₦airaland Forum

OLAADEGBU: This response of yours confirms you as an "atheist" who doesn't believe in the existence of God.

Me an atheist? Really? I don't believe in the existence of God? Seriously?

I have only been preaching His Word since my release from prison in 1979. If I were an atheist, I would not be preaching His Word as I do.

You Sir, are working for the enemy of God's people; twisting His Word into a lie and accusing His children.

OLAADEGBU: I said give it to Jesus, the High Priest after the order of Melchisedec if you care about Him at all.

OK, so I wait until Jesus physically returns to the Earth, then give the tithe of the spoils to Him.

Thanks for clarifying that.

OLAADEGBU: (2 Timothy 2:23).

So you have no Scripture that teaches the tithe you say was not abrogated was amended to the monetary tithe you now preach and teach, you just present it as if it is truth.

I see.

OLAADEGBU: Give it to Jesus if He is your Lord. He is the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. (Heb.7:17).

This means that I can give it to anyone (not necessarily a pastor of a Church)

"Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me"

OLAADEGBU: You need fresh glasses to see that tithes and offerings have not been abrogated. Paul used the law to bring the knowledge of sin. Folks will have little or no difficulties only if they learnt the lesson of the Law. Let's see how Paul used the Law in the following verses:

(Romans 2:21-22).

When you eat that which belongs to God you commit sacrilege. Tithes and offerings belong to God, don't commit sacrilege by robbing God.

you say the tithe was not abrogated. Tell me then, where God amended the crops and livestock tithe to a tithe of money?

Is that in the first or second book of Vain Imagination?

OLAADEGBU: 1. Abram.

OK, Abram it is then.

Next rescue mission I go on, (though I do not have 318 servants) should I win the battle, I will give a king a tenth of the spoils as Abram did.

OLAADEGBU: Let's leave Voltaire alone and focus on Judas Iscariot who made the same claim you anti tithers make.

[1] "Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. [2] There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. [3] Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. [4] Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, [5] Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? [6] This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein" (John 12:1-6).

You can see from this passage that there is nothing new under the sun. The spirit of Judas Iscariot, that hides under the camouflage of "care for the poor" but their real intention is covetousness. They claim to be fighting for the cause of the poor but it is their bellies they are fighting for. They detest the mention of tithes but wouldn't hesitate to ask for offerings, collections or contributions. Who do you think you are deceiving? Except those who have deliberately rejected the truth.

Judas Iscariot indicts you.

Comparing us with Judas Iscariat is quite wrong. For one, we truly care about the poor while Judas did not.

The monetary tithe requirement is seeds of discord.

We are trying to bring people out of that false doctrine that places them in the same lot with the unrighteous.


1 Timothy 1:3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

1 Timothy 1:8-10 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

Since the only tithes revealed to us in the Word of God are the tithes of the spoils of war, and the tithes of crops and livestock, the monetary tithe is indeed "contrary to sound doctrine."

Image123: Nothing economical about those facts; Paying/giving of tithes can be done by christians and should not be condemned. Jesus or the Holy Spirit never condemned it neither did they forget. i've also shown how some early believers observed the law and were not condemned in as much as it was not used as their medium of salvation. If any part of scripture is quoted by me, it is not to condemn anyone, but to instruct, teach, correct, exhort etc. We all have free will, its your decision to twist my post to 'stylishly' fit what you want it to state, same has been severally done to the Word of God, so i am not offended.
My main point is not that your arguments and contentions should stop, but that there should be a clear focus of what christian ministry is, and for folks to stop majoring on minors, or getting obsessed over trivialities.

Jesus abolished the ordinances in His flesh. That' means He did not want the ordinances continuing. Since tithing was an ordinance, this would mean the tithe ordinance was abolished as well. The Apostles confirmed this when they said the Gentiles were not to be brought under the Law. The Apostles further confirmed this by not teaching tithing in any of their epistles.

ashieduplus: If your pastor teaches tithes ask hin these questions
1. Are you a jew to pay tithes?
2. Is he a levite? If yes, can he trace his geaneology to prove it?
3. Is your church the temple in Jerusalem?
4. Aren't we permitted to eat our tithes? (Deut. 14)
5. Shouldn't we give our tithes to widows, orphans and aliens?
6. Are we under the law? Or has Christ delivered us from the curse of the law?

The thing is, although we are not under the Law, the teachers of this man-made monetary tithe certainly are under the Law according to the Word of God.

They can claim they are not, but notice:

1 Timothy 1:8-10 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the[b] law is not made for a righteous man[/b], but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

Notice that last part I bolded? "and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine"?

What the monetary tithe teacher is teaching is false doctrine. There is no command for a monetary tithe, yet they claim that the tithe is required... theirs is a doctrine that is indeed "contrary to sound doctrine."

So, we see that the Law is indeed for these false prophets who teach the monetary tithe.

Are they obeying the Law? Are they taking the tithe to Jerusalem? Are they eating the tithe? Are they only working at the Temple two weeks a year? Do they own land when Scripture says they are not to own land/ Do they offer sacrifices?

Galatians 3:10 For 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.

We know the answer to the above questions. According to the Word of God, these false prophets who prophesy to us of a monetary tithe are cursed.

Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

I notice instead of searching the Scriptures, you chose to rely on your fallible reasoning.

Why am I not surprised at this juncture?

Oh, by the way... Timothy was told to do the work of an Evangelist, yes. What is the work of an Evangelist? An Evangelist is a preacher of the Gospel. Those who preach the Gospel are sent, they go, they come, they bring, they are separated from the local Church and sent do the work whereunto the Holy Ghost would have them go.

Bidam: Hmmn..very convenient of you to quote MATHEW 15:9 which was under the LAW but When MATHEW 23:23 is quoted to you, you insult our intelligence..Could you please stick to the PAULINE EPISTLES FOR NOW.

Matthew 23:23 was speaking of tithes of crops. You still have not proven that God requires a monetary tithe from the Church,

Bidam: BIG FAIL!!!Let me quote the KJV..Paul said...Do ye not know?
He never said..Do you Know Which MEANT THE CORINTHIANS UNDERSTOOD PERFECTLY WHAT PAUL MEANT.IT WAS LIKE A REMINDER.. For Moses has been preached in every city from earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every sabbath.(Acts 15:21).

In the next verse the NIV said In the same way the AMP In the same principle
Are you saying GENTILE CHRISTIANS WERE GIVING MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL only heave offerings from crops, burnt offerings, meat offerings, drink offerings and animal sacrifices.

Pls clarify this issue before i comment further.

It may surprise you, but Paul was not speaking of pastors of local bodies when he wrote to the Church at Corinth that "they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel."

Many people mistakenly take it to mean local pastors are to be salaried. But context reveals that Paul was not speaking of pastors in general. Rather, Paul was speaking of traveling ministers such as missionaries and evangelists. Paul confirms this when he state.

1 Corinthians 9:12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

"Others be partakers of this power of you." Over who? Over the Church at Corinth. Missionaries and Evangelists had the power to receive remuneration for their "preaching the Gospel. But Paul continues. "We have not used this power." Paul, and the company of missionaries traveling with him would not accept remuneration for "preaching the Gospel." Why not? "lest we should hinder the Gospel of Christ."

Traveling ministers, though they have the power (or authority) to receive remuneration for "preaching the Gospel, should not exercise that power, lest the Gospel be hindered.

I know that is not a popular teaching, but the Word of God teaches it right there in the epistle to the Church at Corinth.

Do a search through the Word for "preaching the Gospel, "preach the Gospel," & "preached the Gospel." You will find that those who "preach the Gospel are traveling ministers, coming into towns to preach the Gospel, going to cities to preach the Gospel, separated from the congregation to preach the Gospel, sent to preach the Gospel.

Local pastors are never told to "preach the Gospel" in the Word of God. Instead, they are told to "Preach the Word," "feed the Church of God," & to "feed the flock of God." The body of Christ doesn't need the Gospel preached to them. They heard the Gospel as sinners and responded positively by believing the Gospel and trusting Christ as the propitiation for their sins.

The Church, the Body of Believers, need the sincere milk of the Word that they may grow thereby. The Gospel to the Believer is analogous as Pablum to a 10 year old child.

Now, you can either dismiss what I said, or you can study it out in the Word of God and discover what the Lord revealed to me in His Holy Word quite a long time ago. If you can find pastors of local Churches being told to preach the Gospel to the Church, it must be in a book other than the Holy Bible.

Zikkyy: .....but they need the money

That may be.

But they need truth more.

The monetary tithe teachers and preachers might have a valid argument were in not for the fact that God never gave a command for a monetary tithe in His Word.

Now if, nay because, God never gave such a command in His Word, where did the command to tithe money come from?

Matthew 15:9 gives us a clue...

Matthew 15:9But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

That it is a commandment of men is the only logical conclusion one can arrive at. And since it is the commandment of man and not of God, thouse who teach it are only deceiving themselves when they claim that God honors their worship. God in the flesh clearly states, "In vain do they worship me."

Tithe teachers and preachers would do well to turn from their transgressions and begin teaching and preaching the Word as they are instructed.

Context shows that Paul was not speaking of monetary tithes when he said "they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel."

How can I say this?

Because of the previous verse. It clear says those who worked in the Temple partook of the things of the altar. Money was never taken to the altar in the word of God... only heave offerings from crops, burnt offerings, meat offerings, drink offerings and animal sacrifices.

Things that were eaten, not spent.

The thing is, I would be more than happy to tithe if someone can tell me which tither(s) in the Bible I should emulate in tithing.

I searched for tithers in the Bible and only found a few instances.

1. Abram (Genesis 14)
2. The Israelites (Leviticus 27:30-34; Numbers 18:21-28; Deuteronomy 12:5; Deuteronomy 14:22-29: Nehemiah 10:37-38; & 2 Chronicles 31:1-5.
3. The Pharisees (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42) *note: The Pharisees are actually Israelites so technically only two groups that I could pattern my tithe after.

Anyone want to tell me which one?

Tuntheycr7: Nice writeup bt ya last paragraph contradicts wat u hav been sayin.
God commanded us to give tithes. Malachi 3 : 8 -12
Pls tithes and offering aint d same and shud not b misinterpretd.

If tithes should not be misinterpreted, why are you misinterpreting them?

The passage you referenced contradicts your monetary tithe.

Malachi 3:8-12 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

1. Who was God speaking to in this passage? It was not the New Testament Church of today? The New Testament Church had not even formed yet. Malachi's rebuke was more than four hundred years before Christ was even born.
2. What were the contents of the tithe God was referring to? It was not the tithe of money that is being taught today. (Hint: see the word MEAT for the answer)
3. What were the curses associated with not tithing? It was not cars breaking down, financial ruin, ill health, broken families, etc., that pastors preach will happen when one does not tithe.
4. What were the blessings promised to those who would tithe? It was not perfectly running vehicles, wealth increase, good health, close family bonds, etc., that pastors preach will happen when one tithes.
5. What was the devourer. It was not the car mechanic, doctor, plumber, carpenter, electrician, etc., yet pastors will constantly tell their congregations that is exactly what the devourer is.

The answer to all five questions can be seen in the verses referenced

The Word of God tells us to "Preach the Word," not opinion, nor our own desires. Pastors need to stick with what"thus saith the Lord" instead of messages formulated in the dark recesses of vain imagination.

It is obvious that in the majority of denominations today, when it comes to the teaching of tithes, there really is a famine for the hearing of the Word.

It was Jesus who said, "My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves."

I think this explains the folly at which these tithers are yoking together to fight their mutual foe, Truth and join with their common friend, Riches.

ashieduplus: So according to someone's twisted logic, if the brother of madman says the truth we should simply ignore him because he and the lunatic are brothers "cut from the same cloth"....

Na wah..

What it boils down to is they want to dismiss the truth and are willing to slander anyone in order to do it.

Hmmm, I just read Matthew 23:23 and it doesn't say

Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, Church goers, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of money, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

What it actually says is

Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

It would be wise to stick with what it does say and not what it does not say.

They are not the same. Russell Kelly does indeed hold degrees:

Th. M.: Covington Theological Seminary, Ft Oglethorpe, Ga; cum laude Ph. D.: Covington Theological Seminary, Ft Oglethorpe, Ga; 2000; cum laude[15]

Russell graduated Cum Laude from Sprayberry High in 1962. From June 1962 until June 1966 he was in the U. S. A. F., received 22 semester hours in Chinese Mandarin at Yale University and was soon promoted to the Transcription Department while serving in Taiwan. Russell graduated Cum Laude from Southern Missionary College in Tennessee in 1976, now called Southern University Of Seventh Day Adventist, and served two churches in Georgia, four in North Dakota and one in South Carolina.

Although legally blind since 1989, Russell subsequently completed a Th. M.. and a Ph. D. at independent Baptist-oriented Covington Theological Seminary in Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia in August 2000. His dissertation was on the subject of tithing. From that dissertation came his first book, Should the Church Teach Tithing? A Theologian’s Conclusions about a Taboo Doctrine. His second book is Exposing Seventh-day Adventism, published in 2005. His third book, From Gethsemane to Ascension, An Ultimate Harmony of the Gospel, Easter and Resurrection Plays, February 2008, is in conversational style.

Kelly is currently Adult Sunday School teacher at Iron Hill Baptist Church in Acworth, GA.

There is nothing "fake" about Russell at all. Call Covington Th. Sem. and ask for info on his graduation. He certainly holds the degrees that wikipedia reports him to hold.

Russell is not mentioned in that thread at all, Olaadegbu. You are being deceitful...as usual.

You are most certainly welcome, christemmbassey. God bless.

Pastor Kun: Excellent write up, need to bookmark it for future reference and teachings on the subject matter

Thank you, Pastor Kun. God bless you!

I did omit one passage found in Genesis 28, where Jacob vowed to give God a tenth of all he acquired on condition that God first meet specific requirements first.

Genesis 28:20-22 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

The important thing to see in this passage is the vow was on condition. Note also, that this vow was made PRIOR to Jacob's marriages to Leah and her sister Rachel This means that Jacob speant several years in Laban's house. A careful study of Scripture will reveal Jacob did not return to his father, Isaac's house for nearly 21 years after the vow had been made to God there at Beth-El.

So God did not see Jacob's final requirement to that conditional vow for many years after the vow was made. We have no evidence that Jacob ever did tithe. (we do know that the sons of Levi tithed to the Priests of the Temple as written in Nehemiah 10:37-38 )

Here are all the references to tithing in the Word of God...

Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

The above tithe was a gift… Abram “gave” tithes, he did not “pay” tithes. There was no Law at that time that required Abram to tithe, otherwise Abram would have been paying them instead of giving them. The fact that Abram gave the tithe shows it was not something God required, but that it was voluntarily bestowed to Melchizedek.

Also, that tithe Abram gave was not of Abram’s own property… it was of property that belonged to Bera, king of Sodom. Abram didn’t even claim it as his own. He told Bera he had promised God he would not take any of the spoils unto himself lest he give occasion for the Sodomite king to say he had made Abram rich.

Genesis 14:22-24 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

Leviticus 27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD.
Leviticus 27:31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
Leviticus 27:32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.

The above three verses reveal the entire contents of God’s Holy tithe required under the Mosaic Law. He said “all the tithe of the land,” and then proceeded to define what He meant by “all.” “whether of the seed of the land” (i.e.; vegetables, spices and herbs) “or of the fruit of the tree (i.e.; apples, pomegranates, etc., oils) “and concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock (animals)”. There was no other tithe under the Mosaic/Levitical Law than the agricultural tithe.

The tithe defined in Leviticus 27:30-34 is one of three separate tithes that the Israelites were required by the Mosaic Law to observe. This is the first tithe, otherwise known as the “Levitical tithe. This tithe, was taken once a year to the Levites in their Levitical cities (see Numbers 35:1-7) This tithe also, was the only tithe that was said to be "holy unto the Lord." The other two tithes later mentioned were not identified as being "holy."

Numbers 18:24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
Numbers 18:26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.
Numbers 18:28 Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the LORD’S heave offering to Aaron the priest.

The above three verses are in reference to the Levitical tithe mentioned above and reveal the tithe was given to the Levite because he had no inheritance in the land. The Levite, in turn was to take a tithe of that tithe to the Aaronic Priesthood, who were also of the tribe of Levi. The Levitical tithe was to be observed every year for the first six years in a seven year cycle.

Deuteronomy 12:5-6 But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks:
Deuteronomy 12:11 Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:
Deuteronomy 12:17 Thou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand:

The above three verses reveal the tithe was eaten. It was tithes of land produce… that which God had caused to grow from the ground, in trees, and given life to in livestock. We can also see that tithes were different from vows, freewill offerings, and firstfruits. We also see tht concerning the livestock, the firstlings (firstborn) were not tithed. They were different from the livestock tithe, which Leviticus 27 reveals was "the tenth animal to pass under the rod," not the first.

Deuteronomy 14:22-29 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always. And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household, And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee. At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.

Again, eight more verses to show the tithe was grown in the field and eaten. The second and third tithes are mentioned in the above verses. the first mentioned is known as “the Festival tithe,” or “Second Tithe”. That tithe was to be taken to the place that God chose and there EATEN with the tither’s family and Levites there. Like the Levitical tithe, the Festival tithe was also to be observed yearly. for the first six years in a seven year cycle.

The third tithe is known as the “Poor Tithe”. It was to be given to the less fortunate in the boundaries of Israel; i.e., the widows, the orphans, the Levites living on one’s land, and the foreigners taking refuge in Israel. This tithe was to be observed once every three years in a seven year cycle. The Poor tithe, like the previous two tithes mentioned, was EATEN.

The seventh year in a seven year cycle, the land was to rest. There could be no planting, nor harvesting of crops. Thus, no land tithe that year.

Deuteronomy 26:12 When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;

That they may EAT… and be filled. Again, tithes were eaten.

2 Chronicles 31:5 And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
2 Chronicles 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 Chronicles 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.

Again, tithes were crops and livestock.


Nehemiah 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.
Nehemiah 10:38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.

Tithes were not firstfruits. Firstfruits were taken one place by the Israelites and the tithes were taken to another place by the Israelites. The Levites were responsible for bringing a tithe of the tithe to the House of the Lord. And notice what the tithes consisted of… that which grew from the ground and on the trees.

Nehemiah 12:44 And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.

Again, tithes and firstfruits are clearly seen as being two separate things in the above Scripture verse.

Nehemiah 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.
Nehemiah 13:12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

Eliashib the High Priest at that time had taken the tithes out of the storehouse and moved God’s enemy Tobiah the Ammonite into the Temple storehouse chambers. Note what the tithes were… corn (corn referred to any type of grain, not necessarily corn alone), new wine, and oil… that which is all food products; i.e., eaten or drank, or used in the preparation of foods.

Amos 4:4 Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years:

Bring your tithes… what tithes? Why, the tithes the Law required; i.e., agricultural produce and livestock.

Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Malachi 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

All the tithes; i.e., tithes of corn, flour, new wine, oils, spices, herbs… everything that was titheable. Why? That there may be meat in mine house. MEAT… food. Money is never referred to as meat in the Word of God.

And what were the blessings promised for obedience for bringing the crops into the Temple storehouse? Not wealth, not health, not longevity, not job security. None of these things. What God promised was rain from heaven, an abundance of crops, and that He would prevent the locust from eating the crops. Pastors deceitfully handle the Word of God when they teach that God requires a tithe of money or He will curse the one who doesn't tithe with ill-will toward them through their finances, health, wealth, etc..

Throughout the Old Testament Law, the tithes were consistently that which was eaten. There is no denying that fact. No mention of money being tithed whatsoever.

Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Here, our Lord commends the scribes and Pharisees for their obedience in tithing and tells them that it is a practice that they should observe and do. But notice what they were tithing… garden spices and herbs. Not money. Money was not a titheable thing under the Mosaic Law.

Luke 18:12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

This verse is part of a parable. Jesus was telling of a prideful Pharisee who boasted of going over and above what the Law required. The Pharisee had his reward. Notice the Pharisee was not speaking to God, but rather, within himself; i.e., to his own self. He was so lifted up in pride he had convinced himself that he had to do more than what the LORD required under the Law in order to be justified. And yet, instead of being justified, he was condemned.

Hebrews 7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

Here, we see what it was that Abram tithed. As stated above, these spoils were not Abram’s own silver and gold, (that he did not carry into battle with him, but left at home is certain) but the spoils of war… the property of Bera the king of Sodom, which he had promised God he would not take any of unto himself lest he give the king of Sodom occasion to boast about making Abram rich. (Gen 14:22-24)

Hebrews 7:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

This is speaking of the agricultural tithe. The author says the sons of Levi “have a commandment to take tithes” because the Temple was still standing. Levites were still receiving the agricultural tithe according to the Law. "Have" is a present-tense word. At the time, the Israelites were still receiving tithes because of the command they had been given by God that, at the present, they were still adhering to. The command was for the Levites to receive tithes of their brethren… the children of Israel. Nowhere does that verse say the Levites have a command to receive tithes of the Gentiles. Nor does it say pastors in other lands have commandments to receive tithes of Gentiles. It is addressing the children of Levi and the fact that they were commanded to receive tithes from the other tribes of Israel.

Hebrews 7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
Received tithes of the spoils of war, not Abram’s silver and gold.
Hebrews 7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

Again, the tithe that men that die receive is referring to the agricultural tithe. The Levites were still receiving that tithe. They would receive it for another four years and then Titus would invade Jerusalem and destroy the Temple, putting a stop to the collection of tithes.

Hebrews 7:9 is the last reference to tithes in the Word of God. It reads:

Hebrews 7:9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

Not one of the verses on tithing throughout the Word of God support the doctrine that one is to tithe one’s money. No instruction is given in the Word of God to tithe one’s money. It is a man-made doctrine that began in the Roman Catholic religious system in the year 777 A.D., and not adopted by any Protestant Church until 1873 A.D..

The Baptists were the last Church denomination to adopt the monetary tithe doctrine. This was around the middle of the twentieth century A.D..

Bidam: You are still far...whichever way you look at it LAND is the asset here.

Acts 4:36-37

Amplified Bible (AMP)

36 Now Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus who was surnamed Barnabas by the apostles, which interpreted means Son of Encouragement,

37 Sold a field which belonged to him and brought the sum of money and laid it at the feet of the apostles.

Did he bring 10% of the price and lay it at the Apostle's feet? Nope.
Did he say to the Apostle's, "10% of this is my tithe"? The Bible doesn't say so.

The actions of the early saints in Acts 4 do not, in any way, reflect the practice of tithing. Acts 4's events took place in the year 33 A.D., two years prior to the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. People had not been given the message that Christ was the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone that believed. They still practiced the tithe that was required per the Mosaic commandment; i.e., a tithe of crops and livestock. They still practiced the tithe at Jerusalem where the tither's family ate the tithe along with the Levites for the yearly Festival. They still practiced giving a tithe to the widows, the orphans, the Levites and foreigners taking refuge in Israel so they could eat and be filled.

There was no monetary tithe from from 1410 B.C., when the children of Israel entered into the Promised Land, to 777 A.D..

You are correct. Money was MAN's invention, not God's.

And the monetary tithe requirement being taught today is also MAN's invention. God never endorsed that doctrine, nor authorized it. God established in the books of the Law that His Holy tithe was from agricultural, not from monetary.

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Wood is used to make money. I have no problem admitting that. But that verse is not speaking of wood, nor money. It is speaking of things that are edible.

And Deuteronomy 12:5; 14:22-29 affirm that the tithes were not money, but food items. They were to be eaten, not spent. Why, even Malachi 3:10 makes it clear that the tithes were that which could be eaten. "That there may be MEAT" in mine house. Meat is never described as money in the Word of God.

And the Pharisees tithe was also that which was grown in the garden. It was not money, but spices and herbs.

Bidam: We've been through all this turf abeg..you are still yet to answer my questions about the 100 denominations we have in the world all claiming to be right.The denominations still quote the same bible in your hands teaching different doctrines..Stop being naive it is not only the tithe doctrine.

It is not I that is "being naive."
Yes, there are many denominations that all claim they are right. And yes, they all use the Bible.

But the fact remains, when one searches diligently through the Bible as I stated earlier, one can find no instruction whatsoever for a monetary tithe to be required of the saints. It matters not if those 100 denominations say God requires a tithe of money. Since the Word of God nowhere instructs a tithe of money, those 100 denominations are wrong.

Bidam: Yeah..just like someone mentioned in this forum.It is the same Holy Spirit telling hundreds of denominations in the world, to teach different things, and all believing that they are right. How can we know which one is the true church of God?

The answer is simple, Bidam...

Examine the doctrines being taught by comparing them with the written Word of God. If the doctrines don't line up, then they are false prophets.

If they speak not according to the Word, believe them not. The doctrine that God requires a monetary tithe of the Church is not supported anywhere by Scripture and should therefore be rejected.

Jesus said of the Pharisees, "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.."

Did you catch that? When a man teaches a something that is not supported by God's Word, that man's worship is in vain. The monetary tithe requirement doctrine is not supported by God's Word.

Enigma: ^^^ For example Deuteronomy 14

Eat your tithes, give to widows, orphans etc as well, as Levites.

Plain scripture --- dem suddenly replace am with some "principle" thing!

Yea, the principle is give to the pastor with the fancy "bling."

Proverbs 22:16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.