Tithe

[Granny2young]

I have always been taught to tithe. Even as a small child I remember my parents giving us "coins" to place in the offering plate as it went by. My mother always taught us to give a tenth as a tithe and anything over that is an offering (gift) to God. I always assumed this was NT scripture since our church taught that, as did most every church I ever attended, no matter the demonination, but I was shocked to be told this morning that TITHING is not a command of Jesus, nor did he tell christians anywhere in the NT to tithe!! If someone knows of a verse, please let me know.

 

[arunma]

Jesus does indicate that tithing is pleasing to God. He 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. (St. Matthew 23:23)
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I think that the understanding of ths Scripture should be informed by another Scripture.

Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
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The idea is that we ought not to be legalistic about tithing. As I see it, we should never tithe because we feel obligated to, but simply because we love God and trust that he will meet all of our needs.

 

[JustinWindsor]

Jesus does indicate that tithing is pleasing to God. He 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. (St. Matthew 23:23)


​

I think that the understanding of ths Scripture should be informed by another Scripture.

Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)


​

The idea is that we ought not to be legalistic about tithing. As I see it, we should never tithe because we feel obligated to, but simply because we love God and trust that he will meet all of our needs.

Jesus was speaking to Jewish leaders in Matt 23. That is the context, that is to whom his statement is directed. There is never a command, direction, or teaching in Gospel doctrine, from Christ or His Apostles, for a Gentile believer to follow Jewish Law.

However...the Christ and the Apostles clearly taught sacrificial giving and examples were used which could be considered to be clearly beyond a mere 10%. In the early church they gave according to need. They gave sacrificially. The commands to Israel to tithe were much more complicated than 10%.

Some of the teaching of our Baptist churches throughout the years have been guilty of misapplication of Mosaic Law in spite of the Apostles' clear teaching to the contrary.

 

[arunma]

Good point, Justin. Actually, I agree that we ought to tithe, and to give well over 10% to the work of God.

 

[JustinWindsor]

Good point, Justin. Actually, I agree that we ought to tithe, and to give well over 10% to the work of God.

I am, actually, a little oversensitive to the term "tithe" because, to me at least, it has Jewish (Mosaic Law) written all over it.

From Gal 3 -

5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

 

[Granny2young]

so basically the man was correct, tithing is NOT scriptural in the NT. I learn something new everyday

 

[Alineko]

I don't think 10% is such a bad start to titheing as it gives you a focus. But I like to remind people that God blessed the women who gave little though all she had. It doesn't matter how much you give, as long as it's from your heart.

 

[mesue]

Tithe literally means tenth in Hebrew.

H4643

מעשׂרה מעשׂר מעשׂר

ma‛ăśêr ma‛ăśar ma‛aśrâh

mah-as-ayr', mah-as-ar', mah-as-raw'

From H6240; a tenth; especially a tithe: - tenth (part), tithe (-ing).

and to pay a debt in Greek

G586

ἀποδεκατόω

apodekatoō

ap-od-ek-at-o'-o

From G575 and G1183; to tithe (as debtor or creditor): - (give, pay, take) tithe.

God says in Haggai that it's all His anyway.

Haggai 2:8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.

He wants you to give back something that He's given you. In the OT it was a tithe of something tangable. In the NT it's of time treasure or talent.

 

[MrJim]

I am, actually, a little oversensitive to the term "tithe" because, to me at least, it has Jewish (Mosaic Law) written all over it.

From Gal 3 -

5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

I agree with this. The terminology is bad. I find it odd when the pastor says about "tithes and offerings". I want to jump up and say I AIN'T JEWISH. And then offerings collected to give to "THE LORD'S WORK" ought to be given to help the poor and the widows and not a new chandelier for the lobby...

 

[JPPT1974]

Even though we are supposed to tithe 10%, I feel that I want to tithe more than 10%. Not just in money but in stuff that I don't need. Like clothes, books, stuff that others need that we don't really need.

 

[arunma]

I am, actually, a little oversensitive to the term "tithe" because, to me at least, it has Jewish (Mosaic Law) written all over it.

From Gal 3 -

5Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

25Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

But I don't think it's bad to refer to the Law of Moses. Now, I want to be perfectly clear in saying that tithing will not save anyone, and refusing to tithe will not condemn anyone. I would compare tithing to observance of the Sabbath. We ought to do it because it is good for us, not because God gets any benefit from us.

Does God have need of our money? Of course not! He created all things, and he is able to provide the resources to accomplish his own purposes. I think that by giving 10% of one's income, a Christian reminds himself that his money was provided to him by the Lord, and that all of it belongs to the Lord. That's why I'm in favor of using the word "tithing."

But I can surely respect your reasons for disagreeing.

 

[Sword-In-Hand]

It is scripture that the apostles did take up tithes and offerings, mentioned in Acts, but it's not a commandment.

personally for me, i love to tithe and im honestly afraid not to. i know when i dont give money back to the Lord, because i just dont think we can survive for the month, i get a lesson taught to me about lack of faith. however, when i do give, God always blesses richly.

if tithing was a commandment, most would give because they felt they had to, but since it's not, it comes more from our heart and is unselfish. i truly believe that those who don't tithe miss out on a blessing.

 

[Carrye]

This scripture seems appropriate too - we should give God from the best of what we have, not from excess. For me, tithing seems like a very fitting way to apply that principle.

[BIBLE]Proverbs 3:9-10[/BIBLE]

 

[JPPT1974]

If we give our 10% or more, then we shall receive blessings in return.
You are so right about that!
Thanks for btw pointing out to the verse.

 

[DawnTillery]

It is scripture that the apostles did take up tithes and offerings, mentioned in Acts, but it's not a commandment.

personally for me, i love to tithe and im honestly afraid not to. i know when i dont give money back to the Lord, because i just dont think we can survive for the month, i get a lesson taught to me about lack of faith. however, when i do give, God always blesses richly.

if tithing was a commandment, most would give because they felt they had to, but since it's not, it comes more from our heart and is unselfish. i truly believe that those who don't tithe miss out on a blessing.

I agree with this !!

 

[Andyman_1970]

Tithe literally means tenth in Hebrew.

A tenth of what? In Deuteronomy 14, Numbers 18 and Leviticus 27 the tithe is grain/produce/animals........the only time its currency is when one lives too far away from the Temple to carry the grain/produce/animals, so you are to cash it in and when you get to the Temple you buy grain/produce/animals as your tithe - then your family is to eat it (not many Baptist preachers teach that once a year take your "tithe" and go have a feast with your family.........but that's what God's Word says).

To assume that the tithe today is a tenth of the currency we earn (which is not and increase but an exchange of money for labor worked) is a very large Biblical stretch to say the least.

He wants you to give back something that He's given you. In the OT it was a tithe of something tangable. In the NT it's of time treasure or talent.

All time is time with God, and all time is time in the ministry - to think that there is time that is not God's but that we "set aside" for Him is an influence from Gnosticisim. The only portion of the lives of those who follow Jesus that is not doing something for God is when we are sinning.

 

[JustinWindsor]

A tenth of what? In Deuteronomy 14, Numbers 18 and Leviticus 27 the tithe is grain/produce/animals........the only time its currency is when one lives too far away from the Temple to carry the grain/produce/animals, so you are to cash it in and when you get to the Temple you buy grain/produce/animals as your tithe - then your family is to eat it (not many Baptist preachers teach that once a year take your "tithe" and go have a feast with your family.........but that's what God's Word says).

To assume that the tithe today is a tenth of the currency we earn (which is not and increase but an exchange of money for labor worked) is a very large Biblical stretch to say the least.



All time is time with God, and all time is time in the ministry - to think that there is time that is not God's but that we "set aside" for Him is an influence from Gnosticisim. The only portion of the lives of those who follow Jesus that is not doing something for God is when we are sinning.

For the light of truth ringing into this discussion. Why don't we simply derive our doctrine from the New Testament? Then we will have a much healthier spiritual attitude toward 'giving', and we will then have Apostolic insight to bring when we are weighing in Old Testament teaching.