The Truth About Tithe

7/31/2019 The Truth About Tithe

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THETRUTH ABOUT

TITHE by Bro. Jun Durias

Note: All scriptures were taken from the King James Version of the Holy

Bible.



Foreword

Almost every evangelical Christian in this generation knows what is

a tithe, and a majority of them practice tithing by giving ten percent

of their income to their pastors or to whatever church denomination

they belong. Most, if not all of the church denominations, require their

members to give tithe and some even go to the extreme by teaching that

if a Christian will not give his tithe, he will go to hell because he

robs God.

They have accepted this practice as a biblical truth and consider it

as one of the most important obligations of every Christian. Some

pastors also teach that if tithing is not being practiced, it is

impossible for a church to exist.

Shocking as it may sound, but there is not even a single verse in the

scriptures, which teaches or requires a Christian to give his tithe.

Neither is there any instance in the bible where you can find any of

the apostles or elders of the church, collecting tithe.

The most amazing fact is that Jesus Himself, the God who manifested

in the flesh, never collected tithe from anyone during His ministry

on earth.

If tithing is not required to a Christian, how can a church exist? How

are you going to raise the fund to accomplish the great commission by

evangelising the world?

I believe with all my heart that those who truly seek the will of God

will find this message an eye opener and will challenge many to live

a deeper Christian life similar to the first century Christians.

I dedicate this book to my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who gave His

life a ransom for all of us who believe in Him, and to all Christians

who with all their hearts seek the will of our Lord and Saviour JesusChrist, and are willing to forsake everything including pride and

wealth for the sake of the kingdom.

Yours in Christ,

Bro. Jun C. Durias



Changing and disannulling of

the Levitical Law

“ If therefore perfection where by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that

another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be

called after the order of Aaron?

For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change

also of the law.” (Hebrews 7:11-12)

“ For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before

for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.” (Hebrews 7:18)

Note: Do not be confused which laws or commandments were disannulled

and which laws still exist.

The laws that were disannulled were national laws of Israel given to

Moses and were only for the nation of Israel. It includes material

offerings, ceremonials and ordinances, observation of holy days and

Sabbath days. They are what the scripture calls “shadow of the

substance”.

The laws that exist until now are moral laws that are for all men in

the world. They are love, honour and respect to God and parents; loving

thy neighbour as thyself; staying away from immorality, fornications,

murders, lying, stealing, covetousness, and so forth.

Tithing is a heave offering which is a kind of meat offering and it

is included in all other kinds of material offerings such as burnt

offering, sacrificial offering, wave offering, etc. They were

disannulled together with the Levitical priesthood when Jesus Christ

gave His life a ransom that we may be free from the curse of the law.

Though the bible recorded that Abraham gave the tithe of his spoil to

Melchisedec when he met him after he rescued his nephew Lot, it is

apparent that tithing became a law in Israel when God gave them the

commandment through Moses.

God’s purpose for this commandment were for Israel to:

- Support the Levites for they had special duties and

responsibilities (Num 18:21-24)

- Learn to fear God always (Deut 14:23)

- Rejoice by feasting before the Lord together with their family

and the Levites (Deut 14:26-27 )

- Help the strangers, the fatherless and the widowed (Deut 14:29)

Why the Levites were allowed by God



to take tithe from Israel

1 They were chosen by God to be the priests.

2 They were mediators between God and Israel.

3 They bore the iniquity of Israel.

4 They made atonement for the sins of Israel.

5 They had no inheritance in the land.

6 They had no other ways of living.

7 It was their reward for their service in the

tabernacle of the congregation.

God gave to the children of Levi

all the tenth in Israel

“ And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and

thine inheritance among the children of Israel.

And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel

for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service

of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle

of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.

But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the

congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute

for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel

they have no inheritance.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 have

no inheritance.” (Numbers 18:20-24)

It is seen from the above scripture that tithing is a heave offering,

which is a kind of meat offering, so when the laws of offerings (heave

offering, burnt offering, etc.) had been disannulled, it is understood

that tithing was included.

“Bring ye all the tithe into the storehouse, that there may be meat in

mine house ( …)” (Malachi 3:10)



Notice that tithe was referred as meat and not money. It was meat for

the food of the Levites, and not money for “building programs” and

lavish expenditures of church leaders.

These days the teachers of tithe use most of the time Old Testament

verses to support their doctrine because they cannot use New Testament

verses properly. But the fact is, in the time of the Law though moneywas already in circulation, Israel was never required to tithe their

money. They had to tithe from the increase of their land and the increase

of their cattle in the land of Israel, never in terms of money.

The age of the church began at the day of Pentecost when all the

believers received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Since the start of

Christianity, the apostles never required the Jewish believers to give

tithe and they never introduced tithing to the gentile believers.

The scripture says that the law had a shadow of things to come, and

it was our schoolmaster that brought us unto Christ that we might bejustified by faith.

Let no man judge you by the laws

that were already disannulled

“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of

an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:

Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”

(Colossians 2:16-17)

Note: The law about meat includes dietary law, meat offering, and

tithing.

When someone will tell you, you have to offer burnt offerings and

sacrificial offerings and tithe; or you have to observe the Sabbath

days and other holy days because if you don’t you will be cursed byGod, then you will not feel guilty, for they were only the shadow of

things to come. You know that you are free from the curse because you

now belong to the body of Christ.

He is the reality and the substance of the things that were prophesied

to come, who released us from the curse and the bondage of the law.

No man is justified by the Law



“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.” (Galatians 3:10)

Note: Tithing is written in the book of the law.

“But no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident:

for, The just shall live by faith.”

(Galatians 3:11)

If you still want to live under the law, you have to comply perfectly

with everything written in the book of the law, or else you will be

under the curse. If you want to live under the law of tithing, you have

to comply perfectly with the law of tithing.

If you earned $10 000 and gave $990 as tithe, you did not comply withthe law of tithing because you gave less than ten percent which is

required by the law and you are under the curse.

If you comply perfectly with the law of tithing and neglect other laws

such as sacrificial offering or you violate the law of Sabbath, then

you are still under the curse.

That’s why the scripture says that no man is justified by the law in

the sight of God because no man can comply the law perfectly.

Giving and sharing of one’s goods

in the Church

Giving and sharing of goods or money in the church is not the sole duty

of the congregation to their pastors like in the Levitical system, but

giving in the church is the responsibility of everyone to every member

of the church for they all belong to one body of Christ, that the

blessings of God may be distributed equally.

God does not delight if we give out of fear (afraid of going to hell

if we cannot give our tithe) or grudgingly, or of compulsion, but it

is the delight of God if we give according to our heart’s desire, for

God loves a cheerful giver.

We must have good motive for giving. God promises that if we give we

shall also receive, and those who sow bountifully shall also reap

bountifully. Yet our motive of giving is not that we do it so that we

can receive more, but we give because we love our brothers and sisters

in the Lord. We give because we cannot afford to see them hungry and



in need while we have an abundance of supply. We give because we want

to raise a fund for evangelism as the Lord required. We give because

we see our pastor in need and we want to support him and his family.

So we give cheerfully as much as we want to, for we know we please God

by giving in a right and proper way.

COMPARISON BETWEEN THE AGE OF LAW

AND THE AGE OF GRACE

Age of Law (Law of Sin and Death)

Note: If you had offended in one point of the law, you were guilty of

the whole law, and the penalty was death.

James 2:10, Rom 6:23

I The law had a shadow of the perfect thing to come

II God dealt only with the Jews (the gentiles had no part with them)

III They must be circumcised to be part of God’s people (circumcision

of the flesh) Gen 17:10-14

IV Law was written in letter

V Ten major commandments:

Thou shalt have no other Gods before me

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image...

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy Godin vain...

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy...

Honour thy father and thy mother...

Thou shalt not kill

Thou shalt not commit adultery

Thou shalt not steal

Thou shalt not bear false witness againstthy neighbour

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house,Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife...



There are hundreds more of minor commandments that include:

-material offerings and tithing

-ceremonials and ordinances

-observation of holy days

VI Levites - they were mediators between God and Israel (they were the

priests and high priests)

VII For their sins to be forgiven, they had to go once a year to the

priests who were in charged of the tabernacle. They had to bring with

them a sacrificial lamb or other sacrificial animals to be killed, and

the high priest had to sprinkle their blood for the forgiveness of sins

(without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins) Lev 17:11

Since the tabernacle was not perfect (it was material, made with hands),

the high priests (Levites) were not perfect, the sacrifices (animals)

were not perfect, and the blood of the sacrifices were not perfect,it did not satisfy the demand of the law. The sinner remained in his

sins and had to come back again every year for the same ordinances and

ceremonies.

Age of Grace

(Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus)

Note: There is no more condemnation; we have passed from death untolife. Rom. 8:1, John 5:24

I The perfect thing has come. Col 2:17, Heb 10:1-10

II God deals with everyone (including the gentiles) who comes to Jesus

and accepts Him as his Lord and Saviour.

John 1:12, John 6:37

III Circumcision is of the heart

from unbeliever to a believer

from worldly to godly

from carnal to spiritual

from sinner to saint

Rom 2:29, Col 2:11-12, John 3:3-5, Acts 2:38

IV Law is written in the heart. Heb 10:16

V There are only two commandments:

Love God with all your heart, with all your soul,

with all your strength and with all your mind.



Love your neighbour as yourself.

From these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matt

22:40

Note: These two commandments are completely attached with each other.

You cannot love God without loving your neighbour and you cannot loveyour neighbour without loving God; That’s why Paul once said, “For all

the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy

neighbour as thyself ”. Gal 5:14

Some commandments that had nothing to do with loving your neighbour

were disannulled. Heb 7:18, Col 2:16-17

- material offerings

- observation of holy days and sabbath days

- ceremonials and ordinances

Some commandments that have to do with your neighbour were magnifiedto a higher level, such as:

Do not commit adultery

To

If you look at a woman with lust, you have already committed adultery with her in your heart

Thou shalt not kill

To

If you are angry with your brother without a cause, you shall be in danger of judgement

Some commandments were revised to something very different, such as:

Whosoever shall put away his wife let him give her a writing of divorcement

To

Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for the cause of fornication, cause her to commitadultery, and whosoever marry her that is divorced commit adultery

An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth

To

Whosoever smite thee on the cheek, turn to him the other cheek also; whosoever compel you to goone mile, go with him two miles; whosoever take away your coat give him your cloak also

In the time of the law, the Israelites had never entered into rest though



they observed rigorously the Sabbath days, as their sins were never

remitted by the blood of the animals though they obeyed and practiced

these ceremonials and ordinances year by year. Heb 4:6, Heb 10:4

As animal sacrifices and shedding of blood were only a shadow, so was

the observation of the Sabbath days a shadow of the perfect thing to

come. Col 2:16-17, Heb 10:1

In the time of Grace, every true believer who has received the Spirit

of Christ has entered into rest. Heb 4:3

“For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own

works, as God did from His.” Heb 4:10

VI Jesus – The mediator between God and men (He is the High Priest).

Every Christian has the duty to win others for Christ.

VII Jesus is the sacrificial lamb (without the shedding of blood thereis no remission of sins) Heb 9:22, Acts 20:28, Col 1:14

He died that we might live

He was bruised for our iniquities

By His stripes we are healed (Isa 53:5)

He became sin for us that we might become

the righteousness of God (2Cor 5:21)

Jesus died once and for all

The God who created us is the same God who

redeemed us God was manifested in the flesh and died in our place (John

1:10-14, 1Tim 3:16)

The tabernacle is perfect, pitched by God Himself in heaven. Jesus the

High Priest is perfect. He was the perfect sacrifice as the Lamb without

spot and blemish required by the law (He does not have even the smallest

sin in Him, and there is not a single germ in His body); His blood is

perfect that completely remit every sin of the believer (Thus He

satisfied and fulfilled the demand of the law. Matt 5:17 ).

Now the law is powerless against us. It has no more power to kill us.Every requirement and demand of the law was met and paid by Jesus our

Redeemer at Calvary. “It is finished” was the last words He uttered

before He died. As the scripture says, “Death is swallowed up in

victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks

be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Jesus gave his life a ransom to save us, He paid the penalty of our

sin that is death, He redeemed us from the curse of the law, blotting

out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us. He destroyed

the sting of death, which is sin, so that we can have eternal life.

Every believer has passed from death unto life, and there is now no

more condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.



“ Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a man keep my saying, he shall never

see death.” John 8:51

“Verily, I say unto you, there be some standing here, which shall not

taste of death, till they see the son of man coming in His

kingdom.” Matt 16:28

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that

believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest

thou this? ” John 11:25-26

Now that we are already redeemed from the curse of the law, we are no

more servants of sin unto death, but servants of righteousness unto

life. We shall no longer live under the shadow because we are now in

reality with the substance, Jesus our Lord in our midst. The legalisticceremonials and ordinances of the law such as sacrificial offerings

and tithings, observation of holy days and Sabbath days etc. no longer

bind us, but we are to obey the new commandment that our Lord has given

us. Let us love one another as Christ loves us.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE RELATION AND

THE WAY OF GIVING BY BELIEVERS

Age of Law vs. Age of Grace

(Church Age)

1. Age of Law (Levitical system of giving)



Notice here that the Levites were separated from the congregation of

Israel because they had special duties. They were priests and mediators

between God and Israel. Israel could not go directly to God. They had

to pass through the Levites.

2. Age of Grace (Church system of giving)

ONE BODY

All are members of one body and Jesus is the head. Jesus supplies the

blessings to everybody and everybody shares the blessings to everybody.

Everybody gives to Jesus by offering their body a living sacrifice,by their service, by their worship, and by their obedience to His will,

not by tithing.



Notice here that apostles, pastors, evangelists, etc. are part of the

body and considered elders but not mediators between God and the

congregation.

3. What is happening now in the Church (pastors and ministers are

acting like Levitical priests)

Notice what actually is happening now. Pastors and ministers are

separated from the church members and are acting as Levitical priests.

I believe that this is what Jesus means when He said; I hate your

doctrine of Nicolaitanes (Revelation 2:15). This is a clergy-laity

relationship. The clergy subdued the laity by teaching them to give

their tithe and offerings to them.

The results are:

1. Church members lost their responsibilities to help oneanother because they are giving all their tithe and offerings

to the pastors and ministers.

2. There are many church members who are poor, needy, and

neglected while pastors, ministers, and evangelists are

enjoying luxurious life because they have collected lots of

tithe and offerings.

Questions:

Is Jesus happy with this situation???

Is this the will of Jesus???

The pastors often say, Give to Jesus by giving your tithe to us…, But

Jesus said, Give to me by giving to your poor brethren, and to your

brethren who are in need.

(Mat 25:34-40)

Pastors, elders, and evangelists are not



mediators but members of one Body

In the “Age of Grace” pastors and ministers are not considered priests

or mediators between God and men, but they are elders of the church.

All Christians are members of the royal priesthood. (1Peter 2:9) Sowho will give tithe to whom? For everyone is a member of the royal

priesthood.

We have one high priest now, Jesus Christ, but He never collected tithe

while He was on earth physically. He is also part of the body for He

is the head of the body.

Notice, Paul said that every part or member of the body is as important

as any other member though they have different functions.

The foot has his own function, and the hand has his own function, the

eye and the ear have their own function but they are all members of

the body.

“ And the eye can not say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again

the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble,

are necessary.” (1 Corinthians 12:21-22)

Likewise pastors, evangelists, elders, and the least of all the members

are members of one body and cannot be separated one from another where

the head is Christ Himself. Isn’t it wonderful?

“ And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable,

upon these we bestow more abundant honour, and our uncomely parts have

more abundant comeliness.

For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body

together, having given more abundant honour to the part which lacked:

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should

have the same care one for another.

And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one

member be honoured, all members rejoice with it.

Now you are the body of Christ, and member in particular. And God hath set some in church, first apostles, secondarily prophets,

thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,

governments, diversities of tongues.” (1 Corinthians 12:23-28)

The Church is the Body of Christ

The church is not an organization, neither is it a nation like Israel

with kings and/or priests as mediators between God and Israel, but the

church is the body of Christ, one family in which every member has a

responsibility one to another. The strong are responsible for the weak,



and the affluent are responsible for the needy.

The government of the church is not a national government like Israel

that is dominated strictly with rules and regulations, with taxes or

tithe, but rather it is a family government dominated with love and

help to one another.

The head of the church said: “ A new commandment I give unto you, That

ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love

one to another.”

(John 13:34-35)

“Bear ye one another ’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” (Gal.

6:2)

“ As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men,

especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Your brothersin the Lord) (Gal 6:10)

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of

that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews

or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink

into one Spirit.”

(1Cor 12:12-13)

The will of God for His church is that the members live in unity as

one body with Jesus Christ Himself as the head.

The practice of tithing causes a separation between the clergy and the

laity, and thus contradicts the will of God.

Christians should not pattern themselves with the Levitical system of

the Old Testament because we are living in reality. We are living under

grace. The Levitical system is only a shadow of this reality.

The apostles’ instruction to the Church

composed of gentiles

“Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the

disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? ” (Acts

15:10)

“Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among

the gentiles are turned to God:



But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of

idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from

blood.” (Acts 15:19-20)

“ As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and

concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep

themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.” (Acts 21:25)

Here are the scriptures with the instructions of the apostles and

the elders to the church composed of gentile believers mentioned

twice in the book of Acts.

If you read the whole chapter fifteen of the book of Acts, you will

notice that some of the Pharisees who became believers were trying

to convince the gentile believers that it was necessary for them to

be circumcised and to observe the law given by Moses.

Those gentile believers did not know anything about the laws of

Moses. They did not know anything about circumcision, about

sacrificial offerings, about tithing, about keeping the Sabbath day

and other laws of Moses.

However, the apostles and the elders from Jerusalem did not say: “You

don’t need to be circumcised, you don’t need to observe the Sabbath,

you don’t need the burnt offering, or sacrificial offering, you don’t

need the heave offering, but you have to give your tithe because it

is very necessary for the church to exist. And for evangelism to be

accomplished effectively, you must give your tithe to us because weare the apostles and the elders.”

According to the way the pastors and ministers now teach the church

in matters of offerings and giving, it seems that the above paragraph

was really the instruction of the apostles to the gentile believers.

However the instruction was this: You don’t need to observe such

thing (what the Pharisees have told you) except only that you need

to keep yourselves from things offered to idols, and from blood and

from strangled, and from fornication.

Note: It is very apparent that such thing referred to circumcision

and the laws of Moses which includes dietary laws, observation of

Sabbath days and holy days, ordinances, offerings, tithing , etc.

Christians’practice of giving



“For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a

supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for

your want: that there may be an equality:

As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and

he that had gathered little had no lack.” (2 Corinthians 8:13-15)

“For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want

of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;”

(2 Corinthians 9:12)

The above scriptures are examples of how God’s blessings were

distributed among Christians in the early church. Note that help and

support among Christians were not limited to a local group or

congregation, but were extended to other places where the brethren

were in need.

During the journey of the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land,

God supplied them with manna every morning that they might have food

to eat in the wilderness. Some gathered more and some gathered less,

but they that gathered much had nothing over, and they that gathered

less had not lacked. For the next morning, the remains of the manna

bred worms and stank, and when the sun waxed hot it melted.

Notice that in 2 Corinthians 9:12 it is part of the administration

of the church to supply the need of the saints. (Church members)

It is God’s will that His supply and blessings shall be shared among

the children of God.

For no matter how much you have stored in your storehouse one day

all of them will melt away, for the whole earth will be consumed with

fire.

(See 2 Peter 3:10-12)

1 Corinthians 16:1-3

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order

to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in

store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when

I come.

And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them

will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.” (1 Corinthians

16:1-3)

So many pastors and teachers of tithe commonly misuse the above

scripture, and usually, they quote verse two only. I have read not





elders were being shared to everyone, and they were ready to give

everything for the good of the whole church.

Christians’ practice of giving for the extraneed of an evangelist

“Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my

affliction.

Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when

I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning

giving and receiving, but ye only.

For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.” (Philippians 4:14-17)

Paul, the founder of most churches in his time, did not require any

of them to give him tithe to support him in his missionary journey.

But as shown in the above scripture, the supports that were given to

him were gifts of love and free will.

Christians’ duty of giving

“ Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave

to that which is good.

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour

preferring one another;

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in

prayer;

Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.” (Romans

12:9-13)

Notice that in verse thirteen distributions to the necessity of the

saints are part of the administration of the church.

Christians’ way of giving and God ’s promise to

the cheerful giver



“ But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly;

and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not

grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you;

that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to

every good work:” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

How About Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42?

“ 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, judgement, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and

not to leave the other undone.” (Matthew 23:23)

“ But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner

of herbs, and pass over judgement and the love of God: these ought ye

to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” (Luke 11:42)

The above two scriptures are commonly used by pastors and evangelists

to prove that Jesus did really gave them the consent to collect tithe

from the congregation.

I believe that the above two scriptures were the same incident whenJesus mentioned tithe and were recorded by Matthew and Luke in their

own words.

If we examine this incident very carefully, we will notice that Jesus

was talking to the Scribes and the Pharisees who were still under the

“Age of Law” at that time.

So being under the law, it was still their duty to pay all kinds of

tithe.

Notice that Jesus was not teaching His disciples to give their tithe,

but He was rebuking the Scribes and Pharisees who were not His disciplesfor their hypocrisy.

Though they gave their tithe to obey their law, they omitted the

weightier matters of the law: judgement, mercy and faith.

Tithing is material, carnal, and temporal; It was part of the law that

was disannulled, while judgement, mercy, and faith are moral, spiritual

and eternal.

During the time when Jesus was on earth physically, the law was still

implemented although it was already in the transition period.

Notice also that Jesus observed all the laws of Moses. He was



circumcised at the eighth day, He was dedicated to God according to

the manner of the Jews, He entered the synagogue every Sabbath day and

so forth. The scripture says that He came to fulfil all the laws.

The “Age of Law” ended at Jesus’ death at Calvary and the “Age of Grace”

or Church Age started at the day of Pentecost.

So it is very clear that the above scriptures can never be used to prove

that Jesus did really authorized the pastors and ministers, or

evangelists to collect tithe from the Christians.

Hebrew Chapter 7

“ For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who

met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by

interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of

Salem, which is King of peace.

Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither

beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God;

abideth a priest continually.

Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch

Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the officeof 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:

But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of

Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of

whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in

Abraham.

For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.If therefore perfection where by the Levitical priesthood, (for under

it the people received the law,) what further need was there that

another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be

called after the order of Aaron?

For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change

also of the law.

For He of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe,

of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses

spake nothing concerning priesthood.

And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the



power of an endless life.

For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of

Melchisedec.

For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for

the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope

did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath

by him, that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou

art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to

continue by reason of death:

But this man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable

priesthood.

Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto

God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled,

separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice,

first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this He did once,

when He offered up Himself.

For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word

of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated

for evermore.” (Hebrews 7:1-28)

Since the day of Pentecost, when the Age of the Church started untilthe end of the book of Revelation, this is the only chapter in the bible

where tithe was ever mentioned.

Many pastors and evangelists use this scripture also to teach the church

to give tithe.

However, if we will examine this chapter very carefully, we will find

out that this scripture does not teach at all that Christians should

practice tithing.

The reason why Paul mentioned tithe here is to prove that Melchisedecis higher and much superior than Abraham.

He said that Abraham gave Melchisedec tithe and Melchisedec blessed

Abraham.

Paul explained that the one who receives tithe and gives the blessing

is higher than the one who gives tithe and receives the blessing. Then

Paul continues to explain how great the high priest Jesus is, His

priesthood is far more excellent than that of the Levites because He

ariseth from the similitude of Melchisedec.

Paul reasoned out that the Levites are descendants of Abraham who is

inferior to Melchisedec because he gave tithe to Melchisedec and



Melchisedec blessed him. Therefore, the priesthood of the Levites is

much inferior than of Jesus Christ, for the reason that Jesus is a High

Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec.

So it is evident that the scripture has no bearing at all to their claim

that pastors and ministers or evangelists had been authorized by God

to collect tithe from the congregation.

1 Corinthians 9:14

“ Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should

live of the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:14)

Many pastors use this scripture to prove that the Lord directed them

to collect tithe from the congregation, but their belief is only a

misconception of the truth.

1st There is not even a word tithe mentioned here.

2nd If you read Luke 10:1-9 (I believe that this is the scripture Paul

was referring to) Jesus appointed seventy disciples to go and preach

the gospel of the kingdom. He told them not to provide themselves with

anything because the labourer is worthy of his hire. However, He didnot tell them to collect tithe and offerings but He told them to eat

and drink whatever was given to them.

This is what Jesus means when He said the labourer is worthy of his

hire.

3rd If the church shall raise a fund and be distributed to each one

according to his need, the pastor also will have his own share because

the scripture said that he is worthy of double honour.

Is he not living of the gospel then? Yes, he is living of the gospelbecause he preaches the gospel and receives his share from the church.

The whole church is also living of the gospel.

The scripture said that what we sow the same shall we reap.

If we sow the seed of an apple we shall reap fruit of apples and we

shall eat apples.

If we sow the words of God by preaching to the congregation such things

as “giving and sharing to one another the blessings of God”, and making

ourselves an example to what we preach then they will bear fruit thatwe can reap and be partaker of them. What fruit? The fruit of “giving

and sharing to one another the blessings of God”.



Note: The pastors are partakers of the fruit of the congregations but

not reapers of their fruit for themselves alone.

I believe that this is what the Lord means when He said that those who

preach the gospel shall live of the gospel, because tithing was never

part of the gospel of Christ.

In verse eighteen of the same chapter Paul said: “What is my reward

then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of

Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.”

Paul’s words are very clear, he does not want to charge for preaching

the words of God; he does not want to abuse his power as an apostle.

His joy is not to preach the gospel and receive but to preach the gospel

without receiving. For him, that is his reward.

This is the opposite of what most pastors now teach in the church.

If Paul was collecting tithe for him and the other apostles from the

congregation, it would be impossible for him to say those exact words,

or it would be a contradiction.

I am very definite that although some of the apostles asked support

from the church it is different from the practice of the pastors and

the evangelists these days, by collecting tithe from the congregation.

Yes, the pastors have the right to be supported by the church, but every

Christian who is in need has also the right to be supported by thechurch.

Some false declarations about tithing

1. Some pastors say that tithing started before the law, was

practiced during the law, and it must go on after the law. Theyalso say that Abraham gave his tithe to Melchisedec so we must

follow what Abraham did because he is our father in faith.

This reasoning is shallow and has no bearing whatsoever with

Christians’ responsibility of giving.

1st The scripture says that Abraham gave the tenth of all his spoil.

It also says that Abraham killed his enemies, took all their goods and

gave the tenth to Melchisedec. Does it mean then that we shall also

kill our enemies, take all their goods and give a tenth of them to our

pastor because we are to follow what Abraham did? Of course not.

2nd Circumcision is a very similar case. In fact it is heavier than tithe



in the Old Testament. It started before the law, (Abraham was

circumcised before the law of Moses) and it was practiced during the

law.

Does it follow then that we still need to be circumcised in this Church

Age to please God? Of course not, for we have better than that.

3rd First fruit offering is another similar case. It started before the

Law of Moses; its record is much earlier than tithe and circumcision.

(Cain and Abel practised first fruit offerings) it was practiced during

the law. Does it follow then that we should practice first fruit

offering in the Church Age to please God? We know we have better than

that.

4th Abraham gave his tithe to Melchisedec the high priest. The

Israelites gave their tithe to the Levites who were priests that took

care of the altar. They were mediators between God and Israel and had

no inheritance in the land.

To whom shall we give our tithe? To the pastors? Are they mediators

between God and men? Do they make atonement for our sins as the Levites

did?

5th If tithing is necessary for a Christian, there is no man worthier

to receive it than Jesus Christ our high priest. But the fact is, during

His ministry on earth He never collected tithe from anyone.

Are we followers of Jesus? He never collected tithe.

Are we followers of Paul and the apostles? They never collected tithe.

2. Some say that tithing gives equal burden to every Christian from

the poorest to the richest. However this is not true.

Consider this: suppose one Christian is a millionaire and he is earning

$20 000 a month. His tithe is $2 000 a month. After giving his tithe,

he still has $18 000 a month plus his millions in the bank. So no matterwhat you say, he still has an abundance of wealth and is still living

a luxurious life.

Another poor Christian is earning $700 a month. He pays his apartment

for $300 and his bills $100 a month. Because he is poor he owes some

money and pays another $100. He has three children who need to buy shoes

and sweaters. He gave $70 for his tithe, paid his bills and bought some

necessary things and food. Now he’s got $30 left which is the only money

he has until the next pay day.

Do you think that the $70 is a light burden to give as the $2 000 fromthe millionaire?



Where is the storehouse?

Some pastors will read Malachi 3:8-10 and then tell the congregation

to bring their tithe to God’s storehouse otherwise they will be cursed

by God. Then at the end of the service they will collect tithe and put

it in their storehouse.

If we will consider this matter very carefully, we may ask this

question: where is the storehouse of God? Or where is the true

storehouse of God?

What I know is that there is only one storehouse that God refers to

in the Old Testament. It is where the Israelites brought all their tithe

and offerings for the Levites in the time of the law.

Now there are thousands of storehouses, and everyone claims that they

have the true house of God.

Every denomination, every congregation, every evangelist, every

pastor, has his own storehouse, and everyone has a different doctrine.

So which of them has the true storehouse of God?

The truth is, the storehouse that Malachi was referring to in Malachi

3:10 does no longer exist because the Levitical law was already

disannulled.

Tithe is not necessary in the Church

Someone might ask if we can find a verse in the bible written literally

that tithe is not necessary in the church.

My reply is: can we find a verse in the bible written literally thatburnt offering, or wave offering, or sacrificial offering is not

necessary in the church?

But we understand that these are included to such things as circumcision

and the Law of Moses that were disannulled. That’s why they are not

being practiced in the church.

Unscriptural system of collecting



from the congregation

Because of this unscriptural system of collecting from the

congregation, there is a tendency for a pastor to be tempted to desire

to have lots of members and rich members that the collection may be

bigger.

He may justify himself by thinking that his motive is Godly, that he

wants lots of people to be saved and that he may teach them the words

of God.

But temptation is always there and the motive will finally become a

double purpose: To obey the great commission by preaching the gospel,

and at the same time to have more earnings by having more members,

especially rich ones.

However Jesus warned us not to serve two masters, not to serve both

God and mammon (money).

“ (…) for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he

will hold to the one, and despise the other (…)”

(Matthew 6:24)

Because of the wrong belief that God has authorized them to collect

tithe from the congregation, the pastors do not feel the guilt when

a poor Christian gives them his last penny to pay his tithe, while they

themselves prosper financially.

How about those testimonies of others that after

giving their tithe God blessed them

financially?

Our doctrine and practice and our way of living, must first of all,

be based on the scriptures.

If we will make the testimonies of others as the foundation of our

doctrines then we will be a confused generation. For so many people

have their own fascinating testimonies, even those who practice cults

or those who are pagans and unbelievers.

Among the millions of tithe givers, there may be some hundreds, or even

thousands who have incredible testimonies that God blessed them

financially after they gave their tithe. But these incidents happen

to anybody, even to those who don’t practice tithing.



There are thousands who have their wonderful testimonies after they

made a devotional prayer to “Mother of Perpetual Help” or to some other

saints. I used to have a devotional prayer to the “Mother of Perpetual

Help” and I also had a testimony that God gave me a job with a high

salary.

I believe that if we make a survey, we will find out that there are

more rich people financially who don’t practice tithing than those who

do.

God said that He gives His supply to both the good and the evil. He

gives rain and sunlight to both the just and the unjust.

Some say that they feel guilty or they feel the effect of the curse

if they don’t give their tithe. The reason for that is they are doing

things contrary to what they believe as true. They were brainwashed

by the so-called evangelists who themselves do not understand what theypreach, or maybe were driven with wrong motive. They are still slaves

of the law of tithing.

What we are after for is not what most people believe, but what the

biblical truth is. Jesus admonished us to seek the truth and the truth

shall set us free.

And finally, God did not promise that He would bless the church if they

practice tithing, but the promise of blessings in the church is when

the church is of one spirit, of one heart, of one mind, helping one

another, and being a cheerful giver.

Summary

AGE OF LAW AGE OF GRACE

I The Levites should take tithe from

IsraelChristian leaders should not take

tithe from anyone

II

Israel was under the “ Age of

Law”

which was also the “ Law of Sin

and Death” given to them by God

through Moses

Christians are living under the “ Law

of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus”



II

I

God commanded the Levites in

their law that they should take

tithe from Israel who was also

their brethren

God, even Jesus, did not command

the apostles or any Christian leaders

to take tithe from anyone. In the

contrary, the apostles instructed the

church not to observe such things

I

V

God separated the Levites

from all Israel to be priests andmediators between God and Israel

God, even Jesus, did not separate

Christian leaders from otherbelievers to be priests and mediators

between God and other Christians

(they belong to one body together

with other believers)

V

God did not give the Levites

inheritance in their land, so tithe

was a substitute for their means of

living

God, even Jesus, did not prohibit

Christian leaders to inherit or own

properties

V

I

I

The Levites should not do other

works for their livingChristian leaders can do other works

for their living



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When our Lord Jesus Christ gave His life as a ransom for our sins, He

redeemed us from the curse of the “Law of Sin and Death”.

When we receive the Spirit of Christ we become a part of Him, and we

become subject to the “Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus” which

is also the “Law of Love”.

A true Christian becomes an imitator of Christ. That is what Christian

means, “Christ like” or “Imitator of Christ” because we have the Spirit

of Christ within us. So when we receive the Spirit of Christ, gradually

we become like Him who is full of love and compassion. It is Christ

in us expressing Himself through us.

“ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ

liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the

faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Gal

2:20

When a true Christian see that his pastor or one of his brother is in

need, he is moved with compassion, and with spontaneous reaction, he

will give his help and support cheerfully.

“ Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for

us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.But whoso hath this world ’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and

shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love

of God in him?” (1John 3:16-17)

When a pastor or an evangelist see that some of the church members are

in need, he is moved with compassion, and with spontaneous reaction,

he will give his help and support cheerfully; instead of taking tithe

and offering from his poor brethren.

“ Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be

burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought

not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” 2Cor

12:14

I believe that this is the will of our Lord Jesus, and by doing so;

the light of genuine Christianity will shine in the darkness.

Did not Jesus our Lord said that those who are the first will be the

last, and those who want to be the greatest will be the servant of all?

God is not so much interested with our sacrifices and offerings as He

is interested with our love and compassion with each other.



“ Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high

God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves of a

year old?

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands

of rivers of oil? Shall I give my first born for my transgression? The

fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord requireof thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with

thy God?” Micah 6:6-8

“ For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more

than burnt offerings.” Hos 6:6

Every Christian leader should go back to the original system of church

administration, and the original system of collection and distribution

to the necessity of the saints. They must stop collecting tithe fromthe congregation because it is an abolished law and not applicable to

Christianity.

I believe that this is a vital thing to do so that we can feel and

experience the true meaning of Christianity, and very essential in

preparing the church for the soon coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus

Christ.

Conclusion

Tithing is a heave offering, and like all other kinds of material

offerings, had their origin after the fall of mankind.

Material offerings were man’s way to approach God that he might be

accepted by God (Gen 4:6-7). Man was a fallen creature and was separated

from God because of sin.

In the “Age of Grace”, the true Christians are already reconciled to

God. We have already access to enter the Holy of Holies without the

need of offerings and sacrifices, because our Lord Jesus Christ has

already done the final sacrifice and offering (Heb 10:18).

We are now seated with Christ in heavenly places (Eph 2:6). We are one

with God. The spirit of God is within us, and we are a part of the body

of Christ.

This is the reason why Christians are no longer required to be

circumcised in the flesh, nor to observe the Sabbath days and otherholy days, nor to do any kind of material and sacrificial offering,

which includes tithing.



Actually, we are now in a better position than Abraham was in his time.

If God would raise Abraham to life in our time, Abraham would not give

tithe anymore. Instead, he would offer his body a living sacrifice,

holy and acceptable unto God, which would be his reasonable service

(Rom 12:1)

“ Wherefore, when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and

offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: in burnt

offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said

I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do

thy will, O God.” (Heb 10:5-7)

Giving is very important and a responsibility of every Christian. The

entire New Testament is composed of many scriptures that encouragegiving with promises of blessings from God to the cheerful givers.

The question is: To whom shall we give? How shall we give? How much

shall we give?

God does not need our money or any of our goods, for he is the supplier

of everything and He owns everything.

“ Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my

footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the

place of my rest?For all those things hath mine hand made; and all those things have

been saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is

poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” (Isaiah

66:1-2)

When Jesus met the rich young man He did not say sell all you have and

give it to me, or to Judas who was responsible for the fund, or to any

of the apostles, or the rabbis.

But Jesus said to the rich young man: “(…) If thou wilt be perfect,

go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have

treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” (Matthew 19:21)

The pastors, the ministers, or the evangelists have no right to collect

tithe from the Christians even though they will say that they need it

for the ministry.

So to whom shall we give our love and free will offerings? And how much

shall we give?

God’s blessings and supplies of goods should be circulated to every

member of the body of Christ, which includes the pastors, the ministers,

the elders, and every Christian, that there may be equality in the

church.



“ (…) He that hath gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered

little had no lacked.”

(See 2 Corinthians 8:14-15)

The pastor or the elder of every local church or of every congregation

can be responsible for the giving and receiving that the blessings ofGod may circulate properly.

Every Christian can give as much as he wants, according to what he can

afford and according to his heart’s good pleasure, for God loves the

cheerful giver.

Every Christian must be aware that the more he gives, the more God will

bless him.

“ He that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly, and he which soweth

bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”

The funds that have been collected can be also used for evangelism and

for the support of pastors and elders who work full time for the Lord.

The apostle Paul said: “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy

of double honour, especially they who labour in the word or doctrine.

For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth

out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.” (1Timothy

5:17-18)

Yes, the one who rules the church well is worthy of double honour, but

not worthy to collect tithe from the congregation for himself and hisministry because he is not a Levitical priest, and the ministry is not

for the pastor alone but for the whole church which is the body of

Christ.

It is therefore evident that tithing was never practiced in the early

church.

It is true that there was a collection in the church, but there was

also a distribution.

Giving is not the sole duty of the laity to the clergy like in the

Levitical system, but giving is the duty of every Christian to every

Christian that there may be equality and that God’s blessings will

circulate properly in the whole body of Jesus Christ.

May our Lord Jesus Christ reveal to us more of His will that we may

live a deeper Christian life.

Amen.



Addendum

After I finished writing the manuscript, I decided to consult the

encyclopaedias about tithe. I found out that the practice of tithing

among Christians started only at the sixth century.

This is another proof aside from the Holy Bible that the first

Christians never practiced tithing because Christianity started at

the first century.

They began to practice it after many false doctrines were introduced

to the Church. These are impurities to the true words of God.

Here are two articles about tithe:

“tithe (from Old English teogothian, “tenth”), a custom dating back to Old Testament times and adopted by

the Christian church whereby lay people contributed a 10th of their income for religious purposes, often

under ecclesiastical or legal obligation. The money (or its equivalent in crops, farm stock, etc.) was used tosupport the clergy, maintain churches, and assist the poor. Tithing was also a prime source of subsidy for the

construction of many magnificent cathedrals in Europe.

Despite serious resistance, tithing became obligatory as Christianity spread across Europe. It was

enjoined by ecclesiastical law from the 6th century and enforced in Europe by secular law from the 8 th

century. In England in the 10th century, payment was made obligatory under ecclesiastical penalties by

Edmund I and under temporal penalties by Edgar. In the 14 th century Pope Gregory VII, in an effort to

control abuses, outlawed lay ownership of tithes.

During the 16th-century Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther approved in general of paying tithes

to the temporal sovereign, and the imposition of tithes continued for the benefit of Protestant as well as

Roman Catholic churches. Gradually, however, opposition grew. Tithes were repealed in France during theRevolution (1789), without compensation to tithe holders. Other countries abolished certain kinds of tithes

and indemnified the holders. By 1887 the tithe had been brought to an end in Italy. It was abolished in

Ireland at the disestablishment of the Anglican church in 1871, and it gradually died out in church of

Scotland. In England in 1836, the tithe was commuted for a rent charge depending on the price of grain, and

in 1936 the tithe rent charges were abolished. New methods of taxation were developed in those countries

that provided financial support of the church out of government funds. Remnants of the tithing system do

exist, however, in certain Protestant European countries. In West Germany, for example, citizens must pay a

church tax unless they formally renounce membership in a church.

Tithe was never a legal requirement in the United States. Members of certain churches, however,

including the Latter-day Saints and Seventh-day Adventists, are required to tithe, and some Christians in

other churches do so voluntarily.

The Eastern Orthodox churches never accepted the idea of tithes, and Orthodox Church membershave never payed them.”



The New Encyclopaedia Britannica

Volume II 15th

Edition 1993

“tithes. The tenth part of all fruits and profits due to God and thus to the Church for the maintenance of its

ministry. The payment of tithes has been held to be enjoined not merely by ecclesiastical law but by naturaland divine law — by natural law because it is essential to the maintenance of religion, which is enjoined by

natural law; by divine law because the payment of tithes is specifically ordered in the OT (Lev 27: 30-2,

Deut 14: 22-4). It is, however, only implied in the NT (Mt. 5: 17-19, 23:23) which places much greater

emphasis on voluntary giving (e.g. 2 Cor. 9: 6-7).

The early Church depended on offerings. In the 4th cent. payment of the tenth part of all the produce

of lands began to be taught as a Christian duty and in the following cents. this gradually became established.

In England the payment of tithes was strongly enjoined by the legatine synod of 786 and legally enforced by

King Athelstan’s Ordinance c.930. Once received, tithes were subject to canonical division into four parts

between the bishop, the clergy, the fabric of the church, and the relief of the poor. However, this was not

universally observed and the poor and the bishop were sometimes denied their share. In England a tripartite

division excluding the bishop survived until the eleventh cent. but eventually tithes were left at the entire

disposal of the clergy who received them.

At first, the owner of the land might pay the tithe to what clergy he pleased. Probably they were

usually paid to the bishop, who distributed them among his clergy. But, as the parochial system developed,

the tithes of each parish were allotted to its own ‘parson’, often by the action of the lord of the manor, who in

this way provided the endowment necessary for securing the right to build a church on his estate. In time, the

allocation of tithes became the general law.

Tithes were of three sorts: praedial, mixed, and personal. Praedial tithes came immediately from the

ground, such as grain, timber, and fruit. Mixed tithes came from things nourished by the ground, such as

calves, lambs, chickens, milk, cheese, and eggs. Personal tithes arose from the net profits of labour and

industry. Wild animals were not subject to tithes, nor was barren, uncultivated land. Tithes were further

divided into great tithes (chiefly corn, hay, and wood) and small tithes (all others). The amount actually

produced was irrelevant to this distinction. Tithe was payable annually even if the fruits had grown withoutbeing collected — as in the case of saffron, gathered only once in three years. The BCP provides for payment

of tithes, with other ecclesiastical dues, at the time of communion on Easter Day.

The incumbent, when entitled to the whole tithes of a parish, was termed a rector. But tithes could be

appropriated to a spiritual person or corporation (and, after the dissolution of the monasteries, to lay people

as well) who were then normally compelled to provide and endow a clergyman to reside in the parish and

perform the ecclesiastical duties, under the name of vicar. The vicars endowment usually took the form of a

portion of the glebe, together with the small tithes, because they were troublesome to collect, while the rector

(or appropriator) retained the great tithes for himself. Strictly, impropriation was the term correctly applied to

lay people, and appropriation to bishops, colleges, religious houses, and the like.

Originally all land in England was theoretically subject to tithe, but there were a number of

exceptions, including land held or derived from certain privileged orders (e.g. the Cistercians, Templars, and

Hospitallers), Church or glebe land occupied by the incumbent himself, and forest land occupied or leased bythe Crown. The right to tithe could also lapse after non-payment over many years. However, the most

important means of freeing land from tithe were: (I) the composition real, whereby until 1571 real property

was given in exchange for the exemption of other property, and (II) the modus decimandi,, or modus,

whereby tithe was commuted to some other, more convenient, annual payment. Tithes were also commuted

by statute to ‘corn rents’ or rent-charges on land, particularly when common or waste land was enclosed; the

value of this charges fluctuated with the price of corn.

The desire to obtain exemption from tithe was prompted as much by the inconvenience of a levy in

kind as by a wish to fix or limit its value. By the 19 th cent. the anomalous nature of tithes was widely felt,

and the Tithe Act 1836 established a procedure for the commutation of all tithes into tithe rent-charges on

land. This was further refined until by the Tithe Act 1936 all tithe rent-charges were extinguished and

replaced by an annuity payable for 60 years by the landowner to the Crown, while the Crown compensated

the owner of the rent-charge in turn with an appropriate amount of 3 per cent redemption stock charged on

the Consolidated Fund. The Finance Act 1977 finally ended payment of the annuity by the landowner, and in

1988 all the remaining stock created under the 1936 Act was redeemed from the beneficiaries by the



Treasury. Tithes have therefore ceased to exist in England all together.

In Scotland, tithes were collected under the name of teinds until their abolition in 1925. In Ireland,

tithes were abolished in 1871. They have never been part of the law of the United States of America,

although similar payments were sometimes made.”

The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church

3rd

Edition 1997

Some phrases to be pondered upon

In the time of the law, God was above His people

In the time of the ministry of Jesus on earth, God was beside Hispeople

In our time, which is the Age of Grace, God is within His people(Col 1:26-27, Gal 2:20, 2Cor 13:5, 1Cor 3:16)

Salvation or eternal life is given to us freely which we can receivethrough faith

Jesus commanded His disciples, freely it was given to you (gospelof salvation), and freely you have to give it

When we give the gospel of Christ, we have to give it freely withoutcharge

Now a day the gospel of Christ is being paid with tithe and offerings

There is no religion or denomination or any kind of organizationthat can save us

Christ came and died for us to give us salvation freely, but man

made religion out of the gospel of Christ to gain money

Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life, no man cometh unto

the Father but by me”

Religion is a stumbling block to our salvation because it creates

confusion

There are thousands of different Chritian religions and everyone

has different doctrine

A seeker of truth will ask, “Which of them is the truth?” The answer

is none of them is the truth



Only Jesus is the Truth, only Jesus is the Life and only Jesus isthe Way

The blood of Jesus is not the blood of a Jew, neither is it the bloodof a Gentile, but it is the blood of God. Acts 20:28

“Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast

the words of eternal life.” John 6:68

If you are in Jesus and Jesus is in you, you are

sure of your eternal life

(At the back of the book)

A Book: Challenges the entire Christian world to search and prove if tithing

was really practiced by the first Christians.

A Fact: The practice of tithing in Christianity began more than four hundred years

after the birth of Christianity.

A Consequence: Tithing in Christianity is not scriptural. It is an erroneous doctrine,

and therefore contrary to the will of God.

A Call: Stop the practice of tithing and be an instrument for the restoration of the

genuine Christianity.

“Because of the wrong belief that God has authorized them to collecttithe from the congregation, the pastors do not feel the guilt when a poorChristian gives them his last penny to pay his tithe, while they themselvesprosper financially.”

“ Are we followers of Jesus? He never collected tithe.”

“ Are we followers of Paul and the other apostles? They never collected tithe.”

“ But whoso hath this world ’ s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up

his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? ” 1John

3:17



ISBN 971-92749-0-5

Documents

The Truth About Tithe