There was tithe before the Law of Moses. Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek (Gen.14:18f) in response the bread and wine and the blessing from Melchizedek.
Jacob vowed to tithe as the Lord blessed him (Gen. 28:20-22)
How did they know about tithing?
Let's see the first case of offering to God in Gen 4:3-5 where both Cain and Abel brought their offering to God. Who taught them? Heb.11:4 says by faith, Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice...and we know that faith comes by hearing (Rom.10:17). So Abel heard, that was why he offered.
Under the Law, there were 3 kinds of tithing.
The first was to be given to the Levites for their upkeep (Num.18:26). The Levites were God's representative, and so giving tithe to them, was giving tithe to God (Lev.27:30)
The second was to be used to feast with your household (Deut.14:22-25; 26:11)
The third kind, which was done every three years, was for charity (Deut.14:28-29; 26:12)
When Malachi taught, he emphasized giving to God from the standpoint of HONOUR (Mal.1:6-8,12-14)
The tithe was not to be a mere financial transaction, it was an art of worship (Deut 26:10)
Closely related to the tithe is the firstfruit, and are often used together or interchangeably.
The firstfruit is the first harvest or first income, which is given to God as a whole. The tithe was 10% of the subsequent harvest.
These are principles we see operating throughout scripture, like God telling Adam to eat every tree except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:16-17).
Israel was told not to take the devoted things in their first city of conquest - Jericho (Josh. 6:17-19)
Israel was told not to take the devoted things in their first city of conquest - Jericho (Josh. 6:17-19)
What you hold in your hand (as a substance) never gets to heaven, but your heart (of worship) ascends to God.
Prov 3:9 instructs us to HONOUR the Lord with our substance and with the first fruits of all our increase.
What about the New Testament?
There is only one reference to tithing in the NT. Though Jesus endorsed tithing in Matt.23:23, that practice was still in the OT.
In Heb.7, mention was made of Abraham giving tithes to Melchizedek. So crucial is this issue of tithing that it is recorded that Abraham's great grandchild (who had not been born) also gave when Abraham gave (or paid) tithes. Wow. The effect of your giving transcends your life and impacts your generation (yet unborn).
Heb.7:8 - Here (on earth) men that die (the Levites) received tithes but there (where is there?) he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives (who is he who is witnessed that he lives?). The reference here is to Melchizedek (and by extension to Jesus) receiving tithes, and scripture said, Jesus was made a High Priest, after the order of Melchizedek, and not after the order of Aaron or the Levites.
Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek willingly. And so must we offer to our High Priest - willingly.
Why was there no mention of tithes in the book of Acts?
In Acts 4:32-37, there was such great grace in manifestation that they were not giving 10% but 100%. Nobody was compelled to give. It was an elective giving like Abraham did.
The Old Testament tithe was the avenue through which the Levites were taken care of.
Paul says those who preach the Gospel should live on the Gospel. How then would they be taken care of?
Gal 6:6 says the taught should share with his teacher in all good things. He calls this "sowing to the Spirit," whereby you partake of life.
1Tim.5:17,18 says to consider the elders who rule well in word and doctrine to be worthy of double honour. Remember, giving is a matter of honour (Mal.1:6-8; Prov.3:9).
Just like Abraham gave in response to the bread and wine he received from Melchizedek, so when spiritual things are sown your way, your response ought to be with your material things (1Cor.9:11-15). Remember when you give to God’s servant, you are giving to God.
What percentage of your income should be given to God? Should it be the tithe (a tenth) as in 10%?
Paul answers in 2Cor.9:6 that you are going to receive in the proportion that you give. But you must give it willingly, cheerfully and purposefully.
Today, we don't tithe as people under the Law. We give because we love the Lord. We give because we honour God as our Source and Provider. We don't give because we're afraid of a devourer. We don't give because we're afraid of the curse, no, we're not under the Law and so have been redeemed from the curse of the Law. We don't even give to be blessed, no, we give because we are blessed (Deut. 16:17; 1Cor. 16:1-2).
It's a question of honour. How do you desire to honour God? Malachi even compares your giving to God with your giving to your Governor. If your Governor visited you, how would you entertain him? Lavishly? Outlandishly? Generously? How then do you entertain God when you give to Him?
The tithe then, is a principle of getting God involved with your finances. The Govt takes a percentage of your income as income tax, by which they get involved with the economy of the citizens through the provision of services to the populace. Your tithe (giving) brings God in partnership with you.
There have been people who are known to have given up to 90% of their income to God as "tithe" and have been so tremendously blessed.
People like Peter J. Daniels, William Colgate, John Henry Heinz, John D. Rockefeller, Oral Roberts, have been people who gave more than 10% of their income to God.
"The tithe is not a ceiling for giving, but a starting point for gratitude." - Jim Elliot (Missionary Martyr)
I never would have been able to tithe on my first million dollars if I had not learned to tithe on my first paycheck, which was a $1.50 for the week." - John D. Rockefeller
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