Because I have seen so many churches and people teach tithing as New Testament law, I felt compelled to write some posts addressing this from my study of Scripture. I have been a born again follower of Jesus for over 25 years. I have diligently searched and studied the Scriptures for some time with the help of the Holy Spirit.. and still do.
Of course I believe in giving as Scripture teaches under the New Covenant and not the Old Covenant which was done way with (as Hebrews 8:13, Hebrews 12:24, and Colossians 2:14 say.. ) These posts will not be against giving by any means or stretch of the imagination! I am merely addressing tithing specifically.
From Scripture I see that not one of the Apostles, who were handpicked by the LORD, taught tithing as a commandment in the New Testament, not in even in Acts 15 when they convened to decide what was required of the Gentiles or new believers. None of the letters to all the churches commanded it. It’s not there. Yes, the Apostles urge giving of course, especially to those in need and to the work of the LORD, but never is a tithe of any kind even mentioned for the church, not once.
(When tithing is mentioned in Hebrews 7, it is only referred to as part of the law and Levitical priesthood, which was done away with. That same chapter even says so in verses 11 to 27!)
My understanding is (and has been) that just as circumcision was done away with, so were the specific tithes. The only time Jesus mentions the tithe is when he was directly addressing the Pharisees in Matt 23:23 and Luke 11:42, and only that time. The Pharisees were required to tithe because they were under the law and “sat in the seat of Moses” as Jesus said in Matthew 23:2. Did not Jesus fulfill the Levitical law? He said He did (see Matthew 5:17). And the ordinances of the law were nailed to the cross and done away with- as Colossians 2:14 says: “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” (also Ephesians 2:15 agrees)
Many argue that Abraham tithed “before the law," but he also circumcised before the law as well as offer animal sacrifices, and certainly those things are clearly not required under the New Covenant either.
I believe, as Scripture says, that we should give bountifully to the LORD of course (Proverbs 22:9), but the LORD does not "exact from us" the amount, but rather wants our whole heart, and then to give as we are able, as 2 Corinthians 9:7 says: “Every man according as he purposed in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver"
(End of part one) In the next part I will look more at where giving was commanded in the New Testament, and who it was for, etc.
Thanks for considering and will be posting part two soon Lord willing.
In the grace of Jesus,
Manuela
