Jewish Regulations
B1 First source: TERUMOT AND MA'ASEROT
B2 Second source: Tithing
B3 Third source: TITHE
B4 The Mosaic Law tithes:
C1 The first tithe is given to the priests or the Levites as in Numbers 18:21-24. The notes from the resources vary of who the tithe was to go to. The Levites or the priests then gave 10% to the High Priest.
C2 The second is to be brought to Jerusalem and eaten there. It could be redeemed for money, if the distance was too far, but 20% had to be added. See Deuteronomy 14:22-26.
C3 The third tithe was in the 3rd and 6th year (or once every 7 years, its confusing) for the poor. See Deuteronomy 14:28-29 and Deuteronomy 26:12.
C4 A number of estimates I saw listed the mean (average) tithe was 22-23% of income a year.
C5 The tithe was not money. It was grain, fruit, wine, and animals. If it was an animal, it was the 10th animal. The owner could not pick one of the 10, but he was required to give the 10th animal.
B5 Fourth source from a Messianic Jew: Tithing
Abraham
B1 Abraham did not give 10% of his income.
B2 He gave 10% of his spoils of war.
B3 Genesis 14:11-12, 14, 16, 18-20 NIV The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. 12 They also carried off Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom. ... 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. ... 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people. ... 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
B4 So, the laws of tithe from the Law would not apply.
I’ve heard sermons on this verse “proving” the tithe is for the Christian. At one point, I did myself. Let’s look at in its plain, normal sense.
B1 Verse: Matthew 23:23 NIV Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
B2 The Lord Jesus is speaking to the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees.
B3 He points out that they are meticulously careful about their tithes.
B4 The more important points of Mosaic Law, justice, mercy, and faithfulness, are neglected.
B5 The Lord Jesus tells these people they must do both according to Mosaic Law.
B6 This is descriptive, not prescriptive. The Lord is not telling us to do this. He is not correcting us; He is correcting the teachers and the Pharisees.
B7 The teachers and the Pharisees had greater care in following the ceremonial laws, then they did following the moral laws. Yet, God requires both to be fulfilled. Jesus did fulfill both.
The New Testament does teach
B1 To give money and supplies
C1 To the needy brothers and sisters
D1 See Deuteronomy 15
D2 Hebrews 13:16 GNB Do not forget to do good and to help one another, because these are the sacrifices that please God.
D3 Acts 11:29 NRSV The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea;
C2 To the full-time and/or needy workers: Galatians 6:6 NLT Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.
B2 To give as God has prospered: 2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
B3 To give cheerfully
B4 To give willingly
B5 To give without expecting anything in return. It is not an investment.
C1 Some would consider this to teach that the tithe is an investment. The more you give; the more you receive: 2 Corinthians 9:6 NRSV The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
C2 The reward is not necessarily financial increases for us to keep. It refers to spiritual blessings as well as material blessings for the purpose of giving to others even greater amounts. 2 Corinthians 9:8 NRSV And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
C3 If we are to lend to our enemies and expect nothing in return, then surely we would expect us to do the same for our brothers and sisters: Luke 6:35 NIV But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
B6 To give in acknowledgment of God’s blessing in granting us extra to give: 2 Corinthians 9:8 GNB And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause.
B7 To give with an attitude of our treasures are in heaven, not on earth: Matthew 6:20-21 EMTV but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where thieves do not dig through and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
B8 To NOT give to moochers, etc.: 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 GNB While we were with you, we used to tell you, "Whoever refuses to work is not allowed to eat." 11 We say this because we hear that there are some people among you who live lazy lives and who do nothing except meddle in other people's business. 12 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we command these people and warn them to lead orderly lives and work to earn their own living.
When giving, we
B1 Should have the attitude that we are giving to God, for He gives us to meet our needs and extra to help others in need. We are a family.
B2 Give to our family first, then our brothers and sisters in our local congregation, then our brothers and sisters around the world, and lastly to non-believers.
C1 1 Timothy 5:8 MKJV But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.
C2 1 John 3:17 NET But whoever has the world's possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person?
B3 Always meet the needs in the local congregation. There are month to month expenses, utilities, insurance, repair, staff needs, out reach, missions, etc.
B4 Should not be giving to get the special offer for a donation. We should give extra to cover the cost of the donation gift whether it is a book, DVD, pamphlet, etc.
B5 Give knowing it is a Christian sacrifice: Philippians 4:18-19 NRSV I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
B6 Should know that giving is greater joy than receiving: Acts 20:35 NRSV In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.
B7 Know that giving is a characteristic of believers: 1 John 3:17 WEB But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him?
Amounts
B1 10% would be burdensome to someone who only earns $1,000 a month.
B2 10% doesn’t have much effect on one with a monthly earning of $10,000.
B3 Some could give only 1%, while others could give 50% even.
B4 1 John 3:17 WEB But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him?
B5 Just because someone earns $20,000 a month, it shouldn’t be expected of them to give 50%.
B5 Whatever we give, it must be of our free will, cheerfully, humbly, and as a sacrifice to God.
The love of money is a root of all evil: 1 Timothy 6:10 WEB For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
We are to be content: Hebrews 13:5 WEB Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.
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