A lot has been misconstrued on the subject of giving in the teachings of Christ. Many people have put themselves in desperate situations over what they do not fully understand. An elderly woman once told me she was very sad because she used the money she kept for tithe to assist her daughter when she had an urgent need. In response I asked her. " what is the origin of tithe, did Jesus teach about tithing as a New Covenant principle, are there examples of early Christians who paid tithe in the scriptures?" These are the questions I will endeavor to answer here without leaving doubts.

Tithe is the custom of giving a tenth of one's land produce or earnings to Priests or Kings. In ancient times, this custom was universally practised because it was recognized as a holy seed. The Encyclopedia Britannica has it that tithing existed in Babylon, Persia, Egypt etc.(11th Edition, vol.26, p.1019). It is believed that Abraham learnt about it before his family migrated from Ur. So the first mention of tithe in the bible came from this Godfearing Jew, Abraham.

Abraham paid tithe to Melchizedek, king of Salem and Priest of the Most High God (Genesis 14:18-20). Notice in this scripture, that God did not instruct Abraham to pay tithe. Abraham gave his tithe willingly, as an expression of his thankfulness to God for the mighty deliverance he received in rescuing his Nephew, Lot. His act had nothing to do with any covenant between God and man.

The second time tithe is mentioned in the bible is in connection with Abraham's grandson Jacob, who may have borrowed the idea from his grandfather's dealing with Melchizedek. Jacob, who was to be the father of Israel, built on his grandfather's foundation. He vowed to pay tithe to the Lord at Bethel, but in contrast to Abraham's spontaneous deed, Jacob made a conditional vow (Genesis 28:20-22). When the Lord later made a covenant with his descendants, He stood on the vow their father made (Leviticus 27:30-34). This then set a precedence for tithing in Israel.

Where, and what did Jesus teach about tithing? The only statement Jesus ever made on tithe is recorded in Matthew chapter 23. This scripture records Jesus' verdict on a group of religious hypocrites, who neglected teaching and practising those aspects of the law that could aid men's ascent, and paid more attention to minor rules that added no value to their spiritual lives. Here Jesus scored the Pharisees for being proud and hard, and for refusing to admit their wrongs. He accused them of diverting men's attention from the inner attitude of love and justice, necessary for their ascent, to observance of minor rules like tithing, which cannot take the Human Spirit beyond this realm. "...you pay tithes of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone" ( Matthew 23:23). This pharisee-like attitude still characterises the Church today. Instead of teaching and practising love and forgiveness, gospel preachers emphasize on tithe and offering, and encourage vengeance.

Many Christians have misunderstood the above scripture as a confirmation for tithing in the New Dispensation. In this scripture Jesus was affirming the payment of tithe to those old Covenant Worshippers, not the New Covenant believers. Notice, that at the time Jesus made this statement, He had not yet instituted the New Covenant. The Bible says a Covenant can only be instituted at the death of the testator (Hebrews 9:16-17). As long as Jesus had not yet died, it was not yet the dawn of the New Covenant. Therefore the Jews could still continue to practise their law. So Jesus was implying, that it was still alright for them to continue paying their tithes, only that they had to maintain a balance.a

There is no commandment to tithe in the new dispensation, and no example of early Christians who paid tithe, but there is a certain expectation of giving that is required from the New Covenant believers. Jesus commanded men to give freely, not to tithe ( Luke 6:38).

Giving should be done willingly, unconditionally, generously and cheerfully ( 2 Corinthians 9:6-7). It should flow freely from the heart, out of love for service. It should not be based on formal rules and regulations. It should not be a mathematical fulfillment of obligations. It should not be done out of pressure or compulsion. Giving should not be something anyone is coerced to do. But bear this in mind, that everyone who carries the Light within, has an inborn yearning to give freely. This is because the spirit of love dwells in him. So if you always find it difficult to give freely, even when you flow in abundance, you need to examine yourself to see if you are still standing.

Giving should not be restricted to Churches alone. A Christian ought to know the blessings that lie in reaching out to others with love and care. Our faith must be expressed in our works. The early Church expressed their love by sharing what they had in common. By doing so, the needs of everyone was met. Today's Christianity exhibits a lot of selfishness. Some Pastors, and even members get surrounded with fleets of cars while other members languish in poverty. In this they neglect the weightier matters of the law and pay attention to minor rules like tithing, just like the Pharisees did. Jesus said, " Except your righteousness exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20).

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Great teaching.. I learn from this. Thanks for sharing

Are there people still paying into the fraud called tithing and first fruit this modern day of awareness that is void of mental slavery?

Interesting post. Thanks for sharing.