by Geoffrey Schmitt

Created on: October 16, 2009   Last Updated: October 25, 2009

A Tithe equals ten percent (10%) one tenth (1/10.) In Biblical terms it first meant one (1) sheep for every l0 in the flock; one (1) goat for every 10 in the herd; one (1) bushel of grain for every 10 bushels harvested; one (1) piece of gold or silver for every 10 pieces captured in battle or gained in business.

There are many Old Testament passages that talk about Tithing. The first is found in Genesis 14:20. When Abram rescues Lot and all his fortune, he gives 1/10 to Melchizedek, the High Priest of God, who is at Salem (Jerusalem). In Genesis 28:22 Jacob promises to give a Tithe of all his future blessings from God. It is a pledge made after the encounter with God in his famous ladder dream.

In Leviticus 27:30 we see that a provision was made for redeeming the Tithe. If the farmer or herdsman was reluctant to give up the animals or grain that was required, he could buy them back from the Lord at a cost plus 20% charge of its value. In other words, the monetary equivalent for produce and animals was a 12% offering.

Numbers 18:21 tells us that the Tithes were given to the Levites as their incomes and for the expenses of worship You may recall the Levites gave up tribal land rights in order to be Priests, leaders of worship and caretakers of the House of God

2 Chronicles 31:5 speaks of Tithing in the context of King Hezekiah's reform. Tithing, like many other religious practices had been ignored in the kingdom. Hezekiah ordered it restored along with proper worship. This reading also gives us encouragement by stating the rewards of Tithing "Since the people responded the Lord has blessed the people and this great amount is left over" In Jeremiah 10:38 we read how the Tithe was again restored when the Israelites returned from exile in Babylon.

In Malachi 3: 1 0 we are exhorted to test the Lord and see if he will indeed bless the tither, "See if I will not throw open the flood gates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

In the New Testament Our Lord only refers to Tithing twice; Matthew 23:23 and Luke 18: 12. In neither case does he refute the practice. In both he warns us against using the practice legalistically. Tithing is not a way of earning salvation or gaining righteousness. Rather it is away to say thank you to God for the 100% he has given us by returning 1/1 0 for his worship and the care of his people. Deuteronomy 12:6 explains that Tithes are also to be used to care for widows, orphans, and aliens (the

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