Tithing in the New Testament Church

Note: I acknowledge that there is no suppose private interpretation of the bible scripture (II Peter 1:20) hence, I subject this writing to other spirit. Should you find my writing to be totally wrong, I would then appreciate if you could correct me and or rebuke me (II Timothy 3:16). Let's reason together (Isaiah 1:18) so as to bring the matter into the light, I can be reach at sherwincablao@gmail.com.

Tithing in the New Testament (Handout from my Church)

Jesus said that people ought to pay tithes (Matthew 23:23). He used an illustration of a tithe-paying Pharisee in a parable (Luke 18:11-12) and further said that if our righteousness did not exceed that of a Pharisee we could not enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20). He also told His disciples that, "...the workman is worthy of his meat " (Matthew 10:10). God has ordained that the new testament ministry. See 1 Corinthians 9:7-14 realising that Paul was making a direct comparison to the priesthood. Especially note verses 13-14 which read:

" “Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.” I Corinthians 9:13-14 NKJV

Hebrews 7:4-10 declares quite plainly that, "......here men....receive tithes....". The Amplified Bible accurately explains the King James Version word "communicate" in Galatians 6:6 to mean minstrel support:

“Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support].” Galatians 6:6 AMP

Confuting Tithing in the New Testament Teaching as Per Above

Jesus said that people ought to pay tithes (Matthew 23:23).

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you give a tenth of your mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected and omitted the weightier (more important) matters of the Law–right and justice and mercy and fidelity. These you ought [particularly] to have done, without neglecting the others.” Matthew 23:23 AMP

As explained in my writing, This was God Himself talking, He was still on earth, as the bible say: 

“If then He were still living on earth, He would not be a priest at all, for there are [already priests] who offer the gifts in accordance with the Law.” Hebrews 8:4 AMP (Read the whole Chapter 8). 

Here, Jesus was not yet officiated as priest, He was still on earth and His mission was not yet finish. It is therefore still the rights of the earthly priest to receive the tithes - their rightful inheritance when they were officiated as the priest. See complete explanation on my writing. Click Link: The Tithing Principle, My Query for Enlightenment

He used an illustration of a tithe-paying Pharisee in a parable (Luke 18:11-12) and further said that if our righteousness did not exceed that of a Pharisee we could not enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20). 

“The Pharisee took his stand ostentatiously and began to pray thus before and with himself: God, I thank You that I am not like the rest of men–extortioners (robbers), swindlers [unrighteous in heart and life], adulterers–or even like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I gain.” Luke 18:11-12 AMP

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness (your uprightness and your right standing with God) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20 AMP

If by quoting  "Luke 18:11-12" meant to suggest that in the New Testament they Tithes. I will not dispute it as they really did in fact, Jesus still encourage it as He was not yet officiated as the priest. As long as He was still on earth and the veil was not yet torn down, the earthly ministry are still needed to offer gifts as per the Law hence, it was still their rights to receive the tithes and it was still an obligation for the people of Israel to give it to the priest. We also have to notice that,  the Pharisee while they fast and tithe, they exalt themselves in doing so, they thought they were acceptable, yet Jesus chooses the tax collector as the bible say in continuation of Luke 18:11-12

“But the tax collector, [merely] standing at a distance, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but kept striking his breast, saying, O God, be favourable (be gracious, be merciful) to me, the especially wicked sinner that I am! I tell you, this man went down to his home justified (forgiven and made upright and in right standing with God), rather than the other man; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:13-14 AMP

The moral of the parable is not that the Pharisee fast and tithe, it was meant to show that even though the Pharisee was righteous and follow the law accordingly, they should not exalt themselves, they ought not to Judge, they ought to show mercy, they ought not to pin point whose the sinner or not. This is why Jesus said, the tax collector was more justified, he humble himself before God as He was clearly aware that he was a sinner hence, seek mercy and grace before God. This is sometimes the unnoticed dilemma of those who think they are obeying God, they fast, they tithe, they pray, almost everything they do what they think pleases God but because they see themselves to be so righteous, they tend to look at the rest who are not doing the same as what they are doing to be lesser than them in terms of faith and righteousness, they tend to exalt themselves and pin point in their heart who has inferior righteousness and or faith in comparison to them. 

In Matthew 5:20, The Pharisee pay tithe, fast, were not like the swindlers or the tax collector, they are self proclaim righteous or so they thought, yet in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must exceed their righteousness. This does not imply to tithe to exceed their righteousness, the Pharisee themselves tithe, fast and law abiding yet, still lacking. If I tithe, will I exceed their righteousness or will I just simply mirror what they did? Exceeding their righteousness is disconnected from requiring to tithe. 

He also told His disciples that, "...the workman is worthy of his meat " (Matthew 10:10)

“And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand! Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give. Take no gold nor silver nor [even] copper money in your purses (belts); And do not take a provision bag or a wallet for a collection bag for your journey, nor two undergarments, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the workman deserves his support (his living, his food).” Matthew 10:7-10 AMP

“And stay on in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. [Deut. 24:15.]” Luke 10:7 AMP

In Matthew 10:7-10. Jesus instructed His disciples to go preach, cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the leapers, drive out demons. They were instructed to do these free of charge as they have received the power to do it freely. They were also instructed not to bring any gold or silver or a copper money in their purse and do not bring a provision bag or a collection bag while they are travelling and preaching, even sandals nor a staff they cannot bring. This means that when they start preaching from house to house, they have nothing but the power of gospel only. When they were received in a house, they did not ask one-tenth or the host did not give one-tenth of what they had right? Rather, they were allowed to drink and eat whatever food and wine was offered to them, they deserve it. They did not ask for it but it was a gesture coming from the host, more or less it doesn't matter. Obviously, this is not tithing but giving. Moreover, when they depart from that house, they cannot bring or should not accept anything as they were instructed not to bring any gold, silver or copper money. So, they go inside the house, preach the gospel, accept and eat the food the host offered, depart from the house accepting nothing but their food in their stomach and go to the next house. If we claim, that this refers to tithe, just imagine every house who accepted them, one tenth here and one tenth there?

God has ordained that the new testament ministry. See 1 Corinthians 9:7-14 realising that Paul was making a direct comparison to the priesthood. Especially note verses 13-14 which read:

“Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.” I Corinthians 9:13-14 NKJV

For me its just so wrong to quote a verse just to satisfy once intention to prove something is valid not realising that it could mislead a lot of people. 

“Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.” I Corinthians 9:8-18 NKJV

Notice the verses highlighted in bold. I’m not sure if its just me or what but, I kinda observed that we use the verses 1 corinthians 9:13-14 to defend the rights of the minister of words to live or get their maintenance from the gospel since they preach the gospel. But, seemingly missed out the next verses,15 to 18. In verse 15, Apostle Paul expounded further and said "But I have not made use of any of these privileges, nor am I writing this [to suggest] that any such provision be made for me [now]. For it would be better for me to die than to have anyone make void and deprive me of my [ground for] glorifying [in this matter].” 1 Corinthians" 9:15 AMP. And, state further in verse 18, that he present the gospel of Christ without charge or free of expense and that he may not abuse his authority in the gospel. 

I'm sorry but I have to ask, is not the apostles our model as christians, if they don't claim this right as they may hinder the gospel of Christ, why are we claiming the rights? Are we greater than the first apostles?

Moreover, the bible say;

“But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”II Thessalonians 3:6-15 NKJV

The apostles actually commanded to follow them, they did not burden their followers in supporting them rather and I quote "....we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.” 2 Thessalonians 3:8-9 NIV. Take note, a model for us and for us to IMITATE.

Hebrews 7:4-10 declares quite plainly that, "......here men....receive tithes....".

“Now observe and consider how great [a personage] this was to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth [the topmost or the pick of the heap] of the spoils. And it is true that those descendants of Levi who are charged with the priestly office are commanded in the Law to take tithes from the people–which means, from their brethren–though these have descended from Abraham. But this person who has not their Levitical ancestry received tithes from Abraham [himself] and blessed him who possessed the promises [of God]. Yet it is beyond all contradiction that it is the lesser person who is blessed by the greater one. Furthermore, here [in the Levitical priesthood] tithes are received by men who are subject to death; while there [in the case of Melchizedek], they are received by one of whom it is testified that he lives [perpetually]. A person might even say that Levi [the father of the priestly tribe] himself, who received tithes (the tenth), paid tithes through Abraham, For he was still in the loins of his forefather [Abraham] when Melchizedek met him [Abraham].” Hebrews 7:4-10 AMP

Quoting a verse in a chapter and expounding what it means without considering the other verses in the same chapter could sometime distort the meaning and the intention of the writer, how much more quoting a phrase in a verse in the same chapter.

To complete the verse " here [in the Levitical priesthood] tithes are received by men who are subject to death; while there [in the case of Melchizedek], they are received by one of whom it is testified that he lives [perpetually]. As per the bible, the levitical priesthood has already been obsoleted, when I say obsoleted it does't mean there are no more levitical priesthood in today's time, there are still but, since they don't acknowledge that they were already replace by Jesus Christ, they still assumed the position of priesthood. But, for us Christian we knew very well that whatever they are doing in relation to priesthood ministry, it has no more effect spiritually as Jesus now is the new priest. Since levitical priesthood was obsoleted, the right to collect to tithe goes back to Jesus Christ as He was also Melchizedek, He lives and He is in the midst of us hence, the right to collect it is still His right. No mortal should assume that right to collect it as it would seemingly ignore Him who is alive in midst of us. Yet today, a parallel can be drawn that we seemingly doing the same thing over again. Though we say it's not for the minister of God rather it is for God, the fact that the very hand who collect is a mortal, however we think of it, it is still collected or received by people who die and not the priest who lives continually.

The Amplified Bible accurately explains the King James Version word "communicate" in Galatians 6:6 to mean minstrel support:

“Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support].” Galatians 6:6 AMP

Sharing with the teacher and contributing to his support does not suggest tithing. We can share and contribute with his support but not tithe, in fact, pledging, giving for the purpose of spreading the word of God are encourage in the bible. There seem to be a confusion what is really tithing, others say it is for our Lord Jesus and not for Pastor since Jesus replaces the levitical priest, while INMF teaching seems to simply that it is for teacher of the Gospel.

I understand that early Christian church had practice tithing, though historically they practice tithing, it doesn't mean it was biblically encourage. Paul himself the apostle in his writing to Corinth says;

“If others share in this rightful claim upon you, do not we [have a still better and greater claim]? However, we have never exercised this right, but we endure everything rather than put a hindrance in the way [of the spread] of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 9:12 AMP

“But I have not made use of any of these privileges, nor am I writing this [to suggest] that any such provision be made for me [now]. For it would be better for me to die than to have anyone make void and deprive me of my [ground for] glorifying [in this matter].” 1 Corinthians 9:15 AMP

“What then is the [actual] reward that I get? Just this: that in my preaching the good news (the Gospel), I may offer it [absolutely] free of expense [to anybody], not taking advantage of my rights and privileges [as a preacher] of the Gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:18 AMP

Though the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:14 AMP which probably refers to Luke 10:7 and Matthew 10:7, First we have to be aware that just before the verse Matthew 10:7 they were instructed also not to take any gold, silver and copper money with them and that freely they receive, freely they will share the power of the gospel. But, should the house where they were received offered some food, they can eat and drink with them and that was their wages, when they leave from that house, they have nothing again but their food in their stomach. These was the instruction to them. Second, Apostle Paul himself said that they never exercise these rights because it may cause a hindrance in spreading the Gospel and the power that comes along with it and, state further that He offer it free of expense to anybody, not taking advantage of his rights and privileges as preacher of the Gospel.

Therefore, even if the early church practice tithing as a support for the preacher of the word, the fact that Paul does not encourage it and the fact that “Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action),”2 Timothy 3:16 AMP, what Apostle Paul had written was meant for us to do the same as they were our models as Christians. 

Tithing should not correlate or used interchangeably with giving, the two are different, however we insist that tithing is for spreading the word of God, it's not, the word tithing connotate salary or support for minstrel preacher the same during the Moses law, this was also clearly implied in IMFH handbook. While I realised that tithing should not be practice, it does not excuse me or us not to give. In fact, I personally believe and practice that It is necessary for us  to give back part of what we receive or as much as we are able at the same time being of good steward of what we have. We surely cannot bring anything out of this world, money should no be loved and we should not submit to it as our master but, it's not an excuse to add teachings that is not really mandated in the bible for Christian to oblige, directly or indirectly. Actually, those who understand tithing, they are quite aware that, as per biblical principle it's an obligation whether you like it or not, it's for those who were ordained to minister in the temple as God commanded. Hence, if they tell us that, we are not oblige to tithe, they are just being diplomatic.

I'm not being stingy nor I'm being greedy. I have so much respect in the WORD OF GOD that, we have to be very careful not to add anything on what we teach, we have to be transparent and no hidden intention. Perhaps this may not be the most important doctrine, it may not be a part of the salvation teaching but still, it's the word of God and we cannot add nor subtract into it however insignificant the alteration is. I understand that everyone of us started as a babe in Christ, some of our deep conviction are not automatic. In the case of tithing, I knew that initially some of us also ask questions but when not answered since everyone practice it, we thought it to be correct hence, did practice it anyway without searching thoroughly and pressing the questions further and so, through years of practicing it, the conviction has been developed to such that it felt so wrong not to tithe. This is why I knew that, however this writing make sense, this will probably not sink in rather, part of that deep conviction regarding tithing will defend itself against this writing even though they knew themselves that, there are questions that seem to have no answers that will side to tithing to be a requirement for a Christian. But, I always remember that we are not an organization, we are bind with the word of God and that the truth should be seek not merely accepting teachings that we don't really understand.  

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