Sermon Tone Analysis

*What About Tithes, Offerings, and Alms?*

Pastor Keith Hassell

 

 

*1.

What is the tithe?

*

The very word tithe means "tenth.”

The tithe is one-tenth of a person's increase through wages, production, sales, etc.

It is the first tenth of a person's increase that is designated by God for Himself.

*2.

How old is tithing?

*

Tithing is as old as the human race.

Tithing was practiced by nations such as Egypt and Babylon in ancient times.

Where did the concept of tithing originate?

The first Bible reference is found in Genesis 4 when Abel brought of the firstfruit of his flock and presented it before the Lord.

It is interesting to note that the first case of jealousy and murder occurred over the issue of the tithe

 

*3.

Didn't tithing begin with the Law of Moses?

*

No.

The patriarchs practiced tithing over four hundred years before the law was given.

In Genesis 14:20 we find that Abraham gave tithes unto Melchizedek, the High Priest of Salem, who is a type of Christ (Hebrews 7).

Jacob made a vow to give God tithes of all he possessed in Genesis 28:20-22.

Although tithing was incorporated into the Law of Moses, it did not begin with the Law.

Before the Law, tithing was a covenant of love between a man and God.

The Law came as a result of covenant breakers---the lawless and insubordinate (I Timothy 1:9).

When the Law was fulfilled, tithing did not cease, but rather, returned back to the grace of, love and covenant.

For those who truly love God, tithing is not an obligation but a privilege.

It brings blessings based on better promises (Hebrews 8:6).

We are no longer under law, but under grace (Romans 6:14).

We do not PAY tithes, we GIVE tithes.

*4.

Did Jesus teach tithing?

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Yes.

Jesus said in Matthew 23:23, /"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!

For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, 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" /(See also Luke 11:42).

In other words, Jesus said, "You ought to have tithed, but you are not excused by tithing from the weightier aspects of the law: justice, mercy, and faith."

Jesus did not nullify tithing, but rather reinforced it with New Testament emphasis on the heart.

Jesus and His disciples, as Jews, would have made tithing a regular part of their faith and practice.

*5.

Doesn't tithing only apply to the nation of Israel?

*

No.

As was said in question three, tithing began with Abraham, who is the father of us all.

Israel (Jacob) came years later.

Levi was one of the sons of Israel and was given the priesthood in the nation.

Hebrews 7:14-17 tells us that Levi (Mosaic priesthood) gave tithes indirectly to Melchizidek (a type of Christ, the Heavenly Priesthood) through Abraham.

Tithing preceded the nation of Israel in Abraham, and extends beyond Israel to all of the seed of Abraham.

*6.

Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, and Israel gave tithes to the Levitical priesthood.

Doesn't tithing depend upon a priesthood?

*

Yes.

Our High Priest is Jesus.

Hebrews 7:1-10 places Melchizedek as a type and forerunner of Christ.

The High Priestly ministry of Jesus is greater than that of Levi and the Mosaic Law.

Just as Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham, so it is that Christ today receives tithes through His Divine Priesthood: /"Here mortal men receive tithes, but there He receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives"/ (Hebrews 7:8).

Christ's priesthood is eternal, without beginning or end.

Since the earliest times, the fathers of faith have recognized His Priesthood through honoring Him with the tithe.

Today there is only one High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ.

When we bring our tithes into the storehouse, we should present them in our heart to Him.

Tithing itself is a “witness that he lives" as our High Priest.

*7.

Where should I give the tithe?

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Obviously we cannot transport the tithe to heaven to present it before Christ.

Neither should we, for He does not need it there.

He has another purpose for the tithe --- His house on earth.

Jacob vowed in Genesis 28:22 that he would establish God's house on The Stone and then honor God with the tithe.

God designated the tithe for His house.

Malachi 3:10 says, "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house."

In the Old Testament, the house of God was symbolized through the Tabernacle of Moses, Tabernacle of David, and the Temples of Solomon, Zerubbabel, and Herod.

Jesus introduced His body as the true Temple of God: /"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up . . .

But He was speaking of the temple of His body" /(John 2:19-21).

After Jesus died, was buried, and ascended into heaven His BODY remained on the earth, the church.

Jesus is the Stone upon which the house of God is built.

Jesus stated in Matthew 16:18, "And on THIS ROCK I will build My Church."

Hebrews 3:6 states, /"but Christ as a Son over His own house, WHOSE HOUSE WE ARE . .

." /  2 Corinthians 6:16 calls the Church the Temple of the Living God.

The Church is the true fulfillment of the House of God and the Temple of God, and therefore, the place for tithes.

*8.

Can I choose where I want to put My tithes?

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Before the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D., there was no question of where the tithe belonged in the minds of Jews.

However, the concept of the house of God had been revealed in many progressive versions in the Old Testament, beginning with the Tabernacle of Moses.

From Tabernacles to Temples, God was bringing forth a revelation of His house.

God knew of the changes that would occur and instructed the people in Moses' day: /"But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses . . . to PUT HIS NAME for His dwelling place; and there you shall go.

There you shall take . . .

your tithes.

TAKE HEED THAT YOU DO NOT OFFER YOUR BURNT OFFERINGS IN EVERY PLACE THAT YOU SEE; but in the place which the Lord chooses . . .

"/ (Deuteronomy 12:5-6,13-18; see also Deuteronomy 14:22-23).

We are to seek out the place where the Lord has chosen to place HIS NAME.

Before ascending to heaven, Jesus placed His name in the Church.

Where is it that every Christian, pagan or heathen recognizes as the representatives of THE NAME in any community?

Isn't it the local Church?

The local Church is the storehouse and guardian of the tithe.

This was understood by those early believers: "Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostle's feet, and they distributed to each as anyone had need (Acts 4:34-35).

Acts 5 tells us that the apostles walked with authority in matters of what the people presented at their feet in the account of Ananias and Sapphira.

We are to be "planted" in a local Church under divinely ordained leadership, and there we are to give our tithe.

*9.

Did believers in the early church tithe?

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Although there is no mention of the word "tithe" in the New Testament other than the Gospels and Hebrews, it would seem evident that they did.

We have no mention of Jesus and his disciples tithing, but we know that He was born under the law (Galatians 4:4) as well as they.

As such, they would have been tithers without question.

The silence of the Scripture in regard to actual account does not negate this reality.

The same is true of the early believers.

No mention was necessary as it was unquestionable to live otherwise.

After Pentecost the disciples still went to pray at the Temple (Acts 2:46; 3:1), they taught at the Temple (Acts 5:20,21,25,42), and kept the rituals of the Temple (Acts 21:23-24).

They would have also kept the tithe, for the new Jewish converts were "zealous for the law"(Acts 21:20).

Until the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. the early believers would have sent the tithe to the Temple and not the Church.

They had not made a final separation from Judaism because Jesus was the Messiah of Judaism.

These early believers were in a transitional period between covenants.

Only the book of Revelation was written after the Temple was destroyed.

Therefore tithing would not have been connected to the new "Temple" of the Church until the old had been destroyed: "In that He says, 'A new covenant,' He has made the first obsolete.

Now what is becoming obsolete' and growing old is ready to vanish away"(Hebrews 8:13).