by Chris Witter

Created on: June 02, 2008

Tithe is first mention in the book of Genesis when Abram gave tithe of all his spoils to Melchizedek, king of Salem and the priest of the most high God (Gen 14:20). Then later on in Genesis, Jacob promises to give tenth of all that God shall give him (Gen 28:22) Hebrews 7:4 explain that a tithe is a tenth of what Abram received of the spoils. These two events were prior to the law that was given by the hand of Moses from God to the children of Israel after coming out of the land of bondage in Egypt.

So what was the purpose of the tithe? The tithe was given to the priesthood since they had no inheritance in the land of Israel (Num 18:20). The tithe or the tenth of the Jews increase was commanded to be given to provide for the priests that daily ministered their service of the tabernacle. This was their inheritance, the tithes and offerings that the children of Israel gave as commanded by the Law of Moses (Num 18:24). Every tithe, offering, sin offering, whether it was money or crops from their land were commanded to be given to provide for the Leviticus priesthood.

The book of Malachi has been used by more pastor and preachers to persuade Christians to tithe to avoid a curse from disobeying God. Well, that would be fine, if it was still a commandment in the New Testament that was not dedicated by the blood of bulls or goats, but by the Son of God, who knew no sin, but became sin for us that we might be the righteousness of God(2 Cor 5:21). The book of Malachi is not written for the church, but was speaking to the Jews that were under the Law of Moses. Christians are not under law but under grace (Rom 6:14). Christ was made of a woman, born under the law to redeem them that were under the law; the we might receive the adoption of Sons (Gal 4:4-5).

And again are we justified by faith or by the works of the law? Everyone who is justified by the works of the law has fallen from grace (Gal 5:3). The bible calls the Law of Moses, Old and the first while it refers the ministry of Jesus as the New Covenant and the second. And if the first had been faultless, then there would have not been place for the second (Heb 7). The prophets spoke about the new covenant that it would not be like the old that the fathers disobeyed and was overcome in the wilderness. The Lord promises that in the new covenant He will be merciful to our unrighteousness and our sins He will remember no more (Heb 12).

The Old Testament had the commandment of tithing of everything, from animals, wheat;

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