Gen. 14: 18-20 > Abraham gave Melchisedec (king of Salem / high priest) tithes of the 'spoil’ >
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
*The message in these scriptures below is about the importance & purpose of the high priest after the order of Melchisedec; that by His own blood He would enter into the holy place, & obtain eternal redemption for us. (Heb. 9:11)
Heb 7:1-5
1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5 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:
*Although these scriptures mention Abraham giving tithes, the subject is about the priesthood of Christ. Melchisedec was a great man with no known origin, who held the office of priesthood. He was not a known Levitical descendant, he was a ‘type & shadow’ of a forever priest - Christ the Lord.
Heb 7:15...after the similitude (likeness)of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
*The priesthood & law by which perfection could not come are abolished & an ever - living priest has arisen which is Christ the Lord.
Lev. 27:30-33 - Tithing commanded to the Israelites >
30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD.
31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.
33 He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
*One tenth of all belongs to God. If anyone wished to take back, or keep any of the tithe, he had to pay its worth plus 1/5. Every tenth animal was the Lord’s. They didn't pick or choose which one to give. The tenth that passed under the rod was God’s. If one was exchanged then both were the Lord's & couldn't be redeemed.
Nu.18:20-21 = Levites received a tenth from the Israelites instead of an inheritance of land. [They had no need for land, because their service was to the tabernacle. >
20 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.
21 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.
Num 1:50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.
51 And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
(To read more about the Levites – Nu. 4:23-49)
The Levites gave a tenth of the tithes they received as a heave offering unto the Lord >
Num 18:26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, 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. *a tenth of the tithe from the Levites was offered to God as though it was from their own land
De. 12:5 -7 - ...Bring your tithes unto the place God has chosen to put his name >
5 But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:
6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
7 And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.
De. 12:17-19 - They had to bring the tenth unto the Lord, before they were allowed to use it >
17 Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:
18 But thou must eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.
19 Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.
De. 14:22-29 - (like De. 12:5-7) They were to tithe all that they prospered in >
22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:
26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
29 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.
De.26: 12-15 - When they tithed according to the word of God they could expect to be blessed >
12 When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;
13 Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them:
14 I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.
15 Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
2 Chr. 31: 10 -...Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.
Neh. 10: 35-39 - Do not forsake the house of God >
35 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:
36 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:
37 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.
38 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 (Num.18:26) unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.
39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.
Neh.12:44 - Some were appointed over the chambers for the treasures, offerings, etc. >
44 And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites....
Neh.13:4-14 - Eliashib the priest had allowed Tobiah to use the chamber where tithes were supposed to be kept, and the Levites, singers, etc. were being neglected; so he rebuked them and set treasurers over the treasures >
4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:
5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
6 But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:
7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.
10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.
11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.
13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.
14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.
Mal. 3:8-12 - Do we steal from God by holding back tithes & offerings? >
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 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.
11 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.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
Pro. 3:9-10 = Honor the Lord with your substance & have plenty >
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
*The purpose of the tithe under the law in the Old Testament was to support the Levites as they had no inheritance of land & to provide for the ‘sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow’ (De. 14:28,29) The tithe was brought to the ‘storehouse.’
New Testament:
Matt 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.*...not to leave the ‘other’ undone - The scribes & Pharisees focused on religious practices that gave them the appearance of importance & holiness, & not from the goodness of their heart or in obedience to God. The Lord loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7). If you don't give from your heart willingly, you do not honor God.
**Note that the Old Testament law was still in effect, in the above-mentioned verse & in the following verses - Lu. 18:10-14, as Jesus has not yet been crucified. Jesus brings a“...new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh (He. 10:20) becoming our ‘high priest’ forever (He. 6:20)
Lu. 18:10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
*This Pharisee did the works of the law, but not from the heart.
1 Cor 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
*Tithe or tenth is not mentioned here, but it is expected that the church members are to give offerings as God has prospered them.
2 Cor 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, (gift / offering) whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. *that you would have your offering ready, as a gift given willingly.
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Where did the Israelites tithes? “to the house of God, the storehouse, a chamber in the house of God.”
Who takes the place of the Levites today? Christ is our High Priest - we are the temple (house, dwelling place) of God. *We don’t have ‘Levites’ in the church today – the body works together and no one should expect compensation, although ‘love offerings’ are an acceptable way to show appreciation to all those that labor exceedingly in the church.
Who received of the tithes? Those that labor in the gospel, the stranger, fatherless, widow, needy. (De. 14:29)
The purpose of tithes: That there may be meat in mine house (Mal. 3:10) *We know that God has no need of meat, but his children do. We are our brothers keeper > Mt. 25:40 = .. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.*Although there is no mandate tp pay tithes in the New Testament, it is clear that we are to help provide for one another & this means offerings to the church.
*When there was a great dearth, “...the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Acts 11: 29-30
Everything belongs to God:
Ps. 50:10 - For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
Hag. 2:8 - The silver is mine, and the gold is mine saith the Lord of hosts
Ps. 24:1 - The earth is the Lords, and the fulness thereof, the world, and they that dwell therin.
Job 5:10 - .. who giveth rain upon all the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields.
Jn. 1:3 - All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made
*Offerings are needful for the ministry (spreading the gospel of Christ): for those that preach / teach the gospel and labor in the church, for the bills, maintenance of the church building, and for the needs of the congregation. One is not greater than another in the house of God; one persons need is not more important than another's. Tithing was instituted under the law, and New Testament teachings do not teach the duty of tithing after the church was established in the book of Acts, as specifically as it was taught under the law, but the scriptures do speak of gatherings and collections, and we are exhorted to give alms and offerings. Tithes should not be endorsed for the purpose of paying anyone’s ‘salary.’
1 Cor 9:9-14 - the following scriptures are often abused by ministers today >
9 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?
10 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.
11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Those that do the plowing and threshing should expect to share in the harvest. As farm workers work in the fields and expect a share of the harvest, shouldn’t laborers in the gospel expect to receive from the harvest? Certainly, and so the Lord has commanded that the church provide for the needs of them that labor in the gospel. All that labor in the gospel for the building up of the church, should have hope of receiving from their work. Paul says in V.15 "...we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ".
*It is not right, nor is it excused by God that any of the five fold ministry demand payment for their efforts! Every time you turn on the television or radio to a gospel station, you will most likely hear a preacher begging for money, fleecing the people. How many times have you heard the expression “sow a seed, and the Lord will prosper you?” What they are really saying is “send me your money and you will provide me with a fine house, a nice car, yearly vacations, and a college education for my children”. The callings of God are not jobs or careers, but should be considered a privilege by those that are called to serve God. Read what Paul says in - Acts 20:33-36 >
33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.
34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
*Paul supplied his own needs & to the needs of them that were with him.
1 Tim 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. (unbeliever)
2 Thess 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
*Don’t misunderstand, It is good to give to all those that labor in the gospel, it is even ordained by God. Nevertheless, laborers in the gospel should never abuse their right to receive offerings, but should also be ‘givers’ themselves, and not take advantage of the people. God’s ministers lose respect & credibility if they are lazy, and use their ministry as a means of personal gain.
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