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esus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. He is the central theme of the whole Bible. He made a statement on tithing and this statement is going to help us find out what Bible tithe is and its relevance in the New Testament.
Jesus made this statement in one of his numerous encounters with the Scribes and Pharisees of his day.
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” (Matthew 23:23 The King James Version)
Did Jesus encourage New Testament tithing with this statement?
Are there lessons to glean from this statement?
Here are the facts:
Fact # 1
Jesus recognized tithing as a part of the Law of Moses. He said nothing of Abraham’s onetime tithe of war spoils to Melchizedek. Therefore, the only valid tithe in the Bible was the abolished Levitical tithe.
Fact # 2
Jesus recognized that tithe was food crops like mint, anise and cummin. This was in line with the law of Moses. This supports the fact that money was never used in the payment of Tithe in the Holy Bible. Christians who pay tithes of their money are practicing a man-made doctrine.
Fact # 3
Jesus recognized that the law of Moses was to be obeyed in full. The “these ought ye to have done” contained in the verse was a rebuke to the Scribes and Pharisees for obeying only the food tithe law of Moses. They “omitted” the weightier matters of the law of Moses like judgment, mercy and faith. This was his way of reminding them (the Scribes and Pharisees) that they broke the entire law of Moses by breaking some commands of the law.
Fact # 4
The Levitical law of Moses was binding on Jesus while he lived as a man on earth. He respected the law but always reminded his disciples and followers that he was ushering in something different from the law of Moses. He knew his death was man’s only ticket to the New Testament. He healed lepers but sent them to show themselves to the high priest because it was one of the requirements of the law of Moses. Jesus paid temple tax too. These things are not binding on New Testament Christians today.
Fact # 5
The death of Jesus abolished the entire law of Moses. Tithing, in all its forms went away with God’s old covenant with Israel. The Early Church in Acts 15:24 said “we gave no such commandment” to some fellows who tried to resuscitate the observance of circumcision and the law of Moses.
Conclusion
Jesus, at his death became the fulfilment (ending) of the law.
Fallen man must henceforth look to the Risen Christ for Salvation instead of the rituals contained in the Law of Moses.
Christians who pay money tithes are neither practicing the abolished Levitical tithe nor Abraham’s onetime tithe of war spoils.
The onetime tithe paid by Abraham can NEVER be superior to the tithe recognized and later abolished by Jesus.
Dear Friends,
The type of giving recommended for today’s Christian is freewill giving as seen 2 Corinthians 9:7.
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” – (KJV)
