Why do we tithe when there's no mention of it in the NT?
ANSWER
(It's going to be a bit long but please stay with me)
Tithe was primarily mentioned in the old testament but does this necessarily mean it was cancelled in the new testament?
In situations like this, we go back to the origin of tithing in the old testament.
Where was it first mentioned?
And why was it established?
The first mention of tithing in the bible is Abraham and Melchizedek. This happened after Abraham rescued Lot.
Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, also went to meet Abram. He brought bread and wine. He blessed Abram and said, “Abram, may you be blessed by God Most High, the one who made heaven and earth. And we praise God Most High, who helped you defeat your enemies.” Abram gave Melchizedek one-tenth of everything he had taken during the battle.
Genesis 14:18-20 ERV
So the pattern here is:
1. Melchizedek approached Abraham, brought bread and wine and BLESSED HIM
2. Abraham proceeded to give The priest tithe after he had been blessed
The bible doesn't record that the priest asked for this.
Abraham gave of his own will, not to God but to the priest (maybe he was led to, we don't really know).
But we know for sure that the priest did not asl and God didn't tell Abraham to give.
Abraham gave from that which he was blessed with.
There is a pattern established here :
Man is blessed
Man gives
Second mention of tithing was Jacob.
“Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.””
Genesis 28:20-22 NKJV
Just look at, nobody told Jacob to give a 10% but we can assume that the people over the years had read about God's dealing with man.
How He blessed Abraham and Abraham gave.
So Jacob voluntarily entered into a covenant with God on tithing: God bless me and I will come with a percentage.
So it also aligns with the principle we stated above
So far, we note that tithing has not been a requirement so far. It was done by those that have felt blessed.
Let's move to the next mention, Moses and the law.
Back story:
The Isrealites had been in Egypt for a loooooooong while. I doubt they were still worshipping God.
And because they were staying with pagans, they had picked up habits.
Various habits (definitely bad and ungodly ones)
It is why they were quick to build calves when Moses didn't come down early.
They had basically conformed to the lifestyle/culture of their captors.
And though God kept dealing with them graciously, they did not see the goodness of God or were aware of it (because they had diluted well with pagans).
It is why they grumbled and almost insulted God for manna, Even after they had seen the red sea part.
They were ungrateful and blind to the blessings they were receiving
Remember Abraham gave to the priest because he was blessed.
The Isrealites would never have on their own given anything to Moses their leader or the soon to be appointed priests cos they didn't see any blessing
The Isrealites were basically living outside of God's will for them.
So God set rules to guide them in the right path, cos if you leave them to do things by themselves everything will scatter.
The law was a need
These rules/laws, we see in Leviticus.
I will be focusing on the tithe part as that is what our discuss is on.
“A tenth of all crops belongs to the Lord. This means the crops from fields and the fruit from trees—a tenth belongs to the Lord. “The priests will take every tenth animal from a person’s cattle or sheep. Every tenth animal will belong to the Lord.
Leviticus 27:30, 32 ERV
Note that in Leviticus, we had a bunch of dos and donts for the priests.
The large chunk of the work of keeping the people in check was on them.
God basically used them to serve his people
Now, let's move to Numbers.
The journey continues with the Isrealites and their stubbornness.
Because of sin, more and more laws.
God had to add some people to join Aaron in the priestly work.
It's a long progression from Numbers 1 but I want us to go to Numbers 18
“Anything in Israel that is a special gift to God is yours.
Numbers 18:14 ERV
I will need everyone to personally Open numbers 18 and read the whole chapter.
Don't post, just read.
Then the Lord said to Aaron, “I myself gave you responsibility over all the special gifts people give to me. All the holy gifts that the Israelites give to me, I give to you. You and your sons can share in these gifts. They will always belong to you. The people will bring gifts, grain offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. These offerings are most holy. Your share in the most holy offerings will come from the parts that are not burned. All these things will be for you and your sons. “The Israelites will bring special gifts that you will lift up to me. I give these gifts to you and your sons and daughters. That is your share. Everyone in your family who is clean will be able to eat it. When the people gather a harvest, they bring all the first things to the Lord. So these things I will give to you. And everyone in your family who is clean may eat it. “A woman’s first baby and an animal’s first baby must be given to the Lord. That baby will belong to you. If the firstborn animal is unclean, then it must be bought back. If the baby is a child, that child must be bought back. But the meat from these animals will be yours. And also the breast that was lifted up to the Lord will be yours. And the right thigh from other offerings will be yours. I, the Lord, give you everything that the people offer as holy gifts. This is your share. I give it to you and your sons and daughters. This law will continue forever. It is an agreement with the Lord that cannot be broken. I make this promise to you and to your descendants.” The Lord also said to Aaron, “You will not get any of the land. And you will not own anything that the other people own. I myself will be yours. The Israelites will get the land that I promised, but I am my gift to you.
Numbers 18:8-9, 11, 13, 15, 18-20 ERV
I've highlighted some major verses here
If you read the highlighted part i sent, God actually said This law will continue forever.
This law that entails me taking care of you completely, it will last forever.
Let me note a warning, if you give tithes and you are against it being spent by pastors, you should stop that.
Or if you see Pastor with new car, first thing you think is they are enjoying church money/tithe, your thoughts are against God's will o
From Numbers 18, we see that God concentrated the Priests to Himself. He had placed so much responsibility on them that did not allow them to do things others do. This responsibility is still as heavy today btw (Pastors dey try, forget)
But God had their welfare in mind. All the things that were being brought (asides the ones for burnt offering) belonged to the priest.
So we see that these giving was majorly to take care of the priests.
"Speak to the Levites and tell them: The Israelites will give one-tenth of everything they own to the Lord. That one-tenth will belong to the Levites. But you must give one-tenth of that to the Lord as your offering.
Numbers 18:26 ERV
You and your families can eat all that is left. This is your payment for the work you do in the Meeting Tent.
Numbers 18:31 ERV
It feels like God is saying I care about you and I'm not just using you.
Yes, you will be doing my work but I will take care of you
Even the priests were to bring in a tithe. God was basically saying because it is I who have found a way to bless you, you will also give because you have been blessed
Next mention was when the Isrealites were about to move into the new land the Lord got for them
There you must bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, one-tenth of your crops and animals, your special gifts, any gifts you promised to him, any special gift you want to give, and the first animals born in your herds and flocks. You and your families will eat together at that place, and the Lord your God will be there with you. You will enjoy sharing the things you worked for there. You will remember that the Lord your God blessed you and gave you these good things.
Deuteronomy 12:6-7 ERV
But be sure that you always share these meals with the Levites. Do this as long as you live in your land.
Deuteronomy 12:19 ERV
In this new mention, we see that the special offerings and maybe even burnt sacrifices they gave to the Lord were actually being ate by the people. They give to God, bless it and still share with the Priests. (Even after the priests had been giving instructions to remove theirs.)
“Every year you must be sure to save one-tenth of all the crops that grow in your fields. Then you must go to the place the Lord chooses to be the home for his name. You will go there to be with the Lord your God. At that place you will eat the tenth of your crops—one-tenth of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the first animals born in your herds and flocks. In this way you will always remember to respect the Lord your God.
Deuteronomy 14:22-23 ERV
Provision for His servants is very important to God.
The next mention of tithing.
It also reiterates them eating their one tenth and enjoying before God who has blessed them
Now, if we notice a progression, for every time God gave rules to the people on how to live, He mentioned tithing.
He didn't suggest that they might have, He knew he had blessed them. So they will definitely have. And the tithing from our pattern is basically focus on God's blessings for them, as the Lord uses that channel to bless His priests too.
But don’t forget the Levites living in your town. Share your food with them because they don’t have a share of the land like you have.
Deuteronomy 14:27 ERV
Every time tithing was mentioned, the Levites were specifically mentioned too.
Now, from the old testament, the requirement wasn't just 10% sef, they gave way more than that.
“At the end of every three years, you must gather one-tenth of your harvest for that year. Store this food in your towns. Keep this food for the Levites, because they don’t have any land of their own. Also keep this food for the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns. This will provide enough for them to come and eat all they want. If you do this, the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do
Deuteronomy 14:28-29 ERV
Now, there is a shift in our study. Previous verses had a pattern of tithing being as a result of blessings. Here, God attaches a blessing
So we give because we are blessed. Then we are even more blessed because we give!
I have blessed you, so you have enough to give back. But asides the normal 10% you bring, I want another 10% every 3 years for my priests only again
Note that if you do this one, I will bless you in all you do
Next mention of special offerings and the priests
“The tribe of Levi will not get any share of land in Israel. The priests come from that tribe and they will eat the special sacrifices that are offered as gifts to the Lord. That is the share for the people from the tribe of Levi.
Deuteronomy 18:1 ERV
Everyone is getting stuff in new land but dear Levites are still left out.
They don't have access.
There are so many things we do that our pastors can't do cos they
But God made provision for Levites through what people brought for Him
“Every third year is the Year of Tithes. In that year, you must give one-tenth of your harvest to the Levites, to the foreigners living in your country, and to the widows and orphans. Then they will have plenty to eat in every city.
Deuteronomy 26:12 ERV
Again, the Lord mentions tithing to the Levites
As we read, I don't want us to see these just as commands. Look at the intent as I've been laying out.
Why did God do xyz? Why did the passage suggest this? Under what context was this said? It will help with your conclusion
Now to the reign of King Hezekiah
The people were supposed to give a part of their crops and things to the priests and Levites. So Hezekiah commanded the people living in Jerusalem to give them their share. In that way the priests and Levites could spend all of their time doing what the law of the Lord told them to do.
2 Chronicles 31:4 ERV
Now, God's purpose for these whole giving and tithing is seen. That the priests and Levites will be able to spend more time doing God's work instead of trying to make money like everyone else.
People all around the country heard about this command. So the Israelites gave the first part of their harvest of grain, grapes, oil, honey, and all the things they grew in their fields. They brought one-tenth of all these many things. The men of Israel and Judah living in the towns of Judah also brought one-tenth of their cattle and sheep. They also brought one-tenth of the things that were put in a special place that was only for the Lord their God. They brought all these things and put them in piles. Azariah the high priest from Zadok’s family said to Hezekiah, “From the time that the people started bringing the offerings into the Lord’s house, we have had plenty to eat. We have eaten until we are full and there is still plenty left over! The Lord has really blessed his people. That is why we have so much left over.”
2 Chronicles 31:5-6, 10 ERV
See this.. Apparently, the priests didn't have much to eat before tithes were brought in. The people brought to the Lord (read priests) and see the proclamation : The Lord has really blessed His people. It's only those who are blessed that give
In Nehemiah, we see that the Isrealites continued with this order of giving.
Nehemiah 10, 12 and 13 mentions how the people gave.
But something changed along the line.
In Amos when the servant of God brought a message about God punishing His people for all they had been doing, it was mentioned that Isreal should bring back her tithe. Means only one thing, Isreal stopped giving.
“But you people show that you don’t respect my name. You say that the Lord’s altar is unclean. And you don’t like the food from that altar. You smell the food and refuse to eat it. You say it is bad. Then you bring sick, crippled, and hurt animals to me. You try to give sick animals to me as sacrifices, but I will not accept them.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.
Malachi 1:12-13 ERV
Now to Malachi, the people were bringing things even them could not eat to the altar as tithes and sacrifices (remember they were meant to eat some part of the burnt offerings).
They will sniff and quickly drop the food but expected that the priests and Levites would eat of it.
Now, God doesn't feed on animals or bread.
So if He was angry about this, it's most likely because of His servants.
The people He had placed to work tireless for others would be faced with eating bad/spoilt food. They'd do this even while giving their all to God.
God doesn't cheat.
He doesn't employ workers and refuse to pay them. And of course He didn't like this
“People should not steal things from God, but you stole things from me. “You say, ‘What did we steal from you?’ “You should have given me one-tenth of your things. You should have given me special gifts. In this way your whole nation has stolen things from me, so bad things are happening to you.” The Lord All-Powerful says, “Try this test. Bring one-tenth of your things to me. Put them in the treasury. Bring food to my house. Test me! If you do these things, I will surely bless you. Good things will come to you like rain falling from the sky. You will have more than enough of everything. I will not let pests destroy your crops. All your grapevines will produce grapes.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said. “People from other nations will be good to you. You will have a wonderful country.” This is what the Lord All-Powerful said.
Malachi 3:8-12 ERV
We see here that a curse had been activated. Bad things were happening to the Israelites because they refused to give.
Now, the bible doesn't categorically tell us God cursed them on tithing. But I believe it came from the general curses in Deuteronomy if God's commands weren't kept.
Here is the angle I love to look from personally:
The Israelites attracted curses cos they gave as though they weren't blessed. They did not live as blessed people did so it was only normal for them to see it reflect in their lives. They gave as if they didn't have so they ended up not having. Now, we see even in this verse that people hold on to telling you tithe is a must or you are cursed if you don't , God wasn't really focused on the curse but on the blessing in Giving.
In fact, He even asks that they put Him to test and see.
This is the last mention of tithing in the old testament. We've reviewed all the mentions and surrounding situations.
Now let's go over the major points again.
1. We are blessed first
2. Then we Give special offerings and tithes. We are blessed even more aftee giving
3. Special offerings and tithes were majorly for the priests and Levites as God wanted to take care of them
4. God cared deeply about His servants
Now to the New testament
This next scripture is actually the only mention of tithing by Jesus (correct if I'm wrong please)
“It will be bad for you teachers of the law and you Pharisees! You are hypocrites! You give God a tenth of the food you get, even your mint, dill, and cumin. But you don’t obey the really important teachings of the law—being fair, showing mercy, and being faithful. These are the things you should do. And you should also continue to do those other things.
Matthew 23:23 ERV
The teachers of the law were holding on to tithing (I'm guessing because of the blessings attached to it)
They were giving because they'd get more according to laid down principles and probably to show off too. Yet their hearts weren't really focused on God.
Was Jesus saying don't tithe? No! He was only saying they had misplaced priorities then intent too.
Let's go to Hebrews.
No one knows who his father or mother was or where he came from. And no one knows when he was born or when he died. Melchizedek is like the Son of God in that he will always be a priest.
Hebrews 7:3 ERV
Melchizedek is mentioned again, but in a new light. Remember Melchizedek is the first priest to collect tithes. He was not from the line of Levi or Aron. Note that these priestly lines were from Abraham, which means Abraham had paid a tithe on behalf of his lineage even to Melchizedek.
Now those from the family of Levi are the ones who get a tenth from the people. But we can say that when Abraham paid Melchizedek a tenth, then Levi also paid it.
Hebrews 7:9 ERV
This priest Melchizedek is now likened to Christ..
You can see that Melchizedek was very great. Abraham, our great ancestor, gave him a tenth of everything he won in battle.
Hebrews 7:4 ERV
Abraham voluntarily gave to Melchizedek (the one likened to Christ). And this tithe is greater than anything the Levites received
The people were given the law under the system of priests from the tribe of Levi. But no one could be made spiritually perfect through that system of priests. So there was a need for another priest to come. I mean a priest like Melchizedek, not Aaron.
Hebrews 7:11 ERV
Nobody was made right by the order given to the Levites priest, So we had to go back to the first order.
That of Abraham, a man of great faith, received the blessing of the Lord by Faith and gave it to the priest Melchizedek
The Lord has made a promise with an oath and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever— the kind of priest Melchizedek was.”
Psalms 110:4 ERV
A psalm of David.
We see a foreshadow into the person of Christ and His coming. His forever priesthood
Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, also went to meet Abram. He brought bread and wine. He blessed Abram and said, “Abram, may you be blessed by God Most High, the one who made heaven and earth. And we praise God Most High, who helped you defeat your enemies.” Abram gave Melchizedek one-tenth of everything he had taken during the battle.
Genesis 14:18-20 ERV
Let's go back to this mystery priest, Melchizedek.
Melchizedek brought bread and wine! Kai 😭😭🔥🔥🔥
In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”
1 Corinthians 11:25 NLT
The new covenant was established right here between Abraham and Melchizedek (our mystery priest). This covenant was later activated fully with the death of Christ,
What was Abraham's response when the priest brought the token of this covenant and blessed him? Abraham WILLINGLY gave a tenth of everything he got from war.
Omo 😭😭😭😭 The bible is such a sweet piece of work.
Types, shadows.. Everywhere
At this point, we all should be having same conclusion to this o
Melchizedek brought bread and wine
The body and blood of Christ
All of it a foreshadow
Christ giving Himself to us, blessing us, we giving our lives in return
Now, let's go back to the beginning.
Tithing by the first 2 people was done out of will.
Out of what God has already done.
He had to enforce for the Israelites to do same because they had taken in the culture of the world (read Egypt).
For us, we do not need anything enforced. We see God's intent for His servants that they be taken care of And we give in accordance with this.
Again, don't police your pastor because you gave. Abraham did not care what Melchizedek did with his tithe, he had received something greater (a covenant for you and I), that was all that mattered. The church has bodies that tend to managing funds, allow them do this.
Face what you've received.
We are also a people who have given their lives forever to the High Priest Jesus having been blessed by Him with eternal life and partaken of his body and blood. Now that we are a part of this new covenant, we keep God's covenant to His servants. Or align rather by giving
And we do not wait for rules in the new testament to specifically say we should give. Nah! We are not of that order.
We are of the order of Abraham, the one whose blessing we also now enjoy.
The Law of Moses could not make anything perfect. But now a better hope has been given to us. And with that hope we can come near to God.
Hebrews 7:19 ERV
The law made nothing perfect.
Upon the give tithe every year and 3 years, did the people still give?
The law sets God's perfect standard but it doesn't make people keep it.
And this is where Christ comes in
We have the mind of Christ, so we live God's perfect standard without being forced
We have been saved by Christ, so even when we fail in these laws, we are still in Him
Christ became a curse, so every thing we do not do in scripture doesn't attract a curse to us!
Which means if Christians actually do not want to tithe, nobody will flog them.
(Except they enter into a covenant with God with their mouth sha. Because now they've activated with the power in their tongues).
It only exposes one thing, they are not responding appropriately to the new covenant we now have with God. And are yet to discern spiritually what this really means. We pray for such people, teach and encourage them.
Don't blackmail or tell them God will curse them. He won't.
To our questions.
- Tithing is not wrong
- The old pointed to the new.
I hope this has been explained adequately.
