Liberated From The Legalism of Tithing
Some people object to the concept of honoring God with the first ten percent of their income and increase, saying that tithing is legalistic. When presented as a “have-to”, rather than a “get-to”, tithing can appear to be just that. However, when our hearts are bubbling over with gratitude to a living God who has blessed us, we can’t help but want to be a blessing in return.
Realize though, that tithing was practiced long before it was commanded in the Law of Moses. And it is something that our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ looks favorably on, as well. So let’s look at this wonderful subject called tithing. And here is our premise: Abraham commenced tithing, Moses commanded tithing, and Jesus commended tithing. Before and after the dispensation of the law, tithing is mentioned in the Scriptures.
This principle of being grateful for what we have received is ageless. For us to “be a blessing” is a natural and logical outgrowth of us “being blessed”. And as the Master put it, it truly is better to give than to receive.
ABRAHAM COMMENCED IT
Gen 14:18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. (KJV)
In a beautiful display of a grateful heart, Abraham came back to worship God and give Him thanks after a powerful, miraculous military victory. In doing so, we see our modern-day sacrament of communion typified as well as a tithe offering of thanksgiving. Abraham commenced the tithe, long before it was a law and commandment. Let your heart go back to this first mention of the tithe and as Abraham, bring forth a tenth of all God gives you and bless God’s representative with it.
MOSES COMMANDED IT
Lev 27:30And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD.
And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai. (KJV)
And yes, it is a legal commandment from God through His lawgiver Moses. The law came by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. And so, seeing the tithe principle as merely a commandment puts us in jeopardy of giving that tithe as a “have-to” and not the “get-to” that is coupled with joy and thanksgiving. Moses did command it, but let’s look to the New Covenant.
JESUS COMMENDED IT
Matt 23:23Woe 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.(KJV)
His point was to upbraid the religious, legalistic, hypocritical Pharisees. And yet in making the point that they were overlooking the “big picture” of New Covenant truth (judgment, mercy, and faith), he commended them for the paying of their tithe saying, “These ought ye to have done”. In other words, I commend you for tithing, but you must look at the more important things as well.
What is our conclusion? God mentions tithing before the Old Testament law as well as a part of the New Testament record. The subject can certainly be approached legalistically, but let’s look at God’s grace and be grateful.
