WHAT IS TITHING?
Tithing or the word tithe means a tenth. In the Bible we often see people say the first fruits from their crops or flocks or anything else but it is always the first tenth of the first fruits that mean God wants and an offering is anything past that 10%
Tithing is NOT a requirement for salvation, God's love for you, or even God being pleased with you.
TITHING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
THE COMMAND OF TITHING
2 Chronicles 31:4-5 ESV
[4] And he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the Law of the Lord. [5] As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in abundance the firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field. And they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.
Just like in the Old Testament scripture, the people here at Living Faith in leadership sign a covenant to give 10% out of what they are paid.
The first time we see the word tithe
Genesis 14:18-20 ESV
[18] And Melchizedek, king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was a priest of God Most High.) [19] And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; [20] and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
In this verse, we see Abram gives this righteous priest of God a tenth of all his earnings. He gave willingly not for any gain but he was Honoring God he wasn't looking for any blessings of course he does get blessed by God through the priest he didn't know he would when he gave.
Hebrews 7:1-3 ESV
[1] For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, [2] and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. [3] He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
Hebrews 7:7 ESV
[7] It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
This is saying that when we give, all blessings come from God– even if God is using someone to bless you.
Hebrews 7:8 esv
[8] In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.
and verse 8
that before Jesus death and resurrection we would give to man and trust they would do what God commanded. Case 1, Abraham and Melchizedek
and now, because of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross, when we give to the local church we give directly to our one and only God.
WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT TITHING?
Matthew 23:23 ESV
[23] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
Matthew 6:19-21 ESV
[19] “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, [20] but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. [21] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
