The tithe is mentioned only 4 times in the New Testament, three times in the gospels and once in the letter to the Hebrews. In the gospels, Jesus acknowledged that the Pharisees were very careful with tithing (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42; 18:12) to the point of overemphasizing it. They were so focused on the tithe that they lost sight of the great objective of the Law, that is, love and justice towards our neighbor. In addition, they trusted in their own to give them merit before God.
Now remember that the Pharisees were under the Law, and by law they had a title. All the people of Israel were under the Law. When Jesus was crucified, he introduced the New Covenant, and the Old was finished. Tithing was established under the Law and has no place in the Church. It is not an easy thing to choose to adhere to the Law, even with a seemingly small problem like tithing. Anyone who chooses to keep any part of the Law of Moses is obligated to keep the entire Law and is therefore exposed to his curse.
This point is made in the only reference to tithing in the New Testament epistles, that is, in Hebrews 7. Hebrews 7:5 says “And certainly those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive titles from the people according to the law, that is, from their brothers [Israel]”. Notice three things about this verse: 1) There was a commandment about titles in the Old Testament; 2) They had to be delivered to the priests of the AT (not to the Church); 3) They were required by the Jews, not the Christians.
Hebrews 7:12 points out that “When there is a change of priesthood, there must also be a change of law.” In other words, that commandment that existed under the Old Covenant has been changed, because the priesthood to which it now relates has also been changed under the New Covenant.
Hebrews 7:18 says that this commandment has now been abolished. That priesthood, due to its inability to bring perfection, is now cancelled. The Old Covenant is outdated, and the laws that required the Levites to be given titles are outdated. These Hebrews, that is, converted Jews, were mixing law with grace, and in chapter 7 they were told to stop tithing! The Gentiles had no need of this message. The Gentile church was never under the law.
Is God indebted to us, or are we in his favor?
In Rom.4:4 and 11:35, Paul makes it clear that if our doing any work, including tithing, means that God is obligated to us in some way, then we would not be on His behalf, but He would be in favor of us. You would actually be indebted to us. . Whenever you hear that you have to do something for God in order for Him to hurt you, be careful! If you believe this, you will be removed from the grace of God and returned to the realm of the Law. And the Law will actually become a curse for you, because even if you keep it all in one area, say tithing, but not in another, then you will experience his curse.
If we do not give a title, how will God’s work be done and how will the pastor’s needs be met?
First, let me say that there is a hermeneutical principle that has always been helpful when interpreting the Bible and it is this: Greater over greater. Jesus told 38 parables, 16 about how we should handle money. He talked more about money than heaven and hell combined. One in 10 verses in the gospels deals with possessions or money. In the Bible there are approximately 2,500 references to money and possessions and only 500 references to prayer and faith. It is an important theme in the Bible. Many of these verses teach us that the way we handle finances reveals a lot about where we are spiritually. Where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.
The gospels contain more warnings about the misuse of money than any other topic. The first recorded sin among God’s people related to giving. Ananias and Sapphira fell dead giving. So the way we manage our finances is a major theme in the New Testament.
Moses (the Law) said “Tithe,” but Jesus says, “Give.” The New Testament teaching was about “giving,” never about “tithing.” Giving is the result of the energy of God’s grace in our lives. Giving expresses a quality of life that reflects the nature of God. “God so loved… that he gave…” The Father loved to give all things to the Son. Jesus gave his life for the world. By doing so, he has gained an everlasting kingdom. But He, one day, will return it to the Father. God desires to have a family that reflects his nature. It is the way of the Cross. “It hurts more to give than to receive.” The Cross opens the heart, widens it, making it reach others.
When we are under the law, they have to tell us to title. We reveal our immaturity under legalism by asking childish questions, such as: “Should I tithe on my gross income or on my net income?” Grace treats us as mature children by not legislating. Grace leads us to the purposes of the heart, the family and the kingdom of God and allows us to be involved with Him. But our participation is not solicited by the manipulation of fear or the manipulation of guilt, but as a result of the operation of the energy of grace in our hearts. So what we give we do freely. God loves the one he gives with joy.
It is clear from passages like 1 Corinthians 9:7-14 that we have a responsibility to ensure that God’s servants who preach the Word are free to do so without the burden of secular work. But we still don’t have to legislate this. We approach this issue as responsible children, not as intimidated servants.
