SHOULD YOU PAY TITHE?

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you in the knowledge of God and Christ our Savior. By request from the brethren, we write to you all today by the Spirit of God concerning the doctrine of tithing. It is written in Mal 3:8-11” Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9Ye arecursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me… 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes…saith the LORD of hos ts ”

Interestingly, in the scripture cited above, one word recurred 4 times. It is the word “rob”. The Hebrew word is qaba meaning defraud, to deprive someone of what belongs to him. God mentioned 4 times in the scripture above that refusal to pay tithe is an act of robbery. What does this mean? It literally translates that a person that does not pay tithe unto God out of his increase is a thief and a robber. Is this not what God says? Is it not final and true because God has said it? Assuredly, YES. So then, why are many believers today not paying tithes unto God? Many have refused to pay giving all manner of excuses. They claim the doctrine of tithing was commanded in the Old Testament and not in the New. They claim it only applied to Israel in those days. Some even say it is a matter of choice since our Lord Jesus and His Apostles did not teach concerning it. By saying this, they err for this is untrue. We also were partakers of this mind when we were dead in sin, but now are we light in the Lord, walking as children of light. Now learn and understand: That the tithe is the first 10% of all income, not any 10%. It is likened to our first fruits (Prov 3:9).

Let us begin from the Old Testament. When exactly did tithing begin? It began 430 years before Moses received the Law from God at Sinai (Gen 14:20, 28:22, Heb 7:1-11). The doctrine of tithing existed before the Law of Moses. On the account of this alone, tithing did not come by the Law. It came in the dispensation of the Abrahamic covenant, by which Christ also came. The Abrahamic covenant preceded the Law of Moses by over 400 years. So tithing did not come by the Law. It was before the Law. This is the reason God commanded Israel to pay it in the Old Testament, during the dispensation of the Law, for it was already practiced by Abraham, their Father before them. Because the Jews were Abraham’s direct descendants, they were also commanded in the Law to pay tithes as their Father did. Now, it is written in Gal 3:29 “ that if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise ”. This scripture is extremely important. It clearly states that all true believers in Christ today can claim Abraham’s promises. Why can they do this? Because they are Abraham’s spiritual seed through Christ (Gal 3:29). So through Christ, all Christians can claim God’s promises in the Law of Moses today. In fact most of the scriptures we believers quote today were originally for the Jews but we claim some of them today as Christians. Do we have a right to do this? Yes. Why? Because of Gal 3:29 above. So then, if God commanded the Jews to pay tithes, we as Christians must pay also, for God is not a respecter of persons (Rom 2:11).

In the Old Testament, God commanded the Jews to pay tithes (Lev 27:30, Mal 3:10). It was for Levites (Num 18:21-24), for priests (Num 18:26, Neh 10:37, 12:44), for the poor, and the ministers of God (Deut 14:27-29, 26:12-14). It was to supply God’s house so there is no lack (Mal 3:10), and to honor God (Prov 3:9-10). In the old days of the Law, the tithe was brought yearly, along with all other offerings for the feast (Deut 12:6-7, 14:22-26). It belonged to God and not the people who paid them (Lev 27:30-34, Mal 3:8). If redeemed, 20% interest had to be added when paid (Lev 27:31). Abraham, Jacob, Levi in Abraham, Hezekiah, Nehemiah, and Israel all paid tithes (Gen 14:20, Gen 28:22, Heb 7:9, 2 Chro 31, Neh 13). Even the Pharisees, whom our Lord Jesus Christ called hypocrites, also paid tithes (Matt 23:23, Luke 11:42, 18:12). So then, if the Pharisees did pay tithes, how much more Christians who are true children of the kingdom?

Now, let us go into the New Testament. Did our Lord Jesus Christ mention the tithe? Yes. He taught it in Matt 23:23 and Luke 11:42. Here, our Lord Jesus Christ accused the Pharisees of not obeying the weightier matters of the Law even though they paid tithes. He clearly stated here that they were not to do one and leave the other. That they were to do both. Both what? Topay tithes and to keep the weightier matters of the Law, which are judgment, mercy and faith. So then, you will all agree that if our Lord Jesus Christ sanctioned tithing as it is clearly stated here, then it should be practiced.

In Heb 7:1-12, Apostle Paul wrote that though Abraham did pay tithes to Melchisedec, King of Salem, yet still all the children of Abraham were supposed to pay tithes (Heb 7:4-5). So then, if the children of Abraham were supposed to pay tithes, so must all believers who claim to belong to Christ (Gal 3:29). In Heb 7:4-6, Apostle Paul proved that the Melchisedec priesthood had commandment to take tithes of Abraham, as the Levites were commanded to take tithes of all Israel (Heb 7:5-6). If Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec, then his natural and spiritual seed should continue to pay tithes to this priesthood since it has now replaced the Aaronic priesthood (Heb 7:9-21). Now is it written concerning Christ in Psa 110:4 “ the Lord has sworn and will not repent, thou hath a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek ”. So, according to this scripture, if the Melchizedek priesthood is now in Christ, should God require tithing under this priesthood in the days of Abraham and then discontinue it when Christ became a priest after this order? God forbid. Was it right that Abraham pay tithes to this priesthood and for Melchisedec to receive them for his support? Yes. If it was right then, could it be wrong now to continue this same program? Should a mere earthly priesthood be supported and not the eternal priesthood itself? Assuredly we say unto you, if Christ priesthood is now after the order of Melchisedec as stated in Psa 110:4, Heb 7:21, and Abraham paid tithes unto Melchisedec, then likewise, all Christians must continue to pay tithes unto Christ. Who is Melchisedec? Some may ask? He is an illustration of perpetuity of life and a type of Christ who is eternal (Isa 9:6, Micah 5:2, Heb 1:8, Rev 1:8-11). Therefore, the Melchisedec priesthood in Christ is an eternal priesthood. It is the original priesthood which existed over 400 years before the Levitical priesthood in the Law. Now, it has no end. It is eternal.

Why should we tithe ? Tithing is the proof of obedience and appreciation of God’s blessings (Rom 4:12, Heb 7:6-10, 1 Corinth 9:7-14, 1 Tim 6:17-18). All Christians that do not pay tithes are disobedient children unto the Lord. They will be punished somewhat. Refusal to pay tithes is a sin. It is the sin of disobedience; the same sin Adam and Eve committed in the Garden of Eden and died (separated from God). If Adam died because of this single sin of disobedience, and all men today were lost by this reason until Christ came to redeem us all, therefore by the word of the Lord, all Christians that refuse to pay their tithe will be separated from God if they do not repent. They will not see God nor enter His kingdom for God is no respecter of persons (Rom 2:11). Is it not also written in 1 Corinth 6:9-10 that thieves will never enter the kingdom of God? Did God not call all that refuse to pay tithes robbers? The standard is the Word of God. God will not bend His words for any man. Is it not written in Psa 138:2 that God has exalted His Word above all His name? Is the Name of the Lord not to be hallowed? How much more His Word?

Mal 3:8-10 teach that the tithe belongs to God for God says we rob him if we refuse to pay. Did this scripture not say that it belongs to God? That it is the Lord’s and it does not belong to us? That we do not give the tithe to the Lord as an act of generosity, for it is the Lord’s? God Himself declares anyone that does not pay his tithe as a robber (Mal 3:8). Does a robber not simply mean someone who has taken what does not BELONG to him? Is there any of you that does not pay tax to the government? Whose money is it? Is it yours that you give it to the tax authority as an act of generosity? NO. It is not yours. Why? Because if you decide not to give it, you will be punished heavily by the government, so then, you all agree it is not yours even though it comes from your income. So, you all knowing this, you pay your taxes freely. In same manner, you ought to pay your tithe to the Lord for it is His. Does it not prove the righteousness of our Lord’s judgment if all that do not pay their tithe are eventually PUNISHED by our Lord? YES it does . Again, according to the word of the Lord, those who do not pay tithes rob God (Mal 3:8-10). Therefore they are under a curse (Mal 3:9). Robbing God of tithes and offerings brings a curse. Again, this applies to all men for God is not a respecter of persons (Rom 2:11). Paying tithes was practiced before the Law (Gen 14:20, 28:22), and commanded under grace in the New testament (Matt 23:23, Rom 2:22, 1 Corinth 9:7-14, 16:2, Gal 6:6, Heb 7:1-10). To spend or use the tithes for personal gain is robbery of what rightly belongs to God.

Where should tithes be paid? In the Old Testament it was the storehouse (Mal 3:8-10). This was the temple and the cities of the Levites. But in the church, it would be considered the place where one receives his spiritual help, where his gospel needs are supplied, and where he meets his responsibility in the work of God, in evangelizing the world and supporting the ministry. It usually refers to the local church. The most important reason why God required the tithes is to ensure that there is meat in His house (Mal 3:10). But wait! So what if there is no meat in God’s house? If there is no meat, it literally means there is no money or provision to carry on God’s work. This is the true reason why God required the tithe: That His work should continue. God’s work will continue if there is meat in His house. This is why all Christians must pay tithes. This is what God says and it must be fully obeyed. God will bless because of tithing. It is the blessing of obedience. By tithing, God’s house will not want (Mal 3:10), God’s minister’s will not want (1 Corinth 9:7-14, 1 Tim 5:17-18, Neh 13:10, Mal 3:8-10). It also brings material and spiritual blessings (Mal 3:8-10, Prov 3:9-10, 2 Chro 31, Neh 13).

Now, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Should Christians pay tithes? YES. Is it by choice? NO. Is it optional? NO. It is a requirement that must be met by all believers having a hope to see the Lord, whether at the rapture, or at His second coming. Now hearken to these words and do them. T he Lord cometh shortly. Prepare, Watch, and Be Ready. Grace be unto you all. Amen .