Taxes, Tithing & Death

Robert Groover

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What Came 1st Taxes or Tithing?

Looking at secular history, more direct tax chronology. We see that Egypt was the first to implement a tax system. The Egyptian tax collector, known as scribes, would impose a tax on crops, cooking oil and other household items to ensure a proper amount of future needs were being put away. Scripture backs this account up, which we will cover in a second.

But tithing was illustrated first in scripture with Cain and Abel in . Abraham was the first to set a standard of a tenth.

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Taxation in the Pre-Monarchical Period

Abraham gave a tenth of everything to the priest Melchizedek (Gen 14:18–20; Gaebelein, “Genesis,” 122–23). Jacob continued the practice of giving a tenth of all that he had to the Lord (Gen 28:20–22). Because of these early examples, paying 1/10 of all that a person owned was linked to the priest and religious institution (Noordtzÿ, Leviticus, 279).

However I want to begin our conversation on taxes. The first tax, by scripture was implemented by the Egyptians. This is confirmed through both secular and scripture. The tax practise was imposing of duty or payment upon individuals for the benefit of others. It could take the form of currency, produce or labor. The earliest historical records indicate that the collection of taxes was for the common good of everyone in the land.

Joseph and the Pharaoh, interpreted the dream of 7 good cows and 7 ugly cows in chapter 41 of Genesis.

Genesis 41:34–36 ESV

Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”

Genesis 41:34-

This example of tax may seem high but it was to survive the famine that God foretold in the dream of the Pharaoh. Many would say they don’t agree with taxes, ok then

Are you prepared to stand at odds with God?

God has established human agencies for the government of people

Proverbs 8:15 ESV

By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;

Proverbs 8:15–16 ESV

By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly.

Proverbs

Romans 13:1 ESV

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

Romans 13:1

1 Peter 2:13–15 ESV

Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

John 19:11 ESV

Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

1 Peter 2:13-

Jesus and Taxation

Jesus was falsely accused of opposing taxation

Luke 23:1–2 ESV

Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”

We hear this today that Jesus was against the government but that is not true

Jesus paid taxes

Matthew 17:24–27 ESV

When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

Tithing

The financial burden of God’s work has always been shared amongst God’s people. In the OT, this was mainly by compulsory tithes; in the NT by voluntary contributions.

The collection of compulsory tithes and other religious taxes

Tithes

Leviticus 27:30 ESV

“Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord.

Redemption money

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Temple taxes

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The collection of voluntary contributions

For the tabernacle

ESV And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning,

For the temple

ESVAnd David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for the palace will not be for man but for the Lord God. So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones and marble. Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God: 3,000 talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the house, and for all the work to be done by craftsmen, gold for the things of gold and silver for the things of silver. Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the Lord?” Then the leaders of fathers’ houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officers over the king’s work. They gave for the service of the house of God 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze and 100,000 talents of iron. And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, in the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

1 Chronicles 29:1–9 ESV

And David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for the palace will not be for man but for the Lord God. So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones and marble. Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God: 3,000 talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the house, and for all the work to be done by craftsmen, gold for the things of gold and silver for the things of silver. Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the Lord?” Then the leaders of fathers’ houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officers over the king’s work. They gave for the service of the house of God 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze and 100,000 talents of iron. And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, in the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

For the rebuilding of the temple

ESV And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”

For the teaching ministry of the church

ESV Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.

For the relief of the poor

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The aim of collections

To share burdens equally

ESVFor I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

To supply people’s needs

ESVFor the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.

To arouse thanksgiving

ESVFor the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

The right attitude to collections

Generosity

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Cheerfulness

ESVEach one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Discipline

ESVOn the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.

Humility

ESV“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

A willing spirit

ESVFor if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

A sacrificial spirit

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The faithful administration of collections

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