What Is Biblical Tithing?

What Is Biblical Tithing?

I. The Tithe Defined...

a) Hebrew...

H4643

מעשׂרה מעשׂר מעשׂר

ma‛ăśêr ma‛ăśar ma‛aśrâh

mah-as-ayr’, mah-as-ar’, mah-as-raw’

From H6240; a tenth; especially a tithe: - tenth (part), tithe (-ing).

b) Greek...

G1181

δεκάτη

dekatē

dek-at’-ay

Feminine of G1182; a tenth, that is, as a percentage or (technically) tithe: - tenth (part), tithe.

c) Holy...

Lev 27:30 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.

d) First Fruits...

Pro 3:9 Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

III. The Tithe Is Not Subject To The Law...

a) Adam, Cain, Able, Seth, etc.

Gen 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

Gen 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

Gen 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

b) Abraham...

Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

Gen 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

Gen 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

c) Jacob...

Gen 28:20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,

Gen 28:21 So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:

Gen 28:22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

IV. The Tithe Under The Law of Moses...

a) Commanded...

Lev 27:30 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.

b) Blessing Depended Upon The Tithe...

Mal 3:10 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.

c) Cursing...

Mal 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Mal 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

d) Israel Paid Three Tithes Under The Law...

1) Tithes to the Levites...

Numbers 18:18-32

2) Tithes to support the festival expenses...

Deuteronomy 14:22-27

3) Tithes to the poor...

Deuteronomy 14:28-29

e) Total Tithe...

Israel gave as much as one fourth to one third of their

income, and that does not include sacrifices and offerings.

f) Offerings...

We are to give offerings also. An offering is something given from that which belongs to you. Tithe does not belong to you, so you have given no offering when you pay your tithe only.

g) Twenty Percent Interest...

Lev 27:31 And if a man will at all redeem aught of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.

V. Who Receives And Controls The Tithe...

a) Levitical Priests...

Nu. 18:21-24--Tithe was paid to the levites for their

priestly service which Israel could not perform. Levites intern

paid tithe to Aaron the High Priest, Nu. 18:26-28.

b) Ministers of the Gospel...

Read 1Corinthians 9:7-14

VI. Jesus Approved of the Tithe...

a) Obey The Law...

Mat 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

Mat 23:2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:

Mat 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

b) All of the Law...

Mat 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.

VII. Is Tithing For Us Today?...

a) Yes...

In 1Cor. 9:7-11...Paul is teaching that God ordained the tithe system as the method of supporting the ministry.

In He. 7:1-7...Paul is teaching that, if Abraham paid tithe to Melchisedec, his natural and spiritual seed should continue to pay tithe also.