Posted on 02/11/2013 12:14:15 PM PST by Laissez-faire capitalist
In certain passages of scripture it says that tithes are to be given to the Levites, and then the Levites were to give a tenth to the priests. In other scriptures is says to bring ye the tithe into the storehouse, that my house may be full.
Deuteronomy 26:12 says that every third year, that in addition to giving to the Levites, some of the tithe must go to widows, orphans, (the down-and-out), etc.
Now, if in modern times we give tithes to our local church that we attend and tithes are then used to pay for the pastors salary (them being the modern Levite equivalency), youth pastors salary, staff salary, utility bills, etc, why isn't a portion of this shared with widows, orphans, etc?
I mean, if cash is given to pastors through tithes, why doesn't cash go to widows every third year? With the scriptures saying to pay tithes unto Levites every year, and then every third year repeating this but adding in widows for example, that ties in widows with getting part of the tithe.
Some might say that widows, the down-and-out, etc, can receive cash assistance from the gov't. But if widows, orphans, the down-and-out, etc, can go to the gov't for help, why don't we send pastors there, too?
And if widows, orphans, the down-and-out, etc, can go to churches and get help at these church food banks, why don't those same churches send their pastors to the church food bank(s)?
If widows don't get a portion of the tithe every 3 years, then what do you do with the tithe for the pastor that 3rd year?
This will be reviled and disregarded by those who think that the Old Testament is done away with in total - but since the Apostle Paul stated that ‘all scripture is given by inspiration of God (meaning the Old Testament - because that is all that existed at the time), then this verse ought to answer your question:
“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. -Malachi 3:8
The very first tithe mentioned in the Old Testament didn’t go to the priest or temple, but was spent on the individual’s family, like a huge party. Look it up.
Chapter and verse please.
I find no such evidence in the Bible.
The earliest actual mention of a tithe (tenth) is found in Genesis 14:18 - but the practice itself is considered to have it’s roots in Genesis 4, where Cain and Abel presented “offerings” to the Lord.
God obviously at some point instructed Adam and Eve to present offerings to Him. Abel’s offering was respected and Cain’s was not - apparently because Cain did not present either the correct amount, or he did so reluctantly.
Paul reiterates the scripture in Genesis 14 when describing the purpose of tithes in the church in Hebrews 7:2-4: “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.
“Abel’s offering was respected and Cain’s was not - apparently because Cain did not present either the correct amount, or he did so reluctantly.” Oh my, such ignorance! The Bible is its own best commentary. Paul, as one of seceral, explained why Cain’s offering was rejected ... pride ring a bell, atonement ring a bell? ... Probably not.
“Abel’s offering was respected and Cain’s was not - apparently because Cain did not present either the correct amount, or he did so reluctantly.” Oh my, such ignorance! The Bible is its own best commentary. Paul, as one of several, explained why Cain’s offering was rejected ... pride ring a bell, atonement ring a bell? ... Probably not.
Read this:
"You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the Lord your God has blessed you, then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses. And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you." Deut 14:22-27
If you had an understanding of the biblical Feasts of the Lord, you would understand that this ‘tithe’ or tenth - was to be SAVED all year for the purpose of keeping the Feast of Tabernacles, the 6th commanded ANNUAL festival (Leviticus 23). A tithe was to be saved in ADDITION to the tithe used for the Priesthood (or Lord’s work), and that 2nd Tithe was to be spent in celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, on whatever your heart desired.
Since the church today essentially is in ignorance of the biblical Feasts of the Lord, it is not surprising many have no understanding of how this second tithe was used. Yes, it was essentially a command from the Almighty that “during My Feast of Tabernacles, you are commanded to party before Me”. That savings of the tithe was to ensure each family had the means and ability to attend and enjoy the 8 day festival.
There was also ANOTHER tithe to be taken in Ancient Israel. A third tithe every third year wherein those funds were to be shared with the poor and the orphans (Deuteronomy 14:28-29).
The OP of this thread was asking about the First Tithe that was to be sent to the Levitical Priesthood and for the work of the Lord.
My bad, the OP was essentially asking about the THIRD tithe that was to be set aside for the needy, such as widows and orphans.
Where need and the spirit lead. IMO, most churches and para-church budgets are way beyond anything Christ or the apostles would have recognized. Need and pain they understood.
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