Prosperity and tithing
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Tithing is still mandatory |
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Many
Churches teach that tithing is still mandatory. |
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The
Southern Baptist churches: we read in The
Baptist Faith and Message (1963) the following statement: ‘God is the
source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we
owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy
trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions.
They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents,
and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them
to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the
Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully,
regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement
of the Redeemer's cause on earth. Gen. 14:20; Lev. 27:30-32; Deut. 8:18; Mal.
3:8-12; Matt. 6:1-4,19-21; 19:21; 23:23; 25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21,42; 16:1-13;
Acts 2:44-47; 5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Rom. 6:6-22; 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 4:1-2;
6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8-9; 12:15; Phil. 4:10-19; 1 Peter 1:18-19 (XIII.
Stewardship). Please note that even though the word ‘tithe’ is not mentioned,
the following verses Gen. 14:20; Lev. 27:30-32; Deut. 8:18; Mal. 3:8-12;
Matt. 23:23 are quoted to uphold tithing. |
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Presbyterian
Church: ‘Giving has always been a mark of Christian commitment and
discipleship. The ways in which a believer uses God’s gifts of material
goods, personal abilities, and time should reflect a faithful response to
God’s self-giving in Jesus Christ and Christ’s call to minister to and share
with others in the world. Tithing is a primary expression of the Christian
discipline of stewardship.” (Book of Order … W5.5004) |
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The
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The
Church of the Nazarene: ‘The Scriptures teach that God is the Owner of all
persons and all things. We, therefore, are His stewards of both life and
possessions. God's ownership and our stewardship ought to be acknowledged,
for we shall be held personally accountable to God for the exercise of our stewardship.
God, as a God of system and order in all of His ways, has established a
system of giving that acknowledges His ownership and human stewardship. To
this end all His children should faithfully tithe and present offerings for
the support of the gospel. (Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 6:24-34; 25:31-46; Mark
10:17-31; Luke 12:13-24; 19:11-27; John 15:1-17; Romans 12:1-13; 1
Corinthians 9:7-14; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; 9:6-15; 1 Timothy 6:6-19; Hebrews
7:8; James 1:27; 1 John 3:16-18). Storehouse tithing is a scriptural and
practical performance of faithfully and regularly placing the tithe into that
church to which the member belongs. Therefore, the financing of the church
shall be based on the plan of storehouse tithing, and the local Church of the
Nazarene shall be regarded by all of its people as the storehouse. All who
are a part of the Church of the Nazarene are urged to contribute faithfully
one-tenth of all their increase as a minimum financial obligation to the Lord
and freewill offerings in addition as God has prospered them for the support
of the whole church, local, district, regional, and general’ (From the Manual of the Church of the Nazarene, Part
III, Paragraphs 38-38.1) |
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Most
of the Pentecostal Churches teach tithing. Here is what some Pentecostal
Denominations teach about tithing. |
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Assemblies
of God: ‘The Assemblies of God has always been a proponent of tithing (or
giving one-tenth of one’s personal income to support the work of God). We
believe tithing is a recognition that everything we have comes from God. The
practice checks our greed, promotes personal discipline and thrift, testifies
to our faith, promotes God’s work in the world, and alleviates human need.
While we do not believe tithing to be a condition for salvation, we do
believe it is a very important biblical model, one which should set the
minimal standard for Christian giving for people in all income ranges. Though
some people believe tithing was an Old Testament practice not intended for
New Testament Christians, the Assemblies of God believes and teaches that
tithing is still God’s design for supporting the ministry and reaching the
world with the gospel. Our bylaws state, "We recognize the duty of
tithing and urge all our people to pay tithes to God" (Article IX,
Section 7a.) It is true there is no direct commandment in the New Testament
saying, "You must tithe to God one-tenth of your income"; but there
is also no statement declaring the Old Testament plan as no longer valid’
(From: http://www.ag.org). |
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The
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel: ‘We believe that the method
ordained of God to sustain His ministry and the spread of the gospel after
His command is ‘Tithing’ and is generally accepted throughout all Foursquare
Churches, not only as God’s method to take care of the material and financial
needs of His Church, but to raise the spiritual morale of His people to the
extent that God must bless them. We are commanded in Malachi 3:10 to ‘Bring
ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house,
and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you
the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be
room enough to receive it’ (Declaration
of Faith, XXII). |
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The
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Even
some sects teach that tithing is still mandatory. Here is what some of them
say about tithing. |
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United
Pentecostal Church International (the members of this sect are called also
‘Oneness Pentecostals’ and ‘Jesus only’): ‘We believe tithing is God's
financial plan to provide for His work, and has been since the days of Abraham.
Tithing came with faith under Abraham, Moses' law enjoined it, and |
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Mormons:
‘Verily, thus saith the Lord, I require all their surplus property to be put
into the hands of the bishop of my church in |
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The
followers of Herbert W. Armstrong: “God raised up the CHURCH, not only that
its apostles and evangelists go into all the world announcing the GOOD NEWS
of the coming Kingdom of God, but also, as the very means for the general
body of lay members to develop God’s own holy righteous CHARACTER -- by means
of GIVING -- giving their continuous prayers for the apostle, giving their
encouragement, tithes and offerings!’ (Herbert W. Armstrong, The Incredible Human Potential, 1978
edition, page 120) |
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Confutation |
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Now
I am going to show you from the Scriptures that tithing is not mandatory for
those who are in Christ Jesus, and consequently those who teach tithing are
greatly mistaken. |
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The
reason why God commanded the Israelites to give a tenth of their income to
the Levites |
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In
the law of Moses it is written: “A tithe of everything from the land, whether
grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy
to the Lord ….. The entire tithe of the herd and flock – every tenth animal that
passes under the shepherd’s rod – will be holy to the Lord” (Leviticus
27:30,32 – NIV). This is the commandment concerning tithing the Lord gave to
Moses on |
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God,
after He brought the Israelites out of |
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God
chose Aaron and his sons that they might serve Him as priests, for He said to
Moses: “Have Aaron your brother brought to you from among the Israelites,
along with his sons Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, so they may serve
me as priests” (Exodus 28:1 – NIV) Aaron and his sons came from the tribe of
Levi, precisely from the family of the Kohathites. From Levi came Gershon,
Kohath and Merari, and from them came all the Levites. However, while Aaron
and his sons were separated from the children of |
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Now,
since Aaron and his sons as well as the Levites had to perform the tasks
assigned to them by God and they did not do any other work, God provided for
them and for their households in this way: to Aaron and his sons He gave all
the holy offerings the Israelites gave to God, and to the Levites He gave all
the tithes in Israel. Let us now look closely at this right Aaron and his
sons as well as the rest of the Levites had. |
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As
for Aaron and his sons, it is written that God said to Aaron: “Behold, I also
have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things
of the children of |
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As
for the Levites, who had to do the work of the tabernacle, the Scripture says
that God said: “And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth
in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the
service of the tabernacle of the congregation” (Numbers 18:21). Therefore the
tithes which the Israelites had to pay to God belonged to the Levites.
However the Levites on their part had to give a tenth of the tithes to Aaron
the priest, for God said to the Levites: “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 |
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To
sum up, God gave a wages to Aaron and his sons as well as to the Levites for
their work. The wages for Aaron and his sons consisted of the most holy
offerings that were kept from the fire which the Israelites gave to God, all
the land’s firstfruits, and the firstborn of every ox, sheep or goat, and a
tenth of the tithe received by the Levites. Whereas the wages for the Levites
consisted of nine tenths of all the tithes paid by the children of |
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According
to what the Scripture teaches, when the Israelites ceased to give a tenth of
their income to God, God ceased to bless them and cursed them with a curse,
sending the devourer to destroy the fruit of their ground. This, because since
God had said: “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the
soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord”
(Leviticus 27:30 – NIV), withholding tithes was tantamount to robbing Him.
This was the reason why God, through the prophet Malachi, said to the
Israelites who rebelled against Him: “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed
Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.
You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation”
(Malachi 3:8-9 – NKJV). |
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We
are not under the law of Moses, but under the law of Christ |
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Now
someone may ask, ‘Now, under grace, that is, under the New Covenant, are we
Gentiles by birth, who have believed, bound to pay a tenth of all our income,
as the Israelites were under the law?’ The answer is, ‘No’. Someone will ask,
‘Why?’ Let us turn to the Scripture in order to understand the reason why we
are not bound to tithe under grace. |
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It
is written: “On the basis of it [the Levitical priesthood] the law was given
to the people” (Hebrews |
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We
are now bound to keep the law of Christ; therefore we must know the
commandments of this law concerning giving, yes, because the law of Christ,
too, commands us to give. Jesus Christ knew very well the commandment of the
law concerning tithing, yet He did not command His disciples to tithe.
Someone may say, ‘Did He command to tithe, through His apostles, after He was
taken up into heaven?’ No, He didn’t after He ascended to heaven either. |
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Let
us see then how much the High Priest of our confession commanded us to give, keeping
in mind these things: first of all, “the law made nothing perfect” (Hebrews
7:19 – NKJV) and Christ came to complete it for it was incomplete; secondly,
the law of Christ is called “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25 – NKJV),
for we under the law of Christ are free to give how much we want and are able
to give. Brothers, in order to understand why the law of Christ is superior
to the law of Moses, we must always remember that the law of Moses was
incomplete while the law of Christ is complete. |
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Jesus
said: “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and
shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with
the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again” (Luke
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Jesus
gave His disciples also the following commandment: “Sell what you have and
give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in
the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke |
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One
day a rich young man came and said to Jesus: “Good Master, what good thing
shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest
thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt
enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said,
Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not
steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother:
and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him,
All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said
unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to
the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But
when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had
great possessions” (Matthew |
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Through
the above mentioned Scriptures I have showed you that the law of Christ,
unlike that of Moses, is perfect and complete. |
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Those
who preach the Gospel have the right in the Gospel to be supported
financially and materially |
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At
this point, since the commandment concerning tithing is imposed by some for
they say: ‘The pastor is devoted to preaching and teaching, he has not a
secular job, therefore we must give him a wages’ I want to tell you how we
should conduct ourselves under grace with regard to this. |
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The
Levites taught the Israelites the law, as it is written: “They shall teach
Jacob Your judgements, and Israel Your law” (Deuteronomy 33:10 – NKJV), and
they were supported by the people through tithes for God had said: “I have
given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in
return for the work which they perform” (Numbers 18:21 – NKJV). So, under the
law, the Israelites had to pay a tenth of their income for God had taken
their tithes to give them to the Levites who performed the tasks He had
assigned to them. Therefore, the right to be supported by the children of |
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Now
under grace those who preach the Gospel, that is, the ministers of the
Gospel, have the right to be supported financially by the saints, but their
right is in the Gospel and not in the law of Moses, for it is written: “Even
so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from
the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14 – NKJV). Brothers, the Lord has commanded
those who preach the Gospel to live from the Gospel, therefore He has
commanded them to use this right which they have in the Gospel. Let us see
now what the Gospel says with regard to this. |
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When
Jesus sent out His twelve disciples to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom, He
said to them: “Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money
belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for
a worker is worthy of his food” (Matthew 10:9-10 – NKJV), and when He sent
out the seventy He said to them: “Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor
sandals; and greet no one along the road. But whatever house you enter, first
say, ‘Peace to this house.’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will
rest on it; if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house,
eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of
his wages” (Luke 10:4-7 – NKJV). As you can see, Jesus Himself said that the
laborer of the Lord is worthy of both his food and his wages, which means
that he has the right to eat and drink, and also the right to receive a wages
in return for the work he performs in the house of God. Paul, speaking about
the elders, has confirmed clearly the words of the Lord, for he said to
Timothy: “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour,
especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith,
Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is
worthy of his reward” (1 Timothy |
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It
is obvious that if on the one hand those who preach the Gospel and teach the
Word of the Lord have this right, on the other hand there must be someone who,
according to the Gospel, is bound to give them the food they need and the
wages of which they are worthy, and this ‘someone’ is the one who is
instructed, for Paul said to the Galatians: “Anyone who receives instruction
in the word must share all good things with his instructor” (Galatians 6:6 -
NIV). As you can see, he who benefits from the service of the minister of the
Gospel is bound to share in all his good things, and not just a part of them (such
as a tenth of them), with the minister of the Gospel. This is confirmed also
by the passage of the Scripture which says: “You shall not muzzle an ox while
it treads out the grain” (Deuteronomy 25:4 – NKJV); for in this case also he
who benefits from the work of the ox must not muzzle the ox which treads out
the grain, so that the ox may eat part of the grain it is treading out. The
system is the same as that which was under the law, however there is a
difference for under grace believers are bound to share in all their good
things, and not just part of them (a tenth part of them), with those who have
been appointed by the Lord to teach the saints. Therefore, they are bound to give
to their instructors more than what the Israelites were bound to give to the
Levites according to the law. |
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It
is evident therefore that if those who are instructed in the Word refuse to
share in all their good things with their instructor, they commit a sin, for
by so doing they muzzle the ox while it treads out the grain; in other words,
they ride roughshod over the right that those who teach the Word have in the
Gospel. Remember that it is true that the elders are bound to do several
things on behalf of the church they shepherd, but it is also true that the
Church is bound to do several things on behalf of the elders, and one of
these things is to meet their needs so that they may lack nothing. |
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Therefore
he who preaches the Gospel has the right to receive wages from the Church.
However, pay attention to this: that does not mean that he has the right to
impose tithing on the saints, for his wages must be formed of money which is
given freely and cheerfully by the saints, as it is written: “So let each one
give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God
loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7 – NKJV), and not of money extorted
from the saints playing on the commandment concerning tithing (saying to the
saints that those who tithe will be blessed by God, whereas those who refuse
to tithe will be cursed) in order to compel them to give one-tenth of their
income (and thus to keep them from giving less than a tenth of their income)
and thus to secure at least their tithes. |
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Let
us see now what Paul wrote to the Corinthians about the right of support from
the saints he and Barnabas had too, and why Paul and his fellow workers did
not use that right at |
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Paul
wrote to the Corinthians: “Have we not power to eat and to drink? …. Or I
only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? Who goeth a warfare
any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the
fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the
flock? Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? For
it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox
that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it
altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he
that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should
be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a
great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of
this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this
power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do
ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of
the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live
of the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:4, 6-14). As you can see, Paul said to the
Corinthians that he and Barnabas had the right of support from the saints. However
he and his fellow workers did not use their right. Listen to what Paul said
about the right that the ministers of the Gospel have: just as one does not
go to war at his own expenses, for he is paid by him who enlisted him as a soldier,
and just as he who plants a vineyard has the right to eat of its fruit and he
who tends a flock has the right to drink of the milk of the flock, so he who
preaches the Gospel while on the one hand is bound to sow spiritual things,
on the other hand has the right to reap the material things which belong to
the saints. This right that the ministers of the Gospel have is confirmed
also by the law, which says: “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out
the grain” (Deuteronomy 25:4 – NKJV), and also states that those who
ministered the holy things ate of the things of the temple which were offered
to God, and those who were appointed to kill the animals to offer them to God
ate of the things which were put on the altar. Obviously, he who uses this right
has the right to refrain from working in order to devote himself exclusively
to preaching and teaching. So Paul and his fellow workers had this right in
the Lord for they were called by God to preach the Gospel. However, as I said
before, he and his fellow workers did not use this right at Corinth; yes,
because Paul, the apostle who could say to the Corinthians: “For though you
might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many
fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel” (1
Corinthians 4:15 – NKJV), refused to be supported financially by the saints
of Corinth. Why? We find the answer to this question in the following words
he wrote to the Corinthians: “I robbed other churches, taking wages of them,
to do you service. And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was
chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which
came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being
burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. As the truth of Christ is in
me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. But what I do, that I will
do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein
they glory, they may be found even as we” (2 Corinthians 11:8-12). Let me
explain to you these words of Paul. In the Church of Corinth there were some
false apostles, who were not a burden to any member of the Church and they
boasted of the fact that they were not a burden to anyone; so Paul, in order
to keep those false apostles from boasting that they were not a burden to
anyone, decided not to be a burden to anyone at Corinth (even though he had
the right to be a burden to the saints of Corinth) giving up his right of
support from the saints of Corinth, so that those false apostles might be
considered equal with him and his fellow workers in the things they (the
false apostles) boasted about. The saints of Corinth did not ride roughshod
over Paul’s right as an apostle, for it was Paul who decided not to use that
right of his at Corinth, and for this decision he had taken he asked the
saints of Corinth to forgive him, for he wrote them: “How were you inferior
to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me
this wrong!” (2 Corinthians |
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Paul
did not use the right to refrain from working at Thessalonica either, and he
explained to the Thessalonians the reason why he did not use his right: “For
you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle
when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On
the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would
not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the
right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow”
(2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 – NIV). Paul, Silas and Timothy were not a burden to
the saints of Thessalonica, not because they did not have the right to be
supported financially by them, but simply because they did not want to use
their right to refrain from working. They worked day and night with their
hands in order to make themselves an example of how the Thessalonians should
follow them. In order to keep those who did not want to work from thinking
that they had the right to refrain from working and to be busybodies, the
apostles decided not to use the right to refrain from working they had. They gave
up their right lest they should hinder the Gospel. This is the reason why
Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Nevertheless we have not used this right, but
endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ” (1 Corinthians |
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Pay
attention to this: not always Paul gave up his right, for he took wages from
some churches so that he might devote himself exclusively to preaching; he
makes this clear when he says to the Corinthians: “I robbed other churches,
taking wages from them to minister to you” (2 Corinthians 11:8 – NKJV). |
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Let
us now see how Jesus (and His apostles), in the days of His flesh, after He
left His work in order to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom, used this right
which is in the Gospel. Luke says: “After this, Jesus travelled about from
one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the |
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Let
me explain those verses of the New Testament which refer to tithing |
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At
this point I want to explain those verses of the New Testament which refer
directly or indirectly to tithing, so that you may understand, by the grace
of God, that these verses cannot be quoted to say to the saints: ‘You must
tithe, for if you do not tithe you rob God and you will be cursed with a
curse’ (as some do among the congregations of the saints because they are
deceitful workers or because they do not know the Scriptures), for they do
not support the imposition of tithing under grace. |
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The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews says: “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: … And here men
that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed
that he liveth” (Hebrews 7:5,8). |
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First
of all, it must be said that those mortal men who receive tithes (Hebrews
7:8) were Levites (therefore they were Jews by birth) who, at that time were
still receiving tithes from the other Jews in obedience to the commandment of
the law of Moses. Therefore, since we are not Jews by birth and among us
Gentiles there are no descendants of the tribe of Levi, the fact that the
Levites received tithes does not concern us. Perhaps someone will say, this
passage says: ‘Here men that die receive tithes”, therefore if the verb is
present that means that even under grace the saints in Christ had to pay
tithe!’. I answer you by saying that the verb is present not only when the
Scripture speaks of tithe, but also when it speaks of the gifts and the
sacrifices which were being offered (at that time) in the earthly sanctuary
in Jerusalem by the Jewish priests, for it is written: “For if he [Jesus]
were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that
offer gifts according to the law: Who serve unto the example and shadow of
heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the
tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the
pattern shewed to thee in the mount” (Hebrews 8:4-5) and again: “And every
priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same
sacrifices, which can never take away sins” (Hebrews 10:11). Furthermore,
note the expression “according to the law” because it refers to the law of
Moses and not to the law of Christ, for the Levites received tithes from the
people, and the priests offered gifts and sacrifices in the temple according
to the law of Moses. But remember that those who did those things were Jews
by birth, who were still under the law and had not yet been set free from the
law, while we have been set free from the law by Jesus Christ. Then, since
the verb is present even in relation to the sacrifices of goats offered by
the Jews for their sins, shall we also offer upon an altar in an earthly
sanctuary dedicated to the worship of God sacrifices of fat animals for our
sins? Certainly not, for it is written again: “Which was a figure for the
time then present, in which [the earthly sanctuary] were offered both gifts
and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as
pertaining to the conscience” (Hebrews 9:9) and also: “For the law having a
shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can
never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make
the comers thereunto perfect” (Hebrews 10:1) and: “We have an altar, whereof
they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle” (Hebrews 13:10).
Therefore, the fact that the priests and the Levites offered sacrifices for
the sins and received tithes from the people, even after Jesus was taken up
into heaven, does not mean that the Gentiles, under grace, were doing or had
to do (at that time) the same things, even though these things were done by
them in accordance with the law God gave to Moses for all Israel. |
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We
who are Gentiles in Christ Jesus, who have turned to God, are not a people
without law, who live as we like or according to the law of Moses, but we are
a people who live according to the perfect law of Christ. |
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I
give you an illustration: in this country we must keep the Italian law, that
is, the law of the country in which we live and of which we are citizens, and
according to this law we have rights and duties. Now it is clear that between
the Italian law and the law of another country there are some differences,
even if there can be some laws which are the same. However, the fact that
there are some laws which are the same in both legislations, does not mean
that the Italian citizen in his country must keep all the laws of the other
country. He takes note of the fact that even in the other country the law is
the same or very similar with regard to a certain thing, but he takes also
note of the fact that all the other laws of that country are very different
and apply only to the citizens of that country. |
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Now,
between the law of Christ (according to which we must live) and the law of
Moses (according to which all the unbelieving Jews live) there are some laws
which are the same; I mean that there are some commandments in the law of the
Jews which we who are Gentiles by birth must keep, for they are still valid
for us who are under grace. I refer to the following commandments: “You shall
love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all
your mind …” (Matthews 22:37 – NKJV; cf. Deuteronomy 6:5); “You shall love
your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39 – NKJV; cf. Leviticus 19:18); “Give
no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be
defiled by them …. “ (Leviticus |
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●
Jesus said to the scribes and the Pharisees: “Woe to you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and
have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith.
These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone” (Matthew
23.23 – NKJV). |
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Jesus
said these words to the scribes and the Pharisees, who sat in Moses’ seat,
who whereas on the one hand paid tithe of mint and anise and cummin, on the
other hand neglected the weightier matters of the law, that is, justice and
mercy and faith. These words of Christ show that according to the law of
Moses, to pursue justice and mercy and faith was more important than to
tithe; nevertheless Jesus did not say to the scribes and the Pharisees that
it was wrong for them to tithe, but He told them that they should have
practiced the more important matters of the law (justice, love of God and
faith), without leaving the others undone. “The others” include also tithing,
for in addition to tithing there are other things which the Jews did not have
to neglect. For according to the law, neither the Sabbath day, nor the Jewish
feasts, nor circumcision, nor the dietary laws, nor many others could be
neglected. If I said to you: ‘Brothers, we must pursue the justice and the
love of God and the faith of which the law speaks’, I would tell you to do
what is right for us also who are Gentiles in Christ Jesus to do; but if I
added: ‘Without neglecting the other things of which the law speaks’, I would
make a mistake, for in this way I would impose on you the circumcision of the
flesh, the observance of the Sabbath day, the Jewish feasts, the dietary
laws, tithing and other precepts, and thus I would use the law unlawfully.
Why? Because Jesus said that “the Law and the Prophets were until John” (Luke
|
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The
apostle Paul said to the saints of Ephesus that Christ has destroyed the wall
which separated the Jews from the Gentiles, for he said to them: “For he
himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier,
the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its
commandments and regulations” (Ephesians 2:14-15 – NIV), and he said to the
saints of Colosse: “Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was
against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way,
having nailed it to the cross …” (Colossians |
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However,
it must be said that though Christ broke down the middle wall of separation,
afterward some Jews tried to rebuild it, for some Pharisees who believed said
in the presence of the apostles and the elders at Jerusalem (around 50 after
Christ): “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of
Moses” (Acts 15:5 – NIV). But the apostles and the elders realized that if
they had commanded the Gentiles to be circumcised and to keep the law of
Moses, they would have built again the things which Christ had destroyed and
they would have made themselves transgressors; and thus they did not yield
submission to those Pharisees, so that the truth of the Gospel might remain
with us. |
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Therefore,
we have come to the conclusion that since at Jerusalem the apostles and
elders did not impose tithing on us who are Gentiles (for they did not
consider it to be so necessary and so important, unlike some preachers of the
Gospel who are Gentiles who are among the saints), and since Paul, the
apostle and teacher to the Gentiles, in all his epistles did not command expressly
the saints to tithe to support the work of God, no minister of the Gospel has
the right to impose tithing on the saints. Anyone who has decided to impose
tithing on the saints, has decided to go beyond what is written and to
command what the apostles did not command to the churches of the Gentiles.
For sure those who impose tithing on the saints bind a heavy burden, hard to
bear, and lay it on the shoulders of the saints. Do you know why? Because
they compel the saints to be enslaved by one of “the weak and beggarly
elements” (Galatians 4:9 – NKJV). |
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●
Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Do you not know that those who minister the
holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar
partake of the offerings of the altar?” (1 Corinthians |
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This
passage also refer to the tithe, for the tithes under the law were brought
into the temple and were eaten by those who ministered the holy things in the
temple. However, we can’t affirm that these words mean that we who are
Gentiles are commanded by God to keep the commandment concerning tithing. By
these words Paul remembered the Corinthians that even under the law, those
who were called by God to perform a holy task in His house, lived on the
material things which were offered by the people to God. He explained to them
thus that we should not be surprised that under grace God has commanded that
those who preach the Gospel should live from the Gospel, for under the law
also those who ministered the holy things in the |
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Furthermore,
if these words of Paul meant that we must tithe, what did Paul mean when he
said: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives
the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it” (1 Corinthians |
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|
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Let
us explain those verses of the Old Testament which refer to tithing |
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|
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Let
us examine now the verses of the Old Testament which are quoted by those who
impose tithing on the saints, in order to understand whether it is right to
quote them to urge the saints to tithe. |
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In the book of Genesis it is written: “And Melchizedek king of |
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This
incident took place after Abraham returned from the slaughter of the kings.
Now provided that Abraham did a right thing in the sight of God in giving a
tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek, who was priest of the Most High God (this
incident is mentioned in the epistle to the Hebrews as well); and provided
that the tithe Abraham gave to Melchizedek was received in heaven by the One
who lives forever and ever; it must be said that it is wrong to quote this
passage in order to impose tithing on the sons of Abraham. Why? Because if we
take the fact that Abraham tithed to Melchizedek in order to impose tithing
on the saints, we must take also the fact that Abraham was circumcised in the
flesh at God’s command in order to impose the circumcision of the flesh on
the saints. We know that it was God who commanded Abraham to be circumcised,
for it is written: “Every male child among you shall be circumcised” (Genesis
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●
It is written in the book of Genesis: “And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God
will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me
bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's
house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: And this stone, which I have
set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I
will surely give the tenth unto thee” (Genesis 28:20-22). |
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Jacob
made this vow as he journeyed to Padan |
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●
After the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, Nehemiah and the leaders of the
people and the Levites made a covenant before God through which they bound
themselves with a curse and an oath to follow the law of God given through
Moses and to obey carefully all His commandments. Here is what Nehemiah wrote
about that covenant: “And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and
write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it. Now those that
sealed were, Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah,
Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah, Hattush, Shebaniah,
Malluch, Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, Meshullam,
Abijah, Mijamin, Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests. And the
Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad,
Kadmiel; And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, Micha,
Rehob, Hashabiah, Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Bani, Beninu. The
chief of the people; Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zatthu, Bani, Bunni, Azgad,
Bebai, Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, Ater, Hizkijah, Azzur, Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, Meshezabeel, Zadok,
Jaddua, Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub, Hallohesh, Pileha,
Shobek, Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, Malluch, Harim,
Baanah. And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters,
the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from
the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and
their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; They
clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an
oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and
to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his
judgments and his statutes; And that we would not give our daughters unto the
people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons: And if the people
of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath day to sell, that we
would not buy it of them on the sabbath, or on the holy day: and that we
would leave the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt. Also we made
ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel
for the service of the house of our God; For the shewbread, and for the
continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the
sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and
for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work
of the house of our God. And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites,
and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God,
after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn
upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law: And to bring
the firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees,
year by year, unto the house of the LORD: 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. For the children of |
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We
have nothing against the decision which was taken by Nehemiah, the priests,
the Levites and the rest of the people, rather we are glad to read that after
the children of |
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●
In the book of the prophet Malachi it is written: “Even from the days of your
fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return
unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said,
Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye
say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with
a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the
tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove
me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows
of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough
to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall
not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit
before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall
call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of
hosts” (Malachi 3:7-12) |
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God
had said to Israel that a tithe of everything from the land, whether grain
from the soil or fruits from the trees, belonged to Him, therefore when the
children of Israel kept the tithes for themselves and did not bring them to
the house of God, God accused them of robbing Him. It must be said that the
accusation was absolutely right for the commandment concerning tithing is
very clear. However, God not only accused the Israelites of robbing Him, but
also cursed them sending locusts and worms to devour their trees and the
crops of their land. For God had said to the Israelites that if they refused
to keep His commandments He would destroy their trees and crops: “You will
sow much seed in the field but you will harvest little, because locusts will
devour it. You will plant vineyards and cultivate them but you will not drink
the wine or gather the grapes, because worms will eat them” (Deuteronomy
28:38-39 – NIV). So when the Israelites followed the stubbornness of their
hearts and did not pay their tithes to God, God cursed them as He had
promised He would do. Now, those who under grace quote these words of God to
affirm that anyone who does not give a tenth of his income to God is cursed
by God, wilfully forget the following things, of which I want to speak to you
so that you may understand that the above mentioned words spoken by the
prophet Malachi cannot be applied to us who are under grace: |
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1)
The Israelites were cursed with a curse not only when they refused to bring
their tithes to the house of God, but also when they refused to keep the Sabbath
day, for Jeremiah said to the Israelites that if they did not hallow the
Sabbath they would be punished, as it is written: “But if you will not heed
Me to hallow the Sabbath day, such as not carrying a burden when entering the
gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its
gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be
quenched” (Jeremiah 17:27 – NKJV). Therefore, shall we be punished by God if
we do not hallow the Sabbath day the way the law of Moses commands? Certainly
not, for the Sabbath day was a shadow of what was to come, and thus we are
not bound to keep it. |
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2)
If these people affirm that those who do not tithe are cursed with a curse
for they rob God, then are cursed with a curse even those who receive the
tithes but do not offer to God a tenth of the tithes, for they too rob God.
Yes, they too rob God, for God said to the Levites: “When you receive from
the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a
tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering” (Numbers |
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3)
If the supporters of tithing wished to keep carefully all the things which
the law says about tithing, they should teach various things which are
written in the law about tithing. First of all they should teach that the
saints must give a tenth even of the fruits of the ground, such as fruits, vegetables,
grain and other products (if a believer has an orchard or a vegetable
garden), and a tenth of the herd and flock they have, and a tenth of every
income which is not part of the salary (offerings or other income). As you
can see, if we imposed these things on the saints we would lay heavy burdens,
hard to bear, on their shoulders, for they would begin to think continually of
the tithe they must pay and to keep in mind or to record all their income, of
whatever kind they are, for fear of robbing God (as it is said to them by the
supporters of tithing). One of the other things which they should teach, if
they wished to keep the commandment concerning tithing, is this: “At the end
of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the
same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: And the Levite, (because he
hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the
fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall
eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of
thine hand which thou doest” (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). How is it then that they
do not speak of this precept of the law? How is it then that they do not say
that at the end of every third year the tithe of that year must be used in
this way? Is it not because they want to speak of the things which are
convenient for them and which they like the most? Is it not because they
themselves realize how hard it would be for the saints to keep all the
precepts about tithing? |
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4)
The apostles knew very well these words written in the book of Malachi, and
if they had believed that God will curse all those believers who give less
than a tenth of their income, they would have written it and would not have
omitted to teach the saints, whether by word of mouth or by letter, such an
important thing. How is it then that there is no verse in all the epistles
(thus, not only in the epistles of Paul) which clearly affirms that we must
tithe as the Israelites tithed under the law? Do you think that God forgot to
say to us through the apostles that we must tithe? I believe that if not one
of those five sparrows sold for two copper coins is forgotten before God, God
could not forget to tell us such an important thing. Let me tell you another
thing: the supporters of tithing think that God uses them to remind us to
tithe, but they are greatly mistaken, for we believe that if tithing had been
mandatory under grace the apostles would have reminded the saints to tithe.
For sure, when the apostles and elders met at Jerusalem to consider the
matter which arose, that is, whether the Gentiles had to be circumcised and
required to obey the law of Moses, the apostles could have confirmed that we
who are Gentiles are bound to tithe as the law of Moses commands. However, on
that occasion it didn’t seem good to the Holy Spirit and to the apostles and
elders to impose tithing on us. They were Jews by birth, at least twelve of
those who were present had been with Jesus, they knew the law, they wanted to
spread the Gospel and believed that the ministers of the Gospel must be
supported financially by the saints, yet they did not think it right to
impose tithing on us. But unfortunately, and I say it again, unfortunately,
some Gentiles, who refuse to use the law lawfully, have thought it right to
impose tithing on the saints!!! |
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5)
We were all under the curse of the law before knowing God, but now in Christ
we have been redeemed from the curse of the law. Why were we under the curse
of the law? Because God said: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in
all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them” (Galatians |
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6)
Paul said: “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be
accursed” (1 Corinthians |
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7)
Paul said: “If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have
received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:9 – NKJV). Therefore we know that
those who preach another Gospel are accursed too. |
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We
know those who are accursed according to the Scriptures of the New Testament,
and since among them are not those who do not tithe, no one has the right to
frighten the saints and to oppress them with the above mentioned words of the
prophet Malachi. |
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|
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A
word of exhortation to those who impose tithing |
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|
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I
have showed you from the Scripture that it is not lawful to impose tithing on
the saints, so I hope you will stop imposing tithing. If you are not yet
convinced that it is wrong to impose tithing, I say to you the following
things. |
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If
you impose tithing for lack of knowledge, I say to you to search the
Scriptures carefully and not superficially in order that the Scripture itself
may convince you. I myself have been convinced by the Scripture of the fact
that it is not right to impose tithing under grace. Therefore, since I am
convinced that the Lord still opens the understanding of His disciples, that
they might comprehend the Scriptures, I am sure that if you set your heart on
seeking the truth about this subject, He will make you understand what many
have already understood. |
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If
you impose tithing for you are afraid you will close the balance of the
Church with a loss at the end of each month, I say to you this: your fear
does not justify what you do. Are you afraid that if you do not impose
tithing on the saints they will give less than a tenth of their income? Fear
not, have faith in God, for He will provide for you the money you need to pay
the place of worship’s rent and to do every good work. If you learn not to
impose tithing on the saints, you will see that some believers will give much
more than what they are giving now, and you will realize how weak the
commandment concerning tithing is. Furthermore, your fear indicates that you
have a little faith in God. Jesus, in the days of His flesh, did not impose
tithing on anyone for if He had commanded the people to pay their tithes to
Him He would have transgressed the law, for according to the law it was the
Levites who had a commandment to receive tithes from the people and He was not
a Levite, yet He lacked nothing. Do you not believe that God can meet all
your needs without you imposing tithing? |
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If
you impose tithing for you are an extortioner and a lover of money I say to
you: ‘Repent of your wickedness. God is the One who searches the hearts and
minds, and He cannot be mocked. You can deceive the simple, who lack discernment,
but you can by no means deceive God, who will punish you for your evil works
if you keep oppressing the saints of the Lord with the words of the prophet
Malachi concerning tithing. You are like the Pharisees, who lived in the days
of Jesus, who sat in Moses’ seat; they taught the people to tithe (it was
lawful for them to teach the people to tithe) and they themselves tithed, but
they loved money, as it is written: “Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of
money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him [Jesus]” (Luke 16:14
– NKJV). However, Jesus rebuked them sharply for their evil works. They paid
tithe of mint and anise and cummin, but they neglected the love of God, faith
and justice; and you neglect the same things as they did, for you are greedy
for money. In addition to this, you are full of the ‘mania for greatness’ of
which is full the heart of some who preach the Gospel. You also are seeking
‘temporal power,’ you also want to build wonderful cathedrals, you also want
to appear great men of God to most people. You know how to achieve your aims;
you conduct yourselves like those who looked out for their own interests in
the days of the apostles. You refuse to humble yourselves; you are of the
opinion that Jesus was a man who lost the occasion to become a highly
respected man as well as a rich man like you; you are greatly mistaken. You
are losing the occasion to become rich and great in the sight of God. You are
spiritually poor; do not be deceived by the flattering words of your
followers who consider you to be great men of God, for the facts are bitter.
You prefer to have vast revenues without justice rather than to have a little
with the fear of God. Why? Because you are not willing to humble yourselves
before God and to renounce craftiness and the hidden things of shame. God is
longsuffering toward you, do not despise His longsuffering nor His
forbearance, or you will be punished by Him as you deserve to be punished. |
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A
final word of exhortation |
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|
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The
reason why I have decided to show you that it is not lawful to impose tithing
on the saints under grace is that I know that the imposition of tithing gives
rise to disputes among the brethren, and not because the saints do not want
to give, but because they think that the fact that some pastors have decided
to take away from them a specific part of their income by imposing tithing on
them is really annoying and oppressive. Some of these pastors even examine
the pay packet of the saints to see if they have given exactly a tenth part
of their salary: that’s a shameful and scandalous conduct! |
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Now
I want to close this writing of mine with an exhortation, for I want to urge
you to give, as did Jesus and the apostles. |
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Brothers,
it is true that no one has the right to impose tithing on you, but it is also
true that you must beware of covetousness. John said: “By this we know love,
because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives
for the brethren” (1 John |
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The
apostle Paul, after saying to the Corinthians: ““So let each one give as he
purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a
cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7 – NKJV), said to them: “And God is able to
make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in
all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8 –
NKJV); we trust these words; we have experienced them and we are sure that we
will continue to experience them if we give with a cheerful heart. |
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Finally,
remember that each one of us will reap what he has sowed, and that when the
harvest comes no one of us will be able to say to God, ‘You have made me reap
less than what I sowed,’ for God is right and commits no injustice. |
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Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for His righteousness, which
is very high. Amen. |