It
is also worth here
considering the huge differences between tithing in the Old Testament and how it is taught and practiced nowadays. In spite of
there being several earlier foundational passages in the books of the
Law (e.g. Lev 27:30-33, Num 18:21-32, and Deut
12:17-19, 14:22-29, 26:12-15)
which give much more specific teaching about tithing than Malachi
chapter 3 does, it is usually the Malachi passage that is quoted
today whenever tithing is taught on. Consequently, many important
differences between the two systems are completely overlooked. These
include:
In
the Old Testament, people never tithed on
their monetary income.
The only thing that was tithed on was produce (animals/grain/fruit)
from the land (Leviticus
27:30-33; even the few references in the New Testament to tithing
specifically state produce, not money.) Some people
say this was because in Old Testament times, Israel was an agrarian
culture with an economy not based on money, but:
-
There
are many indications that monetary exchange, buying and selling, was
a regular aspect of life then, as it is now – and that there were
a significant number of people who earned their living principally
or solely by buying and selling for money.
-
There
were many people with occupations which did not involve produce from
the land. These people would never have had to tithe. These would
have included
people such as Jesus (a carpenter/stonemason), Peter (a fisherman)
and Paul (a tentmaker).
-
Farmers
could redeem their animals by paying for them (Lev 27:30-33) – if
trading in money wasn’t commonplace, there wouldn’t have been
need for this provision.
-
The
tithe under certain circumstances was allowed to be exchanged for
money, which was later used to purchase food (Deut 14:24-26).
-
There
are many Biblical references to the giving of money. Most of these
references were to freewill offerings, and none of them had anything
to do with tithing.
-
Taxes
were paid in money.
At
certain times, the people could eat their own tithe!
(Deut 12:17-19 &
14:22-29)
The
tithe probably
was never a straight 10%;
in fact it was probably a lot more, between 23.3% and 30%. There is
some disagreement among Biblical scholars as to the exact amount,
but the evidence seems weighted in favour of there having actually
been 2 or 3 tithes in total.
When
the basic tithe was redeemed and exchanged for money, it was
actually 12% not 10% (Lev
27:30-33; so
why not teach a basic tithe of 12% today if your tithe is being paid
in money?).
The
tithe was not only for Levites/priests,
but also for the poor and needy
(aliens, fatherless and widows) (Deut 14:27-29, 26:12-15).
The
priests/Levites who received tithes were not allowed to own real
estate!
(Num 18:20-24)
Tithes
and firstfruits are not the same,
therefore passages such as Proverbs 3:9-10 should not be used to
support tithing. The firstfruits represented the ‘first fruits’
of a harvest, were not a particular percentage, and went directly to
the priests in Jerusalem (Deut 26:1-4). They were a type of Christ,
who was the first to rise from the dead (1 Cor 15:20-23). In
contrast, tithing took one-tenth and these were taken to the Levites
in their various towns. Tithing was not symbolic at all, having the
practical role of keeping the priesthood functioning during the Old
Testament law period. After the resurrection, firstfruits are only
referred to symbolically (e.g. Rom 8:23, 11:16, 1 Cor 15:20, 23, Jas
1:18, Rev 14:4), whereas tithing is only ever mentioned in its
historical context.
The
tithes were not the best tenth.
For
example, when it came to tithing of animals, every tenth animal that
passed under the rod was set apart, regardless of its quality (Lev
27:32-33) – in fact, the Israelites were not allowed to make
substitutions. (This is in contrast to the firstfruits, which were
of the firstborn, or the best of the beginning of a harvest.)
Malachi
doesn’t accuse people of robbing God through not tithing alone,
but through not giving tithes AND offerings!
(3:8) I've heard various estimates that the number of offerings
required of people in the Old Testament ranged from a total of
22-27% of their income (according to my brief reading on the
subject; it could be more or less). If we took the tithe as just
being a straight 10% and then applied this passage literally as
being for church attenders today, then we would have to tell people
that they must be tithing/giving at least around one-quarter of
their income if they want to cross over the line from cursing to
blessing! When is enough enough?!
These
facts can
illustrate that it's just really difficult - if not impossible - to
accurately translate one system into another time and culture (and
covenant) and make sure you're getting all the details right -
which just shows the folly of trying to apply an Old Testament
Levitical priestly system today under a whole new priesthood, that of
Jesus Christ our High Priest and mediator. It would be better to
simply do what Jesus did – to go past the letter of the law to
live according to the spirit and intent behind it, seeing it through
the lens of our New Covenant. The principles behind the law are that
we need to look after the poor and needy and those who minister the
Word, giving as our heart or as the Lord directs us to give.
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