₦airaland Forum

Levite - A descendant of the tribe of Levi.

The Levitical order consisted of all the descendants of Levi’s three sons, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; whilst Aaron, Amram’s son (Amram, son of Kohat), and his issue constituted the priestly order.

Only MALE Levites, aged 25 to 50 were allowed to work at the Temple. At age 50 they were required to retire. (Numbers 8:23-26)

There are no documented Levites today. There is no Temple for the Levites to work at today. A church building is not a temple of God. OUR BODIES are now the Temple where the Spirit of God lives within. WE are a royal priesthood; therefore, all born-again believers are priests. The priests did NOT tithe in the Old Testament, and we do NOT tithe today.

What you are calling tithing has absolutely NOTHING to do with the Biblical tithe which was a PAYMENT.

Matthew 5:17-18 states Christ came to fulfill the law and not abolish it.

This is where some education in law is useful. What does fulfill mean? What does abolish mean?

Let me give an example. A legal contract is enforceable under the law. Let’s say you hire a contractor to build a swimming pool in your back yard. Once the contractor has completed the job, and everything in that contract has been completed, the contract has been fulfilled. The contractor’s job is to fulfill the contract, not abolish it. He fulfills it by completing the terms, bringing it to an end.

Consider:

Hebrews 8:13 (KJV) - In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Colossians 2:14 (KJV) - Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Galatians 5:18 (KJV) - But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Galatians 3:19 (KJV) - Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. In other words, until Jesus came and fulfilled the law.

Galatians 3:23-25 (KJV)
23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Galatians 3:10-14 (KJV)
10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

As far as the Old Testament relevancy today, ONLY THAT which was carried forward into the New Testament is what Christians are to follow. The substance of NINE of the Ten Commandments was carried forward. The OT had 613 laws and you can't just pick and choose which ones you want to bring forward.

Giving a tenth of your income is just that - giving a tenth of your income. There is no name for it.

Why did Abram give a tenth?

The number ten symbolizes a whole item, and also completion.

From Christian Resources Today, “Ten : 10 - Biblical Meaning of Number: deals with completeness that happens in a divine order or completed during a course of time. There's nothing that is left wanting within the complete cycle the number ten has just completed.”

That would be the reason for a tenth and not 2 tenths, etc. One tenth would symbolize completeness; a complete transaction.

I count just over 300 occurrences of the words ten or tenth in the KJV of the Holy Bible. 95% occur before Calvary. The number 10 has much significance in the Old Testament but virtually no significance in the New Testament. In fact, some of the few times those words appear after Calvary it is in reference to the Old Covenant.

At Calvary, the Old Covenant came to its completion. There is nothing after Calvary to suggest that the number ten represents completion.

In the New Testament, God wants 100% of us. Since we are now under grace, rather than use percentages or guidelines for giving, God will look at our heart. Many will have a false sense of security by following the Old Testament tithing law as a guideline when maybe God wants that person to give 50% or more. Using the Old Testament law as a guideline is opposite to using the Holy Spirit.

The word "tithe" means a tenth, or a tenth part. It does NOT mean giving.

Abram gave a TENTH of the war spoils. That is why the KJV uses the word "tithe" in Genesis 14. But notice in Hebrews:
Hebrews 7:4 (KJV) "Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. "

To use the word "tithe" to mean giving any amount is an incorrect usage of the word.

@mabell said, "Firstly, who are the levites
Secondly who should we then give our tithes to if not our pastors?
Thirdly, if i trade in diesel or crude, what should be my tithe
if i'm the owner of a transport company,l what do i tithe, is it the bus, the fuel or the passengers"

The Levites were SERVANTS TO THE PRIESTS. They were the ushers, musicians, singers, etc. and they worked at the Temple about two weeks PER YEAR, not full time.

Since God said to take His tithe to the Levites, and there are no Levites today, you can't tithe today.

Jesus didn't tithe. Paul didn't tithe. Peter didn't tithe. The farm workers (other than the land owners) did not tithe. Wage earners did not tithe. God defined His tithe as a tenth of crops and animals raised on the Holy land. NOTHING ELSE QUALIFIES.

The New Testament teaches generous, sacrificial giving, from the heart, according to our means. For some, $1 might be a sacrifice, while for others, even giving 50% of their income might not induce a sacrifice. In the Old Testament, ONLY the farmers tithed, and it was equal percentage (a tenth). The New Testament teaches the principle of equal sacrifice instead of equal percentage. Equal sacrifice is much harder to achieve, if not impossible, than giving ten percent.

NO ONE, absolutely NO ONE pays the Biblical tithe today.

Leviticus 27:30-33, Numbers 18: The First Tithe - a tenth of crops and animals and commanded to take the tithe to the Levites.

Deuteronomy 14:22-27: The Second Tithe aka The Festival Tithe - a tenth of crops, plus add to that the firstborn animals, and take for the yearly feast.

Deuteronomy 14:28-29: The Third Tithe aka The Three-Year Tithe aka The Poor Tithe - a tenth of crops, kept at home, and invite the Levites, widows, orphans, stranger to eat.

Now, tell me. Which of the above three tithes commanded by God does anyone follow today?

The ONLY people in the Old Testament that were commanded to tithe were those who INHERITED THE PROMISED LAND WITH EVERYTHING ON IT. They got the land, house, animals, crops, etc. ALL FREE AND CLEAR. No mortgage payment or rent to pay. And THEY were commanded to tithe on the crops and animals and take it to the Levites who INHERITED the tithe INSTEAD OF the promised land with everything on it. No one else tithed. Wage earners did not tithe. Jesus didn’t tithe. Paul didn’t tithe. Peter didn’t tithe.

HOW CAN YOU COMPARE THAT WITH CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGE PAYMENT OR RENT, INCOME TAXES, PROPERTY TAXES, SALES TAXES, ETC?

There is no way to justify making some “principle” out of the Biblical facts and then apply it to Christians today. It is just flat out wrong and makes no sense at all.

Isn't it odd that even though Abram gave a tenth directly to Melchizedek, the king/priest, that some Christians think they can give directly to God by giving it to their pastor?

I find it quite offensive that pastors have appointed themselves to be the receiver of what belongs to God. After all, the pastor says the tithe belongs to God. Then he self-appoints himself to receive the tithe!!!

God never gave any pastor or church permission to receive his tithe or his gifts. God commanded His tithe be taken to the Levites, FOREVER, in Numbers 18.

Since the tithe belongs to God, if your pastor accepts it isn't he stealing it from God?

Lucky for those of you who think you tithe, you are merely giving a tenth of your income to your church. You aren't paying the Biblical tithe or you would be disobeying God's command to take His tithe to the Levites. But then, if in your heart you are paying the Biblical tithe, wouldn’t that be sinning by breaking God's commands?

. . If I say I'm tither , you should take it that I'm a tither . You have. No right to say I'm not.

NO ONE pays the BIBLICAL tithe today. You can call yourself a tither all you want, but it has NOTHING to do with the Biblical tithe.

You are tithing per man's teachings, NOT God's Word.

REALITY CHECK: You are a GIVER.

The ONLY time recorded in the Bible that Jesus spoke of tithing is when He was speaking to the scribes and Pharisees, and Jesus said it when referring to matters of the law. Jesus did not mention covenant, free-will, or anything else regarding the tithe.

Paul never taught tithing to the Christians. Jesus never paid nor received the tithe. There is NO teaching of tithing in the Bible after Calvary. NONE.

You are free to give whatever amount you wish. But to pull the word "tithing" or "tithe" out of the scriptures and use it in a different manner is deceiving. You really are calling free-will giving a tithe and that misleads Christians as many will associate your using of the word with the Biblical meaning.

In Malachi 3:5 God warned the priests about defrauding a worker of his wages.

Those teaching and collecting the tithe will have to account to God at some point.

The bible says pay to ceaser what belongs to ceaser and to God what belongs to God.

When Jesus was asked if the Hebrew law allowed for tribute to Rome (Matthew 22:17-18), He answered “Show me the tribute money. Whose image and superscription is on it?” (Matthew 22:19-20).

Matthew 22:17-21 (KJV)
17Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
19Show me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
20And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

What was Jesus talking about?

The answer relates to the nature of the Temple shekel and the money changers. Every Hebrew man, woman and child was required by the Old Covenant Law to pay an annual poll tax, or head tax, which was used to maintain the Temple and pay for sacrifices for the nation (Exodus 30:13).

Exodus 30:13 (KJV)
13This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.

It is extremely important to realize that the Temple shekel had only images of Temple items and Hebrew – both Holy. Roman currency was not allowed because it had the image of Caesar on it along with a Roman superscription in a pagan language.

This must also apply to our own currency. It has images of our presidents, images of buildings, images of animals and images of our nature. Shocking as it is, our money does not qualify to be used as gifts to God or the OT Temple!

@ogoamaka99,

So you are obeying God by CHANGING His definition for His tithe, and CHANGING where He commanded His tithe be taken.  You have a very odd way of obeying.

If you told your child to take this book to your neighbor, but someone on the way told your child to give it to them, and your child gave it to them instead of your neighbor, I bet you wouldn't think your child obeyed your instructions.

If you told your child that this food belonged to your neighbor, and that he is to take it to them, but he decided to take money instead, I bet you wouldn't think your child obeyed you.

To be obedient to God, you must FOLLOW HIS WORD, not change it.  It's so simple.

Joagbaje said, "No evidence could be more clearer than this. That the church of christ has replaced the levitical system."

Read Hebrews 7.

The Levitical priesthood was DISANNULLED. In other words, it is treated as though there never was a Levitical priesthood.

Hebrews 7:11 (KJV) "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?"

Hebrews 7:11 is ABSOLUTELY CLEAR that Jesus came AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEKEC and NOT after the order of Aaron. THAT, my friend, is perfectly clear EVIDENCE that you are mistaken.

@Snowwy said, “1 Corinthians 9:13-14
13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live[ of the things] of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.”

There are many interpretations of these verses.  Therefore, it is necessary to pick an interpretation that follows the rest of the New Testament.

Verse 13:  live “of the things” of the temple.  The “things of the Temple” included tithes, firstfruits, and offerings.  The verse does NOT read “of ALL the things of the temple.” 

Which of the three items listed is taught to Christians in the New Testament?  ONLY ONE of them.  Offerings.  Firstfruits ONLY applies to the first of the crops, and tithes ONLY applies to crops and animals.

Verse 14:  One interpretation is that those who preach the gospel should do as they preach.  Another would be that the preacher is worthy of wages.

Since at NO TIME in the New Testament did Paul or anyone else preach giving a tenth, tithing was NEVER included in the teachings to Christians.  In the entire KJV of the Bible, the Biblical tithe is NEVER associated with anyone’s income, and the tithe could NEVER be money.

It’s easy to pull a couple of verses out of the Bible to substantiate any argument you want.  But to be correct, the interpretation must fit into the rest of the scriptures.

Yes, a pastor has a right to be paid.  And I have a right to keep all my money.  The pastor wants to exercise his right to be paid while trying to take my right away from me by teaching a false doctrine.  I gladly give from the heart.  The pastor gladly takes the money.

It is better to give than to receive.

Thiting was instituted before the emergence of Levites. God forbade them from working so that they can take care of things of worship in the house of God.

You really need to do a little more research.

Are you aware that the priests and Levites only worked at the Temple about two weeks per year, on a rotational basis? NOT FULL TIME. The priests and Levites were divided into 24 "courses". See First Chronicles 24 for the priests and chapters 25 and 26 for the Levites. Each course only ministered in the Temple one week out of twenty four (1 in 24), and, depending on how many families were in each course, each family only ministered in the Temple two or three days during its courses’ week of ministry. THEY HAD OTHER JOBS THE REST OF THE TIME.

The Levites WERE GIVEN THE TITHE AS THEIR INHERITANCE. They didn't just receive it and administer it. God did NOT give the tithe to the pastors, nor has God ever given, in His Word, any pastor or church permission to receive His tithe.

You just rationalize to justify your position. I use scripture.

were the Levites stealing from God?

Of course not.  God GAVE HIS TITHE TO THE LEVITES, FOREVER, AS THEIR INHERITANCE (Numbers 18).

Do pastors today claim THEY now have a right to that inheritance?

I don't feel "justified" by my giving. It is strictly a heart issue. I give because I want to give.

I have both family and friends who cannot afford to give a tenth of their income, and some of them have been made to feel less than worthy by their pastors. One of my godsons who is married and have 4 children cannot give a full tenth of his income and still support his family. His pastor told him since he doesn't tithe, his family cannot be a member of that church. But they can continue to come as visitors.

Others have felt guilty when they couldn't give a tenth. They have been made to feel as though they are robbing God. That is just plain wrong.

The Biblical tithe had NOTHING to do with giving. It had NOTHING to do with the heart. Those who are able should be generous givers. Those who are not able should not be condemned.

Again, I am not against someone giving a tenth of their income to the church. I am all for it. But I don't confuse that with the Biblical tithe.

When I contribute to the church, I know that I am doing my part to help pay the bills. I am not giving it to God.

I find it quite offensive that pastors have appointed themselves to be the receiver of what belongs to God. After all, the pastor says the tithe belongs to God. Then he self-appoints himself to receive the tithe!!!

God never gave any pastor or church permission to receive his tithe or his gifts. God commanded His tithe be taken to the Levites, FOREVER, in Numbers 18.

Since the tithe belongs to God, if your pastor accepts it isn't he stealing it from God?

I don't keep all my money. I give far more than a mere tenth of my income.

Facts:

The scriptures give only ONE example of Abram giving a tenth, and that tenth was of war spoils, NOT from Abram's regular income or wealth. Abram kept NOTHING for himself. There is no example of Abraham giving a tenth on a regular basis. No other example. Does anyone on this blog follow Abram's example? Tithing to a church on a regular basis is not following Abraham's example.

Jacob made a vow to give a tenth, but ONLY IF God would bless him first. Jacob set the conditions, not God. There is no scripture to show that Jacob ever kept his vow. Does anyone on this blog follow Jacob's example and put conditions on God before you will tithe, make the vow to God, but then maybe never in fact ever give the tenth?

No one is using Abram's example. Rather, you are making assumptions and then using those assumptions for your example.

No one is using Jacob's example. Rather, you are making assumptions and then using those assumptions for your example.

Isn't it odd that even though Abram gave a tenth directly to Melchizedek, the king/priest, that some Christians think they can give directly to God by giving it to their pastor?

I find it quite offensive that pastors have appointed themselves to be the receiver of what belongs to God. After all, the pastor says the tithe belongs to God. Then he self-appoints himself to receive the tithe!!!

God never gave any pastor or church permission to receive his tithe or his gifts. God commanded His tithe be taken to the Levites, FOREVER, in Numbers 18.

Since the tithe belongs to God, if your pastor accepts it isn't he stealing it from God?

Lucky for those of you who think you tithe, you are merely giving a tenth of your income to your church. You aren't paying the Biblical tithe or you would be disobeying God's command to take His tithe to the Levites. But then, if in your heart you are paying the Biblical tithe, then I guess you are sinning by breaking God's commands.

Matthew 5:17-18 states Christ came to fulfill the law and not abolish it.

This is where some education in law is useful. What does fulfill mean? What does abolish mean?

Let me give an example. A legal contract is enforceable under the law. Let’s say you hire a contractor to build a swimming pool in your back yard. Once the contractor has completed the job, and everything in that contract has been completed, the contract has been fulfilled. The contractor’s job is to fulfill the contract, not abolish it. He fulfills it by completing the terms, bringing it to an end.

Consider:

Hebrews 8:13 (KJV) - In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Colossians 2:14 (KJV) - Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Galatians 5:18 (KJV) - But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Galatians 3:19 (KJV) - Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. In other words, until Jesus came and fulfilled the law.

Galatians 3:23-25 (KJV)
23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Galatians 3:10-14 (KJV)
10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The first time tithe is mentioned in the Bible is Abraham's tithe of pagan spoils of war, and Abraham kept NOTHING for himself. This was NOT an act of worship. The goods that Abraham gave the tenth from didn’t even belong to Abraham:

Genesis 14:21 (NIV) - The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.”

Notice in verse 21 the king of Sodom didn’t ask Abraham if he would give back to him the people, but rather said GIVE ME the people and keep the goods for yourself. The way that is worded indicates that the king of Sodom was claiming that the people and the goods belonged to him and those he represented.

Genesis 14:22-24 (NIV) - 22But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.”

Notice in verses 23 and 24 Abraham also acknowledges that the goods belonged to the king of Sodom and those he represented.

Therefore, it is clear that both the king of Sodom and Abraham acknowledged that the spoils of war did NOT belong to Abraham, yet he gave a tenth of the spoils to King Melchizedek. This would seem that Abraham did something wrong, if not even illegal, but Biblical historians agree that it was custom in Abraham's day to give the king a tenth of the war spoils. Had Abraham not given the tenth, he would have gone against custom.

Conclusion: Abraham did NOT give a tenth of his income, or his wealth. Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils of war that didn’t belong to him. That is NOT an example for Christians to follow today. Furthermore, the law did NOT require a tenth of war spoils to be given, but rather 1.1%, so to say that tithing was before the law and then in the law is not true. What Abraham did was NOT codified into the later law.

The next mention of a tithe is Jacob's VOW to tithe. Jacob set the conditions, not God. Nowhere in The Word does it tell us that Jacob actually tithed. Genesis 28:10-22

Next is The Lord's Tithe. God gave His definition as a tenth of crops and animals which came from God's hand, not man's income. God NEVER commanded anyone to tithe on anything that man made or earned. Leviticus 27:30-33.

The ordinances (instructions, or laws) for The Lord's Tithe are in Numbers 18. God gave strict orders to take His tithe to the Levites. God NEVER changed that command. Anyone who takes God's tithe to anyone other than the Levites is being disobedient to God's Word.

There are other tithes in the Bible such as the Festival Tithe and the Tithe for the Poor. It is The Lord's Tithe that churches pattern their teaching after.

Church leaders ignore God's definition of His tithe, and ignore God's ordinances for His tithe. They change the words to fit their pocketbook. This is nothing but manipulation of God's Word. They are false teachers.

The Bible CLEARLY SHOWS that the tithe ENDED at the cross in the Book of Hebrews. In the first nine verses of Hebrews 7 the words tenth or tithes appears SEVEN TIMES. The ONLY place in the Bible, after Calvary, that tithing appears is in Hebrews 7.

In Hebrews 7:5 we are told that Levi (the Levites) took the tithes under the law. In Hebrews 7:12 we are told that when the priesthood changes, the law will change. Hebrews 7:18 is telling us that Numbers 18 was disannulled. Numbers 18 established the Levitical priesthood, and part of that establishing included tithing. When the Levitical priesthood ended (at Calvary, or at least in the year 70AD when the temple was destroyed), all laws that established that priesthood were canceled. If Numbers 18 wasn't canceled, we would still be under the Levitical priesthood.

Those who argue they didn't have money or income then really need to study the scriptures. They had money and wages, even in Genesis. The farmers had income from barter exchanges, and they had markets to buy and sell as proven in Deuteronomy 14:24-26.

Those who argue Malachi 3:8, robbing God, need to start with verse 7. God is talking about His ordinances in Numbers 18 which we learned were disannulled according to Hebrews 7:18. Also, if you start with Malachi 1, you will see that God is speaking to the priests, not the people. The priests robbed God of the tithe (Nehemiah 13) and the priests robbed God of the offerings (Malachi 1).

@Joagbaje,

The day you start opening your hands to give , you will begin to see what I'm talking about.

I agree.  But the Biblical tithe was a PAYMENT.  It had NOTHING to do with giving.  You can give a tenth of your income, but don't confuse that with the Biblical tithe.  You are following a man-made tithe, not the Biblical tithe.

@KunleOshob,

The book written by Baptist theologians is:
Perspectives on Tithing: Four Views
http://www.amazon.com/Perspectives-Tithing-Views-David-Croteau/dp/0805449779/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1289482778&sr=8-1

Probably the best book on the topic is:
Should the Church Teach Tithing? A Theologian's Conclusions about a Taboo Doctrine
This book is written by a former pastor who taught and collected the tithe BEFORE he went back to school to get his Ph.D. He wrote his thesis on tithing.
http://www.amazon.com/Should-Tithing-Theologians-Conclusions-Doctrine/dp/0595159788/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295974620&sr=1-2

@Image123,

You are ignoring all New Testament teaching. You take scripture and make it fit your beliefs instead of starting fresh, as I did three years ago.

I will never convince you of the truth as I see it, but I believe God will reveal His truth to you in time.

I can pick just about any position I want, go to the scriptures, and make them fit my position. That is what I believe you are doing.

It was God who gave me the revelation to see the truth behind tithing.

I've said all I have to say on this blog.

May God Bless you.

@Image123,

You have absolutely NO concept as to what God's tithe was.

The ONLY people in the Old Testament that were commanded to tithe were those who INHERITED THE PROMISED LAND WITH EVERYTHING ON IT. They got the land, house, animals, crops, etc. ALL FREE AND CLEAR. No mortgage payment or rent to pay. And THEY were commanded to tithe on the crops and animals and take it to the Levites who INHERITED the tithe INSTEAD OF the promised land with everything on it. No one else tithed. Wage earners did not tithe. Jesus didn’t tithe. Paul didn’t tithe. Peter didn’t tithe. No one else tithe. IT WAS THE LEVITES INHERITANCE.

How can anyone other than a Levites claim that inheritance?

You just refuse to research the history of tithing in the Christian Church or you would know that NO CHRISTIAN CHURCH TAUGHT AND COLLECTED A TITHE ON ANYONE'S INCOME UNTIL AROUND 1870. You dismiss history totally. And you STILL don't understand what INCOME means.

I have PROVEN with scripture that God NEVER intended anyone to tithe on their income, but you refuse to acknowledge that scripture.

You need to open your mind and let in the truth.

Many say that in Biblical times they didn’t have money and that the economy was based on bartering of goods and services. That is not so. The Bible shows they not only had money, but that money was used as a common way of doing business.

According to the International Bible Encyclopedia, the days of mere bartering ended before the days of Abraham.

Here are just a few examples from The Word to show they did, in fact, use money in Biblical times.

The tithing law itself proves they had both money and a marketing system for buying and selling their crops and animals (Deuteronomy 14:24-26).

THE PURCHASE OF LAND BY ABRAHAM - Genesis 23:15-16

THE PURCHASE OF LAND BY JACOB - Genesis 33:19

JOSEPH WAS SOLD TO THE ISHMEELITES - Genesis 37:28

A MONEY OFFERING TO BE USED FOR THE SERVICE OF THE TABERNACLE - Exodus 30:14-16,

USING SHEKEL OF SILVER TO VALUE A RAM - Leviticus 5:15

THE FOLLOWING VERSES REFER TO WAGES: Genesis 29:15, Genesis 30:28, Genesis 31:7-8, Genesis 31:41, Exodus 2:9, Leviticus 19:13, Malachi 3:5, etc.

THEY HAD A MONEY STANDARD

There are several places in Scripture indicating that scales were used to weigh metals and other items. The Law of Moses, for example, commands Jews not to use dishonest standards, but instead, to use honest scales and honest weights. (See also Deut. 25:13-15; Job 6:2-3; 31:6; Psa. 62:9; Prov. 11:1; 16:11; 20:10, 23; Isa. 40:12; 46:6; and Jer. 32:10).

Leviticus 19:35-36 – Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity. Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt.

In order for money to be an exchangeable equivalent for other commodities in today’s society, there must be a standard in place. Likewise, the Old Testament also had a set standard both prior to the law and during the law. A reference to a pre-law standard is here in Genesis 23:16.

Merchants in biblical times traveled from place to place conducting business. According to the written law, the standard weight for metals was set according to the sanctuary shekel (See also Ex 30:13, 24; 38:24-26; Lev. 5:15; Num. 7:13-86; 18:16).

Leviticus 27:25 – Every value is to be set according to the sanctuary shekel, …

In addition, 2 Samuel 14:26 shows that the weight standard for the shekel was set by the royal standard. No matter which era in history is studied, there existed a standard for the weight of precious metals.

Money was also used throughout the law. For example, God’s people gave money to support the tabernacle (Ex. 30:14-16; 38:24-31). There are many other examples that illustrate money’s place within the written law and indicate that money was indeed a part of everyday life. Exodus 35 provides such an example.

Exodus 35:5, 21-22 – From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering of gold, silver and bronze;

And there are many more examples to show that money was used for everyday transactions well before the Levitical tithe.

@Image123 uses Wikipedia for a source.

Go to Wikipedia's opening page and what do you see?

Welcome to Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

THAT ANYONE CAN EDIT!

In other words, Wikipedia is a compilation of articles written by anyone whether they know what they are writing about or not.

@Image123,

Another problem with your argument.

God didn't command a tithe on ALL income. He didn't even command a tithe on ALL animals. The fact that when tithing crops you were allowed to redeem, or buy back the crops, but you could NOT redeem the animals presents a problem when EXPANDING God's definition.

Now, IF you are going to tithe on fish, is it every tenth fish, or is it just any tenth? Are you allowed to redeem the tithe on the fish?

If the carpenter is paid with some crops, some animals, some fish, and some clothing, how does he tithe on the fish and clothing?

IF you are paid with money, do you tithe on every tenth dollar you earn, or is it just any tenth as with the crops?

If you work and your pay is strictly room and board, but no money or anything else, how do you pay the tithe on the room and board?

If you mow your own lawn, is that income to you?

Do your children pay tithe on their "income" - the value of their share of the home, food, and clothing that comes from you? After all, they do chores, don't they?

If you paint your house, the value can go up. Oh my, guess that is also income to you. Therefore, you must tithe on that increase, right?

If you have a fruit tree, guess you have income to tithe on.

If your wife sews and makes your shirts, you have income based on the value of the finished shirt, right? Be sure to tithe on it.

See how ridiculous this is.

Did God leave the future out of His Word? Did He leave us with missing instructions? Do you tithe on gross or net income? Do you tithe on fringe benefits such as the amount your employer pays for your medical plan? You see, IF God expected man to tithe on his income, God would have given instructions for us to follow.

@Image123,

We can go on forever arguing the definition of income. Doesn't really matter at all. REGARDLESS of the definition you choose, I have shown that the scriptures excluded income from the tithe. I will give it to you again:

Numbers 18:27 (KJV) “And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the winepress.”

That verse is referring to the Levites who were required to tithe from the tithe they received. If you fully understand the above verse, you will see how it PROVES, beyond any reasonable doubt, that even WAGES could NOT be tithed on. IF wages, or income, could be tithed on, that verse means nothing. It would just be taking up space.

Please tell me, if all income was tithable, WHY did God limited every tenth animal to ONLY animals in herds and flocks? Why not all animals?

By the middle of the 13th century, the Church’s claim to tithes was extended not only to the products of the field, but the poultry of the yard and the cattle of the stall, to the catch of fish and the game of the forests.
--History of the Christian Church, Volume VI: The Middle Ages. A.D. 1294-1517. by Philip Schaff, page 172

How is it that the Church's claim to tithes was EXTENDED in the middle of the 13th century to other animals if everything was tithable to begin with?

I suggest you read the following resources:
IN PURSUIT OF THE ALMIGHT’S DOLLAR: A History of Money and American
Protestantism by James Hudnut-Beumler.
A HISTORY OF TITHES by the Rev. Henry William Clarke, B.A.
HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH by Philip Schaff.

"Income is the sum of all the wages, salaries, profits, interests, payments, rent and other forms of earnings received, in a given period of time"

@Image123,

And that definition is correct. Now you have to understand the meaning of earnings.

Using YOUR understanding of the definition of income, if YOU build YOURSELF something, you now have income. If you have a tree on your property I guess you think that is income to you. If you chop down the tree, the wood would also be income to you whether you sold any of it or not.

Things of nature are not income UNLESS you sell them or trade them. They are GIVEN TO US by God.

Whatever your definition, seems to me you would have to be consistent when you file your INCOME tax return and use the same definition since the tax laws, at least in the US, say that ALL INCOME is taxable except for specific excluded items that the tax laws list. ALL INCOME.

So tell me, Image123, IF the harvest is income, then would the sale of the harvest create additional income? Obviously even the definitions YOU furnished will treat the profit from the sale of the harvest as income. So now you are treating the EXACT SAME ITEMS as income TWICE.

You just don't have any concept of what income really means.

in the order of Melchizedek

Actually, it is AFTER the order of Melchizedek.

So what does that mean?  Seems many quote this scripture often but never understand what it means.

It is talking about an order; i.e. first, second, third, fourth,

In Hebrews 7:18 it says the command was disannulled.  That means that Numbers 18, the ordinance that established the Levitical priesthood along with tithing as its means of support was DISANNULLED, or ANNULLED.  That means it is treated as though there was never a Levitical priesthood.  It erases it.  Takes it out of the picture.

That leaves the priesthood of Melchizedek being FOLLOWED BY the priesthood of believers.  It's as though there never was a priesthood in-between the two.

The priesthood of Melchizedek was established WITHOUT the law.  The Levitical priesthood was established WITHIN the law.  The priesthood of born-again believers was established WITHOUT the law.  No law established the priesthood of Melchizedek, and no law established the current priesthood.

The whole purpose of the tithe being brought up in Hebrews 7 is to show "the less is blessed of the better."

Hebrews 7:17 (KJV)  For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 7 also shows the priesthood of believers with Jesus as high priest is SUPERIOR to that of Melchizedek.

To bring into play tithing now is to bring an INFERIOR method of giving into a SUPERIOR priesthood.  It diminishes what Jesus did on the cross.  It diminishes grace.  It diminishes the use of the Holy Spirit.

Image123 reminds me of dishonest pastors who take a word from scripture and change the definition to fit their own needs; i.e.

Malachi 3:10 (KJV)  "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, "

Just look at what pastors do with the word "meat" in this verse.  Yet, using the Strongs Hebrew concordance-dictionary, we find the word meat means FOOD, just like you would use the word at the dinner table.  NOTHING ELSE.  Meat doesn't mean money, The Word, or anything else.

Pastors take words and CHANGE THE MEANING resulting in many Christians missing the true meaning of the scriptures.  God warns us of these false teachers.

Same with the word "harvest."  Where the scriptures talk about a harvest, meaning the gathering of crops, Pastors take the term out of context and apply it to your earnings.  Again, God warns us of these false teachers.

Just show how gullible church goers can be.

@Joagbaje,

Christ came in the order of Melchizedek

Do you even understand what that means? If so, please explain it to me.

@Image123,

All income is increase. All increase is NOT income.

You don't want to use a "text book" definition of income. You also don't want to use God's definition of His tithe. What you want to do is make up the definitions to fit what you want.

Using a Hebrews concordance and dictionary, you find that EVERY SINGLE TIME the word "increase" is used when referring to the tithe, it is referring to the increase of the seed (crops) and NEVER anything else. You want to EXPAND the Biblical meaning to fit what you want it to mean.

You might as well also EXPAND the requirements for salvation while you are at it. Just take the Bible and do away with "text book" definitions and make the scriptures say anything you want them to say. That, my friend, is what you are doing.

Didn't God make it clear to you that we are NOT to add to His Word? You want to EXPAND His Word.

You won't find any scripture showing that those receiving wages in the OT tithed on those wages. You won't find any scripture showing that Jesus, as a carpenter, ever tithed on any "increase" from his carpentry work, or from his pay as a carpenter. You won't find any scripture to show that Peter ever tithed on the fish that he caught. You won't find scripture to show that Paul tithed on every tenth tent that he made, or on any income he received as a tent maker. You won't find any scripture where anyone, other than owners of the promised land tithed per God's commands to tithe.

Abraham tithed on war spoils that didn't even belong to him, and kept nothing for himself. There is no scripture to show that Abraham ever tithed on any of his regular income or wealth.

You have absolutely NOTHING in the scriptures to justify any tithing today.