holy to the Lord. The man shall not examine whether the animal is good or bad nor shall he exchange it. If he does exchange it, then both it and the animal substituted for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed. Leviticus 27:30-33 (AMP)
God made sure the Israelites only tithed if they had at least ten animals. God took the tenth animal, not the first animal. God never asked the Israelites for the first part of their flock, but only for the last tenth. This means that if an Israelite only had nine animals, he was exempt from tithing. It’s interesting to note that God chooses the tenth animal. Man did not participate in choosing which animal was the tenth, God did (see Lev 27:33).
The tithing laws went like this: 10% to the Levites as they operated in the government, 10% to take care of the festivals (Duet 14:22-29), and then you paid 10% every third year which went to the poor, the orphans and the widows (Deut 26:12).
The Israelites paid over 23% a year (if you average it out) not just 10%. It was also on land and animal products only, even though they did have a monetary system. The government back then was a Theocracy which meant God was in control, not man. Tithing back then was their form of paying taxes and their tithes went to some of the same things our taxes today go too. The Israelites were also instructed to sacrifice animals under this same law and put to death any person who cursed their parents or God (Lev 20:9& Lev 24:15,16).
Let’s move on to Malachi:
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 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. 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. Malachi 3:8-11
If you use a teaching from Malachi to support the doctrine of tithing, then you should use the entire chapter because Malachi was not originally broken up in four chapters with separated verses. It was simply one long rebuke. Malachi stated he was only speaking to the nation of Israel, rebuking them for refusing to follow the Mosaic laws.He also rebuked them for many things including sacrificing animals incorrectly. I would assume if you were going to give away ten percent of your income based on Malachi, you should obey the rest of what Malachi said. And remember, you should be tithing over 20% if you tithe according to Malachi’s rebuke to the Israelites. The “storehouse” mentioned was not a tabernacle or place of worship but a storage bin for food. It is widely preached that the devourer mentioned in Malachi is Satan.Since Satan is the one who steals, kills and destroys, that doctrine is probably correct. The reason the people in the Old Testament needed God to “rebuke the devourer” for them is because they didn’t have the authority to do it themselves. In the New Testament, Jesus gives us the authority to rebuke Satan (Luke 10:19). Since we now have the authority, it is our responsibility and not God’s to do the rebuking. I also think a little common sense needs to be used here too. Can anyone who applies the biblical principle of salvation in their life, whether rich or poor be saved? If God’s word is for everyone and it applies to everyone, then how come there are so many wealthy people who do not tithe and sometimes mock God? Do they give away some of their money? Some do. Is it always at least 10% of their income?
Sometimes the wealthy donate money to have their names put on buildings, receive a tax break, or look good in the public eye. Jesus tells us that that is the only reward that they will ever get!
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou does alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand does: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which sees in secret himself shall reward thee openly. Matt: 6:2-4
Read what the Apostle Paul said to the Philippians:
For I went through the Jewish initiation ceremony when I was eight days old, having been born into a pure-blooded Jewish home that was a branch of the old original Benjamin family. So I was a real Jew if there ever was one! What’s more, I was a member of the Pharisees who demand the strictest obedience to every Jewish law and custom. And sincere? Yes, so much so that I greatly persecuted the Church; and I tried to obey every Jewish rule and regulation right down to the very last point. But all these things that I once thought very worthwhile-now I’ve thrown them all away so that I can put my trust and hope in Christ alone. Phil 3:5-7 TLB
Paul said he "tried to obey every Jewish rule and regulation." Then he says "now I've thrown them all away so that I can put my trust and hope in Christ alone."
For Christ himself is our way of peace. He has made peace between us Jews and you Gentiles by making us all one family, breaking down the wall of contempt that used to separate us. By his death he ended the angry resentment between us, caused by the Jewish laws which favored the Jews, and excluded the Gentiles, for he died to annul that whole system of Jewish laws. Then he took the two groups that had been opposed to each other and made them parts of himself; thus he fused us together to become one new person, and at last there was peace. Eph 2:14-15 TLB
The King James Version of Ephesians 2:14-15 says this:
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; Eph 2:14-15
Whether or not you like the word abolished or annulled better, the bible is clear; the Jewish law which was for the Jews only was cancelled when Jesus died and rose again. This includes the sacrificing of animals, tithing, stoning, etc.
Tithing in the Gospels
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise an cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Matthew 23:23
In Matthew, Jesus told the Pharisees they should tithe because when Jesus walked the earth we were still under the laws of the Old Testament. The scribes and Pharisees were Israelites. The new covenant did not begin until after Jesus was crucified for our sins and rose again. Please notice the Pharisees gave a tenth of their spices not money and Pharisees definitely had money. Remember the widow woman giving her two mites into the treasury? The coin in the fish’s mouth? So if people had actual cash back then, why did Jesus bring up that they were to be tithing on spices? Because the tithe was only supposed to be on land products and animals! Let’s read how God wanted the people to give to the house of God.
God in the Old Testament:
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, And blue, and purple,and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood, Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. Exodus 25:1-9
In the Old Testament we read when they gave to the church, God made it voluntary as opposed to the law of tithing which was governmental. In verse 2 above the Lord only wanted an offering for the tabernacle out of a willing heart!
Destroying the Law
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5:17-19
Yes, the old system of priesthood based on family lines was canceled because it didn’t work. Hebrews 7:18 TLB
...so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. Hebrews 7:22 NASB
Galatians chapters 2-5 Paul rebukes the Galatians for following the old Jewish law. Paul says:
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. Gal 3:10
Paul tells the Galatians if they obey Jewish law to stay in right standing with God, they have to obey all of the law or they are cursed. If you tithe 10% of your income so you will remain in right standing with God so you won’t be “cursed with a curse,” aren’t you as guilty as the Galatians? Paul still isn’t finished with his reprimand;
Well then, why were the laws given? They were added after the promise was given, to show men how guilty they are of breaking God’s laws. But this system of law was to last only until the coming of Christ, the Child to who God’s promise was made.(And there is this further difference. God gave his laws to angels to give to Moses, who then gave them to the people; but when God gave his promise to Abraham, he did it by himself alone, without angels or Moses as go-betweens.) Gal 3:19-20 TLB
So Christ has made us free. Now make sure that you stay free and don’t get tied up again in the chains of slavery to Jewish laws and ceremonies. Galatians 5:1 TLB
Paul finishes off his letter in Galatians by saying:
But if you are led of the Holy Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:18
In the New Testament we are not under the Jewish law but under grace and God has already provided everything you need through his son Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:14 For sin will not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Apostle Paul says:
Don’t you realize that God told those working in his temple to take for their own needs some of the food brought there as gifts to him? And those who work at the altar of God get a share of the food that is brought by those offering it to the Lord. In the same way the Lord has given orders that those who preach the Gospel should be supported by those who accept it. Yet I have never asked you for one penny. And I am not writing this to hint that I would like to start now. In fact, I would rather die of hunger than lose the satisfaction I get from preaching to you without charge. 1 Cor 9:13-15 TLB
Paul said he personally did not ask for money when he preached but he did tell the church in Corinth they should support those who preached the gospel to them. This means it is right to support your pastor and those who preach the gospel to you. Being a Pastor is a job and your Pastor has the right to take a salary. Our church buildings we use aren’t free. I remember standing in the parking lot of a church we had attended a few times. For some reason I had the worst feeling about walking inside. I thought I was imaging things so we went in anyway and sat down. The message began and it was about tithing ten percent of your gross income. Within a few minutes of the message, I felt something land on my neck and wrap around. I looked at my husband and told him we needed to leave now. After we left I told him what happened. We prayed and I felt the snakelike thing lift off the back of my neck. In the Bible (Matt 3:7 & Matt 23), both John the Baptist and Jesus accused the religious leaders of being "vipers." Was that a spiritual viper that wrapped around my neck when sitting under the teaching of tithing? I couldn't see it, but I definitely felt it!
I recommend spending time reading the Bible and asking the Holy Spirit to help you as you read it. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in every part of your life including giving money.
