What the Bible says about Tithe Intended for God's Representative
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Genesis 14:18-20 Jacob must have been taught about tithing by his grandfather, Abraham, and his father, Isaac. Genesis 14 succinctly reveals several principles of tithing. First, the tithe goes to God through His representative, the priest. Second, the Bible repeats that it is one-tenth. Third, this law was in effect long before God commanded it through Moses. Fourth, Abram, blessed for his faithfulness to God, gave tithes in recognition of God's rulership and providence. Richard T. Ritenbaugh Tithing Related Topics: Abraham | Abraham's Faithfulness | Melchizedek | Tithe As One Tenth | Tithe Intended for God's Representative | Tithing | Tithing, In Effect Before Moses | Tithing, Principles of

Leviticus 27:30 Israelites gave tithes to the Levites to perform the work of the Tabernacle and later the Temple. Because they were involved in God's work and had no significant land of their own, the Levites had to be supported by the rest of the congregation of Israel. Richard T. Ritenbaugh Tithing Related Topics: Levitical Priesthood | Tithe Intended for God's Representative | Tithing | Tithing, Principles of

Leviticus 27:30-33 God has always used giving as a means to carry out whatever commission He gives to His people. The Bible first mentions tithing when Abraham gives tithes to Melchizedek, a priesthood that predates even the patriarchs (Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7:1-10). By the time of the Exodus, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had grown from a small patriarchal family to a great multitude of upwards of two million people. The size of the population dictated the need for a written code of law, yet the principles of giving remained the same. Numbers 18 records that God turned His tithe over to the Levitical priesthood for their use in the administration and conduct of His work (Numbers 18:20-24). By the time God formally instituted Israel's civil code, tithing had long been an ongoing financial law. Martin G. Collins Tithing: First Tithe Related Topics: Levitical Priesthood | Tithe Intended for God's Representative | Tithe, First | Tithing | Tithing, In Effect Before Moses

Numbers 18:21 The first tithe was paid to the Levite. Israel paid this tithe to their ministry, who in turn interceded to God on their behalf. The priests told them how God wanted them to live, which produced a properly-lived, safer, happier, more meaningful life, which in turn brought many national and individual blessings, the greatest of which was a close relationship with God. Today, the ministry is to perform the same function, except that there is more on the line because we have God's Spirit. As the ministry teaches us how to live and how to conduct our lives, we will be physically blessed for proving and following these instructions, but there is more at stake than this. We are to be changed inside, spiritually. We must have a right heart, be converted, and have the mind of God. God desires us to have perfect, godly character! The ministry today is much more important in this respect. The role of the ministry is to help perfect those whom God places in their care (Ephesians 4:11-12) John O. Reid Tithing Related Topics: Character | Godly Character | Mind of God | Ministry, Function of | Ministry, Responsibility of | Perfecting the Saints | Tithe Intended for God's Representative | Tithe Intended for Levite | Tithing

Deuteronomy 14:22-27 This is the second tithe. This tithe is to be eaten, or consumed, before the LORD. It is not a tithe that goes to the priest, but it is a tithe for the individual's use at God's feasts, although he is not to forget the Levite. John O. Reid Tithing Related Topics: Feast of Tabernacles | Second Tithe | Tithe Intended for God's Representative | Tithe, First | Tithe, Second | Tithe, Third | Tithing | Tithing, Principles of

Deuteronomy 14:28-29 Directly following the instruction concerning second tithe is the command for third tithe. This tithe is also not given to the Levites to do the work, but stored "within your gates." Nor is it to be set aside yearly to keep the Feasts, for this tithe is set aside "every third year." The purpose for this third tithe is found in verse 29: It is God's welfare plan for the fatherless, widows, unemployed and the truly needy. After faithfully completing our third tithe year, we are entitled to ask God for a blessing upon His people (Deuteronomy 26:12-15). Third tithe is paid in the third and sixth years of a seven-year cycle. God gives us the seventh year as a year of release, or sabbatical, then we begin another seven-year cycle in the eighth year. John O. Reid Tithing: God's Financial System Related Topics: Help for Needy | Help for Stranger, Fatherless, and Widow | Third Tithe | Tithe Intended for God's Representative | Tithe Intended for Levite | Tithe, Third | Tithing

Deuteronomy 14:28 In ancient Israel, God instructed His people to set aside a special tithe to assist those in need: orphans, widows, strangers, and Levites. Today, God's church meets its Christian duty toward its needy brethren similarly, through a third tithe fund. God's apostles teach that Christians have an obligation to help others who are truly in need. The commandments of God concerning the responsibility of those more blessed to help those truly in need continue into the New Testament era. Martin G. Collins Tithing: Third Tithe Related Topics: Help for Needy | Help for Stranger, Fatherless, and Widow | Third Tithe | Third Tithe Fund | Tithe Intended for God's Representative | Tithe Intended for Levite | Tithe, Third

Proverbs 3:9-10 When we give God back the tithe that is His to begin with, He blesses us abundantly spiritually and physically. Notice that God says He commands tithes so "that there may be food in My house" (Malachi 3:10). Tithes are primarily used to feed His people spiritually! If we support the work God is doing through His faithful ministers, He promises to bless us far above anything we could imagine (Ephesians 3:20-21)! Richard T. Ritenbaugh Tithing Related Topics: Blessing | Blessings | Tithe Intended for God's Representative | Tithing | Tithing to Ensure Spiritual Food | Tithing, Principles of

1 Corinthians 9:8-14 The principle of supporting the ministers of God's Work is in force in the New Testament church. Paul refers to the Old Testament law as his authority for taking tithes to preach the gospel. This, combined with Jesus' comments, shows a clear, New Testament application of the tithing law. Richard T. Ritenbaugh Tithing (1995) Related Topics: Tithe Intended for God's Representative | Tithe Intended for Levite | Tithing

Galatians 6:6-10 The word communicate in the King James version means "to share"—as the New King James has it—"to associate, partake, participate, distribute; to impart." We who are being taught are to impart to those who are teaching. Adam Clark, commenting on the phrase "communicate to him that teaches," remarks: Contribute to the support of the man who has dedicated himself to teach the work of the ministry, and who gives up his time and his life to preach the gospel. We do not expect the schoolmaster to give up his time to teach our children the alphabet without being paid for it, and can we suppose that it is just for any person to sit under the preaching of the gospel in order to grow wise unto salvation by it and not contribute to the support of the spiritual teacher? It is unjust! The Expositor's Bible Commentary's entry on Galatians 6:6-10 reads: Three uses of money are mentioned: 1. the support of the teacher in a Christian congregation [first tithe]; 2. the use of money to build up the Spirit rather than to feed the flesh [This is an arbitrary categorization. I would dare say, however, this is a perfectly lawful use of the second tithe]; 3. the spending of money to help others, particularly Christians [the third tithe fund]. The reference to the one who is taught in the word does not imply a fully developed oral instruction system, such as prevailed in the church later on, but it does point to a class of paid teachers at a surprisingly early date. Paul's policy was apparently to preach the gospel without receiving money, preferring to earn his living as a tent maker. But this was pioneer work. As soon as possible he seemed to have established a more fixed structure. The apostle Paul did not want anyone to come and say to the Corinthians or to anyone with whom he was working, "You know, he is just teaching you so he can get your tithes. He just wants your money!" Paul did not want this. In I Corinthians 8, Paul says, "I would not eat meat at all if it were to offend anyone. I would not eat meat for the rest of my life." This is the same principle in which he is instructing the Galatian brethren. Paul did not have an office to run, a car to maintain, or things of the administrative sort we usually have today. The point is that Paul would not accept monetary compensation in order not to offend anyone. John O. Reid Tithing Related Topics: Tithe Intended for God's Representative | Tithe, First | Tithe, Second | Tithe, Third | Tithing | Tithing, Principles of

 

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