Problem 28 - That All Christians are Commanded to TITHE

PROBLEM NO. 28--THAT ALL CHRISTIANS ARE COMMANDED TO TITHE ACCORDING TO MALACHI 3:8-10

Tithing is seen to be the God-given way of supporting the Christian ministry today. According to Dake's Annotated Reference Bible, he believed that Paul taught this doctrine in Gal. 6:6; 1 Cor. 9:7-14; 16:2, and in 1 Tim. 6:17-18. He even stated that "no Scripture even mentions a substitute program for tithing in the New Testament" (page 270).

Jesus referred to tithing in Matt. 23:23 and in Luke 18:12.

THE TRUTH

Civilized people, religious or not, recognize that tithing is a principle found in the Old Testament, the Bible of the Hebrew people. Tithing is first mentioned in Genesis 14:20, of Abram offering a tithe to the king of Salem, Melchizedek. It is usually thought of as a form of taxation. Both Hebrew and Greek words refer to a 'tenth.'

Many years later, when Jehovah gave His Law to Israel through Moses, tithing was incorporated into it. All the tithes of the land, trees, and animals belonged to the LORD (Lev. 27:30-33).

The Law gives three reasons for tithing:

1. A tenth had to be given to the Levites: "Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting" (Numbers 18:21). This tribe was especially chosen by Jehovah to be the one that would take care of the Tabernacle and its worship involving the sacrifices, and to preserve the Law of Jehovah (Lev. 10:11). The tithe could be considered as a maintenance fee for the work done by them for the people of Israel.

2. A second tithe (a tenth of the remaining nine-tenths) was to be set apart and consumed in a sacred or festival meal at Jerusalem each year (Deut. 12:5-18).

3. Every third year another tithe was taken for the Levites, strangers, fatherless and widows (Deut. 14:28-29; 26:12-14).

These three tithes amount to about 22% of one's yearly income. Anything above this is called 'giving.'

The passage in Malachi is part of God's last words to His earthly people in the Old Testament: [7] "Yet from the days of yourfathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you said, In what way shall we return? [8] Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, In what way have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings. [9] You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. [10] Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing, that there will not be room enough to receive it" (Mal. 3:7-10).

This is addressed TO ISRAEL and not to the Body of Christ. Applying this to the Body of Christ means that you have to spiritualize Israel as being the Church, instead of Israel as being a nation of people. It is important to see that this passage contains a CURSE as well as a BLESSING (verse 9). Both went together under the Old Testament economy. There are no 'curses' today

The 'tithes' in the Malachi passage are to be understood according to Leviticus 27:30-33 mentioned above. And yet, today, believers only understand 'tithes' as a reference to money. It is a travesty of the truth to impose this passage on the Church, which is His Body.

When we search Paul's letters TO the Body of Christ, you will find that the Apostle does not refer to tithing or even use the word. Chapters 8 and 9 of Second Corinthians are devoted to Christian giving. The Apostle also refers to Igiving' in his other letters. Some points on Christian giving are:

1. Christian giving is a 'grace' from our heavenly Father (2 Cor. 8:1,7).

2. Christian giving is voluntary (2 Cor. 8:8,12; 9:2,5)

3. Our Father God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7). This phrase is unique in the New Testament, being the translation of two Greek words that are used only here. A strong contrast to being under the law of Moses.

4. The privilege of giving applies to all, rich and poor, in the Church (2 Cor. 8:2-3)

5. As a group, collections are to be taken on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1-2)

6. Christian giving is to be considered as a 'good work' (1 Tim. 6:17-18)

7. This good work will be tested by fire at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:13).

One has to admit that the 'tithe' is an excellent way to raise money for church work, even though it is a principle that belongs to Israel alone, and is not for today. It is a sure way of getting at least 10% from misguided believers.

However, it seems that believers are being short-changed by those in the pulpit. Believers give millions of dollars yearly for the Lord's work, and what they get in return urn from the pulpit is basically the ABC's of the Bible - milk and pabulum (baby food - Hebrews 5:11-14). They are taught more Jewish doctrine than Christian doctrine; they are taught how to wrongly divide the Word instead of being taught how to rightly divide the Word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15). In the final analysis, the Law of Moses has a strangle hold on the Body of Christ, because the brethren will not search the Scriptures to see if these things are so (Acts 17:11).

By Robert C. Brock