₦airaland Forum

@image123,

You’ve taken 2Chronicles 31:5 out of context. They even took the tithe to the wrong place. They didn’t even understand what they were supposed to do!

Matthew 23:23 – Jesus didn’t tell the Scribes and Pharisees that they should have tithed on their income (from being teachers and lawyers), but rather He said they tithed on the herbs (increase of the seed) as they ought.

Leviticus 30:31 Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it.

REDEEM = buy back. The tithe in this case was from the increase of the seed (crops). They could BUY IT BACK for a 20% penalty. The tithe was NOT the money. Notice that they could NOT redeem the animals, only the crops. Now when you start adding to God’s Word, how do you know what you can redeem and what you can'’ redeem?

Hebrews 7:5 is written in the present tense because the Book of Hebrews was written BEFORE the Temple was destroyed. Until the Temple was destroyed (in the year 70AD), the Jews continued to take the tithe to the Levites. Once the Temple was destroyed, there was no more tithing.

The king of Sodom had an original right both to the persons and to the goods, and it would bear a debate whether Abram’s acquired right by rescue would supersede his title and extinguish it; but, to prevent all quarrels, the king of Sodom makes this fair proposal (v. 21).
--Should the Church Teach Tithing by Dr. Russell Earl Kelly, pages 24-25


We have a completely different and much better relationship with God than Abraham had. It calls for a totally different way of life—led by the Spirit and tailored to each person uniquely and individually. Consider the differences between a believer in Jesus Christ and Abraham:

Abraham had not been redeemed by the blood of Jesus.
Acts 20:28;   1 Cor. 6:19, 20;   Eph. 1:7;   Col. 1:14;   Heb. 9:12;   1 Pet. 1:18-19;   Rev. 1:5, 5:9.

Abraham's sins were not remitted (totally forgiven and washed away) they were only temporarily covered and overlooked.
Matt. 26:28;   Acts 10:43;   Eph. 1:7;   Col. 1:14;   Heb. 9:11-14, 10:1-23.

Abraham had not been baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit.
1 Cor. 12:13;   Gal. 3:27.

Abraham was not in an actual spiritual union with God.
John 14:16, 17, 20, 23, 17:21, 23;   1 Cor. 6:17;   Eph. 5:30, 32.

Abraham's old nature had not been crucified with Christ.
Rom. 6:2-11;   Gal. 2:20, 6:14;   Col. 3:3.

Abraham had not been born again and spiritually re-created with God's own divine nature in him.
John 3:3-8;   1 Cor. 6:9-11;   2 Cor. 5:17, 18, 21;   Gal. 6:15;   Eph. 2:10, 4:24;   Col. 3:9, 10;   Titus 3:5;   1 Pet. 1:3, 23;   2 Pet. 1:4;   1 John 4:17.

Abraham was not a son of God with the same standing as Jesus Christ in God's family.
John 1:12;   Rom. 8:14, 19, 29;   Gal. 4:6, 7;   Eph. 2:5, 6;   Heb 2:10, 11, 12:7;   1 John 3:1, 2.

Abraham had not been made the righteousness of God. (His faith was only counted for righteousness.)
Rom. 5:19;   1 Cor. 1:30, 6:11;   2 Cor. 5:21, 6:14;   Eph. 4:24.

Abraham could not say, “It is Christ that lives in me.”
John 15:4, 5, 17:21-23;   Rom. 8:10;   2 Cor. 13:5;   Gal. 2:20;   Eph. 3:17;   Col 1:27, 3:11;  
1 John 3:23, 24, 4:4.

Abraham was not the temple of God. God did not dwell in him.
1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19;   2 Cor. 6:16.

Abraham did not have the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead him.
John 7:39, 14:16, 17, 16:7-15;   Acts 2:4;   Rom. 8:9, 11, 14, 15, 23, 26;   1 Cor. 2:12;   2 Cor. 5:5;   Gal 3:2, 14, 4:6, 5:18;   Eph. 3:16;   1 Thess. 4:8;   1 John 3:24, 4:13.

Abraham had not been delivered out of the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God's Son.
Luke 1:68-74;   John 5:24;   Rom. 5:17, 6:6, 7, 12, 14, 18, 22, 8:2;   Gal 3:13;   Col. 1:13, 2:15;   Heb. 2:14, 15.

Abraham had not been made alive with Christ, raised up with him, and seated with him at the Father's right hand.
Eph. 1:19-2:1, 2:4-6;   Col. 2:12, 13, 3:1.

Abraham had not been blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.
Eph. 1:3;   Rom. 8:32;   1 Cor. 3:21, 22;   2 Pet. 1:3.

You can't assume that Abraham tithed more than once. We can only go by what the scriptures tell us.

IF Abraham was a regular "tither" then I doubt that Jacob would have put conditions on God before he would give a tenth.

Abram gave a tenth of war spoils that DIDN'T EVEN BELONG TO HIM, and he kept NOTHING for himself. That is the ONLY example given. Is that "tithing?" When you tithe, do you keep nothing for yourself? Do you give a tenth of something that doesn't even belong to you?

Use some common sense here.

Correction:

Dishonest and/or ignorant church leaders started all this (just research the history of tithing on income), and now dishonest and/or ignorant pastors perpetuate this lie.

@newmi,

Of course a tithe is a tenth. The word tithe means a tenth or a tenth part.

Anyone can give a tenth of their income to the church and call it tithing if they wish, but no one should infer that a tenth of their income is the Biblical, or The Lord's Tithe, because it isn't.

Crops and animals raised outside the Holy land were NOT accepted as God's Holy tithes, so what makes you believe your income would qualify?

All this tithing lie started around 1870 when church leaders decided they wanted more money and decided to start teaching that you tithe on your income. Dishonest and/or ignorant church leaders started all this (just research the history of tithing on income), and now dishonest and/or pastors perpetuate this lie.

Christians need to stand up to this false teaching.

Many pastors come right out and admit, in private, they they lie about tithing.

I learned a while back that I can't believe what a pastor says any more than I can believe a used-car salesman. I don't blindly accept what a pastor preaches. I check it against the scriptures to find out who teaches truth and who teaches lies.

Those who teach "storehouse-tithing" teach that the local church has replaced the Old Covenant Temple as the expected recipient of tithes. Therefore, the most-often quoted text, Malachi 3:10, which commands "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse" is appropriate for them.

First, it is assumed that the ordinary people were commanded to bring all tithes of the nation to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Second, it is assumed that the Temple contained a storehouse large enough to hold the tithe of all Israel and that it was part of David and Solomon's original Temple.

Third, it is assumed that the Church is called a storehouse in order to establish and justify a reason for bringing tithes to the church.

For the following reasons, the above storehouse assumptions are in error.

1. The overwhelming majority of the tithes of the nation were taken, not to the Temple, but to the Levitical cities.

Neh 10:37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

The Levitical cities are not hidden in Scripture. They are mentioned or alluded to in Leviticus 25:32-34; all of Numbers 35; all of Joshua 20 and 21; 1st Chronicles 6; 2nd Chronicles 11:13-14; 31:15-19; Nehemiah 10:37-38; 11:3, 20; 12:27-29, 44; 13:10 and Malachi 1:14. At first there were 48 Levitical and priestly cities. Later Judah had 13, including Hebron and Jericho. Jerusalem is not listed.

2. The Levites and priests received the overwhelming majority of the tithe, not in the Temple, but in the Levitical cities.

Neh 10:37 … and the tithes of our ground [bring] unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

Neh 10:38a And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes …
3. Only the Levites and priests, not the people, were commanded to bring tithes into the Temple.

Neh 10:38b … : and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse …

Either Malachi 3:10 contradicts Nehemiah 10:37-38 or else it has been mis-interpreted. Since Nehemiah and Malachi occupy the same time in history, they must be describing the same circumstances. Malachi 1:6 and 2:1 are specifically addressed to the priests of Israel and not all of Israel. If one follows the pronoun "you" from 1:6 (except for the brief 3rd person sequence of 2:10-12), God never changes his address from the priests to the people in general. "Ye sons of Jacob" in 3:6 could easily refer only to the priests and "this whole nation" in 3:9 could easily refer to "this whole nation -- of you priests."

4. It was physically impossible for the Temple to hold all of the tithes of Israel.

1 Kings 6:6 The nethermost chamber was five cubits broad, and the middle was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad: for without in the wall of the house he made narrowed rests round about, that the beams should not be fastened in the walls of the house.

1 Kings 6:10 And then he built chambers against all the house, five cubits high: and they rested on the house with timber of cedar.

Neh 13:5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

Neh 13:9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

The chambers, or store-rooms, which surrounded the Temple were only 7 1/2 ft, 9 ft and 10 1/2 ft wide and 7 1/2 ft high. (They were probably in 3 tiers giving the shape of wings.) According to Nehemiah 13:5, 7, 9, only two of these chambers held the tithes, offerings and others items.

5. There was no need for the Temple to hold ALL the tithes of the entire nation. Thus the typical interpretation of Malachi 3:10 that "ye" means "all people" makes no sense unless it only refers to priests.


2 Chron 23:8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.

Only about 2% of the Levites and priests served in the Temple most of the time. Ninety eight per cent (98%) of those who needed the tithe for food stayed in the Levitical cities. Only males older than 20 served one week at a time every 24th week in the Temple. The wives and younger children stayed in the Levitical cities. The 24 "courses" or "families" are mentioned or alluded to in First Chronicles 23 to 26; 28:13, 21; Second Chronicles 8:14; 23:8; 31:2, 15-19; 35:4, 5, 10; Ezra 6:18; Neh. 11:30; 12:24.

Therefore, since 98% of those who required tithes for food were not in Jerusalem, then it makes no sense to teach that ALL of the tithes MUST be kept in the Temple in Jerusalem. Thus the common interpretation of Malachi 3:10 must be in error. In this context Malachi 3:10 only makes sense if it refers only to priests per Nehemiah 10:38-39.

6. From careful contextual reading of Nehemiah 10:37-38; 12:42-44 and 13:5-10 one must conclude that the Levites and priests brought whatever tithes they required with them from their cites when they went to the temple to serve for one week at a time.

Nehemiah 13:5 says that the tithes were removed from "a great chamber" to provide quarters for Tobiah. Common sense teaches that these quarters were not extensive. Verse 7 again calls it a "chamber." And in verse 9 Nehemiah cleans the "chambers" (plural). Most commentaries conclude that this means two small chambers turned into one large chamber

In other words, the phrase "storehouse tithing" actually only refers to "store-ROOMS" inside the Temple. The largest combined room would be 21 feet wide by 21 feet long by 7 1/2 feet tall (1 Kg 6:6, 10). Those dimensions could hardly accommodate the tithes from the whole nation! Again, it would have been impossible, improbable and illogical to conclude that two small storerooms inside the temple could hold all the tithe of the entire nation.

7. Another "storeroom" text is:

2 Chron 31:11 Then Hezekiah commanded to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD; and they prepared them,

2 Chron 31:12 And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.

This was the same Temple which David and Solomon had built and, evidently, it did not contain storage space for all the tithe of the nation. This lack should prove that it was never intended to store all the tithe at the Temple.

2 Chron 31:4 Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.

In error King Hezekiah commanded the ordinary people to bring all the tithes to the Temple in Jerusalem. Due to his idolatrous predecessors the Temple had been closed and the exact location for tithes had been forgotten.

2 Chron 31:6 And concerning the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid them by heaps.

2 Chron 31:7 In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month.

Many sermons on tithing are preached from these texts. Yet the food is rotting in the streets because there is no place to store it. Something is wrong.

2 Chron 31:9 Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

King Hezekiah had to "question" the priests and Levites because something was evidently wrong. All tithes of the nation were never intended to be brought to the Temple. The "storehouse tithing" concept was built on a mistake!

2 Chron 31:10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.

After gathering enough to feed the Levites and priests, the chief priest asks the assembled Levites and priests what should be done with the "great store" left over. First they "prepared chambers in the house of the LORD" to hold their immediate needs (31:11-12). This was the two small store-rooms mentioned in Nehemiah 13.

Second, they sent the remainder, the "great store" BACK TO THE LEVITICAL CITIES where it belonged. This is detailed in 31:15-19. And these texts are almost always completely ignored by tithe teachers who focus on verses 5-7 because it destroys their "store-house tithing" doctrine. In reality "storehouse tithing" only referred to two small store-rooms in the Temple while "Levitical city tithing" would be a far more accurate term.

8. There is no biblical reference to the New Covenant church as a "storehouse." According to reputable historian Philip Schaff the early church did not have its own buildings for over 200 years after Calvary and they were quickly destroyed every time a tragedy was blamed on them by the idol-worshipping Roman citizens. Church buildings did not become legal until after AD 324 --almost 300 years after Calvary. Therefore there was no such thing as a church "building" to "store" anything when the New Testament was written.

Christian tithe-teachers say a lot about the “storehouse” of the church. In order to justify this they juggle the Greek verb thesaurizo, translated ­ “storing up,” from First Corinthians 16:2 in order to manipulate the Greek text. The phrase is literally “by himself, to place, storing up.” The text does not call the church a “storehouse”; it merely tells the contributor what to do with the gift. Many commentators even say it means “store up at home” with no reference to a church building.

Those same Christian tithe-teachers will not use Second Corinthians 12:14 for their example of the church “storehouse.” Yet Paul used the same Greek verb, ­thesaurizo, while saying “the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” At least, as far as Paul was concerned, the gospel worker, should be working in order to provide for the needs of the poor in the church. He repeated this thought in Acts 20:29-35.

The Christian concept of the church as the storehouse is very unscriptural. In Malachi’s context, the storehouse was primarily the responsibility of the political authority, the governor, to ensure that it was maintained. Kings controlled the temple wealth. Scripture records seven times that kings gave away wealth from God’s temple storehouse and from their own royal storehouse (1 Kings 14:25-26; 15:18; 2 Kings 12:18; 14:14; 16:8; 18:14-15; 20:13-19; 24:13). Do you want your government to be able to do this?

For the following reasons, proper explanation of the context of Malachi does not convert its storehouse into the “storehouse of the church”:

One: From the discussion above, THE storehouse in Jerusalem did not permanently contain the whole tithe. Since most priests and Levites required the tithe in the Levitical cities where they and their extended families lived, most of it was kept there. The food went to where the people lived. According to Second Chronicles 31:15-19 and Nehemiah 12:44 and 47, only enough daily portions (or weekly for each course) were brought up from the Levitical cities to feed those currently ministering in their rotation. This was only a very small portion of the WHOLE tenth of the Levites and of the “tenth of the tenth” of the priests (Neh. 10:37-38).
Two: While Old Testament storehouses were considered to be the property of the religious state, most New Covenant churches are not.

Three: While Old Testament storehouses received political aid to collect its tithes, most New Covenant churches do not.

Four: While Old Testament storehouses held tithes of food, New Covenant churches collect money which was never included in the biblical definition of tithe.

Five: While the Old Testament festival and poor tithes provided food for the needy, most New Covenant churches which collect all of their so-called “tithes” keep most of them for themselves and do not become heavily involved in welfare work.

Six: While the Old Testament storehouse provided sustenance for its national priesthood, the New Covenant teaches a priesthood of all believers.

Seven: While the Old Testament storehouses promoted priestly sacrifices according to the Law, New Covenant church leaders are new offices under new principles.

Eight: While most of the Old Testament storehouse was for the priests’ portion of firstfruits, firstborn, temple taxes, and vow offerings, this pattern is not followed by New Covenant churches.

Nine: While Old Covenant tithing was a separate fund from free-will offerings for buildings and maintenance, many New Covenant churches place all needs into a total program and correctly eliminate the Old Covenant tithing principle.

Ten: Since orthodox Jews do not handle money or collect offerings on their Sabbath, it is doubtful that early Jewish Christians would have changed this tradition by handling money at a church. Yet Christians gather most of their money on their holy day.

Eleven: While the Old Testament Temple, like the pagans, became an illegitimate banking storehouse (treasury), the New Covenant church is not to be used as a commercial bank storehouse, or treasury.

Twelve: While those who received the first Levitical tithe to sustain their work in the Temple in exchange for no property ownership, the New Covenant gospel worker does not receive tithes and is not required to forfeit property ownership.

Russell Earl Kelly, PHD
www.tithing-russkelly.com

You either follow God's commands on tithing or you don't. You can't change the definition and ordinances and then claim you are tithing per God's Word.

In the Old Testament, the firstfruits went to God by taking them to the priests at the Temple. Firstfruits means first of the crop, NOT first part of income.

In the New Testament, the firstfruits belong to the farmer.
2 Timothy 2:6 (KJV) - The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
2 Timothy 2:6 (NIV) - The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.

In the Old Testament, you gave to God by taking the tithe to the Levites, taking firstfruits to the priests, and through burnt and other sacrificial giving.

In the New Testament, you give to God by giving to the needy/poor. See Matthew 25:42-45.

In the Old Testament, they had laws to follow. They had no Holy Spirit to lead them.

In the New Testament, born-again believers are given God's Holy Spirit. Those who are led by The Spirit need no laws. If they follow the Spirit's guidance, they will do God's will.

It makes no sense to try to bring forward an the Old Testament law of tithing when the New Testament teaches a better way.

Abraham gave a tenth of war spoils but kept nothing for himself. Some try to somehow link this to the later commands to tithe. But there is a problem linking the two.

1 - We only have scripture to show that Abraham gave a tenth ONE time, and ONLY on war spoils.
2 - The later Mosaic law required a tenth of crops and animals, but NOT a tenth of war spoils. In fact, God only claimed a small fraction of a tenth of war spoils under the Mosaic law.
3 - There is no scripture to show that Abraham gave a tenth of crops and animals.
4 - Therefore, what Abraham did was NOT carried forward into the law, and what the law required was NOT followed by Abraham. There is NOTHING similar between the two other than the word tenth or tithe.

There is nothing similar between the tithe commands in the Old Testament and the made-up tithe taught by false teachers today except the word tithe.

In Deuteronomy 8:18 we learn that God gave us the ABILITY to produce wealth - He gave us the ABILITY to work and earn a living. When we work, it is OUR labor. The Biblical tithe came from GOD'S labor, not man's labor. Man cannot make crops and animals. God NEVER commanded anyone to tithe on anything that man makes or earned.

@newmi,

If it's not recorded in the Bible, what makes you think Abraham tithed more than once?

Doesn't God WARN about adding to His Word? Just as I have no proof that Abraham didn't tithe more than once, you have no proof that he did.

I can only go by what the scriptures tell me, now what it doesn't tell me.

I could just as well have said that the Bible doesn't tell us everything, but Jesus told us to stop tithing. I would have as much proof with that statement as you do with yours.

@image123

'you have robbed me, even this whole nation'

Doesn't say this whole nation has robbed me. Doesn't say you and this whole nation has robbed me.

But to avoid an argument on this point, just suppose I am wrong here. You still haven't shown me or anyone else that tithing was ever commanded on income, nor have you shown anyone that God gave any pastor or Christian Church permission to receive His tithe.

@Image123,

'you have robbed me, even this whole nation'

The whole nation was robbed because, according to Nehemiah 13, the priests stole the Levites portion of the tithe at the Temple, and the Levites had to go back to their homes in order to have food. THE TEMPLE WAS CLOSED. No one could go to the Temple for prayer, food, or anything else. IT WAS CLOSED. THAT, my friend, shows that the whole nation was robbed.

Malachi is being spoken to the priests. I have already proven that.

The Israelites took the tithe to the Levites in the Levitical cities, NOT to the Temple, so when Malachi says take all the tithes to the storehouse, it has to be referring to the tenth of the tithe that the Levites took to the Temple for the priests.

@Joagbaje,

The tithe was taken to the Levites, not the priests, and then the Levites took a tenth of the tithe to the priests.  The Levites were the servants to the priests - the ushers, singers, musicians, etc.

The tithe was given to the Levites to keep up the Temple WHERE THE SPIRIT OF GOD LIVED.  Now the Spirit lives within our bodies.  Our bodies are now the temple.

"Living of things of the Temple" doesn't necessarily refer to the tithes.  Furthermore, the tithes were NOT used for the Temple, but rather for those who took care of the Temple.  The Temple Tax was used for the Temple.

@Image123,

Are YOU being obedient to God's Word by CHANGING God's definition of His tithe, and CHANGING where God commanded His tithe to be taken?

You are disobeying God's command to take His tithe to the Levites.

@Image123,

You need to go back to Exodus.  The Twelve Tribes of Israel were headed to the promised land.  God gave the tithing command to the Twelve Tribes of Israel - eleven would inherit the promised land, and THEY would take God's tithe to the twelfth tribe (the tribe of Levi) who inherited the tithe INSTEAD OF the promised land.

Those who inherited the promised land took the tithe to those who did NOT inherit the promised land.

NO ONE ELSE TITHED.

The tithe was on GOD'S INCREASE (assets) not man's income.  The farmers SOLD THEIR CROPS AND ANIMALS FOR MONEY but the income was NOT tithable.  They had to tithe on the ASSETS - the crops and animals - whether they sold any or not.  Had NOTHING TO DO with income.

God DEFINED HIS TITHE in Leviticus 27:30-33.  God didn't say a tenth of all increase, or a tenth of fish, or a tenth of anything not mentioned in HIS definition.

In Numbers 18 God commands HIS tithe be TAKEN TO THE LEVITES.  At NO TIME did God give any pastor or Christian Church permission to receive His tithes.

Either believe the scriptures, or believe your pastor.  I choose to believe God's Word over some pastor.

@Image123,

God didn't say "this whole nation" should tithe. You need to quote scripture for everything you say, not just say it says it somewhere.

Malachi 3:9 (KJV) "Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation."

What God is saying here is that the PRIESTS have robbed Him; thus, THEY have robbed the whole nation.

And just HOW did they rob God? By stealing the Levites portion of the tithe!

Let’s look at Malachi 3. First, who is God speaking to – the priests or the people?
We need to study the entire Book of Malachi rather than take a few verses out of context.

By the time we get to verse 6 in chapter 1, we see it is the priests that are being addressed at that point.

In both chapters 1 and 2 of Malachi there is a conversation going on between God and the priests. Every time the word "you" is used, it is referring to the priests. Chapter 3 continues with this conversation. In verse 5 God says "And I will come near to you to judgment…, " In the Old Testament, during this period of time and generally speaking, only the priests could get near to God. It is only in the New Testament that born again believers, you and I, can get close to God. So up to chapter 3 verse 5, God is speaking to the priests. The word "you" is still referring to the priests. There is nothing in the scripture to indicate this changes when you get to verse 8. But that's not all.

Read Numbers 18:29-30 and then read Malachi 1:14. Those verses explain robbing God of the offerings. The PRIESTS, not the people, robbed God of the offering by giving to God the worst instead of the best.

In Nehemiah 13 we are told that the priests stole the Levites portion of the tithe; therefore, they had no food to eat at the temple, and they went back to their own fields.

Therefore, taking the Levites portion of the tithe is the robbing God of the tithe. Or to put it another way, THE LEVITES WERE ROBBED. God said He was robbed because the tithe was not taken where God directed.

Next, in Malachi 3:10 God says to bring all the tithes to the storehouse. The people took the tithes to the Levites who lived in the Levitical cities, not to the temple. The Levites took the required tithe of the tithe to the temple. (See Nehemiah 10:37-38) Only those tithes ever made it to the temple. The priests then took those tithes to the storehouse. It only makes sense if God is speaking to the priests in this verse.

Since in Numbers 18 God makes it perfectly clear that the tithe belongs to Him, and He gave it to the Levites, anyone who takes God’s tithe to their local church must also be robbing God since the Levites are not the ones getting it.

I see no way around this. Either the tithe ended per Hebrews 7:18, OR those who take God’s tithe to their local church must be robbing God since God gave clear instructions where to take His tithe. There is nothing in God’s Word to show that God ever changed those instructions. Therefore, the only conclusion I can reach is that taking a tithe to your local church is NOT paying the tithe to God. It is giving it to man. Nowhere in God’s Word does He give permission for the Christian Church to receive His tithe.

Therefore, IT IS A SIN AGAINST GOD to take God’s tithe to your local church. IT IS A SIN for any pastor to accept God’s tithe.

@Dean55,

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

@Tonye-t,

Do YOU accept the Word of Jesus? Do YOU accept the scriptures? OR, do you CHANGE the Word?

In Matthew 23:23 Jesus confirmed that the Scribes and Pharisees ought to tithe ON THEIR HERBS (increase of the seed) but NEVER did He mention that they should be tithing on their INCOME. The Scribes and Pharisees were teachers and lawyers but were never told they should be tithing on their income.

Do YOU accept God's definition for His tithe? God reserved a tenth of the crops and animals raised on the Holy land. He did NOT ask for, or command, or reserve a tenth of any man's income. That is pure manipulation of God's Word.

YOU obviously don't understand Numbers 18:27, which proves that income canNOT be tithed on.

OLD TESTAMENT - THE FIRST OF THE FRUITS SHOULD GO TO GOD
Proverbs 3:9 (KJV) “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:”

NEW TESTAMENT - THE WORKER SHOULD BE FIRST TO RECEIVE A SHARE OF THE FRUIT
2 Timothy 2:6 (KJV) “The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.”

Now, are YOU going by the Old Testament or the New Testament?

You just can't take God's Word and change it to fit the times. Christians are supposed to CHANGE THEIR LIFE STYLE TO FIT THE SCRIPTURES, not the other way around.

During Biblical times they had wages, income, money, but did NOT tithe on wages, or any other type of income, or money.

God gave us His Word to FOLLOW, not change.

If you read, study, and don't take the verse out of context, Numbers 18:27 proves that tithing cannot be on income: “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.”

OLD TESTAMENT - THE FIRST OF THE FRUITS SHOULD GO TO GOD
Proverbs 3:9 (KJV) “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:”

NEW TESTAMENT - THE WORKER SHOULD BE FIRST TO RECEIVE A SHARE OF THE FRUIT
2 Timothy 2:6 (KJV) “The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.”

Are you aware that the tithe was paid to THE LEVITES, not the priests? The Levites were the ushers, singers, musicians, janitors, etc. - the servants of the priests. The Levites were then commanded to give a tenth of that tithe to the priests.

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.

Some question, how will the church be financed if it isn't through both tithes and offerings?

First, not all denominations teach and collect the tithe, and they bring in the funds needed without having to lie about tithing.

Next, not all Baptist pastors (for an example) teach and collect the tithe. Some do, and some don't.

The end does not justify the means.

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 than giving ten percent.

While tithing is not fair to the poor, it is a nearly-free ride for the well-to-do and wealthy who maybe should be giving far, far more than a mere tenth.

According to scripture, there were three tithes commanded by God. Three different tithes with three different definitions, three different purposes, and three different instructions.

Leviticus 27:30-33, Numbers 18: The First Tithe
Definition: a tenth of crops and every tenth animal raised on the Holy land.
Purpose: to help support the Levites and priests.
Instructions: commanded to take the tithe to the Levites, and the Levites were commanded to take a tenth of the tithe to the priests. The priests were commanded to give a heave offering to God from the best of their tenth.

Deuteronomy 14:22-27: The Second Tithe aka The Festival Tithe
Definition: a tenth of crops, plus add to that the firstborn animals.
Purpose: to feast before the Lord.
Instructions: take to the place God specified for the feast/festival.

Deuteronomy 14:28-29: The Third Tithe aka The Three-Year Tithe aka The Poor Tithe
Defintion: a tenth of crops.
Purpose: to feed the Levites, widows, orphans, stranger.
Instructions: invite the Levites, widows, orphans, stranger to your home for meal.

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.

IF it doesn't meet the above scripture, it isn't a Biblical tithe.

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

People are confused. Abraham gave a tenth of war spoils. That is NOT what God called His tithe. Abraham did not give or pay the Biblical tithe.

Only the uninformed can think they are tithing when they give a tenth of their income.

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.

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.

You are correct - tithing ended when the Levitical priesthood ended per Hebrews 7:5,12,18.

Furthermore, 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.

There were three different tithes, each with a different definition, different purpose, and with different instructions.

Leviticus 27:30-33, Numbers 18: The First Tithe - a tenth of crops and animals and commanded to take the tithe to the Levites. This tithe is the one church leaders use (and change to fit their needs). This one is sometimes called The Lord's Tithe. It is the ONLY one of the three tithes that God claimed was His. This was a yearly tithe.

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.

Don't forget Leviticus 25:3-7 – The seven-year sabbath for the land. Because there could be no sowing or harvest every seven years, there was no tithe on the seventh year.

Furthermore, 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.

It is true that the first Tithing was given by Abraham to Melchisedec but was entrenched into the law and so it became a statutory.

Be careful here. Abram gave a tenth of the war spoils. That was not brought forward into the law. Under the law, God only required 1.1%, not a tenth. Therefore, what Abram did had nothing to do with the later law.

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

THREE DIFFERENT TITHES WITH THREE DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS WITH THREE DIFFERENT PURPOSES:

Leviticus 27:30-33, Numbers 18: The First Tithe - a tenth of crops and animals and commanded to take the tithe to the Levites. CROPS AND ANIMALS. Used to support the Levites. The Levites were commanded to take a tenth of the tithe to the priests to assist in their support.

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. CROPS plus the firstborn animals (not a tenth). For the yearly feast. Eaten by the tither, his family, and others including the Levites and the poor.

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. CROPS. Eaten AT THE HOME OF the tither by the Levites, widows, orphans, etc.

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.

Let’s look at Malachi 3. First, who is God speaking to – the priests or the people?
We need to study the entire Book of Malachi rather than take a few verses out of context.

By the time we get to verse 6 in chapter 1, we see it is the priests that are being addressed at that point.

In both chapters 1 and 2 of Malachi there is a conversation going on between God and the priests. Every time the word "you" is used, it is referring to the priests. Chapter 3 continues with this conversation. In verse 5 God says "And I will come near to you to judgment…, " In the Old Testament, during this period of time and generally speaking, only the priests could get near to God. It is only in the New Testament that born again believers, you and I, can get close to God. So up to chapter 3 verse 5, God is speaking to the priests. The word "you" is still referring to the priests. There is nothing in the scripture to indicate this changes when you get to verse 8. But that's not all.

Read Numbers 18:29-30 and then read Malachi 1:14. Those verses explain robbing God of the offerings. The PRIESTS, not the people, robbed God of the offering by giving to God the worst instead of the best.

In Nehemiah 13 we are told that the priests stole the Levites portion of the tithe; therefore, they had no food to eat at the temple, and they went back to their own fields.

Therefore, taking the Levites portion of the tithe is the robbing God of the tithe. Or to put it another way, THE LEVITES WERE ROBBED. God said He was robbed because the tithe was not taken where God directed.

Next, in Malachi 3:10 God says to bring all the tithes to the storehouse. The people took the tithes to the Levites who lived in the Levitical cities, not to the temple. The Levites took the required tithe of the tithe to the temple. (See Nehemiah 10:37-38) Only those tithes ever made it to the temple. The priests then took those tithes to the storehouse. It only makes sense if God is speaking to the priests in this verse.

Since in Numbers 18 God makes it perfectly clear that the tithe belongs to Him, and He gave it to the Levites, anyone who takes God’s tithe to their local church must also be robbing God since the Levites are not the ones getting it.

I see no way around this. Either the tithe ended per Hebrews 7:18, OR those who take God’s tithe to their local church must be robbing God since God gave clear instructions where to take His tithe. There is nothing in God’s Word to show that God ever changed those instructions. Therefore, the only conclusion I can reach is that taking a tithe to your local church is NOT paying the tithe to God. It is giving it to man. Nowhere in God’s Word does He give permission for the Christian Church to receive His tithe.

Therefore, IT IS A SIN AGAINST GOD to take God’s tithe to your local church. IT IS A SIN for any pastor to accept God’s tithe.

My LAST remarks, because you STILL aren't getting it.

THE LORD'S TITHE is ONLY defined in Leviticus 27:30-33, not deuteronomy.  NO OTHER TITHE does The Lord claim to be His Holy Tithe.

Churches aren't teaching the festival tithe or the 3-year tithe.  They are basing their teaching on the Levitical tithe, but changing it from crops and animals to income and instead of taking it to the Levites they teach you take it to the church.

THAT IS THE LORD'S TITHE, AND IT WAS PAID.  You won't find even ONE verse where THE LORD'S TITHE is given.

It is YOU are want to confuse the issues by bringing in the 3-year tithe which is NOT what pastors are teaching that Christians should be doing.

But I expect you will write another long essay to show others how smart you are and how wrong I am.  Go for it.  You just keep showing your own confusion.

The Lord's Tithe was PAID.

Abraham gave a tenth.  The word tithe in Genesis means a tenth.

Once God defined His tithe in Leviticus 27, His definition CHANGED what tithing meant and it was NO LONGER GIVEN.

Even Hebrews 7 makes the distinction between Abraham's GIVING and the PAYMENT of the Levitical tithe.  Hebrews 7 does NOT use the word tithe with Abraham to avoid confusion.

You STILL don't get it.

I am done with this.  Some people are just set in their thinking and no matter what, they can't see what is right in front of them.

For those following this blog, I hope you can see that viaro has proven my point by his confusion.

Viaro uses the word tithing to mean a form of giving.  Viaro uses the current dictionary definition.

I use the word tithing to mean the Biblical Tithe, a payment.  I use the definition given to us by God.

Using the word for both meanings is what causes confusion, and is causing confusion right here on this blog.

Since I personally know many who THINK they are paying God's tithe, PER THE LAW, not from the heart, I say THEY are sinning BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY ARE UNDER THE LAW, but they are breaking the law.   What is sin to one may NOT be sin to another.  And yes, SOME, I believe, have fallen from grace because they believe they are UNDER THE LAW of tithing.

I am sure that many following this blog will see how using the word tithing for giving and ALSO for the Biblical Tithe (the law of tithing) can AND DOES cause confusion.

I rest my case.

viaro again takes what I say and tries to imply I said something different.  He said, "Second, the assertion that pastors all over the world teach that tithing is not an option is a bold LIE! Even where some churches teach that it is "obligatory", the fact is that not all pastors everywhere around the world teach that tithing is "required" - what part of your salvation is it "required" for?"

What I said is NOT a lie!  There are pastors all over the word that teach tithing is required.  I didn't say ALL pastors teach tithing is required.

You have done this type of manipulating what I write time and time again.

I am a finance minister.  Finances is my whole ministry.  I come across this problem every day of the week.  I talk to people who tell me they are afraid God is going to punish them because they were unable to pay His tithe to the church.  I talk to pastors who tell me they believe tithing is not an option.  I talk to people who actually believe they are under the OT laws, and they insist Jesus taught tithing to the Christian Church in Matthew 23:23.  NOBODY ever told them the New Covenant didn't start until after Calvary.  Many tell me the New Covenant starts at the birth of Jesus.  Because many pastors use Matthew 23:23 to show tithing is valid today, they are confusing people into believing the NT began at the birth of Jesus.

I see the confusion on a daily basis.  The problem is the false teachers, not those giving a tenth of their income.  But I also see that calling giving, tithing, is confusing many.  I see it, because I am involved in my finance ministry seven days a week.

It's not a crime to call giving, tithing.  It's not a sin to call giving, tithing.  But it does add to the confusion.  I've never condemned anyone for giving a tenth of their income to the church or anywhere else.  In fact, I am all for giving.  But, ON A DAILY BASIS, I am talking to people who THINK they are paying The Lord's Tithe UNDER THE LAW to the church.  This is what I deal with EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK.

My ministry is aimed at pastors but I also minister on a one-on-one basis to anyone who requests it.

My ministry is FREE TO ALL.  I refuse donations.  I pay for it all out of funds God has already blessed me with.  Whether one calls giving, tithing, whether one believes tithing is required, or whether one believes tithing is voluntary has no bearing on my income.  I, obviously, am not in ministry for monetary profit.

Those who wish to keep the legalistic ten percent will continue to do so.

I will continue to be Spirit led in my giving, and I will continue to call it giving.

If calling your giving a tithe makes you happy, I guess you will continue to do so.  I find it disgusting to call giving, tithing, since pastors all over the world are teaching that tithing is not an option, but required.  Using the word tithing for both of these situations just adds to the confusion.

I am convinced, however, that some of you call your giving, tithing, just to keep the arguments going, or to straddle the fence and not take sides, or just for show.

Malachi 3:9 - "Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation."

Galatians 3:13 - "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a [b]curse [/b]for us:, "

For those who want to use Malachi today, you are rejecting what Jesus did for us on the cross.  How can we be under the curse of Malachi when Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law?

Image123 - I am done arguing with you.  We are not going to agree.

Malachi DOESN'T matter.  Malachi is referring to the ORDINANCES of tithing which is in Numbers 18.  Neither YOU nor anyone else is following God's ordinances today.

NO ONE has shown me any scripture where God ever commanded anyone to tithe on anything that man made or earned.  NEVER on income.  NEVER on money.  ALWAYS on FOOD from crops and animals.  Yet the Israelite farmers HAD income, HAD markets to buy and sell, and HAD money.  But God did NOT want them to give to Him from their income or money.

You take God's Word and twist it, change it, and then use the result to base your beliefs.

It doesn't matter who God was speaking to in Malachi - it was NOT the Christian Church.  It doesn't matter whether Abram owned the war spoils or not.  There is NO example of Abram giving a tenth of his income, and the ONLY example is war spoils.

All these arguments that really don't matter.  THE LORD'S TITHE WAS ONLY ON THE MIRACULOUS INCREASE FROM GOD'S HAND, NOT MAN'S INCOME.

If you want to continue IGNORING God's own definition and God's own ordinances (instructions; commands) and call you measly ten percent a tithe, go ahead.  You only show your lack of understanding what God's tithe was all about.

Three years ago I might have agreed with you.  But God opened my eyes to His truth.

Image123 said, "Where is all these story in your bible?"

Do I need to copy and paste Nehemiah 13 for you? Read and STUDY the whole chapter.