The Law Was Never
The Means Of Righteousness
But Is Still The Standard
It is true that Jesus did not give a fully developed lesson series on tithing but He didn’t need to. It was not the intention of Jesus or any other New Testament writer to re-teach in the New Testament well established truths from the Old Testament. Why spend time telling us what we already know. That would have been redundant, wasteful even. If Jesus only restated Old Testament truths it would have given skeptics a very good reason for rejecting the inspiration of Scripture.
When Jesus did refer to Old Testament laws and He mentioned many of them, He always added insight and perspective to those truths, He never just restated them and He never eliminated them. His remarks about adultery surprised the people of His day, not to mention the generations that followed, and “an eye for an eye” took on a completely different spirit under His instructions. The fact is, the teachings of Jesus often focused on Old Testament laws. He never said or did anything to suggest that “grace” is the antithesis of “law.” He taught the opposite. Without the principle of law we don’t need grace.
The law is not the means of our righteousness, and never was, but it still represents the standard of righteousness.
Jesus expanded on murder, adultery, oath-taking and how you treat an enemy in just one sermon (Matthew 5-7). He made some interesting remarks about marriage and divorce later in His ministry (Matthew 19). Obviously, Jesus wasn’t eliminating the law. If anything, He was emphasizing it. He had problems with popular interpretations of the law not the law. His stated purpose was to fulfill it not deny it (Matthew 5:17-20) and anyone who teaches otherwise is not held in high esteem by God.
Later, Paul echoed those same sentiments never implying the law was outdated, outmoded or served no useful purpose in the New Testament. According to Paul, it is the existence of law that enables us to see our need for salvation (Romans 7:7-13) and he made it clear that we are to respect even human governments and the laws, sometimes-unfair, they uphold (Romans 13:1-7).
And Jesus did mention tithing. In Matthew 23:23, a chapter in which Jesus scathingly denounced the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, He actually endorsed the principle of tithing. The Scribes and Pharisees were the most knowledgeable (not to mention obsessive) students of the law but they failed in two ways.
Firstly, they were hypocrites. What they required of others they did not do themselves (Matthew 23:1). And most importantly, they missed the primary point: judgment, mercy and faith. That is a mouth full and we don’t have space to discuss it in this post. The point is, His mention of tithing was a very subtle but clear endorsement of the practice.
To use this verse to deny tithing is to also suggest that judgment, mercy and faith are no longer valid for the present.
Here is the truth. The only two things Jesus could have done relative to tithing was one, deny it outright, which He did not do, or two, make strong statements which reinforced the idea philosophically and that is what He did (Matt. 6:19-34).
Those who wish to deny tithing for the New Testament must do two things: One, they must present some very strong and clear, non-emotional, evidence to prove it is no longer a valid life principle and two, they must tell us what to do instead.
THINK!AboutIt
That’s alrigth EnnisP, there’s no problem. It’s pretty pleasant you got the link.
Anyway, you said ” the law is still the standard”. For who? Is it for the righteous, sinners or both? And why is it still a standard?
Why not the gospel the standard?
Jesus said he had not come to destroy the law but to fulfil it. And he did fulfilled it. So, why are you trying to fulfil what had been fulfilled by Him? Understand this, then, that he came for that purpose. For if anyone apart from Him could fulfilled the law, then, He didn’t have to come to fulfill it. In other words, he came to fulfil the law because we couldn’t fulfil it. He is the only one who could possibly fulfil the Law, not me and not you and not anyone else.
To help you understand-Mtt 5:17. Consider Lk 24:44-48; cf. Heb 10:1-18; Jn 5:39-47 NIV NLT.
Futhermore, Jesus Christ, apostle Paul and other apostles agreed on this: “. . . Owe nothing to anyone-except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbour, you will fulfil the requirements of God’s Law . . . These and other . . . commandments-are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”* Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfils the requirements of God’s law.”
See the living bible translation: “. . . Pay all your debts except the debt of love for others-never finish paying that! For if you love them, you will be obeying all of God’s laws, fulfilling all his requirements. If you love your neighbour as much as you love yourself you will not want to . . . sin . . . or do anything else the Ten Commandments say is wrong.
All ten are wrapped up in this one, to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone. That’s why it fully satisfies all of God’s requirements. It is the only law you need . . .” (Romans 13:8-10 NLT TLB). Now, remember, that love is one and the first fruit of the Holy Spirit being produced in our lives as Christians (see Galatians 5:16-23, 24-26 NLT). We live by faith and not by Law.
Although we all know that the so-called (kind of) tithing Christians practised today is obviously different from the biblical tithing. It is not biblical at all. Having compare and contrast the two, the only similarity between them is a “tenth”.
In addition, if you are advocating and validating biblical tithing for Christians, you should also understand that the biblical tithing is connected to the Aaronic priesthood, the Levites, and the Jerusalem temple worship of the Jews, which had to do with rituals involving various animal sacrifices or sin offerings, burnt offerings or other offerings for sin (that were required by the law of Moses). This foreshadowed the true worship of heaven in the person of Christ whom Christians are connected to by our faith in Him (see Hebrews 8:1-6, 7-13; 9:1-10, 11-22, 23-27).
In the light of this, you must as well be advocating and validating those rituals involving animal sacrifices for sin . . . or other offerings for sin as well as the restoration of the Jerusalem Temple, the Levitical priesthood whose genealogical record had long been destroyed and can never be traced. There are obligations under this old system of worship according to the Law of Moses. The gifts and sacrifices that were offered by the priest failed to cleanse the hearts of the people who brought them. For the old system dealt only with certain rituals-what foods to eat and drink, rules for washing themselves, and rules about this and that. The people had to keep these rules to tide them over until Christ came with God’s new and better way.
However, understand this, then, if you don’t, that: God doesn’t want us to be under such obligations of the Law.
To answer one of your questions, as to wether God will bless those who tithe or not: Here is what I have found out from the Holy Bible: The Law of Moses doesn’t teach that God will bless everyone who tithe and neglected the other things written in the Book of Law. Rather, it teaches that God will bless everyone who perfectly do everything written in the Book of Law and without breaking one. For if he breaks one of them, he has broken all (Jas 2:10 NIV). The Old Testament law is a unit; submission to it cannot be selective.
Therefore, if we can correctly or perfectly and completely do everything including tithing as the Law prescribes, then, we will be blessed and if we cannot, we are under God’s curse (Galatians 3:10; Jer 11:3; Eze 20 NLT).
In this regard, Jesus acertaining this teaching, he pronounced curse on those who sat in the seat of Moses-the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees who are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. For they were not perfectly and completely doing everything as the Law prescribed (Mtt 23:1-22, 23, 24-39 NIV).
In the same way, prophet Malachi prophesied against the people’s insincere worship, their refusal to tithe full amount, and their lack of concern for God’s Law. He warned the priest and people of his day for not perfectly doing what the Law of Moses prescribed as regard marrying women who worship idols as well as tithes and offerings. For the priests were given the responsibility of teaching the law of Moses to the people but they failed. As a result this, people became spiritually dull and degenerated as this was indicated by their lack of concern for God as well as their refusal to bring good quality and full amount of their tithe to God’s Temple from which the priests also gave gifts (sacrifices and offerings) to God.
Prophet Malachi, having condemned them for their failures and stated the covenant curses as consequences of their ill attitude towards God’s Law, he however; also promised them great blessings (covenant blessings) for their obedience-see Malachi 1:14; 2:1-9; 3:1-12.
I pray ?? that at the entrance these words give you light.
God bless you brother.
Actually Kehinde, I accept everything you’ve said. It is true that no can follow the law completely. We all come short. But does that mean we shouldn’t use the law as a guide as much as possible?
Although many churches believe what you’ve written about the difference between law and grace (I believe that too), it is also true they have endless rules for what is and is not acceptable within their congregations. Break the rules and you’ll be out very soon.
So, relative to “contributions” to church or charitable causes, do you give regularly, what does God do to “lead” you to give and how do you calculate the amount you give?
It seems you commentators and the writer of this article don’t understand that the Holy Bible says that: The old covenant law was ‘good’ (Rom 7:12; cf. 1Tim 1:8-10) but we now have a ‘better’ covenant (Heb 7:22, 8:6, 9:15, 12:24) that is the new covenant of God’s grace. And that faith has nothing to do with law (Gal 3:12; Rom 3:19-21, 28). Therefore, we cannot blend faith and law together. Otherwise we will cause a terrible damage. In this regard, Jesus has this to say-(see Luke 5:36-39). It is either we have faith and faith alone-trusting in Christ Jesus for everything we need or we do everything that is written in the Book of Law 100% and be blessed. Apostle Paul says it this way: “. . . every man who let himself to be circumcised . . . is obligated to obey the whole law.” (Gal 5). The Old Testament law is a unit; submission to it cannot be selective. For, if we have to practise anyone of them, then, we have to practise all of them without breaking one (Jas 2:10).
Christian tithing is false teaching. The validity of tithing is rooted in the Old Testament law and it applies to those to whom it was given (the Jews) to keep people from having excuses and to bring the entire world under God’s judgement (Rom 3:19) . . .
Understand this, that no matter how vase you are in the Holy Bible, you will not be able to teach how tithing applies to the Christians who are under the new covenant of God’s grace.
Your argument that Christians tithing is legitimate would have been valid if Christians are under the law. But on the contrary we are under grace, we are led by the Spirit of the new covenant of grace (Rom 6:14; cf. Gal 5:18). Hence, Christian tithing is illegal and illegitimate.
Even in Israel today there is no such thing as tithing. For the whole system (the Levites, the Aaronic priesthood and the temple) under the old Mosaic covenant had long disappeared (vanished) just as Jesus predicted it. This disappearance came to pass in 70 A.D. Fourty years after Jesus had ascended to heaven when the Roman emperor Tutus destroyed Jerusalem. -Matt 24:1-2; cf. Heb 8:13.
What more can I tell you? God would like us to be ministers of the new covenant of grace, not the old covenant of law. Consider 2 Cor 3.
God bless you.
Hey Kehinde. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a well thought out comment on this post. I appreciate the Scripture references and your well-reasoned ideas. In fact, I have to agree with you. Christians are not under the law! I and every other Christian is saved by faith only in the gracious sacrifice made by Jesus on the cross.
Where I begin to diverge from this line of thinking is in how I view the law outside of and apart from salvation. Yes, I’m saved completely and unconditionally apart from the law. I’ll never have to worry about getting saved again or staying saved. That question is settled forever.
But does that mean the law has nothing to offer in the way we live from day to day? If the law doesn’t apply, does that mean I can now do whatever I “purpose” in my heart? Am I totally reliant on my heart responses apart from the influences of Scripture. According to Jeremiah, the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9). To me, it would be better to use the Old Testament as a reference point for how we should live and that’s what I have done with tithing.
But, if you would be helpful, answers to the following questions would be appreciated. I have asked these questions many times from people who disagree with the idea of tithing. As yet, I’ve received no answer.
Exactly how does your heart determine what to give each pay period? I’m talking specifics. Exactly what were you giving to and exactly how much did you give?
What percentage do your offerings work out to be?
How much was your last offering and when was it given?
Was your last offering representative of what you do weekly or monthly?
Do you believe God will or won’t bless tithing? If He won’t bless it, why not? If He will, why?
In other words, if you reject the idea of tithing, what framework has taken its place? That’s a good question because money doesn’t come with a set of instructions on how to manage it and I’m sure many people could use whatever insights you and other anti-tithers might offer.
Thanks again for offering your comments. They are appreciated.
Kehinde, please accept my apology. Your comment is appreciated but it is a bit long for the comment section. I did find Phil’s post on the web and I am including a ling for anyone who would like to read it. I haven’t had time to read it entirely yet but from what I read, he seems like a very sincere and thoughtful guy.
Again, apologise for removing your comment. I hope you understand.
Phil’s post can be found here: https://www.phildrysdale.com/2014/02/tithing-the-great-commission/
That’s alrigth EnnisP, there’s no problem. It’s pretty pleasant you got the link.
Anyway, you said “the law is still the standard”. Yes, I quite agree with you. But the law is the still standard for who? Is it for the righteous, sinners or both? And why is it still the standard?
Why not the gospel the standard?
With that said, Jesus speaking to the Jews saying: “Don’t misunderstand why I have come-it isn’t to cancel the laws of Moses and the warnings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them, and to make them all come true . . .” And he did fulfilled them. So, why are you still trying to fulfill what had been fulfilled by Him? “. . . For Christ is the end of the Law [the limit at which it ceases to be, for the Law lead to Him who is the fulfillment of it types, and in Him the purpose which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him] . . .” In other words, Christ has brought the Law to an end, so that everyone who believes will receive God’s blessings. (Mtt 5:17; Romans 10:4;cf. Gal 3:1-13, 14, 15-18, 19-20, 21-26, 27-29 TLB AMP TEV)
Understand this then, that he came for that purpose. For if anyone apart from Him could fulfill the law, then, He didn’t have to come to fulfill it. In other words, he came to fulfill the law because we couldn’t fulfill it. He is the only one who could possibly fulfil the Law, not me and not you, and not anyone else. “. . . For this reason Christ is the one who arranges a new covenant, so that those who have been called by God may receive the eternal blessings that God has promised. This is done because there has been a death which set people free from wrongs they did while the first covenant was in force . . .” (Heb 9:15 TEV).
To help you understand-Mtt 5:17, consider Lk 24:44-48; cf. Heb 10:1-18; Jn 5:39-47 NIV NLT.
Furthermore, Jesus Christ, apostle Paul and other apostles agreed on this one thing: “. . . Owe nothing to anyone-except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbour, you will fulfil the requirements of God’s Law . . . These and other . . . commandments-are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”* Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfils the requirements of God’s law.”
See the living bible translation: “. . . Pay all your debts except the debt of love for others-never finish paying that! For if you love them, you will be obeying all of God’s laws, fulfilling all his requirements. If you love your neighbour as much as you love yourself you will not want to . . . sin . . . or do anything else the Ten Commandments say is wrong.
All ten are wrapped up in this one, to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone. That’s why it fully satisfies all of God’s requirements. It is the only law you need . . .” (Romans 13:8-10 NLT TLB). Now, remember that love is one and the first fruit of the Holy Spirit being produced in our lives as Christians (see Galatians 5:16-23, 24-26 NLT).
We live by faith and not by Law (works) . . . It is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it (Rom 9:16; cf. Ps 115:3 TEV TLB).
Although we all know that the so-called (kind of) tithing Christians practise today is obviously different from the biblical tithing. It is not biblical at all. Having compare and contrast the two, the only similarity is a “tenth”.
In addition, if you are advocating and validating biblical tithing for Christians, you should also understand that the biblical tithing is connected to the Aaronic priesthood, the Levites, and the Jerusalem temple worship which involve various purification ceremonies, offerings or animal sacrifices or sin offerings, burnt offerings or other offerings for sin (that were required by the law of Moses). This foreshadowed the true worship of heaven in the person of Christ whom Christians are connected to by our faith in Him (see Hebrews 8:1-6, 7-13; 9:1-10, 11-22, 23-27 NIV NLT TLB TEV).
In the light of this, if tithing is connected to those things I mentioned above, it means you are also advocating and validating the restoration of the Jerusalem Temple, the Levitical priesthood whose genealogical record had long been destroyed and can never be traced as well as the various purification ceremonies, offerings or animal sacrifices or sin offerings, burnt offerings or other offering for sin (that were required by the Law of Moses)
This is an illustration under the old system of worship according to the Law of Moses. It means that the offerings and animal sacrifices that were offered to God by the priest cannot to purify the hearts of the people who brought them. For the old system under the law dealt only with certain rituals-what foods to eat and drink, rules for washing themselves, and rules about this and that. The people had to keep these rules to tide them over until Christ came with God’s new and better way. They are all outward rules, which apply only until the time when God will establish the new order . . . (Heb 9:9-10 NIV NLT TEV TLB). They are obligations of the Law.
However, you should realise then, that God doesn’t want us to be under such obligations of the Law. For the Law brings the wrath of God down upon the people because they break God’s laws, for unlike God’s Law, they carnal (unspiritual), they have been sold as slaves to sin, that is they are not yet free from the controlling power of sin, that Godless human nature-the sinful nature or flesh which is aroused and stimulated by the Law. Because of this human nature, we all sin and thereby breaking God’s laws. But now God has chosen or decided to love us and help us through our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross . . . So then, everything depends, not on what human brings want or do, but only God’s mercy (Rom 4:15; 7:7-13,14; Jn 3:16; cf. Rom 5:1-11; 9:16 TEV TLB NIV NLT).
To answer one of your questions, as to wether God will bless those who tithe or not: Here is what I have found out from the Holy Bible: The Law of Moses doesn’t teach that God will bless everyone who tithe according yo the law and neglected the other things written in the Book of Law. Rather, it teaches that: . . . the scriptures say, “Whoever does not always obey everything that is written in the book of the Law is under God’s curse!” For if he breaks anyone of them, he has broken all.
In other words, if the tithers can completely do or obey all that the law prescribes, then God will bless them, otherwise (if not) they are under God’s curse! The Old Testament law is a unit; submission to it cannot be selective. And that is what I have found out.
(Galatians 3:10; Jas 2:10; cf. Jer 11:3; Eze 20 NIV NLT TEV TLB).
In this regard, Jesus also, upholding the law and reacertained this teaching, as he pronounced curse on those who sat in the seat of Moses-the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees who are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. For they were not completely or perfectly doing everything the Law prescribed (Mtt 23:1-22, 23, 24-39 NIV).
In the same way, prophet Malachi prophesied against the people’s insincere worship, their refusal to tithe full amount, and their lack of concern for God’s Law. He warned the priest and people for not perfectly doing what the Law of Moses prescribed. The priests were given the responsibility of teaching the law of Moses to the people but they failed, as they were not correctly dividing the word of God to people. As a result, people became spiritually dull and degenerated as this was indicated by their lack of concern for God as well as their refusal to bring good quality and full amount of their tithe to God’s Temple from which the priests also gave gifts (sacrifices and offerings) to God. They were doing just the opposite of what the law prescribed.
Prophet Malachi, having condemned them for their failures and stated the covenant curses as consequences of their ill attitude towards God’s Law, he however; also promised them great blessings (covenant blessings) for their obedience-see Malachi 1:14; 2:1-9; 3:1-12.
It is clear that no one can earn God’s blessings by doing something (working) to get it. Everything written in the Law is based on doing something (working) to get something from God. The Law makes us to have a mindset of working to get God’s blessings. This is not the way God has chosen to bless us. For the Law of Moses could not make anyone perfect; but now a better hope has been introduced, through which we draw near to God (Heb 7:18-19 NKJV TEV).
We should realise or understand that the Law makes us proud but faith takes the pride away . . . As the scripture says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (Romans 3:27; 4:1-6; Jas 4:6).
I pray that at the entrance of these words give you light.
God bless you brother.
That’s alrigth EnnisP, there’s no problem. It’s pretty pleasant you got the link.
Anyway, you said “the law is still the standard”. Yes, I quite agree with you. But the law is the still standard for who? Is it for the righteous, sinners or both? And why is it still the standard?
Why not the gospel the standard?
With that said, Jesus speaking to the Jews saying: “Don’t misunderstand why I have come-it isn’t to cancel the laws of Moses and the warnings of the prophets. No, I came to fulfill them, and to make them all come true . . .” And he did fulfilled them. So, why are you still trying to fulfill what had been fulfilled by Him? “. . . For Christ is the end of the Law [the limit at which it ceases to be, for the Law lead to Him who is the fulfillment of it types, and in Him the purpose which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him] . . .” In other words, Christ has brought the Law to an end, so that everyone who believes will receive God’s blessings. (Mtt 5:17; Romans 10:4; cf. Gal 3:1-13, 14, 15-18, 19-20, 21-26, 27-29 TLB AMP TEV)
Understand this then, that he came for that purpose. For if anyone apart from Him could fulfill the law, then, He didn’t have to come to fulfill it. In other words, he came to fulfill the law because we couldn’t fulfill it. He is the only one who could possibly fulfil the Law, not me and not you, and not anyone else. “. . . For this reason Christ is the one who arranges a new covenant, so that those who have been called by God may receive the eternal blessings that God has promised. This is done because there has been a death which set people free from wrongs they did while the first covenant was in force . . .” (Heb 9:15 TEV).
To help you understand-Mtt 5:17, consider Lk 24:44-48; cf. Heb 10:1-18; Jn 5:39-47 NIV NLT.
Furthermore, Jesus Christ, apostle Paul and other apostles agreed on this one thing: “. . . Owe nothing to anyone-except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbour, you will fulfil the requirements of God’s Law . . . These and other . . . commandments-are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”* Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfils the requirements of God’s law.”
See the living bible translation: “. . . Pay all your debts except the debt of love for others-never finish paying that! For if you love them, you will be obeying all of God’s laws, fulfilling all his requirements. If you love your neighbour as much as you love yourself you will not want to . . . sin . . . or do anything else the Ten Commandments say is wrong.
All ten are wrapped up in this one, to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone. That’s why it fully satisfies all of God’s requirements. It is the only law you need . . .” (see Romans 13:8-10 NLT TLB).
Now, remember that love is one and the first fruit of the Holy Spirit being produced in our lives as Christians (see Galatians 5:16-23, 24-26 NLT).
We live by faith, not by Law (works) . . . It is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it (see Rom 9:16; cf. Ps 115:3 TEV TLB).
Although we all know that the so-called (kind of) tithing Christians practise today is obviously different from the biblical tithing. It is not biblical at all. Having compared and contrasted the two, the only similarity is the word “tenth”.
In addition, if you are advocating and validating biblical tithing for Christians, you should also understand that the biblical tithing is connected to the Aaronic priesthood, the Levites, and the Jerusalem temple worship which involve various purification ceremonies, offerings or animal sacrifices or sin offerings, burnt offerings or other offerings for sin (that were required by the law of Moses). This foreshadowed the true worship of heaven in the person of Christ whom Christians are connected to by our faith in Him (see Hebrews 8:1-6, 7-13; 9:1-10, 11-22, 23-27 NIV NLT TLB TEV).
In the light of this, if tithing is connected to those things I have mentioned above, it means you are also advocating and validating the restoration of the Jerusalem Temple, the Levitical priesthood whose genealogical record had long been destroyed and can never be traced as well as the various purification ceremonies, offerings or animal sacrifices or sin offerings, burnt offerings or other offering for sin (that were required by the Law of Moses).
Know this then, that the old system of worship according to the Law of Moses is an illustration to teach us. It means that the offerings and animal sacrifices that were offered to God by the priest cannot to purify the hearts of the people who brought them. For the old system under the law dealt only with certain rituals-what foods to eat and drink, rules for washing themselves, and rules about this and that. The people had to keep these rules to tide them over until Christ came with God’s new and better way. They are all outward rules, which apply only until the time when God will establish the new order . . . (see Heb 9:9-10 NIV NLT TEV TLB). They are obligations of the Law.
However, you should realise then, that God doesn’t want us to be under such obligations of the Law. For the Law brings the wrath of God down upon the people because they break God’s laws, for unlike God’s Law, they carnal (unspiritual), they have been sold as slaves to sin, that is they are not yet free from the controlling power of sin, that Godless human nature-the sinful nature or flesh which is aroused and stimulated by the Law. Because of this human nature, we all sin and thereby breaking God’s laws. But now God has chosen or decided to love us and help us through our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross . . . So then, everything depends, not on what human brings want or do, but only God’s mercy (see Rom 4:15; 7:7-13,14; Jn 3:16; cf. Rom 5:1-11; 9:16 TEV TLB NIV NLT).
To answer one of your questions, as to wether God will bless those who tithe or not: Here is what I have found out from the Holy Bible: The Law of Moses doesn’t teach that God will bless everyone who tithe according yo the law and neglected the other things written in the Book of Law. Rather, it teaches that: . . . the scriptures say, “Whoever does not always obey everything that is written in the book of the Law is under God’s curse!” For if he breaks anyone of them, he has broken all.
In other words, if the tithers can completely do or obey all that the law prescribes, then God will bless them, otherwise (if not) they are under God’s curse! The Old Testament law is a unit; submission to it cannot be selective. And that is what I have found out.
(see Galatians 3:10; Jas 2:10; cf. Jer 11:3; Eze 20 NIV NLT TEV TLB).
In this regard, Jesus also, upholding the law and reacertained this teaching, as he pronounced curse on those who sat in the seat of Moses-the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees who are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. For they were not completely or perfectly doing everything the Law prescribed (see Mtt 23:1-22, 23, 24-39 NIV).
Similarly, prophet Malachi prophesied against the people’s insincere worship, their refusal to tithe full amount, and their lack of concern for God’s Law. He warned the priest and people for not perfectly doing what the Law of Moses prescribed. The priests were given the responsibility of teaching the law of Moses to the people but they failed, as they were not correctly dividing the word of God to people. As a result, people became spiritually dull and degenerated as this was indicated by their lack of concern for God as well as their refusal to bring good quality and full amount of their tithe to God’s Temple from which the priests also gave gifts (sacrifices and offerings) to God. They were doing just the opposite of what the law prescribed.
Prophet Malachi, having condemned them for their failures and stated the covenant curses as consequences of their ill attitude towards God’s Law, he however; also promised them great blessings (covenant blessings) for their obedience-(see Malachi 1:14; 2:1-9; 3:1-12).
It is clear that no one can earn God’s blessings by doing something (working) to get it. Everything written in the Law is based on doing something (working) to get something from God. The Law makes us to have a mindset of working to get God’s blessings. This is not the way God has chosen to bless us. For the Law of Moses could not make anyone perfect; but now a better hope has been introduced, through which we draw near to God (see Heb 7:18-19 NKJV TEV).
We should realise or understand that the Law makes us to proud but faith takes the pride away from us . . . As the scripture says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (see Romans 3:27; 4:1-6; Jas 4:6).
I pray that at the entrance of these words give you light.
God bless you brother.
Oh I don`t want to come off as someone against purposing to give 10% of whatever a person may wish to give.I just want the record straight and teach what Bible teaches, so I add:
I see the principle of SETTING ASIDE A CERTAIN AMOUNT.
It can be ANY AMOUNT ( SO LONG AS IT IS WHAT YOU PURPOSE IN YOUR HEART TO GIVE, 2 Cor. 9:7 )
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
EXAMPLE:
If you decide to set aside 10% of your paycheck every week to give, then you do so because YOU DETERMINED IT, NOT BECAUSE OF SOME FALSE TEACHING SAYING IT IS A COMMANDMENT OF GOD TO DO IT.
You are welcome EnnisP,
Clarification
What the Jews said in court:
“This man ( Paul ) is persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to OUR LAW.” ( Acts 18:13 )
Gamillo`s Response:
“ If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you ” ( Acts 18:14 )
So I agree, the main reason he said he didn`t listen to them is BECAUSE THEIR COMPLAINT WASN`T A CIVIL MATTER.
But there was a secondary reason – a BESIDES ( A MOREOVER, A FURTHERMORE, AN ALSO, OR AN IN ADDITION TO ) which was:
THE JEWS WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT SOMETHING WHICH DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH GAMILLO ( PER BEING A NON-JEW )
For we know this by:
1. How he addressed them, “If you JEWS… ” ( Acts 18:14 )
This distinguished who they were as being different than who he was.
2. History ALSO bears this out.
Who Gallio Was
https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/224447/Junius-Gallio
History also gives support to this secondary reason, by comparing the early charges brought against Paul in Macedonia – which supported Roman ( GENTILE ) issues vs. the charges made in Acts 18 by the Corinthian Jews – which supported only Jewish issues:
It is significant that the earlier charges brought against Paul while he was in Macedonia had to do with Roman issues. In the Roman colony of Philippi, Paul and Silas were charged with having ‘set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to receive or to observe, being Romans’ (Acts 16:21). The Thessalonians had charged that ‘these all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar’ (17:7a). In the former place the petitioners did not include Jews although in the latter they did.
Source: WINTER: Gallio`s Ruling, II. The Charge ( 18:13 ), pg. 215
https://98.131.162.170/tynbul/library/TynBull_1999_50_2_04_Winter_GalliosRuling.pdf
My conclusion and as I have tried to point out, by closely examining the contents of Matt. 23 and Acts 18 with the Gospel, we can plainly see that:
1. Jesus was talking to the lost sheep of Israel, not the Gentiles ( in Matt. 23 )
2. Gamillo ( a non-Jew ) confirms what ALL of Scripture teaches, the DISTINCTION between the Jew and the Gentile ( which was to last until FAITH WAS REVEALED, Gal. 3:23-26, )
3. Paying tithes ( not as we know it today, which is a precept of men and NOT THE WORD OF GOD ) was a matter of Jewish law ( Matt. 23:23, Lev. 27:34, Heb. 7:5 ) in which Christ came to fulfill.
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God ( Heb. 7:19 )
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes ( Rom. 10:4 )
But to all who did receive Him ( Christ ), who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God ( Jhn. 1:12 )
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children ( Eph. 5:1 )
Love as I have loved you ( Jhn. 13:34-35 )
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. THE COMMANDMENTS, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and WHATEVER OTHER COMMANDMENT THERE MAY BE, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Thanks for visiting and taking time to comment David.
And I do agree that spiritual issues are not judged or enforced by the legal system but your comparisons between the two systems might not be accurate. The difference in the laws here would be more spiritual vs civil law rather than Jew vs Gentile law.
The laws represented by this court were not Gentile law, in the sense that it was different to Jewish law, but it represented civil law which applied to everyone equally, Jew and Gentile. Spiritual principles/laws apply to everyone in the same way civil laws do but they are not judged in the same arena.
One question I ask everyone is, if you don’t tithe what do you do? How do you determine how much to give and how often to give it? Many people would appreciate it if you could give us some detail.
Again, thanks for the visit and the comment.
Hi, I just would like to make an observation.
And they all took hold of Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of the judgment seat. But Gallio was not concerned about any of these things. ( Acts 18:17 )
Before all this happened, Gallio drove this group of people from out of his court ( Acts 18:16 )
Why?
It was the matter in which they appeared before his court with – A matter that they should have settled THEMSELVES, SINCE it involved questions about words and names and their own law ( Acts 18:15 )
What they presented was strictly a Jewish matter, and Gallio being a non-Jew ( a Gentile ) had no concern for those things – in other words, it did not concern him.
Now let`s take this into account and go back to the time when Jesus confronted the scribes and Pharisees about their obedience to the Law, in which we have learned would have to mean, that both Jesus and the group He was talking to were Jews. And if this is the case, how is it that some have tried to use this verse and say Jesus endorsed Gentiles paying tithes — when paying tithes was strictly a Jewish matter?
You hypocrites!, you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. ( Matt. 23:23 )
As anyone can see, Jesus was not speaking to Gentiles about their obedience to the Law given to the Jews by Moses, how is it that many interpret this verse as if He did?
Our interpretations would have us not see ( as even Gallio understood ), that the Law of the Jews ( which included paying tithes ) did not pertain to the Gentiles.
—– Here is another observation ——–
Regarding Pre-Law Tithing, A Universal Principle
When someone says to me, tithing existed before the Law … what comes to my mind is how sin also existed before the Law.
When the Law came, did the Law change sin? ( make it of no effect, null, and void? ) Of course Not!
… My next question then is, what happened to the so-called tithing before the Law ( the one that many say Abraham and Isaac practiced ) when the Law came?
Did the Law make their so-called form of tithing of non effect? Or did
there exist at the same time two forms of tithing,Pre-Law & Law tithing ?
If so, which one was more superior?
Or was that even such a choice?
Therefore there is a confusion that is brought on by saying there existed a tithing before the Law and nothing is said of what happened to it when the Law came? … my guess, it took a back seat or so … ! 🙂
Thanks for your reply
Cool article, thanks! Penny Auctions are fun too!
“Those who wish to deny tithing for the New Testament must do two things: One, they must present some very strong and clear, non-emotional, evidence to prove it is no longer a valid life principle and two, they must tell us what to do instead.”
1. It was never a “life principle” in the first place. I can prove this to you through a couple simple steps:
a. Read the Law of Moses (especially the sections on tithing).
b. Notice that there were many groups of people who did not tithe.
c. If there were people who lived their lives without tithing (because they didn’t have to under the law), then it follows logically that tithing was never a “life principle” under the law.
You have LOADED your test with the false assumption that there was a tithing principle.
2. Give as God tells you.
No problem with the length. Thanks for sharing.
When I say “practical guidelines” I am referring to things that give order, discipline, consistency and regularity to our lives. These are not bad things. The cross did not eliminate the need for this. The end of ceremonial law does not signal the beginning of chaos or a free for all.
And I think with all the financial trouble in the world right now it is obvious that we need some guidance on the matter.
Jesus did eliminate the curse of the law (we don’t stone people for adultery now) but we still believe the Ten Commandments are useful and they still “guide” our lives morally.
Personally, I believe tithing was practiced before the law and is an eternal guideline for managing finances in a way that honors God.
Why “MUST” we point out the principles? Well, for one, Jesus said it is more blessed to give than receive” and that alone should motivate us to think carefully about this issue and state clearly the principles that should guide our giving.
And “equality?” The goal is not for everyone to be equal materially but to be equal contributors. If tithing doesn’t make us equal in that way, what does?
Thank you for your reply!
You said : “If we rescind tithing then we must state the practical guidelines for giving.”
I’m not sure what the basis is why we “must” state this. I try to find an answer for this in the new testament, but it seems to me that they practiced a more abundant form of giving without following practical guidelines. It looks like they lived in the reality of what Paul wrote here:
6But now we are discharged from the Law and have terminated all intercourse with it, having died to what once restrained and held us captive. So now we serve not under [obedience to] the old code of written regulations, but [under obedience to the promptings] of the Spirit in newness [of life]. (Ampl. Rom. 7:6)
They apparently didn’t follow practical guidelines but were tuned in to the leading of the Spirit in a new way of life. Creating practical guidelines could be a trap into going back to an old (covenant) way of life that depended on rules. I cannot see Paul promoting tithing and at the same time saying that “we are discharged from the law and have terminated all intercourse with it”
I tried to get a picture of what giving looked like at that time, so I went through the passages that talked about this. Based on this I have to conclude that the major part of giving had to do with creating equality among Gods’ people. Paul even mentioned this “equality principle”:
“But to have equality [share and share alike], your surplus over necessity at the present time going to meet their want and to equalize the difference created by it, so that [at some other time] their surplus in turn may be given to supply your want. Thus there may be equality”…
Having a background in churches that teach tithing as the primary form of giving in which these tithes have nearly nothing to do with creating equality, I think I have to reconsider this whole concept.
You can argue that this ” equality principle” comes into effect only after following the tithing principle. If so what to do with scriptures like this:
“When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce the third year, which is the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, the stranger and the sojourner, the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within your towns and be filled,.. (Dt. 26:12)
It is also written that the tithes were for the Levites to compensate them (equality) for the fact that they couldn’t own land.
Sorry for the long reply but I discover that there are many holes in the teachings about tithing that I am accustomed to.
Hey Jan,
I have already addressed your question in several posts, and the comments, so I won’t add anything to that thread here, but I do have a question.
If tithing has been repealed and it is not included in the principles by which NT believers live then what takes its place? I doubt anyone would suggest we give nothing. Giving features powerfully in the Bible, Old and New Testaments. So…
As a Christian, do you give a percentage of your income or a set amount?
If an amount, how do you determine what amount to give? If a percentage how did you come up with a figure for that?
Do you give consistently, every time you get paid, and if not how do you determine when it is right to give?
With tithing, all these questions are answered. If we rescind tithing then we must state the practical guidelines for giving.
I have no objections to people being Spirit led (the usual answer) but I think it is fair to expect those who give by this rule to shed a little light on how the Spirit leads them.
Thanks for visiting and commenting. All the best.
Old post already but maybe there is somebody who can help me answering this question:
Let us suppose tithing ended ad the cross, at the end of the old covenant and the beginning of the new. Does this oppose Jesus’ statement during His life on earth that they should have tithed? It looks like He would have said the same thing because at that time tithing would have been a command.
If so, doesn’t this take away the basis of the argument that Jesus endorsed tithing for Christians?
Anyone who can explain this to me?
Not too worry. As I said, I am always drawn to people that disagree with my understanding. If what I believe cannot stand against good argument it isn’t worth believing. I will read the books.
You need to read the 3 books that i mentioned. i could dialogue forever here. Like i said, i first believed and practiced the tithing mandate in my own life ever since i had my first job, until a friend of mine confronted me and i studied on my own to prove him wrong.
-“should the church teach tithing” is long and doctrinally detailed
-“beyond tithes and offerings” has a good mix of deep doctrine and practicalness
-“tithing: low realm obsolete & defuncts” has a lot of practical.
I would read the book of whatever style of reading you are used to.
Jared,
If they tithe belongs to God you haven’t expressed anything personally, other than obedience, when you give it. What you give above the tithe is an act of a free will and therefore an expression of love on a personal level.
The Luke 10 passage describes the common practice in Jesus’ day. Ministers would move from village to village and people would meet their general needs. Food, accommodation, expenses generally. Later, just before His crucifixion, He changed the rules. He said:
“…But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip…” Luke 22:36
Neither passage has much bearing on tithing but neither represented a financial free for all either.
If God has to prompt a husband to love his wife, I feel sorry for the wife.
Every universal principle will have standard practices associated with it.
Ministers are to be subject to the same set of principles. There is no difference.
I’m not on a crusade. I am no more or less interested in truth than any other sincere Christian and I like to think through and discuss the issues every time I get the chance and I like to read particular books that represent opposing opinions.
If finances are managed more mechanically, then why are offerings above 10% freewill? They were not freewill for Israel. Israel had specific instructions for offerings.
You don’t seem to understand that consistently and security is not how God intended his Church to operate.
Luke 10:2-4
“The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.”
You said: “The Spirit is not going to lead you to love your wife.”
– Of course the instruction to love your wife actually comes from scripture. But does the bible tell me when to give her gifts, or send her flowers? No, of course not! I use experience and spiritual instinct to realize and act upon when my wife needs extra comfort and encouragement.
In your arguments, you are not making the extinction between eternal principles and standards. The command to love and give are both universal laws or principles. Giving 10% is a standard.
Should ministers today be exempt from praying for practical things such as finances? Wow, what an easy ministry and life. Just pray for other people’s financial struggles and problems.
Don’t get me wrong, i think ministers should be well taken care of. I think materials should be given sacrificially, liberally, freely, and cheerfully.
I will leave on this final note. There are 3 books that i would recommend reading.
1. “Should the church teach tithing” by russell earl kelly
2. “Beyond Tithes and Offerings” by Mitchell T. & Michael L. Webb
3. “Tithing: Low Realm, Obsolete, & Defunct” by Matthew Narramore
Truthfully, the first book i read out of those, which was “Should the Church Teach Tithing”, convinced me alone that tithing was not commanded. I read the other two books on top of that, and there is just no way you can read those with a biblically sound mind and not agree that there are lots of holes in the tithing argument. I originally first started studying tithing because a friend of mine said that tithing was not commanded. So i went on a crusade to prove him wrong. LOL!
– jared
Steward, All of those areas are regulated by God (family, work, school, friends, etc.). In short, husbands love your wives, wives honor your husbands, children obey your parents, servants (employees) and masters (employers) are to work together without cheating or threatening each other and so on.
Finances, however, are managed a bit more mechanically and precisely than many of these other relationships. We don’t pay more or less the right amount for rent and utilities. We pay the exact amount. Most other relationships are considerably more flexible. A retirement plan works best when contributions are made consistently in precisely stipulated amounts over a predetermined length of time.
I think telling people to be “Spirit Led” without first giving full biblical disclosure on important issues has been far more abused than encouraging them to follow a consistent biblical rule where finances are concerned.
“Spirit led” is a legitimate biblical teaching but it must be prefaced by careful study of the Bible. The Spirit does not lead us to do or deny what has been well established in Scripture. The Spirit is not going to lead you to love your wife. That requires commitment and imagination not Spirit leading. I have never been “led” to tell the truth. “Truth telling” is the “standard biblical teaching.” I need no prompting.
The construction of the Tabernacle was a one time event. Once completed it was over.
But, the service of the Tabernacle and functions of the levitical system were ongoing. They needed consistent, regularly financial servicing. The command to tithe was given so no prayer time would be wasted trying to figure out what each person should do to support the system God put in place. Pity the Levites if they had to wait on someone being “led by the Spirit” each month to provide what they needed to pay the rent and feed the family.
If including God in my finances has a biblical standard, then where do i start with including him in my work, my school, my friendships, and my family? Our lives are guided daily by the Holy Spirit. I can tell you that i fail all day at actually listening, but nontheless i don’t have standard in the amount of hours i serve, or the people i witness to, or how many christian songs i listen to each week.
Whether I have the Holy Spirit instructing my giving or a tithe instructing my giving, i can still do whatever i want; so that’s not a reasonable objection to being Spirit led in our giving. Since when is being Spirit led in any other area of your life viewed as a license to ignore God? There are consequences if you ignore the Holy Spirit, just like the Israelites had consequences for ignoring the tithe.
I don’t really care if i think tithing is too much, too little, fair or reasonable. The abuse that i feel goes on does not prove one tiny bit why i think a tithe mandate is unbiblical.
How can you read the book of Acts and say that there’s gotta be something other than “Spirit led”? I agree, It’s kind of nice knowing exactly what is expected of us, but isn’t that where we experience God’s glory the most – in those “not knowing” moments? Isn’t that why God tore the veil to the throne-room so that we can enter and ask? Or did God open communication with Him so that we can continue to give mindlessly without the need for a connection and interaction?
An interesting fact is that Israel was not always told to tithe to support ministry. In Exodus 35 & 36, before Israel was required to tithe, they supported the whole ministry of the tabernacle through freewill, and grace gifts. Israel did not tithe until they entered the promised land. Ironically, as Israel was wandering through the wilderness, they were guided symbolically by God’s Spirit through a pillar of fire.
I could go on here with more, but i will see if you have anything else.
– jared
I can’t deny your logic but it doesn’t answer what I feel is the important question: Is tithing the accepted biblical standard for including God in my finances?
If it is, it is, whether I understand it, appreciate it, can explain it, like it or not. And I do believe tithing is fair and reasonable. Others don’t.
I’m open to the discussion but there must be something other than “Spirit led” as the answer. Any person can do anything they want under that idea. I usually attribute the Spirit’s leadership to things not specifically mentioned in the Bible. Since I am responsible for managing my finances consistently and regularly I actually like knowing exactly what is expected of me. And, if compelled by good reason I can add to that.
Thanks for the contribution to the discussion.
The laws that were not eliminated were laws that contained universal principles. Come on, Seriously! This is ridiculous to even have to explain this. Why would Jesus eliminate a law just because it was in the OT? If murdering is ALWAYS the by-product of hate . . . If Adultery is ALWAYS the by-product of lust and greed then why eliminate a law that will ALWAYS break a universal principle when committed?
Whenever Jesus spoke on the law, he always emphasized the lesson not the assignment. What was the lesson that Jesus emphasized to the pharisees in Matthew 23?
I could tell my child that making your bed is important, but it’s only important because of the lesson it teaches. Making a bed has no importance apart from its lesson. The lesson is cleanliness and is a principle, the assignment is making your bed and is just an assignment.
Although i am against a tithing mandate, i believe tithing could have teaching potential. Sure, it CAN be used as a tool to teach Godly ownership, love, and sacrifice; but by no means, is tithing the best teacher to instill these principles for everyone, at all times.
Look, i can tell my child to make his bed every day, but how do i know that making his bed is the “best” tool to teach him cleanliness? Maybe teaching him to pick up his toys or folding his clothes first might be best? Maybe making his bed is too easy for him?
Anyone can give a tithe out of habit, but can we listen and respond to an invisible God out of habit? Which would require greater faith? Wouldn’t a Spirit led life require a higher level of dedication and focus? Sure, Tithing can teach stewardship, and sacrifice, but considering that we now have direct access to the throne room and the mysteries of God’s will, why must we continue following rules that promote non-interactive deeds that require no connection with God?
Because tithing was good enough for Israel and Abraham is not an objective criteria to consider it good enough for a group of people who interact with God in a whole new way.
Children who live in the kingdom of their father do not need to be taxed like the peasants who live outside the walls. They are in one accord with the father’s will and willingly participate with the plans of their father because we are his children. We have privileged access to him that others do not have. We have his family Spirit within us and guiding us to accomplish his goals.
The absence of tithing in the New Covenant is not a viable argument for either side of the tithing issue.
There is one denominator that enabled change from the way ministry had been funded from the old into the new. Spirit led giving is the most challenging way to give, and seems to produce a multitude of mixed results, which helps me understand why our flesh desires more stable and predictable ways of ministry financing. But God doesn’t operate based on our comfort zone.
– jared