Tithing Is Not About Money

Tithing is a very deceptive issue for many Christians. The general teaching is that according to the book of Malachi, we should tithe. Is tithing relevant for New Testaments Christians who are living in the grace of Christ? Tithing is first mentioned in the book of Genesis. In this chapter, we see that Abraham tithe to Melchizedek, the King of Salem. The Bible got no genealogy on Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:3). When Abraham meets Melchizedek, they share wine and bread. (Genesis 14: 18). Melchizedek is referred to as “Priest of God most high” Based on this, it is commonly accepted that Melchizedek is in fact Jesus Christ. So, the Churches say that since the father of nation Abraham tithed to Melchizedek (Christ), New Testaments Christians living in grace of Christ must Tithe. Numbers 18:21 says “"I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting.” Jesus is not from the descendant of Levi. Jesus belongs to the descendant of David. If God wants his people to continue tithing as Abraham did to Melchizedek, then surely by the grace of God Jesus would have been born in the descendant of Levi. Let’s look into Malachi 3: 8 “8 Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings.” Now, who rob the tithes? The answer is found in Malachi 2: 1- 2 “1 "And now this admonition is for you, O priests. 2 If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honor my name," says the LORD Almighty, "I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honor me.” Clearly Malachi is warning the priests in Malachi chapter 2 and 3. In Malachi 2: 2 the LORD Almighty specifically spelled out that “... I will curse your (Priests) blessing.” [Note: I have included the word “Priests” for easy understanding.] The blessings for Priests are mentioned in Numbers 18: 24 “Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the LORD. That is why I said concerning them: 'They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.' “[Sorry for the copy paste. This is a sensitive issue and I want to seriously support my opinion with the words from the Scripture not my own.] So, the blessings for the Priests are the tithe of the Israelites. What are the Priests suppose to do with the tithes? First, they must tithe one tenth of the tithe to the Lord. Numbers 18: 26 "Speak to the Levites and say to them: 'When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD's offering. Yes, the Levites (Priests) are the one who is suppose to tithe to the Lord. Along the way, the Levites (Priests) became too greedy that they keep some of the tithe for themselves. That is why when Malachi continues in Chapter 3; he tells the Priests very specifically in verse 10 “bring the WHOLE tithe” into the store house. According to the book of Deuteronomy, the people of Israel are to use the tithe each year for their own benefit. Deuteronomy 14: 22 – 23 “22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always.” The true teaching of the Bible is that we are supposed to consume the tithe for our own benefit every year. This really reflects the kindness of the LORD Almighty to his people. If we are to consume our tithe annually for ourselves, when are we supposed to tithe for the Lord? The answer is found in Deuteronomy 26: 12 “When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the

widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.” That simply means that only on the THIRD year we tithe to the Levites or the Lord. Leviticus 27:30 “‘a tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.” By now you should be able to understand why the ancient tithe talks about agricultural products, live stocks and storehouse. The storehouse is used to stock up agricultural products and live stocks for the next three years to be consumed by the alien, the fatherless and the widow. There is only one condition to exchange the agricultural products and live stock to cash. Deuteronomy 14:24 – 25 “But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), 25 then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. 26 Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice.” Even if you change the tithe to cash, you are supposed to use the tithing for your own benefit. To conclude, Malachi 3:10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Meaning, if the Levites (Priests) are honest in giving the WHOLE tithe of the people of Israel to the LORD Almighty, the floodgates of heaven will open. The word “floodgates” literally means rain. Rain is essential for agricultural activities. As a result, the agricultural activities of the people of God will increase to the level that there will be no room to accommodate the tithes. To preach that when one tithes, the floodgates of heaven will open and money will fall from the sky till you have no room enough for it is a blasphemy. Amen, Amen.