Reply to Jeff D on Tithing

Jeff D: The issue of tithing was not instituted under the Law …

Russ Kelly: If you spend time in a local public library you will discover that tithing occurred in almost all pagan societies long before Abram’s time. The definition of pagan spoils of war tithe and the HOLY Old Covenant tithe of the Law are very different.

Jeff: The King of Sodom is earthly and desires to honor Abram by giving him all the goods that Abram brought back with him (Genesis 14:21).

Russ: No. As a victor in battle, Abram was due ALL the spoils other than that which was required by the law of the land to the local king-priest. The King of Sodom had no authority in the matter but was hoping for grace from Abram.

Jeff: Abram refuses to take anything for himself and gives the King of Salem a tenth (tithe) of all he recovered (Genesis 14:20).

Russ: Abram was obeying well-known Arab tradition; he had no choice in the matter. The law of the land required him to tithe spoils of war.

Jeff: Tithing is a principle given before the Law and then brought into the Law just like murder.

Russ: In order for somebody to biblically give holy tithes today:
1. They must be a Hebrew living under the Old Covenant (Ex 19:5-6).
2. They must be a Hebrew living inside a holy land of Israel (Lev 27:30-33).
3. They must be a Hebrew and only tithe food miraculously increased inside a holy Israel (Lev 27:30-33).
4. They must give Levitical tithes of food to a holy Levitical servant-hood (Num 18:21-24; Neh 10:37b) who tithes to a holy Aaronic priesthood (Num 18:25-28; Neh 10:38).
5. They must not deliberately share their Old Covenant with Gentiles (Ex 23:32; Deu 7:2).
6. They must not use tithes to support the proselytizing of Gentiles Ex 23:32; Deu 7:2).
7. They must give tithes to Levites who have forfeited their right to own property (Num 18:21-28).

Jeff: Jesus said "Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets: I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law, until all is accomplished (Matthew 5:17-18).

Russ: You ignored 5:20-48 which quote all three portions of the Law. Gentiles were never under any portion of the Old Covenant Law. Hebrews are either under all of it or none of it as a covenant. For example, Ex 21:15, 17 commands you to KILL disobedient children.

Jeff: I am free from the curse of the Law

Russ: As a Gentile you never were under the curse of Israel’s Old Covenant law. Rom 2:14-16.

Jeff: The vehicle He used was Grace and along with His grace He gave us His Spirit.

Russ: His Spirit gave us the new law of love. Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Jeff: (Galatians 2:20). Grace now empowers me to live the life Gods Law demands.

Russ: Instead of the Old Covenant Law being written on stones, the New Covenant Law of love is written on our hearts. We obey God as new creations in Christ.

Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Gal 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Gal 3:24-25 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Jeff: Sadly the very people who claim they are no longer under the Law but under grace have to a measureable extent cut themselves off from one of the very purposes the grace was given, to live a Holy life which we are commanded to do apart from the Law.

Russ: You cannot even define the way you are using the word “law.” In the OT the word “law” almost always referred to the entire set of 613 commands of commandments, statutes and judgments.

If you want to keep the Law, then keep ALL of it –all 600+ commands of it. If you want to keep tithing then keep all of the law of tithing. (1) Only tithe food from inside Israel, (2) only tithe to servants to the ministers, (3) only pay ministers one per cent, (4) tell ministers to KILL anybody else attempting to enter the sanctuary and (5) tell tithe –recipients that they cannot own property. That, my friend, is what the law of tithing teaches in God’s Word in Numbers 18.

Nobody Biblically Tithes Today

The answer comes from the biblical definition of “tithe” as only holy food from inside God’s only Old Covenant land of Israel which God had increased. Tithes could not come from what man produced, from Gentiles or from outside of Israel. Period.

In order for somebody to biblically give holy tithes today:
1. They must be a Hebrew living under the Old Covenant (Ex 19:5-6).
2. They must be a Hebrew living inside a holy land of Israel (Lev 27:30-33).
3. They must be a Hebrew and only tithe food miraculously increased inside a holy Israel (Lev 27:30-33).
4. They must give Levitical tithes of food to a holy Levitical servant-hood (Num 18:21-24; Neh 10:37b) who tithes to a holy Aaronic priesthood (Num 18:25-28; Neh 10:38).
5. They must not deliberately share their Old Covenant with Gentiles (Ex 23:32; Deu 7:2).
6. They must not use tithes to support the proselytizing of Gentiles Ex 23:32; Deu 7:2).
7. They must give tithes to Levites who have forfeited their right to own property (Num 18:21-28).

Christians may call giving 10% of their income “tithing” but it not does not meet the biblical definition or purpose of tithing. They are merely giving freewill offerings of 10% and calling such “tithing.”