The Blessing Of Tithing – Part 4
6. Effects of Tithing on our Future Generations
Let’s take a deeper look at tithing in Genesis 14:17-20 to gain a deeper understanding. We will take a look at how tithing has changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament and the Perspectives of Tithing in the Old Testament and New Testament.
As a summary:
• BEFORE the Law, tithing was voluntary.
Abraham was the first mentioned in the Bible to tithe. He did it voluntarily and in recognition of King Melchizedek’s greatness.
• DURING the Law, tithing was compulsory.
This is under the Mosaic Law where tithing is mandatory. The Israelites believed that by tithing their first fruits to God, the remaining of their harvests and the new harvests to come would be blessed by God, too.
• AFTER the Law, tithing was willingly.
In the New Testament, we are under grace. Tithing is just a starting point. Tithing is also brought to a greater height and higher standard. God doesn’t need our money. He just wants to sanctify it through our tithing.
Let’s read Genesis 14:17-20.
17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him. 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.
Abram was returning home from war after defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who allied with him. On the way home, he met two kings – the king of Sodom and the king of Salem (which is Jerusalem). The king of Sodom came out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh known as the King’s Valley. But only Melchizedek, the king of Salem brought out bread and wine to serve Abram. He was the first and only one mentioned in the Bible who was both the priest of God Most High and a king. This was a prophetic picture of Jesus to come who is both Priest and King.
Melchizedek is equivalent to Jesus, the bread and wine offered is significant as the Holy Communion today. When Melchizedek offered bread and wine to Abram, it is like the body of Christ broken for our infirmities and the blood shed for our sins. This is a significant picture of Christ offering Himself for our sins.
Abram, as recognition of Melchizedek’s greatness, gave Melchizedek a tithe of everything he has as indicated in verse 20, “a tithe of all”. This was done by Abram willingly and voluntarily. This act represents our tithing to Jesus, as recognition of who He is and what He has done for us on the cross. And this showed that tithing was already there 430 yeas before the Law was even instituted by Moses.
Let’s read on further to Genesis 14:21-23.
21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons and take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will take nothing from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, “I have made Abram rich” – 24 Except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”
The king of Sodom told Abram to keep all the wealth he has retrieved but to give only the people he has captured to the king. But Abram rejected him. Abram doesn’t want the king and the people to think that he got wealthy through the king. Here, the king of Sodom, represents the world and its systems. There are two ways to get rich. It is either through the world’s systems or through God’s ways. Abram, definitely didn’t want to get rich through the world’s systems. He didn’t want to fall into the greed for wealth and lost his soul. The devil is only interested in the souls of men and not the riches. He is more than willing to give you the riches of the world in exchange for your soul to serve him.
When Abram offered a tithe of all he has to Melchizedek, it is an open statement declaring the greatness of Melchizedek as a king. Tithing is like a tribute offered to the king who has conquered the land. In the ancient days, when a foreign king conquered the land and its people, the people has to pay a tribute offering to the new king as a recognition of his kingship and rule. The king is rightfully entitled to a tenth of the wealth conquered. Hence, when Abram brought a tenth of all he has to Melchizedek, he was not only declaring Melchizedek as king, he was declaring that he was under the king, his sovereignty and rule. Today, when we offer our tithes to Jesus, we are doing what Abram did. It is a declaration that we are under the Lordship of Christ and He is our King.
The blessing of Melchizedek also has great significance. It has always been that the greater one blesses the lesser, the higher in rank blesses those lower in rank. When Melchizedek blessed Abram, it also indicates that he is of higher authority and greater than Abram. Is this not the same as Jesus blessing us when we bring our offering to Him?!
Paul mentioned the same in Hebrew 7:1-4 about Melchizedek and Abraham’s tithe to him. In verse 4, Paul ascribed the greatness of Melchizedek in whom Abraham gave a tenth of his spoils or plunder. Further in verse 6-7, Paul mentioned that Melchizedek collected the tithe offered to him and blessed Abraham. Verse 7 said without doubt, “the lesser person is blessed by the greater”.
4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!… 6 This man (referring to Melchizedek), however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater.
Is there a possibility that our tithing today will have effects on our future descendants? This is a question I asked myself, too. Does my tithing bless me and sanctify the remaining of my fruits only? Or does it have a far greater significance than this? Hebrew 7:8-10 sheds a little light to this.
8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
In the old covenant, the Levites (the men who die – verse 8) collected the tithe. Under the new covenant, the tithe is collected by “him who is declared to be living” and this “him” refers to Jesus. In another word, when we pay our tithes today, Jesus is the One who collects it from us.
In verse 9-10, when Abraham paid the tithe to Melchizedek, it is the same as the Levi who collected the tithe and paid it through Abraham. When Abraham offered the tithe to Melchizedek, Levi was not born yet. He was the great-grandson of Abraham. He was part of Abraham’s seed. Whatever happened to Abraham, happened to his descendants. This applies to us, too, as we are the spiritual descendants of Abraham. When Abraham paid the tithe, Levi also paid the tithe to Melchizedek (Jesus). If Abraham paid his tithe, should we not be doing the same and offer our tithing to Jesus?
Today, we are no longer in Adam but in Christ. When Christ took our sins, God dealt with the sins. For us in Christ, it also meant that our sins are dealt with on the cross already. When Melchizedek blessed Abraham, all of Abraham’s seeds were blessed down the line, too. We, too, received the same blessings, being Abraham’s descendants. Because of that, the Jews down the generations have been blessed and they are rich. Genius and businesses all over the world under the Jews have been blessed with wealth. An example is Albert Einstein who was a Jew. Being the descendant of Jews, he was blessed with the gift of creativity and inventions. Could this blessing be the result of his ancestors’ faithful tithing to God?
One thing for us to ponder over is the storing of spiritual legacy for our generations. We talk about building financial inheritance and leaving a legacy of wealth for our generations. What about spiritual legacy for our children and children’s children and down the line? Is it possible that our faithful tithing today is going to store up the fullness of God’s blessings and in the right time, God is going to open our storage and pour forth the barns of blessings down our line? If this is true as it is of today by looking at the Jews and their wealth, can it not be true for us, the spiritual children of Abraham? Maybe it is time for us to seriously consider tithing is more than just a giving back to God for His blessing and to sanctify our money, God has a far greater plan than we know or imagine possible. Let’s not miss out receiving this great blessing from God.
9 Comments»
Russell Earl Kelly
14. April 2008 | 15:43 h
I disagree with most of what you have written.
BEFORE the Law, tithing was NOT voluntary.
The Bible nowhere says that Abram gave voluntarily or of his own free will. Do some research. The overwhelming majority of commentaries say that the 90% of verse 21 was controlled by pagan Arab tradition. That means that the 10% of verse 20 probably was also. Abram was forced to pay a spoils-of-war tithe to the local priest-king as was the custom in much of his world at that time.
DURING the Law, tithing was compulsory only for farmers and herdsmen who lived inside national Israel. It did not apply to those living outside of Israel nor to craftsmen or tradesmen such as carpenters, fishermen or tentmakers.
Firstfruits and tithes were never the same thing. Firstfruits were a very small token offering which could be carried by hand in a small basket. They must be eaten inside the Temple by priests. Deu 26:1-4; Neh 10:35-37a. Tithes were brought to the Levitical cites to be eaten by the 98% who were not serving at the Temple (Neh 10:37-39; Num 18:21-29; 2 Chron 31:15-18).
AFTER the Law, tithing is never commanded to the Gentiles or the Church after Calvary.
Tithing was never a starting point or standards except for farmers and herdsmen inside of Israel. It is a lie to say that it was some kind of universal starting point.
Abraham’s tithe is not an example for Christians to follow:
For the following reasons, Genesis 14:20 cannot be used as an example for Christians to tithe. (1) The Bible does not say that Abraham “freely” gave this tithe. (2) Abraham’s gift was NOT a holy tithe from God’s holy land gathered by God’s holy people under God’s holy Old Covenant. (3) Abraham’s tithe was only from pagan spoils of war and was required in many nations. (4) In Numbers 31, God only required 1% of spoils of war. (5) Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek was a one-time recorded event. (6) Abraham’s tithe was not from his own personal property. (7) Abraham kept nothing for himself; he gave everything back. (8) Abraham’s tithe is not quoted anywhere in the Bible to endorse tithing to Israel or to the church. (9) Genesis 14, verse 21, is the key text. Since most commentaries explain verse 21 as an example of pagan Arab tradition, it is contradictory to explain the 90% of verse 21 as pagan, while insisting that the 10% of verse 20 was God’s will. (10) If Abraham is an example for Christians to give 10% to God, then he should also be an example for Christians to give the other 90% to Satan, or to the king of Sodom! (11) As priests themselves, neither Abraham nor Jacob had a Levitical priesthood to support; they probably left food for the poor at their altars.
When you discuss the bread and wine of Genesis 14 you are projecting something from the NT back into the OT which was not there. Bread and wine were the cheapest and most common of foods and would have been given to any guests –pagan or otherwise.
You wrote: “Abram, as recognition of Melchizedek’s greatness, gave Melchizedek a tithe of everything he has as indicated in verse 20, “a tithe of all”. This was done by Abram willingly and voluntarily.”
That is not found in God’s Word. You are repeating what you have always been told.
Since the king of Sodom represents the world, then why did Melchizedek allow him to greet Abram as his personal envoy and why did Abram give him the 90%? I see pagan Arab tradition at work here.
You wrote: “The king is rightfully entitled to a tenth of the wealth conquered. Hence, when Abram brought a tenth —.”
This is what I have been saying. You are confused. It cannot be both (1) a freewill offering and also (2) what the king was rightfully entitled to. Make up your mind. It is either one or the other –not both.
That which Abram gave to Melchizedek would not qualify as a holy tithe under the law.
Like all tithe-teachers you distort the purpose of Hebrews 7 and turn the messenger into the message. Hebrews 7 is not about tithing; it is about the superior priesthood of Jesus which has replaced the priesthood of Aaron and all rules and regulations which allowed it to exist –especially tithing.
Heb 7:5 is the “first occurrence” in Hebrews of “law,” “commandment” and “tithes.” Therefore when 7:12 says it is “necessary to change the law” it must refer back to the law of tithing from verse 5. How was it changed? It was not changed to the Church. Rather it was “abolished, annulled” in 7:18. Why? Because of “better new covenant” principles in 7:19. Why is that so hard to understand?
You wrote: “Look at the Jews and their wealth” as if they got there by tithing. This is a joke. (1) Jews do not teach tithing today, (2) most rich Jews as essentially atheists and (3) millions of very poor Jews fill large cities ghetto projects.
God has a far greater plan than we know or imagine possible –and it certainly is not tithing. It is giving sacrificially from a heart overflowing with love for God and love for others because the Holy Spirit is in charge.
Russell Earl Kelly, PHD
Author of Should the Church Teach Tithing?
Kev1
22. April 2008 | 10:53 h
Hi,
Wow.. that was a long comment disagreeing with you..
As for me, I am for tithing and sowing. To me, it is the best ‘investment’. If I’m down to my last seed, I’d rather sow it than eat it.
Marc
13. May 2008 | 17:22 h
Yeah, wow! I think that guy is mostly concerned with keeping and not giving. All I know, is that we will all be accountable to Lord for every idle word, not to mention thought and deed. As for me, I will tithe and give in reverence to the Lord. Hallelujah!
Russ Kelly
14. May 2008 | 15:33 h
I merely gave Bible facts and you prefer to be judgmental towards me rather than deal with the truth of God’s Word. What a shame. I probably give more than you do anyway but I do not call it “tithing.”
NT giving principles are far superior to the OT giving principles. It is inconsistent to base the NT doctines on NT texts after Calvary but base giving on legalistic principles.
I wonder how you would explain Galatians 3:10.
Darrell Meeks
15. February 2009 | 05:08 h
The article alleges:
• BEFORE the Law, tithing was voluntary.
Response:
This grossly misrepresents the TRUTH. It distorts the reality of what Abraham gave, and why. It ignores the fact that Abraham gave Melchizedek nothing from his own property, which was still located in northern Canaan.
The article alleges:
• DURING the Law, tithing was compulsory.
Response:
Let’s be honest, shall we? The Law made no demands of a tithe from the salaries of wage-earners or from the profit earnings of the general business sector in any city or town.
The article alleges:
• AFTER the Law, tithing was willingly.
Response:
The main problem with this is that it attempts to ignore the brow-beating the rest of the article, and others like it, employ when trying to show that tithing is “God’s economy,” and that we’re allegedly required to support the entire living of local elders, and everything else put forth as common arguments in favor of this non-required requirement……
George
16. February 2009 | 01:19 h
The biblespeaks of many of those today who reject the word of god for mans teaching that is not supported by the Word of God. If we cannot beleive it then why do we even bother?
Sabatha Lukhozi
1. June 2009 | 06:49 h
I am a tither, and nothing will persuade me otherwise except that the Word of God is my guide in this matter. I have been tithing consistently not for what I get out of it, but I just enjoy being obedient to the Lord.When it comes to blessings, the Word of God has never failed me, and I will tithe until I leave planet earth.
Bill
7. July 2009 | 04:15 h
The message of most preachers today is that Christ is the end of the law and we are now under the dispensation of grace. They did this to somehow, avoid the observance of the Sabbath law and tried to disregard the Laws of God in general. So, it is entirely hypocrytical to go back and ressurect this particular law of tithing and present it to the churches today.
Also, the bible tells of several different tithes. There was one (The Festival Tithe) that was to be eaten in the streets of Jerusalem. (Deut. 12 &14)
Then there was another which was the “Poor Tithe” that stayed in the homes and was to feed the poor, widows, orphans etc.
Then there was the Leviticus which went to the Levites(Ancient days Pastors).
This is the tithe that is being collected today because it goes to the pastors. Now, who gave the authority that this particular tithe should be the one to be paid today? What about the other tithes? Did the bible ordain this? I smell something fishy….and it stinks !
I support the New Testament teachings on church finance…
Patrick
7. October 2009 | 18:36 h
Either you do it or not, tithing is real and should be done.Russ Kelly..et al,defensive is not going to help much but they will understand when they come on board.The difference on views is denominational and will continue to exist. Problem is, no one talks about the HOLY SPIRIT! The spirit of God is the best teacher and interpreter of His Master’s Word.