Part of the Old Covenant Law

The tithe was clearly part of the old covenant law.  The tithe was established with the rest of the law which was given to Moses by God, on Mount Sinai.  

Lev. 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.

Lev.27: 34 “these are the commands the Lord gave Moses on mount Sinai for the Israelites”    THE LAW!

Nehemiah was a servant of God who knew the law and understood it’s purpose.  He prayed, “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands” (Neh. 1:5).  Nehemiah understood that God's commands were motivated by love for his people, and that the purpose of the law was to bring about love among his people.  This is why Nehemiah refers to the law as, "his covenant of love".

Nehemiah was deeply saddened by the state of the city of Jerusalem and the condition of the nation of Israel.  He was given permission by the king of Persia (of whom he was a servant ) to travel to Jerusalem with the intention of rebuilding the city and bringing together the people of Israel.  He sets about re-establishing the priesthood and the old covenant law, this included the tithe. Neh.12:44, “At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, first fruits and tithes.  From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the law.”

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We are not under old covenant law, so many who demand a ‘tithe’ from their congregations will claim that tithing is separate from the law.  I have heard such preachers say, ‘tithing was before the law, so it is separate from the law’.   They will site the example of Abraham giving a tenth of his plunder to Melchizedek to make their case.  Therefore, we should look at this example in chapter seven of Hebrews.

In Hebrews chapter seven, we are clearly told that the tithe was part of old covenant law.  We are also told that the law was weak and useless and made nothing perfect.  In fact this entire passage of scripture ( from Heb. 6:13 to the end of chapter 10) is written to show us the supremacy of the new covenant. 

About the tithe it says, ”Now the law requires that the descendants of Levi who become priests collect a tenth from the people - that is their brothers - even though their brothers are descended from Abraham.”  (Heb.7:5) How much clearer can it be?  It says, “the law requires”!

We then read, “If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come - one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?  For when there is a change of priesthood , there must also be a change of the law.” (Heb. 7:11,12).  It is sadly ironic, that the new ‘teachers of the law’ try to use this passage to tell us that the tithe was not part of old covenant law.

The tithe was clearly a part of the law, but the law no longer applies.  It says, “The former regulation was set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope was introduced, by which we draw near to God.  And it was not without an oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: ‘The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind:  You are a priest forever.’  Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.” (Heb. 7:18-22)  This passage of scripture is not telling us to go back to old covenant law as the hypocrites demand.  On the contrary, it tells us that old covenant law (including the tithe) is “weak and useless” - "the law made nothing perfect"! 

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Let's establish some facts about the example of Abraham.  Firstly, his gift to Melchizedek was a once in a lifetime event.  Abraham did not 'tithe' weekly or yearly at any temple or tabernacle, nor did Abraham give any of his own money or possessions to Melchizedek.  Abraham had just led his men in battle to rescue his nephew Lot, who had been captured.  He returned with the people that he had rescued and the plunder that he had recovered.  What he gave to Melchizedek was a tenth of that plunder, as it is written, “Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!” (Heb. 7:4).  The remainder of the plunder was given back to the king of Sodom.  Abraham kept nothing for himself!  “The king of Sodom said to Abram, ‘Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.’  But Abram said to the king of Sodom,  ‘I have raised my hand to the Lord, God most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say,’I made Abram rich.’” (Gen.14:21-23). 

Still, those who preach ‘the tithe’ use this scripture to demand that all members of their congregations must give a tenth of their income to ‘the church’ every week.  They tell people, 'Look at it this way; you get to keep 90%.'   But Abraham kept nothing for himself!  

The next example these desperate ‘law makers’ grasp at is the widow at the temple:  “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury.  Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.  "Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything, all she had to live on.’” (Mark 12:41-44)  Was this a ‘tithe’, as some claim?  No!  Again; at the time this took place, the nation of Israel was still under old covenant law.  Therefore, the land holders were still required to tithe.  This is why the Pharisees were so careful to give a tenth, even from the spices in their gardens. As Jesus said, “You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill and cumin, but you have neglected the more important matters of the law”.  However, we already know that God never asked people to ‘tithe’ money.  We also know that widows were never required to take part in the tithe; they were to benefit from it.  As we read earlier;  “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.” (Deut.26:12).   In spite of the facts, new age law makers will site this as an example of 'new covenant tithing'.   It is written these preachers, “They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about” (1 Tim.1:7)

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This passage of scripture is not about tithing, it is about judgement!  More specifically; it is about the difference between the way men judge, and the way God judges.  Obviously, these offerings (including the widow’s) were made in public, and most people would have judged the offerings based on the amount they saw being put into the treasury, but God sees much more than this.  This is why Jesus commended the widow for putting “more into the treasury than all the others.”  His decree was not based on what is seen by men (that is; an amount or a percentage).  God has a different standard of judgement than men.  He judges based on what he alone knows about our circumstances and motives.   Just like Abraham, the widow kept “nothing” for herself.

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This widow is not remembered for obeying a law.  She is remembered for being selfless and generous, and giving to God wholeheartedly, without expecting anything in return.  This is a challenge for all of us, but we (unlike those under the old covenant) are not bound by the law or the temple.  This scripture is not telling us to go back to old covenant tithing.  The old covenant ended when our Lord was put to death on the cross. 

We have a “new covenant” with God, and  “By calling this covenant ‘new’, he has made the old one obsolete; and what is obsolete and ageing will soon disappear” (Heb. 8:13). 

“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the the Lord comes.  He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts.  At that time, each will receive his praise from God.” (1 Cor. 4:5). 

We must be guided by the Spirit and motivated by his love, as it is written, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets.” (Matt. 7:12).  

We are not under old covenant law!

“We who are Jews by birth and not ‘Gentile sinners’ know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.  So, we too have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law, no-one will be justified.” (Gal. 2:15-16)

“For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh, the law with it’s commandments and regulations” (Eph. 2:14-15)

“So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.  Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.” (Gal. 3:24-25)

There are many more scriptures which tell us so (see 'The Beginning, From Law To Grace)