Yep. My take, exactly.
They were all over the letter of the law, like modern Muslims.
By the way, he did not say they “should be” doing both. He said they “should have been” doing both. Past tense.
In the new covenant the whole thing changed. Tithing is an old testament teaching. The new testament talks of giving. The two are related concepts but different.
Jews lived in a theocracy within the government of whatever country they lived in. This theocracy is Judaism. I compare “tithing” to paying income tax to the theocracy.
But as Christians we give to the poor, widows and orphans. And Paul made it clear that pastors and teachers should be paid for their work, though he refused so as to be above reproach.
2 Corinthians 9:7 - Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
We should recognize that 100%, not 10%, of what we have is God's. So, ultimately, what you give should be whatever you are commanded by God to give.
However, just because something is an Old Testament teaching, doesn't mean it isn't applicable to today. Since the tithe was to provide for the livelihood of the priests, I think we should do the same for our churches today. I look at the tithe as the portion I give to support my local church that I attend. Anything above that amount that I give to the church or other charities is an offering.
My fear is that some use the 'Well, that's Old Testament teaching' as justification for ignoring God's New Testament teaching to give.
“And Paul made it clear that pastors and teachers should be paid for their work, though he refused so as to be above reproach.”
Beautiful! ANOTHER reason I think God elevated Paul by His own choice, granting that 13 (possibly 14?) letters of Scripture would be penned through him. I love this from Thessalonians:
“You know what kind of men we proved to be among you FOR YOUR SAKE”(1:5)