Monday, September 16, 2013

Why Jesus Spoke On Tithing | Institute of Love

Tithing is being referred to in the New Testament a couple of times as a historical fact when it talks about Abraham paying a tenth of all he had won in the battle and gave it to Melchizedek, priest and king of the city of Salem, and also how the Levites under the Old Covenant were to receive the tithes of the people. (See Hebrews 7:1-2, 4-5) The other times when tithing is mentioned in the New Testament are when Jesus warns against the hypocrisy of the teachers of religious law and Pharisees who tithed and yet ignored other important parts of the Law of Moses. Jesus clearly spoke in accordance to the “Old Covenant” laws, since the Law of Moses was still in force during the lifetime of Jesus here on earth. It would have been “sin” for Him at this time to teach against it. Jesus was just reinforcing that tithing was a requirement under the Old Covenant, and therefore He commanded a man, that He had just healed from leprosy, to uphold the pertaining requirements of the Old Testament law. (See Matthew 23:23-24 and Matthew 8:3-4) That is why neither Jesus nor His disciples ever taught that a New Testament born-again believer should pay tithes!!! NEVER!!! Instead, we are being taught that we as Christians must each decide in our own hearts how much money to give, and that we should never give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully. And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with the poor. (See 2. Corinthians 9:7-8) The Bible even goes as far as to say that your giving should not make life easy for others and hard for yourselves! (See 2. Corinthians 8:13)

No comments:

Post a Comment