Bible Matters 402: Tithe

Tithing is one of the most controversial subject matters of the New Testament church.  During my church visits in 2024, I was looking for spiritual venues for the men coming out of jail.  These men typically had three arrests for driving under the influence, they now had a felony, no driver’s license, often times no car, most had lost their jobs, most had wives or girlfriends and children at home and what they needed was a church that filled their spiritual needs.  What they didn’t have was money.  Most of the churches claimed that tithing was an ordinance created by God for his church.  

Tithing was an Old Testament law created for the sons of Levi in order to maintain their standard of living, equal to the other eleven tribes of Israel.  The sons of Levi were chosen to be part of the royal priesthood and take care of the sacrifices, burnt offerings and duties of taking care of the church. 

Hebrews 7:5-6,8-9 – And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:  But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.  And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.  And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

In the Old Testament, God wanted to make sure that the physical church was cared for.  Duties of the Levites and priest were daily.   It was a full-time job.  If each of the remaining eleven tribes gave a ten percent tithe, then the church building, offerings and salary for the sons of Levi could be met. The sons of Levi had no land inheritance.  Thus, the tithe was their means of financial support.   

Numbers 18:24-29 – But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.  And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,  Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe.  And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.  Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the Lord of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the Lord’s heave offering to Aaron the priest.  Out of all your gifts ye shall offer every heave offering of the Lord, of all the best thereof, even the hallowed part thereof out of it.

Nehemiah 10:36-38 – Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:  And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.  And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

The tenth part was considered holy unto the Lord God. The ten percent was an offering a person could make.  It may not have always been money, but of the resources that the person had available to them. 

Leviticus 27:32 – 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.

Deuteronomy 12:6,11-12,17 – And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:  Then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the Lord :  And ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your menservants, and your maidservants, and the Levite that is within your gates; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you.  Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:

2 Chronicles 31:5-6,11-12 – And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the Lord their God, and laid them by heaps.  Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the Lord ; and they prepared them,  And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.

So, what about tithing for the New Testament church?  Let’s review scripture and the preponderance of evidence testimony of the witnesses.  Tithing is mentioned thirty-two times in the bible.  Twenty-five times in the Old Testament and seven times in the New Testament.  It is clear that tithing was created for the Levites, “And verily they that are of the sons of Levi.”  Tithing was an Old Testament law according to the law of Abraham.  The seven times that tithing is mentioned in the New Testament, it refers back to the requirement for tithing for the Levites.  Not once, did Jesus give an ordinance or commandment for tithing.  Jesus was angry with the greed and love of filthy lucre associated with the tithes received by the scribes and Pharisees.  

Matthew 23:23 – Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and 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.

Luke 11:42 – But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Actions taken for the love of filthy lucre angered Jesus.

John 2:13-17-19 – And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,  And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:  And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;  And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.  And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.   Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Mark 11:17 – And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

When Jesus died on the cross, the Old Testament church was destroyed. 

Matthew 27:50-51 – Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Mark 15:37-38 – And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.  And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

Luke 23:45-46 – And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.  And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Peter understood exactly the teaching of Christ.  He witnessed it first-hand.  A servant for God, should feed the flock of God, not for money but of a ready mind.

1 Peter 5:2 – Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Paul made it clear that you do all for the glory of God. Not for filthy lucre

1 Corinthians 10:31 – Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Titus 1:10-11 –  For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:  Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

The New Testament church is about the love of God in you shining forth out of love for the things of God.  It is not about a ten percent tithe.  As far as I’ve been able to ascertain, very few New Testament pastors are sons of Levi.  Tithing for is not a New Testament ordinance or commandment of God.  God doesn’t need your money, he wants your heart.  God wants you to love from the heart and be a servant to man.  God doesn’t measure the ten percent of your worth.  He wants you to spread his word.  He wants your charity.

1 Peter 4:8 – And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

You give an offering of service, time or money to the local church, to allow it to spread God’s word and give glory to the things of God.  Not because you have to, but because you want to.    

There is no tithing or donations required in the Church of Nineveh.  The only desire God has for you is to spread his word and show love to the things of God.  Make your light shine in this year “24” of priesthood. 

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.