We completed part 1 by describing the three groups in the bible that tithed. Here's how we ended part 1. "Now, the person telling you to tithe will default to the last group on the list. Old Testament Israelites living under the law. They’ll tell you that you need to tithe like they did according to Malachi 3:10."
Malachi was an Old Testament prophet who was instructing the Israelites, who were under Old Testament law, they needed to tithe or be cursed. Also, the storehouse spoken of there in Malachi is not the local church. It was an actual place of storage from which they could draw provision for the Levitical priesthood.
Setting that aside for a minute, lets just use some common sense here. Many think, because of wrong teaching, that the storehouse is the building where people congregate. You know, that place they call church. Then how do you handle the scripture in 1 Corinthians 3:9 that says we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building?
With that in mind and if you believe tithing is for today, then you’re in violation of New Testament scripture by giving to a building of institution. Scripture clearly says we are God’s building, so we’re the storehouse. We are the temple (1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19,20), the body of believers, and should therefore receive the tithe. You see how ridiculous this gets?
To continue, you’ll see that Malachi was not talking to New Testament believers. He was talking to Israelites living under the law. So, those who would say this applies for today need to also insist that all the law in the Old Testament applies for New Testament believers today. If we break it, we are to be cursed.
Further proof that this does not apply today is right there in Malachi 3:7. It’s the word “ordinances”. It says “Even from the days of your fathers”. Who is He talking to? Verse 6 indicates it’s the sons of Jacob. For sure it’s not the Gentiles.
But now we need to ask the question, “what ordinances”. Do they have anything to do with what Moses gave to Israel? Well, look at the second half of this scripture in 2 Chronicles 33:8, “so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses”.
Did Moses have ordinances? Yes. I’ve heard said many times that there were at least 613 of them. If you believe you must tithe, which is part of the old Mosaic ordinances, then you have to, in addition to tithing, keep all the rest of the 613 ordinances. How’s that working for you?
Now that just puts pressure on you to perform, but let me give you some real good news that will set you free by using Ephesians 2:15 again. It says “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances…” Now I don’t know about you, but that abolishes the restrictions and demands of the law of commandments, contained in ordinances. What’s the point? You are set free from the bondage of tithing and all the other laws, statutes and ordinances associated with Mosaic law.
Still not convinced? Well let’s widdle it down so it can be easier to follow. If we insist that tithing is required of New Testament believers, then we need to make sure that we bring the two other major requirements through the cross to the New Testament church today. Forget about all the rest of the law and lets just talk about these two. What are the other two? Circumcision and blood sacrifice.
Three things came from Abraham into the law of Moses. Moses and the law established tithing as a requirement for the Jewish people, along with numerous other ordinances as we’ve seen. Actually it was a tax. Along with it, Moses established circumcision and blood sacrifice as a Jewish requirement. So, if you believe tithing is for the New Testament believer, then make sure your sons (if you have sons) have been circumcised and go out and get some sheep so you can sacrifice them each year. Come on.
The law of Moses prescribed tithing in some detail in Leviticus 27:30-32. It stated that the tithe of the land would include the seed of the land and the fruit of the tree. In addition the Hebrew people were required to set apart every tenth animal of their herds and flocks to the Lord.
Did you see that? Tithing was all about agriculture and livestock and it was directed toward the Hebrew people. Nowhere do we find any edicts leveled at New Testament Christian believers, whether they be Messianic Jews or Gentiles saved by grace.
As believers we are to be generous in sharing our material possessions with the poor and for the support of Christian ministry. Christ Himself is our model in giving. Jesus is perfect theology, so once again if someone can show me where Jesus tithed, I’ll start.
Giving is to be voluntary, willing, cheerful, and given in the light of our relationship with God. Giving should not be programmatic and by no means limited to a tithe of our incomes. We recognize that all we have is from God. We are called to be faithful stewards of all our possessions.
For a modern day preacher to tell you that you will be cursed if you don’t tithe is 100% ridiculous and 100% false teaching. We have been set free from the curse. Jesus became the curse for us. If it were true that you would be cursed if you didn’t tithe, then there would be division in heaven, because Jesus became the curse. If there is division in heaven, then that Kingdom cannot stand, because a divided kingdom cannot stand. See what I’m talking about?
New Testament believers are not cursed for any reason. Jesus became the curse. Gal 3:7-14 says that and so much more. As a matter of fact, verse 10 says “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them”.
Tithing was written in the books of the law of Moses. Tithing is a work of the law. You are not cursed if you do not continue tithing. You are cursed if you do. Because, if you think you have to tithe, and tithing is a work of the law, then you better keep all the things which are written in the “book of the law” (the Mosaic priesthood) or you will be cursed. That’s what this scripture and others are revealing. Don’t forget Ephesian 2:15 here. It will ruin your theology.
Let me be so bold as to say people are actually putting themselves under a curse by trying to comply with the law of tithing. They are believing they must give 10% and that it must be brought to their home church, which they have been wrongly taught is the storehouse. My question then becomes “who’s robbing God”? The person who is bound to strictly obey the law of tithing to the local church, or the person who is giving according to the purposes of their heart as guided by the Holy Spirit? Freedom isn’t freedom unless you have the right to choose. The law of tithing takes away that free choice.
We need to just let the bible say what it means and mean what it says. Quit listening to the opinions of others who think they know what Jesus said and just let the truth of His Word tell us what Jesus said.
I can find nowhere in scripture where the Holy Spirit commands New Testament believers to perform or adhere to a set of rules. So, if a teaching instructs us to tithe at 10% where’s the scriptural proof for that. But bigger still, where’s the relationship in that.
So let me say it again. Whenever there is a change of a priesthood, there has to be a change of law to permit it. We can’t have Jesus functioning as a high priest over the law of Moses. None of the law of Moses works today.
So if you’re trying to live in obedience to the law, trying to do works to please God or following the false teaching of man, you haven’t got a functioning high priest. Jesus’ sacrifice was under a different priestly order. Whenever you start to operate under the law and believe you have to tithe you’ve got the wrong priesthood in operation. You need to go find yourself some animal sacrifices and follow the law of circumcision.
Because Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect and complete once for all time, I get to give according to the purposes of my heart, not according to an old, dead, obscure law. That means I will give as instructed by the Holy Ghost in the amount He shows me and where He directs me to sow. Be totally set free in the concept of giving and not intimidated by fear and control of those who would keep you in bondage. Grace and Peace.
