Foundations of our Faith: Tithe
Notes
Transcript
Interestingly, this is one of those concepts in the Law and the Prophets that
most contemporary and historic churches have retained and implemented
into their community structure, even though it gets less mention than many
of the other laws in the Law and the Prophets.
This comes from the Hebrew root aser and it roughly translates to 1/10th.
This is why most the church teaches that we are to give 10% of our wages.
22 “You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year
by year. Deut 14:22 ESV
And every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass
under the herdsman’s staff, shall be holy to the LORD. Lev 27:32 ESV
Israel is an agricultural society. When we talk about tithe today, typically
we’re talking about money. This particular tithe is for everything your
crops produce. That could be the raw materials such as the grain itself, or it
could be refined materials such as oil and wine. Whatever your field
produces, that you should bring to the Lord. This tithe also included a tenth
of your livestock
Because we are so far removed from the culture, we think of tithe as some
kind of tax, but tithe wasn’t a tax. Tithe was a sacrament.
› Explain Sacrament
A sacrament is a symbol that deepens our understanding of God and
commitment to Him.
Now the question is what does tithe symbolize?
Tithe symbolizes a relationship of trust in God as Provider.
Perhaps the oldest example of this is with Abraham.
Chapter 4
17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who
were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of
Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem
brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he
blessed him and said,“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,Possessor of
heaven and earth;20 and blessed be God Most High,who has
delivered your enemies into your hand!”And Abram gave him a tenth of
everything. 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the
persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king
of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor
of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or
anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I
will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of
the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their
share.”
Chapter 5
1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:
“Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”
2 But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue
childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram
said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my
household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to
him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your
heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and
number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him,
“So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted
it to him as righteousness.7 And he said to him, “I am the LORD who
brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to
possess.”
Abraham trusted in the Lord so much that He refused to receive anything
from the King of Sodom for fear that the King of Sodom would try to take
the glory of what Abraham would become from the Lord. He paid his tithe
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to Melchizedek as a sign of this trust, and it was after these things the
Lord gave His promise to Abraham. the promise of a possession in the
Land.
It’s important to note that this is pre-Sinai. The Law regarding tithe
had yet to be given in the context of the nation of Israel.
The tithe in the Law serves three particular functions:
1. To serve as a portion for the Levites and Priests (Num. 18: 21-24)
2. To serve the poor and vulnerable of the land of Israel (widows, orphans,
etc.) (Deut. 26:12)
3. For use in the Temple and Festivals in Jerusalem as a sign and symbol of
God’s providence (Deut 12: 5, 6)
On the first point, the Levites nor the Priests had any possession in Israel.
And because they had no land of their own to grow crops and raise
livestock, the Lord had to make a way for them to be sustained. These were
men busy serving the tabernacle and later the Temple, and they needed a
source by which to be provided. In fact, not only did the Levites receive a
tenth, but they also gave a tenth to the Priests. Some scholars believe
based on Deut 14:27 on top of the third year tithe, it was customary that
every year the families of Israel would invite a Levite to partake of the tithe
offering with them. The Lord was concerned with the welfare of the
Levites and Priests who were occupied with serving Him and serving
His people in matters of worship and teaching. The Priests and Levites
had to trust that the Lord would provide for them a tithe.
The second function is that the tithe is used for all the dispossessed of the
Nation of Israel. The widows, orphans, and sojourners in the land. These
often represented the neediest of the land. Because they had no ancestral
inheritance or possession in the land, they were vulnerable to severe
poverty. No land on which to grow produce or raise livestock means no
goods with which to sell or trade. Ultimately, these people were susceptible
to starvation and exposure. This was the Lord’s way of ensuring the lowliest
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in Israel were provided for and would continue to live in the midst of His
land. Every third year, all the Levites, Priests, and dispossessed were given
the tithe of the land so that they too would continue to be provided for
(Deut 14:28-29; 26:12).
28 “At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your
produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. 29 And the
Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the
sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall
come and eat and be filled, that the LORD your God may bless you in all
the work of your hands that you do. Deut 14:28-29 ESV
God had other means of providing for the dispossessed of the land the rest
of the year, such as gleaning from the outer edges of the field. The Lord, in
this case, was concerned with providing for the lowly and vulnerable
of the Land of Israel. The lowly of the Israel had to trust the Lord
would provide for them.
The final function of the tithe was used by everyone else, namely those with
an inheritance in the Land and those growing crops and produce. They had
gathered in their harvest, and were going up to celebrate the festival in
Jerusalem. They were to take a tenth of all that they had produced and
were to bring it up to Jerusalem so that they could eat in the presence of
the Lord.
I want to take a moment to highlight the character of our God. The Lord
didn’t create these Laws to burden His people, on the contrary, He gave
them to teach and sanctify His people that they would understand His
character. He made a way so that if the tenth of your harvest was too
plentiful for you to carry, you could sell your tithe for money, and use that
money to purchase the meal you and your family would eat in the presence
of the Lord. What couldn’t be eaten was put into a storehouse.
Your harvest was precious. Next year there could be locusts, drought, fires,
or hail. Every ounce of harvest was precious and vital to the survival of the
Israelites. To take 1/10th of their was a massive step of trust in their God.
To give ten percent to the needy and those serving in the Tabernacle was a
risk, but it was the Lord teaching the Israelites that He is the God of the
harvest, and each year He would ensure their needs were meet.
6 “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are
not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside
from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return
to you, says the LORD of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will
man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed
you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for
you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into
the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put
me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows
of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no
more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not
destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail
to bear, says the LORD of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you
blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts. Mal
3:6–12 ESV
Now, that I’ve established what tithe is, the question remains:
is it something we can and should do today?
Yes and no. We aren’t going to tithe in the way it is prescribed in the Law.
We’re not an agricultural society. There are no Levites or Priests. There’s no
Temple for us to eat our tithe in nor do we travel to Jerusalem. However, I
would suggest the Scripture absolutely prescribes tithe both in principle as
well as sacramentally.
Firstly, I’d like to point out that the concept of tithe precedes the Tabernacle
and the priesthood.
› Recount the story of Abraham and Melchizedek.
Another instance where we see tithe being referenced is by Paul
13 Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service
get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in
the sacrificial offerings? 14 In the same way, the Lord commanded that
those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. 1
Cor 9:13-14 ESV
Paul said“in the same way”... the same way as what? Well, here he
references the sacrificial offerings, and tithe was a subcategory of those
offerings. And this direct line between temple service and those who deliver
the good news isn’t coming from Paul, but from the Lord. It says “the Lord
commanded”. Paul makes this statement while a Temple and a priesthood
are still in tact, so the fact that Paul uses this statement not with reference
to the Temple that was still standing, but makes reference to the body of
believers of that age, means we can draw the same comparisons.
It’s important to note, that while Paul draws a direct comparison to giving
to the Levites, He never calls it a tithe. I’m going to going ahead and lay
this on the table, the only reason we don’t call this a tithe is because
Scripture doesn’t mandate that we give exactly a tenth. It does, however,
retain every other category we have already mentioned.
1. We are to give to those who are vocationally devoted to serving the
Lord.
2. We are to give to the local community, and the local community is to
help those in need.
3. We give to our local community as a sign and symbol of trust in God’s
providence.
(Point 1) We have already noted that in 1 Cor 9:13-14 what
Paul said. I have found many people within our culture
offended that someone delivering the word of the Good News
would receive payment. That is specific to our culture, but
would have been completely foreign to the culture of Yeshua
and the Apostles. Yeshua fully expected those who labored
for the kingdom of God to receive compensation.
7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You
received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or
copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals
or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. Mt 10:7–10 ESV
Here Yeshua says bring nothing with you, but receive what is given to you
as you are preaching the good news of the kingdom. Yeshua had an
expectation that the Apostles’ ministry should be supported by those that
are benefiting from it.
Paul makes a similar statement based off of the comment Yeshua had
already made.
17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor,
especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture
says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The
laborer deserves his wages.” (1 Tim 5:17–18)
› Explain benefactors.
The idea that those doing the work of ministry should be doing so for free
is completely antithetical to the Scripture and foreign to the culture of the
Apostles. The clear teaching of Scripture is that as we see someone laboring
for the kingdom, we as a community and as people of God are to support
them in this endeavor. We are to hold the rope for the those descending
down into the caverns of ministry.
(Point 2) Scripture teaches that we are to extend our hand to
the needy.
34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were
owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what
was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as
any had need. (Acts 4:34–35)
Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a
complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their
widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve
summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that
we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore,
brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the
Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. (Acts 6:1–3)
The expectation among Apostles is that they would do the work of aiding
the poor and vulnerable of society. According to Galatians 2, this was also
Paul’s mandate, which was to remember the poor. We as a body of
believers are fully expected to do the work of extending our hand to the
needy, first of those among with the body, and then those in our local
community.
(Point 3) We are to participate in an ancient and sacred act of trusting that
the Lord will provide for us by giving to our local congregation. In the same
way that the Lord demonstrated His providence to the Israelites by
requiring they tithe, He requests nothing less from us.
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one
must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under
compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make
all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all
times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,
“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”
10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply
and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your
righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in
every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the
ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is
also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 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, 14 while they long for you and
pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks
be to God for his inexpressible gift! (2 Co 9:6–15).
Paul uses harvest language here to draw symbolism from the agrarian
society of the Israelites. He’s indicating to us that God, who provides for us
the seed and bread, will multiply that year by year, so that we may continue
to have the means to give. Each time we give, we are given an opportunity
to entrust ourselves to the Lord in our giving, and trust that God will
continue provide, not only for us but also so that we may continue to give.
We’re specifically told not to give out of compulsion, but out of a “cheerful
heart”. Giving to the Lord’s work isn’t a burden, but a sacred rite to trust
Him and watch Him use our resources for His purposes.
To answer the question, do we tithe? As I said, yes and no.
Tithe establishes for us a foundational structure by which to appropriately
and Biblically express our giving. We see that all the principles as laid out by
God’s intention for tithe remain in the teachings of Yeshua and the
Apostles. Perhaps, the only feature of a tithe that ought to be considered is
that tithe means tenth, and there isn’t necessarily a mandate to give to our
local congregation a tenth, but to give abundantly as each person
understands it.
Yeshua looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering
box, 2 and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 3 And he
said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.
4 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her
poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Lk 21:1–4).
God is much less concerned with how much you give, but that your giving
is coming from your heart and is a clear acts of trust in Him. Only you and
the Lord can answer that question. In this passage the rich men were giving
what was easy. It took no sacrifice and no act of trust in the Lord. The
widow gave everything she had to give. There’s no question that the rich
men gave more, but that isn’t the point of giving. The point of giving is the
act of worship in your giving that transpires between you and the Lord. The
Lord is looking at your ability to give, and He is looking at your heart.
I pray that your giving not be out of compulsion, but out of a deep
commitment to advance your relationship with the Lord.