Table of Contents

- The Tithe

- The Three Believers and Their Pastor

- The Two Covenants

- Christ Jesus the Reality

- Abram and Melchizedek

- Tithing According to the Law (of Moses)

- Tithe Practices of the Church in Comparison to Israel

- Malachi Chapter Three

- The Endorsement

- The Psychology of Tithe

- The Place of Giving in the New Testament

- The Churches’ Examples from the New Testament [Acts 4 and 5]

- The Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15]

- The Gospel and Tithe

- Spirit Led Giving

- The Ideal Servant (1 Corinthians 4:9.14, 2 Corinthians 4:5.12)

- God’s Temple

- What is the Tithe?

- Who Was the Tithe Given To?

- Conclusion

- A Poem

Why Jesus Hates Tithing.

By

Khotso Mokoena

A Booklet written to question the modern-day doctrine and practice of tithing amongst Christians. Does this bring blessing or cursing? Can anyone tithe and also walk in the Spirit? Does this practice nullify the grace of God? The answer to these questions are urgently required. This is a timely and necessary challenge that should not be ignored.

Please read on.

The Tithe

This booklet is written to: the beloved Children of the Heavenly Father scattered in the various denominations and to the elders in the body of Christ.

The time of His coming is near; more should we draw nearer to Him, with the yoke of ignorance lifted off our minds and the veil of blindness off our eyes, that we may see Him as He is.

As the Apostle of Christ Jesus, Paul of Tarsus said to the Galatians: “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to and different from that which we preached to you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:.

As we read through may the Holy Spirit of Christ Jesus convict us of our errors; and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgement. Amen.

The Three Believers and Their Pastor

I tell a story of three believers, namely Mbali, Rudolf, Mmalerato and Pastor Didier Ugba. Within many Christian assemblies, those familiar with the tithe, there is found the three believers and their Pastor.

The first believer, Mbali is one who tithes faithfully yet with no knowledge of scripture at all. She believes that if she does not tithe she will be under God’s curse and the devil will destroy her finances, as she has heard Pastor Didier proclaim on many occasions.

Often Mbali battles to manage her finances because of living expenses, as a result she sometimes does not pay tithe and ends up feeling guilty of sin and living in constant fear. Her fear is consequent to the belief that because she did not pay her protection fee [tithe] the devil will attack and destroy her finances. To avoid all this guilt and fear and disappointment Mbali believes she is bringing to the face of God, Mbali gets into debt and lives a life of constant debt as she battles to pay her protection fee and living expenses.

We introduce the second believer from the same congregation as the first, Oom Rudolf.

He knows and believes that all curses proclaimed by the law are no more in Christ [Galatians 3:13] and the devil was disarmed and publicly shamed by Christ Jesus’ victory on the cross [Colossians 2:15]. Moreover he knows and believes that the Son of Man appeared to destroy all of the devil’s works [1John 3:8]. Rudolf loves to give, however his giving is driven by two things: compassion and the desire to be wealthy. He believes in order for the gospel of Christ Jesus to reach the lost, for church service to continue, for the needy to be assisted, for the Pastor to be fed, and for his own personal desire to be rich, giving must be practiced; for God has a way of prospering the giver. In this case tithing is used as a measuring rod. Therefore Rudolf gives a tenth of his income in accordance to his own personal belief that the tithe is God’s measured standard of giving.

We meet Mmalerato, the third believer from the same assembly. She clearly understands the distinction between the Old and the New Covenant. She holds nearly the same views and beliefs as Rudolf; however her giving is not driven by the desire to gain wealth. She is content with all her material achievements [all that the Lord has blessed her with] and uses them for the glory of her Lord, [1 Corinthians 16:2]. She regularly gives as she has prospered, [Deuteronomy 16:17 2 Corinthians 8:11.12]. She gives as she has decided in her heart, [2 Corinthians 9:7] which is in most cases far more than ten percent of her earnings. She gives, not obligated by any covenant laws or principles, but out of love [2 Corinthians 9:7]. She often chooses where to give, sometimes to the Pastor in the assembly and at other times she gives to Christian missionaries reaching out to foreign places with the gospel of Christ Jesus [Philippians 4:15.18]. She often, secretly [Matthew 3:6] gives to those who have need in her local assembly [1 John 3:17.18]. Sometimes Mmalerato gives to her local prison, orphanage and so forth. As a farmer, given a field and a sack of seed, chooses how much seed they want to sow and on which side of the field they want to sow, so is Mmalerato’s practice. In all this the Spirit of the Lord often tells Mmalerato where to give, how much, what to give and to whom to give.

Then there is the fourth believer Pastor Didier Ugba. Due to his work [or the work of God] he expects pay every month. Rightfully he gives his time and energy into this work; like any other worker he deserves to have his living expenses met [1 Timothy 5:18]. Rightfully he has a right to share in what is given at the altar [1 Corinthians 9:13.14]. However, he usually lives under pressure. Just as running any business would give any man pressure, so does “God’s business”. The world is moving fast and getting technological by the day. The Pastor [Major Prophet Dollar Rand] of the assembly down the street lives a luxurious life. He drives expensive cars, wears designer clothes, uses top of the range gadgets and eats the healthiest food. “My God will seem poor, my message will seem ‘powerless’ if I don’t attain the same as the Pastor down the road,” are the thoughts of Pastor Didier. Then Pastor Didier comes up with inventive methods to make fellow believers give more money. “The other church building down the street,[Holy Anointing Ministries] looks like a 5 star hotel, therefore ‘God’s house’ entrusted to me must look the same,” he continues in his thoughts. Then Pastor Didier Ugba comes up with more inventive methods of making fellow believers give more money than they already have. When all this has happened, the Pastor lives in constant pressure of keeping the supercilious customary hiring of disco lights, hiring of world renown Christian musicians [who happen to be nothing more than fellow believers in the eyes of the Lord], hiring of world celebrated Christian speakers, printing of T shirts, inserting red carpet inside the church building, buying lavish chaise longue for the pulpit ministers; the list goes on and on. All this constant pressure on Pastor Didier results to continuous pressure being put on fellow believers like Mbali.

It is not hard to figure out that tithe in this instance becomes the idol of the assembly.

Money becomes the god of the fellowship and the “prosperity gospel” becomes the good news and the core message of the church.

What is the message of Pastor Didier? In summary, “Give a tenth of your income to God [or your Pastor] and you will be blessed; you will be rich. Do not give and you will be cursed; the devil will give you financial hell on earth”.

Or.

To put it simply, “Believe in the practice of tithe [the saviour of your financial life] and your wealth and finances will be saved; do not hold to this practice and your wealth and finances will be condemned.” This message is similar to the one, “Believe in Jesus, Saviour of the world and you will be saved, believe not and you will be condemned..

As you and I scrutinise the issue of tithe in this booklet it should concern us that tithing might separate the body of Christ Jesus. Moreover tithe should not bind anyone who.

Christ Jesus has freed. But we still need to ask the question “Is there a place for the tithe in the New Covenant.

The Two Covenants

As we begin, there are two main covenants in the Bible, known as “the Law” (Old Testament) and the covenant of grace (New Testament). The first is a story teller, it foresees what is coming and tells us what to expect, while the other is the reality of the story, and it presents the very person whom the world has been eagerly waiting for. The one is a shadow while the other is the reality. The one uses prophesies, people, places, events and real life situations to define, describe and explain a person and His coming while the other is the actual person present. The one was given through Moses; the other came through Christ Jesus. The one is to Israel and the other to all who believe in Christ Jesus.

Although the two Testaments complement each other by speaking of Christ (John 5:39, Luke 24:27) there is a change in authority, a change in teaching, a change in practice and a change of relationship between the two.

Let us see a few examples from the two.

Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)

The Words of Jesus

You shall have no other gods before Me

Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only – Matthew 4:10

You shall not make for yourself an idol

No servant can have two masters - Luke 16:13

You shall not misuse the Name of the Lord your God

Do not swear at all, either by heaven for it is God’s throne nor earth - Matthew 5:34

Remember to keep the Sabbath

The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath - Mark 2:27

Honour your Father and Mother

Anyone who loves his Father and Mother more than Me is not worthy of Me - Matthew 10:37

You shall not murder

Anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgement - Matthew 5:22

You shall not commit adultery

Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully commits adultery with her in his heart - Matthew 5:28

You shall not steal

If someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well - Matthew 5:40

You shall not give false testimony

Men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken - Matthew 12:36

You shall not covet

Be on your guard against all kinds of greed - Luke 12:15

It is important that we, as believers, do not act in an unthinking way accepting the commands of Jesus as Israel did with the Law of Moses. It is important that we understand in our heart what God requires of us.

Do not murder Exodus 20:13

Q - Why should we not murder.

A - Murder brings pain, sorrow, misery, emptiness and sudden loss to a loved one. One who murders brings pain to the family of the deceased. However love is kind, it does not rejoice in taking life but in giving life.

Do not commit adultery Exodus 20:14

Q - Why should we not commit adultery.

A - This act brings heartache and emotional instability to the spouse and may lead to their adultery. However love is not rude it does not rejoice in hurting others.

Do not steal Exodus 20:15

Q - Why should we not steal.

A - This would bring lack to others or a loss of something important and useful whilst love does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness.

These commands of Jesus are meant to create good living between people, to establish peace, care and respect and love between men. There is an outworking of love in this, to establish fairness and equality between men, [Matthew 7:12]. The Law of Moses taught that the punishment must match the injury, “a life for a life”, [Exodus 21:24], as a means of fairness. However when Christ came he taught to not pay evil with evil, for those who are evil are of their father, the devil. By following the Law of Moses now many believers behave like unthinking animals in the name of the law, trampling on others without thinking. By so doing they think they are pleasing God, yet God said the greatest thing is love and against such there is no law, for love is the fulfilment of the law. [Galatians 5:22.23, 1 Corinthians 13:4.8].

Comparing the Old and New Covenant

Former covenant

Latter covenant

Sacrifices were temporal (Hebrews 8:13)

The sacrifice is permanent (Hebrews 7:2)

Aaron and His family (Levites) were High priests and priests (Numbers 3:10)

Jesus is the only High priest (Heb 4:14) and all believers are priests (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6)

High priest ministered on earth (made sacrifices on behalf of, and intercede for people) – (Hebrews 8:4)

High priest ministers in heaven (Hebrews 8:1.2)

Priesthood was temporal (Hebrews 7:23)

Priesthood is permanent (Hebrews 7:23)

Priesthood on the basis of a regulation (ancestry passed on) Hebrews7:16

Priesthood on the basis of the power of an indestructible life (Hebrews 7:16)

Animal blood (Leviticus 22:19)

Human blood (Hebrews 9:28)

Many sacrifices (Hebrews 10:1.3, Hebrews 7:27)

One sacrifice (Hebrews 9:25.26, Hebrews 7:27)

Perfect animals were demanded (Leviticus 22:19)

Perfect life was given (Hebrews 5:9)

Careful approach to the tabernacle (Leviticus 16:2)

Confident approach to God’s throne (Hebrews 4:16)

Looked forward to new system (Hebrews 10:1)

Sets aside old system (Hebrews 10:9)

“For when there is a change of priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.” Hebrews 7:12.

Christ Jesus the Reality

Everything in the Old Testament was made to be a pre-copy or type of the man Christ Jesus. He appeared as the reality of those things that were formerly shadowing Him [Colossians 2:17]. People, places, incidents and things were foretelling of Him. He is to all believers today what those things were to the children of Israel back then.

He is the Word that was in the beginning who made all things [Genesis 1:3, John 1:1].He is the Light that appeared when the Word said, “Let there be light,” [Genesis 1:3, John 1: 4.9]. He is the Word that became flesh, [Genesis 1:26, John 1:14]. He is the last Adam (the immortal man). He is the obedient Adam who did not sin and in Him all men [believers] have come into a right standing with God, just as in the first Adam all man fell into sin, (Genesis 3, 1 Corinthians 15:45, Romans 5:12.21), the man made in God’s image, (Genesis 1:26, Colossians 1: 15). He is the Garden of Eden (John 10:9), the place of pleasure, he is the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil, (John 15:1.5). He is the One of whom God said to the serpent, “He will crush your head,” Genesis 3:15. He is the ark of Noah (John 10:9). He is the Noah who will build the church [ark] that many may be saved from God’s coming destruction. He is the bread and wine given to Abram by Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18). He is the begotten Isaac, the crucified Isaac [Genesis 22:2, John 3:16, Hebrews 11:17.19]. He is the Lamb that Abraham spoke of; “God Himself will provide the lamb,” Genesis 22:8 (John 1:29).

He is the offspring of Abraham that God spoke about when he said, “In your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed,” Genesis 28:14, [Acts 3:25]. He was esteemed Son of sorrow, for our sins He bore but was called a son of righteousness by His father because of His obedience, [Genesis 35:19, Isaiah 53:4 & 11]. He is the Joseph who was sold by his brothers for silver and later saved them, (Genesis 37:18.36, Matthew 27:3.10). He is the Israel from whom was born the twelve disciples.

He is the believer’s Moses who intercedes for their sins and mediates for them, [Exodus 32:30.33, Hebrews 7:25]. He is the Adam who was tempted by the serpent and overcame, [Genesis 3:6]; the Israel who went into the wilderness of sin [Exodus 17:1] for 40 years [days] and turned it into the wilderness of righteousness, [Joshua 5:6, Matthew 4:1.10]. He is the prophet that Moses spoke about when he said, “God will raise up for you a prophet like me among your brothers, you must listen to him,” Deuteronomy 18:15, [Acts 3:22]. He is the manna that Israel ate in the desert, (Exodus 16:4, John 6: 51). He is the rock that gave out water in the wilderness, (Exodus 17:6, John 4:14, 1 Corinthians 10:4). He is the Sabbath (rest); “Come unto Me and I will give you rest,” Matthew 11:28 (Hebrews 4:8.11). He is the Promised Land (Canaan), the place of all sufficiency, (Exodus 3:17, John 10:9.10). He is the one whom the prophet Hosea foresaw when Jehovah said, “Out of Egypt I have called my Son,” Hosea 11:1 [Matthew 2:15]. He is the Joshua who leads people from the Jordan [a place of longing] to Canaan [a place of possession]. He is the Gideon who conquered the pagan world with a few disciples, armed with the weapons of the trumpet [preaching the gospel] and the torch [the light of good deeds], Judges 7:20 (Matthew 28:16.20 & book of Acts). He is the priesthood in which Aaron and Eli were appointed, until the appointed time of His arrival. He is the King David who defeated Goliath (devil) on behalf of Israel (all believers). He is the temple that King David wanted to build, which, however, could not be built by human hands, (2 Samuel 7:11.14, John 2:19, Acts 7:45.48). He is the Passover Lamb, (Exodus 12:21.30, and 1 Corinthians 5:7). He is as Job who experienced suffering [by God’s will] and went into glory after suffering for the sins he did not commit, [Job 42:12.13, Isaiah 53:10]. He is the Psalm in King David’s mouth that became flesh and cried, “My God, My God why have You forsaken Me? [Psalm 22:1, Matthew 27:46, John 1:14]. He is the wisdom of God greater than the Wisdom of Solomon [1 Corinthians 1:24]. He is the anointed of the Lord that Isaiah saw when He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,” Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18. He is the Jonah who stayed three days in the tomb [belly of a whale - Matthew 12:40]. He is all the types of offerings that are there in the bible, the first fruit, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the fellowship offering, [Hebrews 10:5.7]. He is all this and more.

Christ Jesus is to the believers, the temple (John 2:19.21).To the Israelites God’s meeting place was geographic but to all believers it is Christ Jesus, as He said, “It shall no longer matter whether you worship on the mountain or in Jerusalem,” John 4:22. Not only is He the believer’s tent of the meeting, He has made His followers God’s very dwelling place, not built by human hands, (2 Corinthians 6:16).

This teaches us that the temple made of stones [with storerooms inside] is no more, the temple that exists today is the body of the believer, (1Corinthians 6:19).

The priesthood of Levi (men who were sinful and died) was in place until He who has no sin and is eternal came. He is today, the believer’s one and only High priest, (Hebrews 4:14.15). Aaron had his family as priests when he was the high priest of Israel. In the same way Christ Jesus, as High Priest of the church, has His family (all believers) as priests, (1 Peter 2:9). In and through them God’s wonderful deeds are sent forth and His virtues and perfection are displayed. These differ in service, gifts and callings, yet all of them are common in love, having only the Messiah Jesus as their High Priest.

Note: Christ Jesus Himself is an example of the New Covenant giving, which is out of love and not law, decisive and not compulsive, whole and not sparingly, cheerful and not grudgingly, (John 3:16). He is God’s greatest provision, His greatest blessing, His perfect example of giving.

Abram and Melchizedek

Now let us look at tithe in and according to the Bible, starting from where it began.

It is possible to demean the Bible, turning what it reveals into some great philosophical, motivational and legalistic principle, yet in reality the Bible reveals nothing and no one but Christ Jesus alone.

Abram is the first person to give (not pay) a tenth however his tithe was different from that of the Levites and that of the church in practice today.

When God called Abram he had livestock and he took along the livestock as he went where God called him to go, (Genesis 12:5). As he passed into Egypt, he deceived Pharaoh into thinking that Sarai [his wife] was his sister. As a result the king of Egypt gave to Abram many gifts (sheep, goats, cattle, donkeys, camels and servants). All this was on account to Sarai’s beauty, (Genesis 12:16). When Pharaoh found out about Abram’s deception he sent him away with many possessions, (Genesis 12:20). After this incident the Bible tells us Abram was very rich in livestock, silver and gold, (Genesis 13:2). This was Abram’s personal wealth that he was blessed with, yet of these entire possessions he never tithed.

When Lot and His uncle Abram separated (Genesis 13), Lot was captured after a war had taken place between the kings of his town, (Genesis 14:8.12). Now the victorious invaders plundered Sodom and Gomorrah, taking along all of Lot’s possessions and headed home, (Genesis 14:11.12). On Abram’s hearing of this he took his men and went to rescue his nephew. Abram was victorious and rescued all that was taken from Sodom and Gomorrah, along with the people, (Genesis 14:14.16). At this time the Priest of God, Melchizedek, appeared giving Abram bread and wine, and blessed him. Abram in turn gave to Melchizedek a tenth of the things he had recovered from the war, (Genesis 14:16). These were things that belonged to the kings of Sodom, Gomorrah and Lot. These goods included food, Lot’s cattle’s, sheep and goats, (Genesis 13:5).

After this incident Abram gave back all the remaining [90%] goods and people to the king of Sodom, [Genesis 14:21.24].

Let us note a few things:

- It was Abram who tithed not Abraham.

- The record of this tithe is a one off event.

- The tithe was given, not from Abram’s personal wealth, but from the spoils of the war (that belonged to the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah).

- He only gave a tenth but did not keep the things for himself; he returned them to the king of Sodom.

- He was blessed before he tithed, he did not tithe to be blessed.

- He gave tithe, not as forced or suggested by anyone, any law and any kingdom principle, in fact it is not really clear why Abram gave the tithe.

What importance do we learn from this incident?

We see a picture of the two covenants here:.

Melchizedek, the priest of God, gave to Abram [a man called by God], bread and wine, a pre-resemblance of the body and blood of Christ Jesus. This was symbolic of the New Covenant bread and wine, showing that God would give to man an Eternal Priest who would offer His body and blood. Abram, representing men called out by God (Israel) symbolises the old covenant, where man would be giving to God under God’s law (which is represented by the tithe). Melchizedek pre-dates the New Covenant of Christ Jesus - God giving to man, while Abram pre-dates the Old Covenant - man giving to God. We also see a picture foretelling the exchange of the two Covenants, the Old Testament and New Testament, with Melchizedek giving to Abram the eternal offering (bread and wine) and taking away from Abram the temporal offerings given under the law (a tenth). He gave what only God could offer - Christ Jesus - and took away what men had to offer - the legalistic priesthood, its systems and duties.

As Biblical numeracy agrees, we are under a conviction that in this incident the number ten pre-represents the law of Moses with its rituals and commandments, therefore tithing teaches us here that under the Law (represented by a tenth), men (Israel) called by God (represented by Abram) would give to their priests to please God. Indeed they did give animals for their sins, food to the priests for their services, sacrifices for their union and fellowship with God. In the case of Melchizedek we see God giving what could only please Him, Christ Jesus, the New Testament bread and wine.

Melchizedek and his offering resemble Jesus in all respects, just as Jesus Christ offered His body and blood [life] to His Father. So this priest of God offered bread and wine to Abram the father of a great nation.

The meaning of this story is that there would be two Testaments from God through Abram, the one would be legalistic and men based, represented by giving a tenth, the other would be of grace and God based, represented by bread and wine. As we see, both law and grace came from God through Abram, for both Moses and Christ Jesus are descendants of Abraham.

It should be noted that God’s later promise to Abraham, that he should inherit the world (Genesis 17:4.6, 22:16.18) had nothing to do with Abram’s tithe. God said, “I swear by My own Name,” (Genesis 22:16) meaning that it does not depend on Abraham but on God Himself. All Abraham had to do was believe God even when he was tested to give his only son - Isaac - through whom Abraham was to inherit the whole world.

Now we should not be confused, Isaac was not Abraham’s tithe he was his whole, his all in all, his 100%. This promise to posses the whole earth was to Abraham and his descendants and was not based on obedience to any law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith,(Romans 4:13).Now where it is received by faith it is given as a free gift, not as a result of obedience to God’s law,(Romans 4:16). Inheriting the whole earth not only means being part of the world’s largest family, the body of Christ, but also having the necessary things to live a good life on earth; and this includes money.

We need not to continue on to Jacob, for although he had promised God a tithe, it is not recorded that he gave the tithe to God, as some ‘prosperity’ preachers would like to insist, that both Abram and Jacob tithed - (see Genesis 28:20 - Genesis 35). Melchizedek did not appear to Jacob and there were no priests of God at the time.

Tithing According to the Law (of Moses)

According to the law given to Israel (and not the church) there were two tithes that were practiced annually, and a third tithe every third year.

The first tenth (sacred tithe) was given once a year to the Levites for their priestly services in the tent of meeting, the tabernacle which later became the temple; (Numbers 18:20.24).The temple is now Christ Jesus and His followers. The Levites were priests who made sin offerings for Israel.

The second tenth (feast tithe) was a celebration of God’s blessing done by an Israelite annually. The purpose of this tithe was for the people to learn to [reverently] fear the Lord. They would go yearly to a place God chose for his Name, to eat their entire tithe there in God’s presence. This type of tithe was self beneficial. Givers would eat with their families a tenth of what God blessed them with throughout the year, (Deuteronomy 14:22.26).

The third tenth (aid tithe) was given at the end of every 3rd year. The purpose was to assist the Levites since they had no land to inherit, to help the stranger or temporary residents in the land of Israel; as well as to relieve the fatherless and widows from hunger, (Deuteronomy 14:27.28).

This meant that Israelites, in one year, gave between 20 and 30% of his blessings to the Levites, priests, strangers, fatherless and widow. We are to note that the tenth was not given as money. There was money at the time, however, God was specific in his request; He ordered the tithe to be from agricultural produce and from animal stock - grain, sheep, oxen, strong drinks, wine, etc.. Where the goods were too much to be carried, they were sold (for money) and bought again (with money) when the giver reached his destination, (Deuteronomy 14:25.26). Even during the time of Christ Jesus, before his death and resurrection, the Pharisees tithed mint and herbs and not money, (see Luke 11:42), although there was money at the time, (Matthew 17:27).

The Law shows no mercy. It is strict in its demands. When people failed to pay their tithe they were commanded to bring a guilt offering. A person was to bring a ram from his flock, one without defect, and of proper value in silver according to the sanctuary shekel. On top of that he was to add a fifth of the value that he owed, (Leviticus 5:14.16 and 27:30.31).

Let us note that the tithe was not the reason a blessing was given but it was the proof of blessings already received. Israel did not give crops to get more crops; they gave crops because God had given them rain and good soil that produced many crops for that year.

They did not give flocks to get more sheep and goats; they gave of their flocks because God had given them good grass for their animals to graze and kept the animals free from diseases. Tithing, in its nature, was not the cause of a prosperity, it was the result of prosperity.

Tithe Practices of the Church in Comparison to Israel

- The tithe of Abram had no promise to it and it is not the tithe itself. This particular tithe of Abram could not bring blessings or curses. It is the disobedience to the Law that is spoken of in the 3rd Chapter of Malachi that had brought curses upon Israel. Obedience to the Law brought a promise of protection and provision.

Malachi was only pointing out the curse that had come was because they had stopped tithing. This meant that the priesthood could not function, therefore the sins of the people were not covered as well as them being in disobedience. (The requirements of the Law are given in Deuteronomy chapters 4 to 27 and the promises are in Deuteronomy 28) In order for tithe to be promotable today one must claim to tithe according to Abram and attach the promises in Malachi chapter three to Abram. Taking a few verses from Malachi 3 (protection from the devourer and opening heaven) and adding them to Abram to create a principle is simply mixing two separate practices.

- Tithing is taken from the Old Testament Law and imported to the New Testament grace.

- Tithing was strictly in the form of flock, herds, fruit, grain, all produce from the land; not water or air but land. Today it is substituted by money and time (2 Chronicles 31:5, Leviticus 27:30), yet there was money when tithe was introduced but it did not apply to this.

- The storeroom which was inside the temple in Jerusalem is today being replaced by Church buildings (2 Chronicle 31:11). Yet scripturally the true temple now is the believers and not the buildings.

- The Leviticus priesthood is replaced by the offices of Pastors, Prophet and Teachers, (Ephesians 4:11).

- Tithing as provision for the Levites and priests, for feasts and for the needy is replaced by tithing for preacher’s salary and maintenance of church buildings.

As good as this sounds it is not biblical. These are men’s ideas of how to please God, not God’s own word, or what pleases Him. There is no record of the church being commanded to practice such things in the Bible, yet the church today practices these things that have no scriptural support in the New Testament. One would say Christians are adding their own ideas to the written word of God. They have replaced the teaching of Christ Jesus with their own good ideas of what should be done, overlooking what Christ himself taught and died for.

Let us note that after the New Covenant had been established the apostles did not tithe, the gentile convents were never commanded to tithe or to obey the requirements of the laws of Moses. Only some advice was commanded at the Council of Jerusalem, [Acts 15:1.29] but these were not new laws. Furthermore, Jesus Christ who is of the tribe of Judah has no biblical right to receive a tithe [according to the law], not being of the tribe of Levi. Moreover Money was and is not the substance of the tithe according to the Bible.

Malachi Chapter Three

Malachi, meaning ‘Messenger’, was sent to call Israel back to God for they were unfaithful to their covenant. They were breaking God’s law, cheating Him by not giving Him the offerings that were rightly due to Him. Their unfaithfulness caused all of them to be under God’s curse.

When Joshua was to lead Israel into the Promised Land, Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave them God’s commands on many things including offerings, (Deuteronomy 4-30). They were commanded to take some of the first produce of the land (Canaan) and give them to the Lord (Deuteronomy 26:2) and they were also instructed to pay tithe of all their produce every third year to the Levites, foreigners, orphans and widows so that they may have enough to eat (Deuteronomy 14:22.29, 26:12). They were instructed to be obedient in all these commands and their failure would bring them under a curse (Deuteronomy 28:15.19). This meant that their blessing was conditional on them obeying the commands of God, (Deuteronomy 28:1.14).

In the time of Hezekiah Israel was successful in remembering and obeying the commandments that they received before crossing Jordan. They brought the whole tithe into the storehouse and there was food in the temple, (2 Chronicles 31:1.14).They were blessed.

In the time of Malachi the story was very different because Israel had forgotten to do all that the Lord instructed their forefathers, (Malachi 2:9). As a result they were under the curse that Moses told them about, (Malachi 3:9, Deuteronomy 28:38.42). Here the prophet of God was not giving them a new instruction, he was simply directing them back to the Law Moses had given, that they might be faithful to the covenant God had given them. Their faithfulness would release them from the curses of this covenant and would restore blessings to them in their covenant, (Deuteronomy 30:2.3).

Some of the curses were that their crops would be cursed and eaten by insects (Deuteronomy 28:38.42), the sky would be as unyielding as bronze and the earth be as hard as iron, there would be no rain and the soil would not be fertile to produce, (Deuteronomy 28:23) and that they would lose the Lord’s protection,(Deuteronomy 28:25). Due to their disobedience these curses were active, (Malachi 3:11). So we can see that the curses and blessings Malachi spoke of (Malachi 3: 9 and 10) were not something new but were just part of the Law as given to Israel by Moses, (Deuteronomy 28 and 29). These commands of the Old Covenant were strictly to Israel and the foreigners living with them at the time, (Leviticus 27:34). They were nothing to do with the New Covenant that is entered into by the body and blood of Jesus.

In light of the Old Covenant with Israel

Malachi 3:8 Shall a man rob God?- Israel had been commanded to obey the laws given to them by God through Moses, and a portion of these laws included the paying of tithes and the giving of many kinds of offerings. In the time of Malachi, Israel and their priests were failing to obey all of God’s instructions written in the book of the law, (Deuteronomy 29:14.15). They were robbing God by withholding their tithes from Him.

This means that God had done His part by blessing them and they were failing to do their part, which was to honour him with their tithes and offerings.

9 - You are all under a curse - As a result of failing to obey their part of the covenant they were punished with a curse. Their covenant specifically stated that if they fully obeyed God and kept all his instructions He would bless them in many ways. However, if they failed to fully obey and keep all of God’s instructions He would curse them in many ways, (Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28). So it was, some of the curses were taking place in Malachi’s time as Israel failed to fully obey God. (Deuteronomy 29:12.15).

10 -Bring all the tithes into the storehouse - This specific instruction that they were failing to do in this time was to bring all tithes in to storage as the covenant demanded them to do (Numbers 18:20.28, Deuteronomy 14:22.29, Deuteronomy 26:12.14, 2 Chronicles 31:5.12.

10 - So there will be enough food - The covenant that Israel was given by God commanded them to bring tithes in the form of all the produce from the land of Israel (former Canaan). All this produce was strictly items that could be eaten and specifically those that were from the ground, such as, crops, grain, new wine, olive oil, first born males of flocks and herds, cattle, sheep, goats, mint, herbs and all that their fields produced,(Numbers 18:20.28, Deuteronomy 14:22.29, Deuteronomy 26:12.14, 2 Chronicles 31:5.12, Luke 11:42). Everywhere in the Bible where an Israelite gave tithes it was always in the form of food from the ground and never in the form of money or any other thing. We are to note an interesting fact that God never required tithes in the form of money. This we can note from this scripture: “Now when the Lord your God blesses you with a good harvest, the place of worship He chooses for His Name to be honoured might be too far for you to bring the tithe. If so, you may sell the tithe portion of your crop and herds, put the money in a pouch, and go to the place the Lord your God has chosen. When you arrive, you may use the money to buy any kind of food you want - cattle, sheep, goats, wine, or other alcoholic drink,” Deuteronomy 14:24.26. As far as God’s commands are concerned the tithe will never be acceptable as anything else other than food from the ground and those things specially dedicated to the Lord.

However as far as the ‘charismatic man-made god’ is concerned, tithes will always be acceptable as nothing but money.

10 -Put Me to the test - The test for Israel was to fully submit and commit to fulfilling God’s law according to their Covenant with Him.

10 - See If I will not open the floodgates of heaven - As part of the curse the floodgates of heaven were closed, meaning that there was no rain from heaven [the sky] to water Israel’s ground, for seeds to grow and produce crops and grapes on the vines.(Leviticus 26:19, Deuteronomy 11:17, Deuteronomy 28:23.24).

11 -Then I will rebuke the devourer for you from devouring your crops, and the vine in your fields will not cast their fruit - In continuation of the curses upon Israel for their disobedience before the time had come for Christ Jesus to be born, die and be resurrected their crops were devoured by insects and the vines in their fields were dropping fruits prematurely, (Deuteronomy 28:38.42). This was taking place as their covenant with God had told them.

All this came upon Israel because of their unfaithfulness and their disobedience to the commands of God’s covenant with them. When we consider believers under the New Covenant with the Father, that is entered into by the body and blood of Christ Jesus, all of this is a very different story.

In light of the New Covenant with Church

Malachi 3:8 - Shall a man rob God- Christ Jesus has paid all debts that were due to the Law, (Colossians 2:14).By His death He cancelled the record of debt that stood against all people with its legal demands. He set it aside by nailing it to the cross. He furthermore became sin that those who by the Law would be declared to be thieves, robbing God, would become the righteousness of God through faith alone, apart from any legalistic performances,(2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 2:21,Galatians 3:10, Galatians 5:4). This He did by grace, out of the abundance of His underserved favour and mercy. He indeed paid the debt He did not owe, the debt all owe but could not pay.

Moreover, no man on earth ever owed God any amount of money. The tithe was, is and will never be in the form of money or time according to the scriptures, (Deuteronomy 14:22.26, 2 Chronicles 31:5.7).

9 - You are all under a curse- Christ Jesus took all the curses of the law upon His body, on the cross, and the law has no more power to curse anyone who is not under it.(Galatians 3:13, Galatians 3:25). The only way to be cursed by the law is to be under law.(Galatians 3:10)And the only way to be under law is to be cut off from Christ and fall away from God’s undeserved favour by trying to make yourself right with God by keeping the law,(Galatians 5:4). All this is the reality of anyone who is counting on tithe making them right with God [pleasing to God], (Galatians 5:2). This should be every disciple’s confidence, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness”, not on my performances but wholly on Jesus’ performance for He is the eternal sacrifice, the sacred offering, the sovereign payment God was pleased to give on behalf of all.

To those under the Old Covenant their hope for God’s blessings was on their obedience to the laws given to them [today written in the first 5 books of the bible]. To believers, under the New Covenant, their hope for God’s blessings is faith in Christ Jesus. If their hope for blessings is on tithing, is tithing more than the cross of Christ Jesus.

10 -Bring all tithes into the storehouse - There is no storehouse now because there is no physical temple in Jerusalem, [a mosque is built in the place where the temple used to be]. The storehouse / storeroom was a place inside the original temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 31:11) and the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed more than a thousand years ago, (Luke 21:6).Some men of Israel plan to rebuild a third temple but Jesus Himself has become the temple and those who are part of His body are part of this same temple He is building. (John 2:19 - 21, 1 Corinthians 3:16) The local church buildings are not and do not qualify to be God’s temple either, (Acts 7:48, 17:24) because Christ Jesus himself is the temple (John 2:19.21). He is the believer’s meeting place with God and has made each and every believer individually (1Corinthians 3:16) and corporately (1 Corinthians 6:19) the church, the body of Christ, are the temple being built as a habitation for God by His Spirit. The true Church is to be God’s precious dwelling place (2 Corinthians 6:16, Ephesians 2:22, 2 Peter 2:5). The house of God is not a geographic place built by human hands with physical stones, it is a people built by God’s Spirit on Christ the solid rock, the chief cornerstone, the foundation of eternity. On Christ, the solid rock, the church stands. On Christ, the solid rock, the believers are a temple of praise. The church is not a building but people [believers] who meet inside and outside a building in the Name of the Lord Jesus.

10 - So there will be enough food- The requirement was strictly for food and animals, oil, seed, herds, flocks, fruit and grain, all of the land’s produce and not money,(Deuteronomy 14:22.26, 2 Chronicles 31:5.7, Numbers 18). Christ Jesus is the eternal expression of God’s gracious provision. If He who took all of man’s sin was given freely how then can what is least be bought with money.

10 - Put me to the test - Christ Jesus re-affirmed, “Do not put the Lord to a test (Luke 4:12).

10 - See If I will not open the floodgates of heaven - Blessings are not earned, nor are they bought. They are not contractual under the New Covenant but they are received as a gift. Christ Jesus paid for them all, (Romans 4:13.16, Romans 8:32, Ephesians 2:8.9, 1 Corinthians 2:12). He opened the throne room to God’s grace, the promise of life in abundance depends on Him apart from any ritual performances [tithing] nor our physical abilities, skills and talents. The riches are given because He became poor, “For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognising more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favour and spiritual blessing) [in] that though he was [so very] rich, yet for your sake He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied),” (2 Corinthians 8:9 Amp). As the writer says every promise of God finds their yes [answer] in Him Christ Jesus…. So be it.

Furthermore heaven opened on Jesus, yet It is not recorded that He ever paid tithes (Mark 1:10).We can also see the great miracles in His ministry, even money from a fishes’ mouth to pay taxes, yet he did not pay tithes to receive this, (Matthew 17:27).

11 - I will rebuke (prevent) the devourer. And he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its fruits before time in the field - Christ Jesus alone is the believer’s guarantee of the Father’s protection against all evil in this world (Galatians 1:4, John 17:11.12.15, Hebrews 2:18). God disarmed Satan and his armies through and by Christ Jesus on the cross, (Colossians 2:15). Of course this does not mean hardships won’t come but that victory is already achieved. Let us again not forget that all of the devil’s works were publicly exposed and undone [destroyed, dissolved] through and by the visible manifestation of Christ Jesus on the cross, (1 John 3:8). In Christ nothing shall in anyway harm you.

The Endorsement

“Woe to you, Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every [little] herb. But disregard and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done without leaving the others undone,” (Luke 11:42).

As much as some would like to believe that Jesus was publicly declaring believers to tithe by quoting the above passage, this scripture refers to an incident before the New Covenant. This is, first of all, a warning. The Lord was rebuking the Pharisees for upholding tithing more than they did the more important aspects of their law which are justice, mercy, faithfulness and love.

We know that everything commanded by Jesus, (Matthew 5, 6, 7; Matthew 16:18) was passed on and taught through the disciples, the apostles and prophets, who later became the foundation on which the true Church is built, (Ephesians 2:20). It did not come through the Pharisees. When Jesus spoke this rebuke to the Pharisees Jesus had not yet died and been raised from the dead and the New Covenant had not yet been established.

The Lord was speaking to people under the Law, reminding them of their law. However He did not teach the same to His disciples. This supposed endorsement of tithing would be strange since the New Covenant believers in the bible did not practice it. If this was an endorsement of tithing then all the believers in the New Testament [starting from the book of Acts] committed a great sin. There were many gentile followers of Christ Jesus in the time and the apostles, who were Jewish men, but they did not teach them the laws they had once been under, (Acts 15, Galatians 2:4.6, Galatians 3, Galatians 4:21.31, Galatians 5:1.13.14, Titus 1:14).

Let the reader note that the Church is not Israel. The Church should have no leader except Christ. The Church has no Levitical priesthood and Gentiles are most definitely not Pharisees. They have no Jewish Law and they know no Jewish Law but only live by that which their ancestors taught them as traditional regulations and rituals. They know no tithe and without Christ Jesus they are an outcast.

Paul the apostle greatly opposed those Jews who tried to impose their Jewish laws on the Gentile believers, (Galatians 2). It is an awful sight to behold Gentile Christians who by trying to keep the Mosaic Law are nothing but enemies of God, trying to impose the very law that rejects them (from being God’s precious possession) onto each other, (Ephesians 2:11.13, Colossians 1:21.22). By this they enslave one another with things that they do not understand (Jewish regulations). They neglect the freedom that they should have in Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14) and subject themselves to God’s curse; for anyone who keeps one part of the law must keep the whole law, (Deuteronomy 27:26, Galatians 3:10). To keep the whole law would necessitate the offering of animal sacrifices for their sins and the performing of all the Jewish rituals; for in the law, Christ Jesus is not to be found and faith is void, only works being valid to obtain righteousness.

There are works required of those who walk by faith, but not to obtain righteousness. He who denies the poor denies the Lord (Matthew 25:41.46); He who does not care for fellow believers, his family and the gospel nullifies his faith (James 2:14.26).

The Psychology of Tithe

Many sincere believers behave like Jacob, who, when God gave him the promise of his grandfather Abraham, and father Isaac, was told, “I will protect you wherever you go. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised,” (Genesis 28:15). Jacob responded with a vow saying ,“If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food and clothing, and if I return safely to my father’s home, then the Lord will certainly be my God… and I will present God a tenth of everything He gives me,” (Genesis 28:20.22). This clearly showed doubt for God took it upon Himself to bless Jacob out of His own favour upon Jacob, yet Jacob wanted to receive the blessings contractually. When God said I am the God of your grandfather Abraham and father Isaac, and I promises to give what I promise, Jacob responded, “Give those things and You will be my God and I will pay you a tenth.” Yet God was clear in His approach for later we see that Jacob, when he returned to that place, blessed with possessions and eleven sons and another son shortly to be born, there was no Melchizedek to meet him, no priest to take His tithe and he only gave wine poured on a stone pillar foreshadowing Christ Jesus the solid rock who would build His church by the shedding of His blood as an offering to God, (Genesis 35:14.15). When the Father says today to his sons, “I will bless you, I will protect you, and I will provide for you, I will never leave you because I was pleased with my servant Jesus of Nazareth on your behalf,” like Jacob they respond, “Let’s make a deal - here is a tenth, so give to me all those things, yet God said when He began, “Because of my servant [Christ Jesus] I will give you those things.” We can see from this that tithe does not really require faith. It is a simple obligation God gave to Israel, that from what He had given them they gave back a tenth of it to God [through the priests].

When looking at the tithe of Abram and Melchizedek, who resembled the Son of God, (Hebrews 7:3), there is no human or angelic third party between them. We would say either Melchizedek was there on behalf of God [he was the third party] or he was God in every respect and there was no third party between them. Now under the law, tithing requires a third party [the Levites] who receives the tithe payment on behalf of God.

However If there is a tithe in the New Testament then those who collect it would be the fourth person because Jesus, in the order of Melchizedek, the one who replaced the Old Testament priesthood, is already the third party who if needed would collect it Himself like the other old priests. I say this being aware of this, “When you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you were doing it to me,” (Matthew 25:40).

If those who collect a tenth do it on behalf of Jesus, then what they suggest is this: Jesus is God [which is correct and acceptable] and as the third party they are either priests in the order of Melchizedek or the Levites [which is incorrect and unacceptable].

This is because only Jesus is High priest in the order of Melchizedek (He who resembles the Son of God) and if they are priests in the order of Levi then they are simply under the Law of Moses claiming to be Israelites living as in the past, a time when Jesus had not come. If they are priests, neither as Melchizedek or Levi, but rightly New Testament priests having Jesus as their only High Priest, they are true, however, their error is this; if tithes are accepted according to Jesus then all believers should receive it because all are priests under Christ Jesus the High Priest, all being called to serve the Father. This would mean that in a congregation two persons must exchange their tithes for if one man claims that all are a “royal priesthood” yet he alone receives tithe then he is claiming to be High priest, a believer above other priestly believers. This then disqualifies the scriptures that say Jesus of Nazareth is the only High Priest.

This might sound confusing for it is indeed. It is an offering of strange fire to God, confusion from the heart of hell.

Tithing is to the saints today what circumcision was to the believers at the beginning of the Church age, those being lured to come back under the Law, like the Galatians, the believers in Crete and many others back then,(Galatians 2.11, Titus 1:10.14).

Many may say we are tithing, not according to Moses but according to Abram. Even if true as this is they neglect this, that Abram circumcised his sons as well, (Genesis 21:4.

And like tithing, circumcision became regulated by the law. So then if the believers tithe according to Abram and not Moses shouldn’t they be circumcised according to Abram.

No! They are not circumcised then why do they tithe? This is the same argument of Paul to the Galatians when some people wanted to enslave them and force them to follow Jewish regulations, nullifying the freedom that they had in Christ Jesus, (Galatians 2:4).

Many may say God is working miracles among us because we pay tithes. Paul asked the Galatians who had the same idea on the issue of circumcision, “Is God working miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ.” (Galatians 3:5).

- Tithing creates a sense of self righteousness, and people who pay it often believe that they have a right to demand anything from God because their money gives them the privilege, (Romans 11:35). Like the Pharisee in the parable they utter, ‘I give the whole tenth of my income.” (Luke 18:12).

- Tithing in most cases seems to confuse those tithing into putting their confidence on their performances [their money] as a guarantee of God’s blessing rather than on Christ alone, (Psalm 20:7, Philippians 3:3, and Romans 4:13.16).

- Tithing creates a fear of the devil, many who pay often do so because they fear that the devourer will destroy their finances. This clearly suggests that money is a security against the devil rather than Jesus Christ being their security, He who defeated, disarmed and destroyed the works of Satan by his death. A financial principle is used to replace Jesus and his finished work.

- Failure to pay tithes often condemns many sincere believers. Upon their failure to pay tithes they might even go before their fellow believers to do unnecessary repenting [some emotional prayers of forgiveness] because they have cheated God.

- A large number of believers are compelled to tithe, although they are told it is “not according to the law of Moses,” yet they are still psychologically and emotionally forced to tithe because no tithe will mean no financial breakthrough and no protection of finances. Yet the very Bible says, “Don’t give under compulsion.” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Tithing, in its very nature when attached to it the promise of protection and provision, is compelling. But God does not compel people to give and is able to make all grace (every favour and earthly blessing) come to us in abundance (2 Corinthians 9:8) because His Son became poor that He might make us rich.(2 Corinthians 8:9)

- Tithing might be mixed with faith - payers often paying and believing that because they paid favour will be given to them. But God’s favour, or favour from God, is unmerited (not earned and not deserved). Christ Jesus, the yes and amen of God’s promises, was given to us - unearned - and through His death earned forgiveness, health, life, wealth for us, (Romans 4:13, Romans 8:32, 1 Corinthians 2:12, Ephesians 2:8.9). Moreover, tithing that has promises linked to it is contractual [it is under law] and it does not require faith but performance (doing the laws). Abram was promised nothing when he tithed.

- Tithing might suppress a believer’s nature to love actively. In the very buildings that believers assemble there might be many poor believers and while everyone is acting like an unthinking machine they might not even see that there are the needy in their midst. They keep on giving to one man when many men might be sleeping in cardboard houses, going to sleep in hunger. Isn’t this faith without deeds that James spoke about? (James 2:15.16).

- Tithing might have an attitude of self-centredness attached to it. Many who tithe are focused on their desire to be wealthy because of the promise of an open heaven in Malachi Chapter 3. There is no sense of love in it; there is nothing of Christ Jesus and a love for one’s neighbour. Many who tithe claim to be motivated by love yet if the thought of the devourer and abundant provision would be removed from them, they would stop tithing because their reasons for tithing is about them and them alone. There is a reality without tithing in which God is able to enrich anyone, but not everyone will be a millionaire, even those who tithe.

- Tithing causes emotional oppression, trampling over the freedom that Christ Jesus died to give. Many family breadwinners often have to choose between taking care of their families and paying tithes, with the little that they earn this causes them to be unable to take care of their families properly. No wonder the young are sometimes crying, “My family and I would be living a financially satisfying life but we can’t because my father takes all the money in the house and gives to the pastor!” The bible instructs, “if anyone fails to provide for his relatives, and especially for those of his family, he has disowned the faith (by failing to accompany it with works) and is worse than an unbeliever (who performs his obligation in these matters),” (1 Timothy 5:8). Remember, the Spirit instructed through Paul, “Give as you have decided in your heart, not as you are forced,” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Give and not pay!

- Tithing encourages the belief that the only way for a believer to be rich is to make the so called “man of God” rich. This is gross error. Such an opined principle is not God’s truth.

- Tithing undermines the believer’s common sense, making them behave in an illogical way that even non-Christians can discern. If a thousand men give to one man who do you think will be rich? However if a thousand men give to 500 men [including the one man] who have less, won’t everyone be satisfied?

- Those believers who tithe are brought under the law which would scripturally suggest that to them and for them Christ Jesus did not die. They are living in the Old Covenant as practiced before Christ came.

- All believers are one man in Christ. There are no separate special men akin to Levites, no clergy class, but all are part of a level brotherhood. If one is special all are special in and through Christ Jesus, (Galatians 3:28). All are a part of the spiritual temple and all are priests through the mediation of Christ Jesus, (1 Peter 2:5); all are equal brothers; all are disciples of Christ Jesus, (Matthew 23:8). If then this is the case, who is qualified to receive a tithe?

If any man gives a tenth of his money as he desires in his heart it is not a sin, it is simply giving and not paying an Old Covenant legalistic tenth. However if any man should practice tithing love ceases to be his only motivation but compliance to a law. And if anyone should receive the tithe on behalf of Christ Jesus, thinking that he is in a ministry class above his brethren, he is acting like a Levite or some super Apostle, and he becomes a mediator between Christ and his fellow believers nullifying the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

The Place of Giving in the New Testament

The New Covenant brought a huge change. Instead of obeying laws believers were to be led by the Holy Spirit who was now indwelling them. The nature of giving therefore changed, the place of giving changed and the attitude towards giving changed. People no longer gave mint and herbs; they could now give money. No longer did they give a tenth, they gave as they had prospered - some gave all, (1 Corinthians 16:1.2, 2 Corinthians 8:1.5). They did not give in compliance to the commands of the law; they felt what they had was not theirs; therefore they shared with their brothers. They did not give to Levites and priests, they gave to the apostles of Jesus and the money did not go to the temple service or to make the apostles wealthy. It was shared according to each believer’s need and in some cases to relieve other believers who assemble elsewhere,(2 Corinthians 9:1.6).

The place of giving was not to a building, it was to the needy, the support of other believers and the funding of the gospel ministry, (Matthew 19:21, Matthew 25:31.46).

The Father’s desire is that the church should be a community of people who practice love for one another, regulated by the love He has given them and not by laws. His ultimate love experience is when believers care for one another, loving one another as He first loved us, (Galatians 6:10).They would share what they have with those who didn’t have,(Matthew 25:31.46, Matthew 19:21) and support the gospel. If there are ministries, ‘giving’ is one which all are called to, (1 Corinthians 9:14, 2 Corinthians 8:1.14, 2 Corinthians 9:1.9).

In Paul’s letters to the believers in Corinth Paul urges them to financially help the believers in Jerusalem. He was not urging them to give him a tenth as payment for the work he was doing but that they should help their brothers.

Let us note that Jesus of Nazareth is of the tribe of Judah and under the Law he is no priest and cannot receive tithes. No matter how godly, the tithe was legally only meant for the sons of Levi. Paul, as a scholar of the law, a Pharisee from the tribe of Benjamin, would have known this very well. As an apostle of Christ Jesus he did not demand any tithe from the gentile converts or any Jew. Furthermore, Barnabas a son of Levi, who was entitled to receive tithes under the Law, never demanded any tithes when he and Paul were not financially supported while preaching the gospel,(1 Corinthians 9:6). The services of a disciple of Christ Jesus are different from those of a Levite, Christ Jesus is the temple, He is the offering, He is the high priest and the Covenant is his not Moses’.

The Churches’ Examples from the New Testament [Acts 4 and 5]

As the believers grew in number those in need were cared for by their fellow believers.

The believers shared what they had as they felt that all they owned did not belong to them. They would sell what they had and gave to the apostles to distribute to everyone as they had need. As a result there were no needy people. Barnabas the Levite sold a field he owned and gave the money to the apostles and it was given to the needy, (Act.

4:32.37).

We see no mention of tithe payments between the believers. This is because, although these were men of Israel, they were no more identified as Israelites but as the Church, and the church is one man in Christ. He has neither tribe nor race, is neither Jew nor Greek, no gender, neither male nor female. He is one of many men in the image and identity of one man, Christ Jesus. The scripture says, “There is neither Jew nor gentile,” (Romans 10:12), “for they are all one.”(Galatians 3:28).

We see something remarkable, Barnabas a Levite, who is by law entitled to receive tithe from his fellow Israelites, giving all his income to the apostles of Christ Jesus, instead of them giving to him.(Acts 4:36.37).

An incident from Acts 5 teaches us what the early Christians practiced -“Freely giving by their choice and not compulsory giving..

Ananias had promised to sell his property and give all the money to the apostles, Peter and John, so that the money could be used to care for the needs of other believers.

Ananias sold the property as he had decided, however, he did not give the whole amount as he had promised but lied and kept a portion for himself. He said the money that he had placed before the apostles was the whole amount! He did this as if someone compelled him to sell the property and give, yet it was he who had decided how much to give in the first place.

According to the words of Peter the money was at Ananias’ disposal and under his control, (Acts 5:4). We see no mention of a portion of the money belonging to God as a tithe. The whole amount belonged to Ananias and was in his control. In the previous chapter it says the believers were one in heart and mind so when Ananias kept back some of his money, he proved he was not like the other believers.

Some would rush to say that only 10% belonged to God but we see here that all the money (100%) was in Ananias’ control and it was out of his will that he was to give as he decided .However he lied to the Holy Spirit and as a result he died.

Those who owned lands and houses sold them and brought back the whole amount received from sales [100%]. No one told them to do this. They decided to do this when they felt they had to share with those who had less. The motivation for their giving was love. The amount of 100% to give was decided by them, (Acts 4:34). None of them paid a tithe and kept 90% for themselves. They were sober minded in their practice of love and they paid no tithe but gave all they had, not to enrich Peter and John, but to assist those who lacked. If tithing was a requirement, here the apostles could have instructed the people to go and give a tenth to the Levites. And if Peter, who was not a Levite and John, also not a Levite, were entitled to receive tithes as the ‘churches’ leaders’ do today, they could have taken the money for themselves. However they distributed the money to everyone who had need.

We are left with major questions that we must ask ourselves.

Let us be certain, throughout the New Testament there are many strict instructions to Christians but there is no single instruction of tithe. If the tithe was as important as it is made today the apostles could have made emphasis of it as do today’s preachers.

And also importantly, if tithe is valid today, where and when exactly did it change from being of the produce of the land to money? If it is not according to Moses but Abram when and where did it change from a once off payment to a monthly or weekly payment? When did it change from spoils of war to personal wealth? And because Abram gave 10% to Melchizedek and did not keep 90% for himself but gave the balance to a pagan king - a man whose city was later destroyed by God - why are the saints keeping 90% and not giving it to heathens.

If it is given to Jesus in the order of Melchizedek when and who did Jesus appoint as an intermediary to receive tithed money on his behalf.

If it is given according to Abram and not Moses, for what is it given and which promise does a tithe payer claim? For the promises and reasons in Malachi 3, is a practice under law? If it is under grace, shouldn’t Jesus be the payment; paid to the Old Covenant laws of God, on behalf of every believer.

If it is given according to Abram whilst claiming the promises in Malachi 3, aren’t grace and law being mixed? Is the tithe being twisted because every promise of God is “Yes” and “Amen” in Christ Jesus? If Abram gave to claim no promise of return, and he gave to fulfil no law, why did he give and why do the believers give.

If it is given according to Abram is the giver robbing God, because only those under law were robbing God? Abram did not give it by God’s command. If people are robbing God in not tithing, is it because they no longer give according to Abram but according to the Law of Moses? If so are they not still under the law.

If people are paying tithes because Moses’ law demands it, aren’t they cut off from Christ and have fallen from God’s grace? (Galatians 3:10). If they only tithe but do not obey the whole law aren’t they guilty of breaking the Law of Moses because they are not doing the whole law? Is this the reason why they fear if they don’t tithe, that God’s protection and provision will be gone and the enemy will attack and destroy their money? Have they lost confidence in Christ Jesus and His finished work alone, their confidence being put on their performance to pay tithes? Are they under a delusion that money brings a smile to God’s face? Isn’t our protection from the devil and God’s provision because we are in Christ, not because we are fulfilling some financial ritual to please God? (Galatians 2:21).

If what the apostle Paul said about circumcision and uncircumcision applies also to tithing can we say, “For in Christ Jesus, neither tithes paid or tithes unpaid counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love”.

In other words if a man wants to give a portion of his money because he loves to see the needy provided for and the gospel of Christ Jesus reaching the lost, let it be to that man according to his faith whether it is a tenth of his income or more or less than this.

However if that man gives a tenth because he is afraid of the devourer or because he thinks the Father will stop blessing him, that man has not experienced the freedom of Christ Jesus. That man does not know the newness of life the Lord came to bring. Our giving should be by faith expressed and working through love [in the Spirit] not limited by a percentage instructed by any laws or any man.

The Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15]

There was a dispute in the church at Antioch in Syria when some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the Gentile converts that they should observe the Law of Moses. Paul and Barnabas, apostles of Jesus Christ, vehemently disagreed with these men. A decision could be agreed upon so the church sent the apostles and some local believers to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem to resolve the matter.

The argument of these Jews from Judea was that “unless you are circumcised as required by the Law of Moses you cannot be saved.” At the council in Jerusalem some believers from the sect of the Pharisees protested the same, that, “the Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the laws of Moses..

These laws included the observation of the tithe. Failure to keep the practice of tithing meant that the curse of the law would come upon the transgressor. (Deuteronomy 28.

This is the curse that had come upon Israel in the time of Malachi.

The church at Jerusalem decided on the matter in the Holy Spirit and the conclusion was not to “challenge God by burdening the Gentile believers with the yoke that the Israelites could not endure.” It was agreed by the church, with the Holy Spirit, to lay no greater burden on the Gentile believers than to give certain instructions; to abstain from food offered to idols, from consuming blood and the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. We see here that there is no mention of tithing. Nowhere in the New Testament did any disciple pay tithes. If the tithe was important or a requirement from God, as is suggested today, this was the place and time where an instruction could have been made to the Gentile converts. It would seem, therefore, that the doctrine of tithing somehow made its way into the church in more recent times, after the apostles died.

The Gospel and Tithe

“The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest and ask him to send more workers into his fields,’ (Luke 10:2).

There in is God’s view and thoughts about the world. The harvest is ripe and ready however the issue is harvesters, not money. Tithing was never meant to be the means of supporting the gospel. When the Lord sent out the 72 disciples they did not depend on tithes for their ministry, in fact they were told to not carry money, to receive hospitality freely wherever they went. The gospel workers received support but not tithe.

Those who receive a teacher have a responsibility to take care of that teacher as they have means, (1 Corinthians 9:14). Although it is a good idea (to men) that tithe is used to support the gospel, the gospel was originally supported by those who received it, as they had ability to supply, (Philippians 4:10.18), not as the Old Covenant law of Israel demanded. The law is of Moses and should not be fused with the gospel of Christ Jesus, to create a new gospel in the name of prosperity. The true gospel of the kingdom of God is worthy of support because in it is eternal life, something that money cannot buy.

The law demanded a tenth, the gospel is greater than the law and it is free, however if anything should be given towards the gospel it should be worthy of the gospel.

Spirit Led Giving

What the Bible describes as a ‘mystery of God’ is that Christ is no longer to be found in a geographic location but that He “lives in the believer,” (Colossians 1:27). Dwelling in each believer means that He speaks to them, and able to tell them what to do, (Acts 8:29). This also applies to giving and the Lord does on occasions tell people what to give, where to give and how much to give.

This does not mean people should always wait for the Lord to tell them to give. No. We are to not take being led by the Spirit too far. We do not wait for the Lord to tell us to eat or we may die of hunger. We do not wait for the Lord to tell us what to wear. Being led by the Holy Spirit is not always getting instructions and acting on them but the natural outworking of a walk with God. So it is that we give as we are led. We do not wait for the Lord to tell us to give. When we already see a need, our giving is ordered by the love of Christ in us.

Concerning ‘giving’ the Lord teaches that first one must forgive or ask forgiveness from anyone holding grudges against us, and then he can go to present his gift to the Lord,(Matthew 5:23.24). Giving must be according to what one has, not what he has not, (Deuteronomy 16:17, 2 Corinthians 8:11.12). Each should give, not under obligation or forced by any law, or any financial principle, but freely to give, out of the love of Christ that is in him, (1 John3:17.18, Acts 22:44.45). There are many scriptures that tell us whom to give to, whether to the poor, (Proverbs 19:17) orphans and widows, the prisoner,(Matthew 25:36, James 1:27) the gospel minister,(Galatians 6:6) or to a fellow believer in need, (James 2:14.17). The Holy Spirit shall lead yet the giver is at liberty to choose where he wants to give, (Proverbs 11:24.25). However, giving must flow out of a loving heart and with generosity (Deuteronomy 15:10) in obedience to the Holy Spirit of God within the believer, (1 Samuel 15:22, 2 Corinthians 8:5). It should be in secret, not letting the left hand know what the right hand is doing, and not to be seen by men to gain praise, (Matthew 6:3.4). Then the Lord will give back according to the giver’s measure.(Luke 6:38, 2 Corinthians 9:6).

The Ideal Servant (1 Corinthians 4:9.14, 2 Corinthians 4:5.12)

To see in the life of the apostles the same life that Jesus lived, for “He became poor that we might be rich,” (2 Corinthians 8:9).Knowing Jesus was not a means to satisfy their unquenched desires for fame and fortune. It was not a license for them to manipulate others into making them rich. It was a way of life for them to be living love epistles of Christ, so that they too could say, “We became poor that you may be enriched with the life, love knowledge and wisdom by the Spirit of Him who was, is and is to come..

In an encounter with Christ Jesus through the scripture [John 17] by His Spirit, a young man asked.

“What did the disciples have when I called them?” the Lord asked.

They had material achievements, the young man answered.

“What did they receive from me?” asked the Lord.

The young man thought about it, then the Lord instructed, ‘“Look carefully at John 17.“While the young man was looking the Lord said, “See, I have given them the words of my Father.”(John 17:8.14.

It took the young man by shock to realise that the disciples left all their earthly glories, professions and careers - to receive nothing but words. Some were fishermen, others were accountants (tax collectors), others were lawyers (Pharisees), others were doctors, and they left their professions to follow Christ Jesus. They left their lives to be with Jesus as His disciples for three years. He gave them no money, no cars, no houses - only words. They then went around all their days spreading these words to others and even die because of these words that were given to them. To them it was not about honour, fame or wealth, it was about these words. What did they get in return for forsaking all they had, to go around telling people about a man? They received a life filled with physical persecution and suffering. Many of them died in pain for these words about Christ Jesus, (Acts 7:54.60, and Acts 12:2). Sometimes they had plenty, sometimes they had less but it was their joy to spread the message of Christ Jesus and even die for Him, (Philippians 4:12). Some were imprisoned in foreign countries, beheaded, crucified and even boiled. Their life was a struggle. But they learned to be content in all situations. If necessary they worked with their hands to make money to care for their needs while preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, (Acts 20:33.35). They did not always have money but they had words accompanied with a Name that has power, (Acts 3:6).Yet they never used this Name to rob the poor, they used this powerful Name instead, to bring solutions freely to the poor. They had no great assets; Christ Jesus was their great asset. This is not to encourage poverty but to demonstrate unconditional love. They were not seeking fame but to make known the glory of Jesus Christ to the whole world, (2 Corinthians 4:5).

God’s Temple

King David desired with all his heart to build a temple for the Lord to dwell in but God promised King David saying, “I will raise up your seed after you who will come forth from you, and I will establish His Kingdom. He shall build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of His Kingdom forever,” (2 Samuel 7:14). This Seed was first formed in a woman’s womb, (Psalm 139:13, Isaiah 7:14, Jeremiah 1:5). It was the only begotten Son of God. This seed fell to the ground, died and brought forth many sons, (John 12:24, 1 John 5:1, Romans 10:9.10). These very sons are called forth to follow Jesus, (Matthew 16:24, Matthew 23:8.10, 1 John 2:27, Colossians 2:6). These living stones being built up, stone [flesh-spirit] upon stone [flesh-spirit], by the Lord, (Ephesians 2:20.22, 1 Peter 2:5). The Lord Himself is the chief cornerstone that the builders of denominations continue to reject, (Ephesians 2:20). It is one building of many living stones, (1 Corinthians 3:16). It is not many buildings (Catholic, Anglicans, Presbyterian, Baptist, Pentecostal, Charismatics, house churches… etc.). It is one building, built by no man but by the Lord himself; as he said “I will build” Matthew 16:18.

It is not built of brick or stones made with hands, (Acts 7:48). Every stone is a lively stone, not fixed, one stone upon another, yet joined to all, joined to one another by a unity of faith, of one Spirit and with one Head, (John 10:16, Ephesians 4:5.6). They are not joined by creed, commitment/church membership, or any of man’s good ideas, but called and chosen by God, a holy habitation for God to dwell in by His Spirit ,(Ephesians 2:22).

What is the Tithe?

Many dictionaries define the tithe as a tenth of income. In the secular world this is man’s definition but God’s description of the tithe is different. The tithe according to scripture is specific. It is not a tenth of income that qualifies to be a holy tithe unto the Lord. God clearly tells Israel what it was they should tithe: “And all the tithe of the land [whether] of the seed of the land (field) or of the fruit of tree [is] the Lord’s [it is] holy unto the Lord.” (Leviticus 27:30).

“…be sure to tithe annually, once a year from everything you plant that yields a harvest in the field…” (Deuteronomy 14:22).

“You shall eat the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your olive oil, and the first born of your livestock (cows etc.) and flock (sheep and goats etc.)….” (Deuteronomy 14:23).

“…then you shall exchange it (the tithes) for money, take the money in your hand, and go to a place which the Lord your God chooses. And you shall spend that money for whatever (food) your heart desires: oxen or sheep, wine or similar drink… and you shall eat (the tithe) before the Lord your God…”Deuteronomy 14:25.26.

…“And all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, new wine, and the oil into the storehouse (storerooms)…” (Nehemiah 13:12).

“At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms [storehouses] for the contribution, first fruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and Levites.”(Nehemiah 12:44).

…. “Also brought tithes of cattle and sheep, as well as tithes of (holy things) that were dedicated to the Lord their God…” (2 Chronicles 31:6.

“……that there may be meat *(enough food) “……Malachi 3:1.

“For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin…” (Matthew 23:23).

As we can see from these scriptures God did not require the tithe to be income of everything a man earns. In true sense, the tithe that is holy and acceptable unto the Lord is the tithe from the land. Again we are to note that the tithe as was demanded by the Lord was not necessarily from man’s labour but from the Lord’s blessings of the field [food from the ground and the livestock upon it]. As we can see from the above scriptures the tithe is not in the form of money. It was in the form of food, although there was money at the time, it was not something acceptable as the holy tithe (Deuteronomy 14:25.26). It is a fact that there was money long before the tithe was introduced. (See Genesis 23:16). The only time the tithe might have been in the form of any other thing was in those things that were especially dedicated to the Lord God by the Israelites, (see Leviticus 27 & 2 Chronicles 31:6).

What then is the tithe?

The tithe was a tenth of the Lord’s blessings from the fields in the land of Israel. It was holy unto the Lord and given to the priestly tribe of Levi by the other Israelite tribes. It was God’s system of maintaining the necessary temple service, first in the tabernacle in the wilderness and later in Jerusalem. It was one of the requirements that were in place to ensure the carrying out of the requirements of the Old Covenant between God and Israel, before the new and eternal agreement that was to be established by the blood of the Messiah. It was to ensure an observation to the laws given to them by God. In practice it was mainly in the form of things that could be eaten [food] and other things that were dedicated to the Lord.

“The law [Moses’ teachings] and the prophets were [in force] until John the Baptist….” Jesus said, (Luke 16:16).

Who Was the Tithe Given To?

“Now the law requires [commands] the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth (a tithe) from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites….” (Hebrews 7:5).

The tithe was for the tribe of Levi from whom came the priests for their services in the Tabernacle and Temple, (Numbers 19:21) for they had no land of their own. It was also given to the foreigners living among the Israelites, the orphans, and the widows in the towns of Israel, (Deuteronomy 14:28.29). Furthermore, the Israelites families were to take their tithes of every third year and go to a special place and eat it there before the Lord, (Deuteronomy 14:24.27). Moreover a tithe of the tithe received by the Levites was sacred to the Lord. The tribe of Levi was to give it to Aaron the high priest, (Numbers 18:25.26).

Under the New Covenant every believer is now a priest but the false practice of treating those who minister as priests is now widespread. It is unscriptural and an idea of man, and not of God. However, those who minister must eat for every worker deserves his wage.(Luke 10:7) But they must not eat by extracting or demanding money or support as if entitled to it as by the law as the modern day teaching on tithing would infer. They are not under the law or employees according to the law; they should minister by the Spirit, serving by the Spirit. They should not eat by the law but they should eat of what the Spirit gives them through their fellow brethren. It is not the law that they ought to preach, as many do. It is not the law that is at work within the believer, it is the Spirit.

The law gives commands and is outward but the Spirit convicts within. The Holy Spirit motivates by love within each true believer. And this love of the Spirit that is shed abroad in the hearts of every believer shall motivate the believers to provide bountifully.

Those called to minister (serve) are not called to perform sacred duties as in the Tabernacle or Temple of the Old Covenant,(Numbers 4:1.33 & 18:2).The Tabernacle of the New Covenant is in heaven.(Hebrews 8:5, Hebrews 9:11 Revelation 15:5).

Those who minister are not called to handle any priestly rituals associated with the altar, (Numbers 18:7).The true altar is in heaven, (Revelation 6:9).

Those who minister do not offer animals day and night to God as a covering for people’s sins thereby purifying the people of their sins and making them right with the Lord,(Leviticus 4:20. 26 .31). God has offered Christ Jesus as an offering for the sins of the whole world, (Romans 8:3.4, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 John 2:2) and by faith in Him they are made right with God, (Romans 3:22.31).

Those who minister do not mediate between people and God for One is the true mediator, even Christ Jesus, (1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 9:15). They do not intercede on behalf of the people,(Leviticus 9:22.24, Numbers 6:22.27) for One is He who forever intercedes on behalf of men, even Christ Jesus,(Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25).

They do not enquire of the Lord for other believers (Exodus 28:30) for the Lord speaks to all, as He is within, (Romans 8:1, Colossians 1:27).

They do not teach people the laws of God (Deuteronomy 33:10) for One is the Teacher, (Matthew 23:8.10) and the anointing that is no longer just “upon” is now within to teach all things,(1 John 2:27).

None who minister under the New Covenant are as the Levites, so they aren’t suppose to share in any Levitical inheritance, for the priesthood was taken away from Levi (Hebrews 7:11.12). And if the priesthood was taken away the duties and the gifts are no more, (Hebrews 8:13, Hebrews 10:9).

Those believers who are called to preach the gospel may make their living from the gospel as it is a command from the Lord that those who give their lives to preaching the gospels should receive their living from the gospel,(Luke 10:7, 1 Corinthians 9:14).

Those that are entitled to receive their living from the gospel, however, cannot demand payment as if from the law. They cannot reintroduce tithing which is a command of the law [of Moses] and not a message of the good news of the kingdom of God, (Luke 16:16). Some are called to serve, to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ…until all come to such unity of faith and the knowledge of His Son…” (Ephesians 4:11.13). It is the responsibility of those who receive, to share all good things with them [provide for their living].

However, this does not mean they cannot work with their hands to provide for themselves. Many who need the gospel are poor. And to those not yet in the Kingdom of God, the provision cannot come but must come from believers elsewhere. But in reality the provision comes from God Himself who can and will motivate who He wishes to give.

…. “Since then, the good news about the kingdom of God has been proclaimed [preached]….” Luke 16:16.

Harlotry

The practice of tithing and any other Old Covenant ritual or ceremony is in fact harlotry, as God has now given us a New Covenant. Living by Old Testament systems, treating the buildings built with hands as if they were holy and the house of God, is to deny the true temple which is now the Body of Christ with Jesus at her Head. To retain priesthood over other believers and even appoint high priests is to deny the only High Priest who is Jesus Christ the Lord, and the reality that all His brethren are now priests.

To impose control from a clergy class over what should be a level brotherhood and call non submission to this hierarchy, to be rebellion, is not of God, but sinners lording over other sinners in the name of “obedience and submission to God”. Having and enquiring of personal prophets; submitting to God through men who are only sinners claiming to be New Testament Moses; creating priests - New Testament Levites - who are in reality Gentiles - and continuing any other Old Covenant system is harlotry because we now have a new and better Covenant. By doing these things the church is like Oholibah who saw the prostitution of her sister Oholah yet gave herself to even more prostitution!(Ezekiel 23:5.21).

The church should have learned from Israel’s examples of unfaithfulness to their Covenant yet much that calls itself the ‘church’ is even worse of a prostitute than Israel.

What then was Israel’s prostitution? Turning their back on their covenant with God and practicing things that God warned them not to do, such as idolatry. In the same way the church has moved away from her Covenant and practices things that are not within her Covenant with God.

What are those things? The paying of tithes is one of them: the New Testament says have faith in the Christ Jesus and do away with the slave woman and her son - the Old Covenant system of the Law of Moses and its practices - (Galatians 4:30). By practicing the deeds of the Law of Moses and relying on them as a means of earning favour and a right relationship with God, the Church is participating in another Covenant, the Old Covenant that is now obsolete.

The New Covenant says “… we have been made right in God’s sight by faith; we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done.” (Romans 5:1). For Israel of old the Old Covenant meant that they only had peace with Jehovah through participating in the deeds of the law which included paying tithes and by not doing this they were not at peace with Yahweh. For the believers it is the opposite, for only through believing in Jesus Christ are they righteous and anything more than this if from the devil. Nothing that men do has ever been enough to earn us a place in God, only Jesus Christ, the eternal offering is enough, and only faith in Him, the ‘Yes’ and ‘Amen’ is enough.

The words of Paul still sound a trumpet even in this day and in this generation, “You are trying to earn favour from God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years. I fear for you,” (Galatians 4:10.11). The practice of tithing is not excluded from this admonition for many are also trying to earn God’s favour by paying tithes. “Christ has truly set us free - from the weak and useless spiritual principles of this world and the Law of Moses - make sure you stay free - Don’t get tied in slavery to the Law..

(Galatians 5:1). Although tithing was a law of God, in the New Covenant it has been made obsolete; it is what Paul calls “another gospel.“The New Covenant message may be summed as follows: “Believe in Christ Jesus the Saviour of the world, do away with your old way of living and submit to Christ Jesus as Lord of the sons of God.” This is the gospel.

Let no soul belittle God’s grace, for if it were not for His undeserved kindness, we all would remain like Sodom and Gomorrah. When a Gentile - a forgiven sinner-who in his earthly nature was God’s enemy, pays tithes, a practice under God’s holy but now old Covenant Law - to another Gentile - another forgiven sinner-who in nature is God’s enemy - in the name of obedience to our Holy God - it is like setting an altar to “Zeus” over the altar of burnt offering in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, and sacrificing a pig on that altar in God’s temple in Jerusalem.

Conclusion

Let those who have hearing hearts therefore understand. Many are now indebted to financial institutions because of the modern day gospel of prosperity; they took loans to pay tithes and offerings, doing this in their ignorance, in the name of obedience to God.

They became slaves to money because they went to banks and took loans and gave to God, (1 Corinthians 7:23). Some sold their cars, houses and other belongings to give tithes and offerings to the so called ‘men of God’! And today they are left with nothing but shame. Some have even stolen what was not theirs to pay tithes and offerings and gave their ill gotten gains to God because they were made to believe that if they do not give to God, God would not bless them! Some have taken equipment and materials on credit to build so called ‘houses for God’. Marriages have fallen apart because spouses took all they had and gave to preachers whilst neglecting their families. God, who is supposed to be a God of restoration, has suddenly seemed to have become a God of destruction, confusion and a lover of money.

But He does not dwell in buildings built by man’s hands. He has no needs. He Himself gives life and breath to everything, and He satisfies every need. He does not sleep or dwell in earthly mansions. He does not fly in private jets and drive cars. He does not need anyone to borrow money from anyone on His behalf. He owns all things. He does not need anyone to be indebted on His behalf. He Himself sets free from all bondages.

Jesus Christ, the High Priest of God most high, hates the modern day practice of tithing because it is being used to replace Him and His finished work. Because of the New Covenant in His own blood He hates tithes because it brings back the Law, nullifying His freely given grace. He hates these tithes because false teaching has made believers to act like unthinking senseless machines. He hates the practice tithing because it has caused greed in many hearts, covetousness and materialism. It has caused believers to forget what is important - faith activated energised, working and expressing itself through love for one another with no pretence. He hates new covenant tithing because it has taken the true prosperity of salvation and made prosperity of earthly riches more important than eternal life in the believer’s heart. He hates tithing because many put their trust and confidence on this modern day Christian ritual rather than in Him, the ‘Yes and Amen’ to every promise of God. He hates tithes because so called Christian leaders use it to turn Christ Jesus into a competitor with the world rather than its Saviour. He hates tithes because it promotes division between disciples; some being more favoured than others because they give most. Although elders should be guides in the church and should be respected, they are not Levites, nor are they high priests or mediators between Christ Jesus and other believers. They should not exercise authority over their fellow brethren, oppressing their brothers as though they were God. These teachings in the church that create a hierarchy in what should be a level brotherhood with only the Lord Jesus above all His brethren, builds a priestly clergy class above a laity which is Nicolaitanism - (Meaning to rule - nico - the laity) which Jesus hates. (Revelation 2:6). This false teaching and practice, acknowledging some to be more special and others less special is part of the Nicolaitan system that Jesus Christ detests.

Jesus hates tithing because it has made fat and sleek the so called leaders who in their greed overlook love, justice and they deny the rights of the poor. Those in wrong hierarchical leadership positions use this money to care for themselves alone, (Ezekiel 34:1.6). Many have wandered from Christianity because they could no longer take the oppression caused by these so called leaders. Many are still oppressed, afraid that if they stop practicing this ritual of tithing they will be step out from underso called “spiritual covering” and the devil will harm them,(Luke 10:19), not realising that Jesus is their covering. These wicked pastors and elders are calling God’s righteous ones “robbers”! Who dares to oppress him whom Christ has freed.

Jesus indeed hates tithing because it is attached to many wild doctrines about “spiritual covering”, “spiritual fatherhood and sonship”, “servant leadership”, “the anointing”, “spiritual submission”, “prosperity good news”, etc.. Who dares to call the Father’s beloved sons spiritual orphans? (Matthew 23:8.12). When did God die and leave His elect fatherless? Who dares to dethrone Jesus? These false elders have not heard from God. They are comfortable with wild teachings that come from the tares, the sons of the evil one, (Matthew 13: 24.30 & 36.43). Their craving for greatness has made them deaf and blind. They no longer listen to God but say, “Surely these teachings are of Christ because signs and wonders and prophesies are present.” (Matthew 24:24) But their God is their stomach. All they ever speak of is money rather than Christ Jesus. The Lord firmly rebukes such! To the false elders He says, “I hate the tithe!”.

Tithing in this time of the New Covenant is nothing but limiting and reducing love to a law because love is 100% and not 10%.This love is freely given and not given by force.

It is free and not bought. It gives as it has and not as it does not have. It is selfless and not self centred. It is pure and not greedy. Love is righteous giving and righteous giving is pure, kind, selfless. It is given cheerfully and does not boast. It does not seek recognition. It is not determined by favouritism and has no terms or conditions and does not expect a return. It is blameless, never carried out under compulsion and is done out of right thinking.

If any man is able to obtain the Father’s protection, favour and provision, with a tenth - a tithe - of his money, then Christ Jesus died for nothing. If any man is to labour, performing rituals, so that by works he can earn a blessing from God, then the bloodshed on the cross has failed. If any man’s toil, through obedience to Jewish laws, credits him so that he can demand blessings from God, then faith is made void and God’s underserved love and favour towards that man is defeated,(Romans 4:13.16). If the Law of Moses could not bring any man into fellowship with Christ how then can it bless anyone who is in Christ.

The Upright Tree

Those who are of the ‘Upright Tree’ are a tree of righteousness. Their bad deeds are forgiven because of the obedience of Christ Jesus. Though they may fall into sin their forgiveness is accepted and they are empowered to live righteously. They are righteous; their righteousness coming by faith. The Lord Himself is their trunk. Their faith alone in the Son of God is their salvation and their acceptance and not from their works, rituals and duties. They are sons of God, heirs of life, their good works are a result of their belief. In Christ, the righteous tree, they are branches of righteousness through their faith alone, and saved by grace. It is His gift of their right being that has caused their union with their Maker. Their spiritual identity is that of Christ the obedient servant.

The Downcast Tree

Those people of the ‘Downcast Tree’ are created, a wicked being of his disobedience,(Romans 5:12.21) slaves of sin because of the spiritual place they are in, not forgiven and not empowered. Their good works, although good, are not good enough to save them. They are sons of Adam and so are heirs of death. They are people of performances, rituals and duties, for they are in a wrong relationship with their Maker through their father’s disbelief. Their birthright is death. Their way of life is the fruit of death. It is their wrong being that has caused their separation from their Maker.

Their spiritual identity is that of their disobedient father, Adam.

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A Poem

Arise oh Sun of Righteousness.

It is dark, it is cold, and we need your presence. Your light is behind dark clouds, we long for your warmth and brightness. We know you are there, we can see a glimpse of your light. Oh light in full, we want to gaze at your brightness.

The leaders of your people, they speak lies. They lead them astray; they teach them things which your word has not known. They preach Jewish myths for money; they enslave your sheep with the yoke of Jewish laws.

A rout of wolves in your sheep pen, they disguise themselves as your sheep but you have rejected them. They are tares stored for destruction. They speak as your oracle but you have silenced them. They foresee the future yet they cannot foresee their own destruction. You have closed their eyes from seeing you.

Rebuke and restore them in your love. Your people call them back to you; open their eyes that they may see. Open their ears that they may hear. Give them minds that they may understand, (Luke 24:27, Luke 24:44.47).

Arise oh Sun of Righteousness. The Lord has declared, “I made the earth and all its people and every animal. I can give these things of mine to anyone I choose,” (Jeremiah 27:5). It is to you that the Lord has given all these things, (Matthew 11:27). The Lord sought a man when he asked, “Whom shall I send?” (Isaiah 6:8)In the tenderness of your heart you answered, “Here I am.” (Hebrews 10:7). It is to you the Lord said, “I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal,” (Deuteronomy 32:39 Luke 24:46). You were obedient even unto death, for the sins of the world the Lord crushed you, (Isaiah 53). A righteous man you are. A prostitute you redeemed to be your wife. (Hosea 3:2, 1 Peter 1:18.19). By your blood you redeemed her; a wife of your undeserved kindness. (Hosea 3:3, Ephesians 5:27).

Out of Egypt the Lord called you, oh Righteous Israel. (Hosea 11:1, Matthew 2:13.15).

You were in the wilderness for forty years, (Exodus 15:24, 16:1.9, 17:1.7). For forty days in the wilderness you did not complain against the Lord for your hunger or put Him to the test, (Matthew 4:11). On top of the mountain you sat to teach your little ones; you did not teach them from afar nor did your holiness put them to death. You brought them close to you, (Exodus 19:12.13, 19:21, Matthew 5).

Arise oh Son of Righteousness. Let your light be seen, let your warmth be felt. In all of the earth let your brightness shine. Go, oh servant of the father of many nations - Abraham - and find a wife (of all nations) for His begotten Son, (Genesis 24:36.38, and Matthew 28:16.20). Through your body, the true Church, reach out to all. With Gideon’s trumpet blow the good news and with his torch show the light of your good deeds. In Noah’s ark gather your family and save them from God’s coming wrath.

The End

Khotso Mokoena – 2014

Contact: pkmkoena@gmail.com

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Table of Contents

The Tithe

The Three Believers and Their Pastor

The Two Covenants

Christ Jesus the Reality

Abram and Melchizedek

Tithing According to the Law (of Moses)

Tithe Practices of the Church in Comparison to Israel

Malachi Chapter Three

The Endorsement

The Psychology of Tithe

The Place of Giving in the New Testament

The Churches’ Examples from the New Testament [Acts 4 and 5]

The Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15]

The Gospel and Tithe

Spirit Led Giving

The Ideal Servant (1 Corinthians 4:9.14, 2 Corinthians 4:5.12)

God’s Temple

What is the Tithe?

Who Was the Tithe Given To?

Conclusion

A Poem