7. Jesus is now in heaven receiving our tithes. T /
Then what about Hebrews chapter 7? Verse 8 says, “… the tenth is collected by him who is declared to be living.” Isn’t that Jesus, in heaven, now collecting our tithes? But this passage doesn’t even mention Jesus – it’s all talking about Melchizedek, not Jesus! If you read this whole passage (verses 1-10) in context, the writer is contrasting two Old Covenant examples of tithing – Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek, and the Israelite’s tithe to the Levitical priests – to prepare in later verses to make an unrelated point about the superiority of the priesthood of Christ. He is not trying to make a statement about tithing at all. Just because this point about Christ’s priesthood is made to New Covenant believers using Old Covenant tithing as an example doesn’t make tithing a New Covenant doctrine.
The New Testament after the cross contains no commands to tithe, or examples of anyone tithing. It’s conspicuous by its absence! Not only is the word ‘tithing’ missing, but the concept is not even there - even at times when it could have been mentioned.
For instance, at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:23-29), the Law was ruled to be not binding on the Gentiles. Only 4 guidelines were given, none of which were related to tithing. Also, the Apostle Paul (‘the apostle to the Gentiles’ - Rom 11:13; Gal 2:8) had ample opportunity to write about tithing to his new Gentile churches – who would have known very little about the Law - but instead gives a variety of principles about giving.