~ A place to find answers to gnawing spiritual questions ~
Question: I believe tithes is in the New Testment Church , but I am having a hard time proving it to some of my relatives? They say it was under the law and we are not under the law but grace,so it doesn't apply to us, We're only required to give as God has prospered us. And that it is used to put the saints in bondage. And the men of God use it for their own gain, and it doesn't benefit the people when they need help.In addition, I'm being told the tribe of Judah didn't pay tithes, and that this was Jesus' lineage. I haven't had time to look at all that pertains to this,but I believe Paul taught it, but not with the specific wording of tithe.
Can you help me with this?
Answer: It is true that tithing was under the law. It is also true that some ministers use the teaching to tithe to put men under bondage. Some ministers indeed, misuse the tithes for their own gain.
However, just because a Biblical principle is abused by some, it does not make the principle invalid. The majority of ministers are honest and sacrificial in their use of God's money.
It is not true that the Old Testament has been done away with. All through the New Testament, Paul, and Peter, and John, and Luke, quote from the Old Testament as authoritative. (some examples, among many: Acts 2:17-21, 15:16-18, 28:26-27, Romans 3:10-18, 9:15, 17, 11:3:810, 2 Corinthians 6:16-18, and many more). Besides, Paul wrote, "All Scripture is give by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16). When he says all scripture, he is referring to the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.
What is actually done away with is the Law of Moses, not because there is anything wrong with the Law itself, (Romans 7:12, Hebrews 8:6-13) but rather that mankind is unable in his own strength to fulfill the righteousness that God requires of us. We do not need to bring sacrifices of animals to the temple to atone for our sins in observing the Mosaic Law, because it has been replaced by God's perfect and all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. The moral principles have always been valid in all ages, but the means of approaching God is now based on the perfect sacrifice that the sinless Lamb of God has made on behalf of each of us.
Now, back to the principle of tithing. We call ourselves the children of Abraham by faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26-29). Since this is so, we are under the covenant of promise made with Abraham. Now, Abraham gave Melchizedek, who is a type of Christ, tithes of all. (Genesis 14:17-20, with Hebrews 7:4). We also discover that Jacob, who was also under that covenant, gave God the tenth of his increase. (Genesis 28:20-22). Moses, who came on the scene about four hundred years later, merely continued the practice already established by Abraham, by commanding them to tithe their increase to God. Along with the commandment was the promise of blessing if they should do so. Many years later, God rebuked His people for failure to tithe, but still promised to bless them abundantly in a material way if they would return to the practice of tithing (Malachi 3:8-12).
Most people who bring up the argument that tithing is no longer required under the New Testament, are such who do not want to tithe, and therefore find this specious excuse to avoid doing this. But those who practice tithing can testify from experience that God will prove Himself faithful to those who obey Malachi 3:10. I have done so for years, and have found that God always has met all my needs, and the needs of my family.
There is no Scriptural basis for the statement that the tribe of Judah did not have to pay tithes. All Jews, even the Levites who themselves were supported by tithes, were required to pay tithes under the Mosaic covenant (Leviticus 18:26-28).
I hope this clears up your understanding of this subject. May the Lord bless you.
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