An Honest Review of Tithing
John AC Forster
Have we been told the truth about tithing?
Why was tithing introduced in the first place?
Who was required to pay a tithe?
How many tithes were there?
When was the tithe paid?
Was the tithe paid on gross or net?
Is a tithe valid in the NT?
Part One:
Tithing is one of those issues that require one to diligently maintain their objectivity and to not allow personal bias or belief to influence your examination of the subject. This can be difficult because those that receive the tithe do not want to see their flow of revenue to cease, and those that pay it do not want to possibly displease Elohim by not fulfilling an ordinance of Yahweh.
It is well known that churches that teach tithing use several methods to encourage their members to tithe. A new member is often subjected to the carrot approach. Churches would say for example, that Rockefeller (a well known American billionaire) tithed. This implies that you too can become rich by tithing. They would also say that one would be abundantly blessed and that Elohim would not only make up for the difference, but would add to your earnings. The end result would be that one would be truly blessed. Further, that tithing pleases the Almighty and that your salvation would be ensured. If these types of approaches failed, then the big stick came out. One was threatened that they would not only lose their salvation but would suffer curses if they didn’t tithe. They would also state that by not tithing one was stealing from Elohim. To prove their point they would quote Mal.3:8-10: two verses that appear to confirm this. Later on, I will review these scriptures and surprise you with the truth.
In the beginning Yahweh expressed His desire that the Israelites would be His Holy Nation: a kingdom of priests.
Ex. 19:6 ‘And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the sons of Israel.’
In the Westminster Leningrad Codex this verse is express as:
Ex.19:6 ‘As for you, you shall become Mine, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation… ‘
Since Yahweh later established a physical priesthood and further identified the people as separate from that priesthood (vs 24), this verse 6 has to be a prophecy looking forward to that time that all baptized Christians being given the Holy Spirit, would become His priests: a royal spiritual priesthood .
1 Peter 2:5 You also as living stones are being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to YAHWEH through Yahshua Messiah.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood; a holy people, and a people for possession; that you should proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness to His precious light: (Ex. 19:5, 6).
According to scripture, we of that spiritual house are all priests. The importance of this will be revealed later.
Tithing: Why Established?
Israel was established as a Theocracy. The nation existed as a government of assembly/church and state. To finance that government composed of the Levites and priests, Yahweh instituted the tithing system. All agricultural products produced by the seed of the land and the herds and flocks that fed off that land, was tithable.
The Jewish Encyclopedia states that items were tithable only if they were (1) edible, and (2) a product of the soil. Some erroneously quote Gen.14:20 as an example of Abraham tithing, deliberately or ignorantly, leaving out the fact that this was a tithe of spoils (Heb.7:4), captured in war, and not a tithe based on Yahweh’s commands.
Who Was Required to Pay Tithes?
Not everyone paid tithes. Upon entering Canaan, Yahweh distributed individual estates to the twelve tribes. This land came without costs, without interest, and with rights of perpetual ownership, via the Jubilee-year laws. Those that enjoyed this blessing had Yahweh as their landlord and guarantor. Upon the death of the head of the family, only the eldest son received the inheritance. All other sons had to obtain their livelihoods from other means. These sons had no guarantee from Yahweh that they would own any land in Israel and thus, their livelihoods were always at risk. They became the wage earners that were expected to give as they were able, when they appeared before Yahweh on the three occasions at His festivals (Dt.16:16-17).
How Many Tithes were There?
Some churches that insist on tithing also state that there were/are three tithes. The second to be used by the tither at the feast sites and then every third year one was to submit to the church another tithe for distribution to the poor. What does the Bible actually teach? There are 13 main scriptures that relate to tithing. Above some of them, the publisher of that Bible included a caption that refers to which tithe the verses are speaking about. In one of my Bibles it states: ‘Law of First Tithe’
Lev 27:30 And all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land, of the fruit of the tree, shall belong to YAHWEH; it is holy to YAHWEH.
Lev 27:32 And all the tithe of the herd and of the flock, all that passes under the rod, a tenth shall be holy to YAHWEH;
Notice that these verses refer to only one tithe, had Yahweh meant a second and third tithe, He would have told us.
He would have instructed that two (or three in a third tithe year), be selected from the crops, herd, and flocks. In addition the word ‘all’ is used and is defined in Webster’s as pertaining to the whole amount, quantity, or extent of, the entire amount, no bits and pieces.
What About Second Tithe?
Deut 14:22 Tithing you shall tithe all the increase of your seed that the field yields year by year.
Deut 14:23 And you shall eat before YAHWEH your Elohim in the place which He shall choose to cause His name to dwell there (Jerusalem), the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the first-lings of your herd and of your flock; that you may learn to fear YAHWEH your Elohim all your days.
My Bible captions these verses as being the second tithe. However, this caption is not inspired nor is it the Word of Yahweh. Once again while examining these verses, two issues stand out. This tithe is referred to as ‘all the increase’ and secondly, one is instructed to ‘eat his tithe in the place that Yahweh shall place His Name.’ Nowhere does Elohim call this a second tithe. Neither does Yahweh tell the assembly to submit an additional tithe called the tithe of a tithe. He does however, tell the Levities to submit a tithe of the tithes that they receive, to the priests.
Num 18:26 And you shall say to the Levites; and you shall speak to them, When you take the tithe from the sons of Israel, which I have given to you from them, for your inheritance, then you shall lift from it a heave offering of YAHWEH, a tithe of the tithe. Num 18:28 So you also shall lift up the heave offering of YAHWEH from all your tithes which you receive from the sons of Israel. And you shall give from it the heave offering of YAHWEH to Aaron the priest.
Note that this is to come from the tithe that they receive from the sons of Israel, and not an additional payment from the people. Note also that it was the local Levites that lived among the people in 48 cities, that collected the tithe from the people and then paid a tenth of those tithes, to the priests that resided in Jerusalem. These local Levites determined how they would handle the tithes they received. The priests, likewise would determine how they handled the ten percent of the tithes that they received from the local Levites.
What About Third Tithe?
Deut 14:28 At the end of three years, even the same year, you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase, and shall lay it up within your gates.
Deut 14:29 And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the alien, and the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates shall come and shall eat and be satisfied; so that YAHWEH your Elohim may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.
Deut 26:12 When you have made an end of tithing all the tithes of your increase the third year, the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, the alien, the orphan, and the widow, that they may eat inside your gates, and be filled,
Note that once again the scriptures state that this is ‘all the tithes of your increase.’ Some tithing churches say that these two verses list what they call a third tithe, but nowhere do any of these scriptures state anything close to what they have assumed and taught.
So what is the Truth?
Thus far, we have proven that yes, tithing was the financial system for the support of the Levites and priests. We have also proven that there was only one tithe based on the increase of agricultural products whether of the seed or the herd, or flocks. What most do not understand is that this one single tithe had three purposes depending on the tithing year of the individual. During the normal/regular years, a person took his tithe(s), his tithe of corn, wheat, etc., to the feast site during the three times in a year, whereby one would appear before Yahweh in Jerusalem.
This tithe would be eaten during the feast and whatever was left over, was given to the Levites and priests. This was done every first and second year. During the third year, the individual did NOT attend or go, to Jerusalem, but rather stayed home and distributed/shared his tithe with the poor, the fatherless, the widow, and the Levite.
So where did the second and third tithe explanations come from? The Encyclopedia Judaica records that the rabbis reinterpreted the tithing system, and we all know from history and experience that man is greedy and puts himself first before the wellbeing of others. It is no wonder why Yahshua was so repulsed by the Pharisees’ self-indulgent, greedy ways that He warned them in Matthew 23:33. It was the Pharisees who imposed an oppressive three-tithe system.
According to Harper’s Bible Dictionary: ‘Discrepancies between regulations on tithing…resulted in the Mishnah’s adopting two tithes. The first was for the Levites and the second was to be eaten by the people.’
The Encyclopedia Americana notes that the Mishnah is the first part of the Talmud, the compilation of ‘post biblical law’ which was not formally codified until A.D. 200. It becomes clear that second and third tithe did not come about from the mouth of Yahweh, but from the mouths of men. Greedy unscrupulous men who were more concerned for their lifestyle: living in comfort and suffering no want. How shall the Almighty Yahweh judge such men?
25 comments:
Great post - set free the captives! One tithe - three purposes: this represents my own understanding of the subject. It also makes clear that the tithing system under the Old Covenant was tied to the agricultural economy of Israel (crops and livestock) - NOT wage labor. The post also does a good job of pointing out that the original premise assumed ownership of the land, seed and livestock necessary to produce an INCREASE (In other words, NO such thing as tithing on one's gross income). Finally, as the post also makes clear, tithing was part of the system instituted by God to support the priesthood and assembly of the OLD Covenant. There isn't any provision in the terms of the New Covenant for tithing, and it is a gross perversion of Christ's reprimand about the priorities of the Jewish leaders of his day to make his comment an endorsement of tithing for his followers. Hopefully the tithe slaves of the ACOGs will have eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit reveals on this subject!
Without tithes, the lights will go out and the Pack-cult-compound will shutdown in a week.
The horses will have to be let loose on the millennial-flower-garden.
He will have to use Telepathy rather than Television to reach the world with his message of rejiggered Armstrongist-eschatology.
I have some confusion on the following portion of your article that perhaps you could help me understand.
Here is the portion I am confused about. You said:
The Jewish Encyclopedia states that items were tithable only if they were (1) edible, and (2) a product of the soil. Some erroneously quote Gen.14:20 as an example of Abraham tithing, deliberately or ignorantly, leaving out the fact that this was a tithe of spoils (Heb.7:4 ), captured in war, and not a tithe based on Yahweh’s commands.
I am going to ignore what the Jewish encyclopedia says at this time and just stick with what the Bible says about Abraham paying tithes. In the above quote (Heb 7:4) you state that Abraham paid a tithe of spoils captured in war. However, the verse you cited does not say “captured in war”. The verse simply says “Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils”. The Bible does not say “captured in war”.
Here is the Hebrews 7;4 (I started with verse 2 to emphasize that fact that Abraham gave a tenth of ALL) - Heb 7:2-4 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king of peace," 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.
Here is the other verse you cited - Gen 14:20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all.
Here again it says Abraham gave a tithe of ALL. Not just grain and/or cattle. Now if we drop down and read the next two verses, we see that Abraham took NOTHING of the spoils of war. Therefore, he could not have tithed on the spoils of war as you stated. Instead, the verses clearly say that Abraham gave a tithe of ALL. But he gave nothing of the spoils of war because he didn’t take any spoils.
Here are the next two verses.
Gen 14:21-23 21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself." 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich'
Would you be able to clear up this confusion for me?
Thank you
We were doing just fine until the author started using "Yahshua" and "Yahweh", and I realized this wasn't going to be an objective paper. Someone who had gone off another deep end, the one into sacred names, had written it although I am sure he is sincere and well-intentioned. I should mention that I am no longer part of Armstrongism, but most likely the Armstrongites here who might benefit from correction to their tithing beliefs will look upon this as an attempt from someone who is involved in a different religion to correct them.
The opportunity to gain entrance into the locked minds of Armstrongites has been blown on this particular occasion. They have a habit of letting such things as long hair invalidate one who might be offering truths which could potentially be very helpful. I would counsel John to open up his audience by modifying his approach next time, and not to use his shibboleths. God and Jesus work fine for the purpose of basic understanding, and might not be as likely to slam the Armstrongite trapdoor mind before they even consider what you are attempting to share.
You mention Matthew 23:33, but leave out what Jesus said in 23:23. Didn't He endorse tithing there?
A couple of interesting points that "wage withers" do not answer well. 1) Fish were not tithed upon 2) If 19 new cattle passed under the rod, you only paid ONE. That would equate to a 5.26% rate.
It appears in the Bible that you tithed on that which was specifically given to you from God as a form of lease , with you as a franchisee. Thus the Land of Israel, or spoils of battle. I would gladly give 10% of revenue if I was given 3 McDonalds Restaurants as an example, or given 162 acres of farmland, without any mortgage, interest, or encumbrance.
As far as Matthew 23:23 goes, indeed even garden crops were tithed on , as they were grown in Israel and were part of the inheritance.
It is also interesting to note that when Paul made his appeal for support from the Corinthians, he made no appeal from OT tithing laws, but rather "muzzling the ox that treads the grain". If tithing was applicable, why didnt Paul use that as an authority for support?
You mention Matthew 23:33, but leave out what Jesus said in 23:23.
Put this in chronological context: The Pharisees, in Israel (Judah) prior to the destruction of the temple. They were tithing on various herbs that they may have planted, or that grew naturally on their property. Of course they were doing the right thing - but the verse contrasts this with their neglect of other Torah matters, and mentions a few of them. Another contrast is in Matthew 15, giving an offering (presumably voluntary) rather than using it to help their parents. [Don't some COGs push this? "xCOG comes first, not your parents' needs"?]
I am often fascinated whenever I hear the transcribed ramblings of the late Gene Scott and his widowed wife Melissa Scott on shortwave. Everything they talk about is related to "giving", and they are ardent supporters of the tithing system. "The tithe is the Lord's" was Gene Scott's favourite bark, and quoting Malachi, he would then assert that “you are a thief and a robber” if you hold on to what belongs to God. Melissa Scott will often ramble on and on in her characteristically intimidating, authoritative, and disjointed monologues about “giving” and why she doesn’t give out tax receipts for tithes and offerings. I have also heard her make the argument that tithing is a "principle", and not a law, but then she turns things around by saying that if someone isn't a "hilarious giver", then they don't have the spirit of Christ. This "principle" approach to tithing and giving is what I call "back-door legalism", and I have heard the same sort of thing being preached in a mainstream church we used to attend after exiting the WCG. I many ways, Scott's Faith Center organization is at least as, or even more demanding than the old WCG as they also teach about the necessity of firstfruits giving, and woe betide the believer who doesn't give to God (that is to Scott’s organization) the first paycheck of the new year or the first of any financial increase. That nonsense is trotted out every January in old recorded transcripts given by the late Gene Scott, and things get even crazier when Scott talks about the “mean angel” who will do bad things to those who don’t pay firstfruits. Then July is designated as "double portion month", when members and donors are to double up on their tithes and offerings. I sometimes wonder if a few ex WCG members ended up in that organization. They’ve gone from bad to bad, or bad to worse if that is so.
Without tithes, little Bobby Thiel would have to get a job:
- the only thing I can think of for him would be Semaphore Signalman!
Im not a Thiel fan, and I have ridden him here on this site for years.
However, Thiel does support himself and has a job from selling vitamins and some type of naturopathy therapy practice. It does not appear that Thiel takes any monetary enumeration from his ministry efforts , which makes him somewhat unique amongst other PIGS such as the Armstrongs, Pack, Flurry, Weinland and others who fleeced their followers for ridiculous lifestyles.
How did tithing come about? Some have said that tithing was something that was done in that culture to various gods. After Jacob had that dream where God promised to bless him, he declared that if God would indeed bless and protect him, then he would dedicate that tenth to God. (Gen 28:20-22) It seems to me there was an agreement or covenant made at that time which God accepted.
It was GOD who decided 'how' that would be paid to Him as He took Levi as His firstborn, (Num. 3:12). Once Israel entered the promised land, God instituted a system of tithing --- fulfilling the promise and agreement Jacob made with Him. How else could Jacob and his descendants fulfill that promise/agreement?
One tithe? Two? Three? As Hillary so famously said in the Benghazi hearings, "At this point, what difference does it make??" That covenant made with Israel is now defunct. Finito! So many have tried to 'transfer' that part of the covenant to their religious organizations, and the reason is obvious. Cheerful giver? Sure! Teachers living 'from the gospel'? Of course. Need tithes to do the Work as we were told so often, as well as offerings, building funds, etc.? Some where there is a scripture stating 'not by might nor power, but by My Spirit ...' Zech. 4:6 Therefore God can perform HIS work without a physical law in place, and that teaching about the ox not being muzzled has been twisted into dependence on a part of the law of Moses to support organizations by demand and command.
The Worst TITHE THIEVES
Some of the very worst tithe thieves around are the FALSE Prophets such as Gerald Flurry and David Pack and their FAKE COGs such as the PCG and the RCG. They are all about stealing tithe money from the sheeple and from God and using it to support their own lying, stealing, destroying, and killing.
Never mind tithing, Apostle Pack's got Common(TM) so give it all to him or no salvation!
Anon657, The context shows these were spoils of war. When Moses wrote this account he used the term "tithe" as a tenth here. It seemed to only be given as a prid pro quo as first Abraham was blessed and then Abraham decided to give a tenth at his own discretion. AND, it was not Abraham's property.
The Levites received no part of the land except a small part around the temple. THEY needed other farmers and producers of the other tribes to provide them with food BECAUSE they were not given land enough to support themselves. This, is why fish were not tithed as they were not associated with THE LAND.
Good post.
Tonto at 757 asks a valid question as to why Paul appeals to the ox instead of tithing for support? My question is, why does he appeal to the law of Moses at all if the theology of most of the commentators on this site is valid? Surely the apostle of the new covenant has all the answers concerning no law, old law, new law, schoolmaster law, new covenant, old covenant, etc., yet, he doesn't appeal to Christ, or Peter, or James, but of all things, the law of Moses! and he's addressing Gentiles! Then he has the audacity to over ride the letter with a spiritual interpretation of his own making!
Yes Tonto it is very interesting, but a problem for those who like to package the law in their own image!
... and Rod Meredith?
Oh no, no, that will never do at all. Once they get inducted into the sacred names silliness, they have to run around using them ALL the time in hopes that someone will ask them what the hell they just said and give them an opportunity to deliver a lecture to another victim.
The individual did go every year, if he was obedient, to Jerusalem for the feast. Every year he kept 10% of the increase of the field for use/consumption at the feasts except in the 7th year of a 7 year cycle, and in the 3rd and 6th year of the cycle gave a separate tithe for the Levite, fatherless, etc. In the sixth year the increase was about 3 times of normal so that there was enough food for the next three years, the sabbatical year, the next first year of a cycle OR a jubilee year, and the next year.
Above, it was asked if Jesus endorsed tithing in Matthew 23.
The answer is yes.
However, COGs don't know Jesus, his mission on Earth, of the context within in which Jesus spoke.
In Matthew 23, Jesus was living under the law of the Old Covenant.
He had to live a perfect life under this law to fulfill it and become your Savior.
Jesus could not say someone did not have to tithe during his time under the law, without breaking the law.
So, yes Jesus did say the Pharisees should have tithed - but he was also stating that their obedience to the law was not good enough and he chastised them for their attitude.
In Matthew 23, Jesus is foreshadowing the New Covenant.
Under the New Covenant, in 2 Corinthians 9:7, God asks that we give cheerfully and as we are able.
Under the New Covenant, giving ten percent may be too little or may be too much, depending on your ability.
Under the New Covenant, giving out of obligation or with a less than cheerful attitude, is always wrong.
The COGs have so far to go in getting to know Jesus and the Bible - too bad that so many of their members resist growing in grace and knowledge by only consuming COG literature.
Unfortunately there will always be some who despite ALL the irrefutable evidence to the contrary will continue to be duped by those “wolves in sheep’s clothing” mandating the sheep to give at minimum 10% of their monetary income to them cause they say God has commanded it so and in return God will reward them with financial independence and security like it’s some “magic ritual.”
This article is worse than some of the others that you have posted, and the comments are just as bad.
Re 1 Cor 9, one asked why Paul didn't quote outright on the tithing laws but only quoted a principle? Well, he did in Heb 7 when he elevated the Melchizedek-Abraham example above the Levitical laws for tithing. That was the prototype for Levi and the church. The church is nearing 30 years of maturity here and Paul is dealing with some members who believed that he shouldn't have been getting compensated for his preaching. But as he says, the Lord ordained that preachers are to be compensated for their preaching (v14). And lest anyone insult Paul even more, note that he said, "I have used none of these things (to force people by command to give; v15)". This is just one letter among many that he wrote. You can't expect him to cover fundamentals every time he writes. You couldn't handle it if he did.
Paul was like the ox contributing to your prosperity by treading out the corn upon which you were expected to tithe.
Re Christ in Mt 23:23 having to fulfill the law by making such a statement for the law's sake? What kind of warped nonsense is that? If He wanted to make the Pharisees converts by His preaching, why would He say "Don't leave the other (tithing) undone"? This makes Christ look a hypocrite if he was promoting a law that He really wanted to abolish.
Fulfilling the law doesn't mean ending it or destroying it. Go figure out what law I am talking about. Are you going to lump circumcision and tassels laws with Sabbath laws, tithing laws and moral laws? Does tithing fall under the abolishment category with fornication, idolatry, strangled animals and blood rituals? (Acts 15:20)
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil". (Mt 5:17)
Anonymous of March 4 at 10:33: you've confused me - you seem to believe some laws are abolished and some, like tithing are not.
How did you, and the COGs, decide how to divide the law up to be what you want it to be.
Jesus kept all of the law in order to qualify to be your Savior.
Jesus never cut the corners of his beard or wore garments of mixed fabric content.
Why do you not follow the example of Jesus?
James 2:10 says:
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
In Matthew 23, Jesus repeatedly said "woe to the Pharisees" because they were keeping the law strictly yet missing the purpose.
COGs continue in that tradition by zealously insisting on their law favorites while missing the main points, and therefore, not keeping the law at all.
The main, main point that the COG's miss is the mission of Jesus, as evidenced by their disregard for verses such as Romans 10:4:
Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
1:33, you too are deceived by traditional Christianity. Go back to first principles in Mt 5-7 where you will find a sprinkling of what laws are in effect and what laws have changed since Moses, specifically 5:31 & 43. Can one divorce or not? Can one hate his enemy or not?
You have no power against the truth in Heb 7 re tithing because this law was in play before Levi got it from Moses.
We were warned about people like you a long time ago, people who are called "antinomians". In fact, in Mt 5-7 we see the Lord condemning such when he says, "Depart from Me, you that work anomia (lawlessness)" (Mt 7:23)
So you think Christ kept the law just as a show so that you wouldn't have to keep it? God was so concerned that His Son might shave his head? Did He have to wear tassels to fulfill the law?
How did we decide to divide up the law??? Listen, fool, God has put all things under the feet of the church. The church has this judicial authority just as we see in the Jersualem conference in Acts 15. If we don't make the right judgments, we will be held accountable for it. These are matters of salvation. If one can't accept the fundamentally right teachings of Moses, he can't accept the New Covenant teachings about a resurrection, as per Luke 16:31. And the Lord said in Mt 13:52 that as scribes we bring out the new (covenant teachings) and the old (teachings of Moses and the prophets) when we teach.
3:13, just cause tithing was in existence prior to the Mosaic law doesn’t mean it’s for Christians today any more than male circumcision, which also was a custom in existence prior to the Mosaic law, but isn’t necessary for Christians today.
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