Tithing Last week we examined tithing or the giving of a tenth as a form of tributary or worship in the lives of: Cain and Abel Abraham Jacob 1
And the overriding principle we discovered so far is that: Giving to God is always to be within the boundaries which God prescribes in order for it to be acceptable and God will never fail to provide those boundaries by way of direct command or guiding principle. Now we move to the Theocracy of Israel. What do we mean by the Theocracy of Israel? 2
A Biblical Theocracy refers to the nation of Israel God promised to Abraham s descendants in which He, God, would personally rule. It was inaugurated through Moses and geographically realized with Joshua. It has distinct protocols and as regulated by specific religious, moral and civil codes provided by God for that theocratic nation. In essence, Israel was both the religious and civil establishment brought together under one rule. This is the only time and place that God approved of and sanctioned the marriage between civil and religious government. 3
Hence, we come to the tithe in Israel. Here is what Leviticus 27:30 33 says: (And before we read this observe just how complicated this one verse makes trying to use the Old Testament tithing in Israel as binding today) 30 Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD S; it is holy to the LORD. 31 If, therefore, a man wishes to redeem part of his tithe, he shall add to it onefifth of it. 32 For every tenth part of herd or flock, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the LORD. 33 He is not to be concerned whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; or if he does exchange it, then both it and its substitute shall become holy. It shall not be redeemed. 4
31 If, therefore, a man wishes to redeem part of his tithe, he shall add to it one fifth of it. What problem, alone, does this present to those trying to prescribe the tithing during the Theocracy of Israel as binding to the church? Two other passages to illustrates the complexity and context which combats the assertion that tithing during the Theocracy of Israel is now binding on the church age believer. 5
Leviticus 19: 9 10 9 Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the LORD your God. Not only were they already prescribed tithing but now they have to do even more by way of divine prescription by leaving unharvested fields and vineyards! So in reality much more than just a tithe was required. 6
What people generally fail to understand which comes from young and undeveloped theological minds is that the tithe was a national tax of 10% along with other requirements by God for the operation of the Theocratic nation. This brings us to our last passage on the Theocratic nation of Israel. 1 Chronicles 29:1 9 1 Then King David said to the entire assembly, My son Solomon, whom alone God has chosen, is still young and inexperienced and the work is great; for the temple is not for man, but for the LORD God 6 Then the rulers of the fathers households, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with the overseers over the king s work, offered willingly; 7 and for the service for the house of God they gave 7
1 Chronicles 29:1 9 9 Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the LORD with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly. Look at the context, a civil king ruling and directing with authority in the house of the Lord. We do not exist, as the church, in that context. 8
But what about Jesus, our Lord, who seems to affirm theocratic laws as binding which we find in the gospels? Let us answer that by turning to Matthew 23:23 24: * A companion reference is found in Luke 23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! 9
Was our Lord affirming tithing as binding upon the church which he ushered in by way of his ministry? No. Here he was addressing people who were living under the still existing protocols of the Old Testament which is why Christ, Himself, obeyed the law because he came to fulfill it. However, that context is now removed. We are no longer in the context of the Theocratic law. 10
So what is a Christian to do? Principles of Christian Giving During the Church Era Remarkably absent in the New Testament doctrinal letters via the Apostles, is a reiteration of the law of tithing. This omission is heightened in Paul s repeated instructions regarding our giving as believers in the NT church. 11
I. In voluntary response to needs among faithful believers. Acts 4:35; Acts 11:27 29 This was voluntary It was fraternal It was not an abolition of personal property Based in the principle of stewardship II. We are to give in a deliberate, calculated and joyous manner. 2 Cor. 9:6 7 6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 12
1 Cor. 16:1 4 1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. 3 When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; 4 and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me. III. We are to give in response to having been genuinely and appropriately spiritually fed and clothed. 1 Cor. 9:11 14 the principle of providing for those who provide for your spiritual food 13
IV. We are to give with humility and discretion and not attempt to deliberately bring it to the attention of others. Matthew 6: 1 4 do not sound a trumpet so that men will honor you V. With the understanding that the amount is not what God judges but the heart and that is how God determines sacrifice in giving. Mark 12:41 44 the widow s mite 14
I realize we have covered this in two weeks but is there a take away from what we have covered with this issue? We have a great responsibility. We are not told what law to follow other than the law of the Spirit which guides us by way of divine principles in determining our giving and actions. Thus, are you Spirit filled and regularly receiving doctrinal instruction in God s Word so that you may be guided by both in applying maximal principles in giving? he 15
Next Week To ordain or not to ordain. That is the question 16