After wrestling with the Lord Gen 32:28. The Lord changes Jacobs name to Israel. Jacob's 12 sons become the 12 Tribes of Israel. Each son receives a portion of Land except Levi. Leiv's Tribe is chosen to be the priests.
The purpose of the tithe. Was because, unlike all the other tribes. The Levites did not reveice or own any property, therefore had no means of income. So God provided for the Levite tribe, the priestly’ tribe. With the tithes (Plural) of the other tribes. So the tithe is not biblical, unless it is given to the Levites.
Under Mosaic law it was Tithes (PLURAL) not tithe that was the requirement.
Malachi 3:10 Bring ye "all the tithes" (PLURAL) into the storehouse,
Lev 27:
30 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 unto the LORD.
(MY NOTE: Land owners & herdsmen paid the tithes & only from the land given to Israel)
31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes (<Again/PLURAL), he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
(MY NOTE: a 20% fee was added for bringing cash)
32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.
(MY NOTE: You marched your herd under a rod. If you had had 9 animals, you paid/gave none. If you had 19 you only paid/gave one. If you had 100 then 10 would have been required.)
Deut 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
(MY NOTE: Tithes were required on crop or herd """increases""". BTW nothing was EVER paid on any future increases/like a pay check. Also, fisherman paid nothing on their catch, tradesmen, cobblers, potters, the women who made the soldiers garments, the servants who worked in the fields for wages, were not required to pay tithe).
After the Temple was destroyed there was no where/reason to pay tithes.
Does our local Church & global ministries need our financial support? Of course, yes, ABSOLUTELY!
Acts 20:35 (C) Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
(NOTE: I see here a blessing promise from the Lord for freewill giving)
1 Cor 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
(NOTE: Bring WEEKLY your best freewill gift)
2 Cor 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
(NOTE: Give a little, receive a little, give a lot, receive a lot)
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, ""or of necessity"": for God loveth a cheerful giver.
(NOTE: A tithe was given out of the laws necessity. A worthless gift from todays believer. A freewill gift from the heart is loved and rewarded by our Lord. Even a drink of water given in His name Matt 10:42)
When it comes to giving. New covenant Christians are taught to give generously, sacrificial & expectant of a blessing in return. And most certainly be CHEERFULL FREEWILL GIVER'S!
We should all prayerfully examine our giving patterns. Pray earnestly that the Holy Spirit would challenge us. To see whether they are in line with God's New Testament plan of being Generous, Sacrificial, Cheerful Giver's!
