Tithing question

Matthew 23:23
Woe 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.

Jesus says we should tithe, as well as keep the weightier matters.

 

Jesus didn't say we should tithe in that verse.

 

Classic. Here we go.

Jesus told the Scribes and Pharisees that they should be tithing AND keeping the other matters.

Why would Christ say that? Well, it is because they were all still living under the Law, which required it.

Remember Galatians 4? Christ was born under the law and lived under the law to set those under the law free.

Sorry, but you need to do a little exegesis instead of hacking out verses that have nothing to do with a command for US (not under the law) to tithe.

 

Let me tell you about our own story regarding tithing.

I had never been taught about tithing for a long time and never new the great promise of God. Did you know that God allows us to test Him in this area only?

About 2 1/2 years ago My family was days away from bankruptcy. We were over $25,000 in CC debt and unsecured loans. We wasn't even able to make the minimums. And this doesn't count car and house loans. (YES!!! We were enslaved to them)

After going to the Lord about the issue He spoke to me about tithing. How could I possibly do that with my debt? But we started giving $50.00 a week (not 10%) and after a short time I began to realize that we wasn't falling further into debt. We began to be convicted about the lack of giving at $50.00 so we began to tithe a full 10%. Now we are well in control of the CC and unsecured loan debt and only owe $11,000. We believe we will be out of debt in the next 2 1/2 years save mortgage. On top of all this we are able now to send our 5 year old to a Christian school. And spent $17,000 in legal fees defending in a law suit. (Cause was just and God gave us victory). We have learned a great deal about stewardship and giving.

The moral of the story? Instead of asking us, talk to our Lord about it and trust and obey. ;)

By His Grace Alone
Michael
Submit a prayer reqest to our church so we may pray with you concerning this

 

Classic. Here we go.

Jesus told the Scribes and Pharisees that they should be tithing AND keeping the other matters.

Why would Christ say that? Well, it is because they were all still living under the Law, which required it.

Remember Galatians 4? Christ was born under the law and lived under the law to set those under the law free.

Sorry, but you need to do a little exegesis instead of hacking out verses that have nothing to do with a command for US (not under the law) to tithe. </font>[/QUOTE]Matthew 5:20
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

If it was righteous for the pharisees to tithe, we ought to be doing so as well. We are commanded to store up treasure in heaven. Just because tithing was part of the OT law does not mean we now automatically ignore it. What would we keep that money for? Because we love it more than God?

 

It was required for the Pharisees because they were under the Old Covenant. Stop ignoring reality to fit your paradigm (pronounced paradime).

Btw, adherence to the law did not make anyone righteous. Come on, this is so basic.

Finally, the only righteousness that could be superior to the moralistic Pharisees would be a foreign righteousness, like, um, oh, um, the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD that comes through faith.

 

James,

I think DD is right on this one. Jesus was in effect saying you paid a tithe on your great wealth (oh what a great hardship) but ignored real important things.

There is no command to tithe. Many Christians (me included) do tithe because we should use our gifts and resources for Godly things. But Jesus clearly states here (to the Pharisees) that it is not the tithing that is most important.

Besides we are after all not under the old law.

 

Good article on tithing by Johnny Mac
http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/tithe.htm

 

I'm not going to argue with you guys about it. Someone asked if they should tithe. You guys offered your opinions, I offered mine. Despite what the apostle Daniel David says, God blesses faithful giving.

 

I agree that a 10% tithe is not a requirement for the New Testament church. I believe that when a church teaches a 10% requirement instead of stewardship, then they are teaching that 10% is all that one needs to give.

I believe 10% is good, but if you can only give 5% cheerfully, then give it, God will not frown on you for giving less than 10% and he will not "pour out more" blessings if you give more than 10%. It's all about the attitude of your heart when you give. You give what you feel led to give, to who you feel led to give it to, with a cheerfull heart.

I would rather see someone give to a family in their church who is struggling and needs some help, than to give to the new church recreation center building fund.

P.S. I think I agree with Daniel David on this issue. I knew if we looked long enough we would find at least one debate we could be on the same side on. ;)

 

"You mean I don't have to tithe?" I love the question, because it belies the motives that tithing too often taps. It's a bill--an obligation we owe God. Once it is paid, we can run off with the remaining 90% and spend it however we like. Not to give it, in Malachi's words, is to rob God of that which we owe.

The New Testament paints a far different picture. Jesus never mentioned tithing as a practice for his followers. And though giving is a constant theme of Acts and the Epistles, tithing is again not mentioned. Instead we see something else at work. Believers gave not because they had to, but because they chose to. Those who had been invited into relationship with the Living God, were so shaped and blessed by his generosity, that they responded to others around them with that same generosity. The giving that resulted outstripped anything tithing could ever accomplish.

Even when Peter addressed Ananias for lying about the money he was giving, he made it clear that the church had no claim on it. "Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal?" (Acts 5:5)

When Paul took up a collection for the famine-ravished believers in Jerusalem, he made it clear that it was not his command, but merely an opportunity. " Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." ( 2 Cor. 9:7)

Ultimately, giving because we have to is not really giving at all. It is just another obligation to meet and a far cry from what God really had in mind all along.

Source: Wayne Jacobsen

 

No, Jesus said the Scribes and Pharisees ought to. Are you a Scribe or Pharisee? They were still under the law, they were of Israel. Are you still under the law? Are you of Israel? We are not under the law, we are free in Jesus to give whatever He leads us to give. "Those who the Son has set free, are free indeed". The church needs to quit placing people back under bondage.

Bro Tony

 

I do not argue that the New Testament writings do not require the tithe. Still, the tithe represents a worthwhile model of giving that is worthy of emulation. There is still a basic need to support the ministry and those members of a local church bear that responsibility.

We view tithes and offerings as gifts of obligation and gifts of thanksgiving. As members of the local church we share in the financial obligations of the church and the tithe helps us anticipate the budgetary parameters the church must live within. Offerings are any gifts received in addition to the tithe, that we are blessed to receive from time to time.

We do not require a tithe and we do not keep monthly tabs on who gives what, but we do encourage tithing as a means of responsible ministerial support.

 

Are you so politically enamored that you must compare any conversation to political figures? That serves no purpose, except to take pot shots at another bb member.

It amazes me that, when I agree with you, you will still go out of your way to belittle me. I should not be surprised, however, since that is typical of your posts towards other people here. What's of greater concern is that you don't realize you're doing it. Why would I accept a clue from someone who has none?

My residency has no bearing on my comment, which is scripturally supportable.

Yet I can find no NT examples of Jesus refuting the tithe or offering to the church/synagogue. In fact, he makes it a point to let us know that it is more blessed to give out of our poverty than out of our wealth. He doesn't make it mandatory, but makes it a blessing.

 

Tithing is not a NT precept but a principle. What God required by Law should I not at least respond to by grace! I agree that Legalistic Tithers should not beat up on those don't share the same view...however, at least in this thread, it seem to be the "Grace givers" who are using sarcasm and belitteling lanuage to prove their point.

My advise to the original poster would be to stat where you can in giving, talk to your pastor about your desire to give, find out hwere you can supplement your giving by volunteering...and trust the Lord!

 

Where does it say in the Bible that you should give 10% of your salary to the Lord? or to a Church? Just curious.

Corinne
http://www.christianresistance.com

 

No, sir. But it's an example that fits. And I wasn't taking pot shots at you.

Have a nice Thanksgiving. Don't eat too much turkey, Turkey.

 

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

 

;)

 

I've tithed all my life, having been raised that way by christian parents who made me tithe my allowance as a child, and I have found that the Lord always came through when I was in need. It is my firm belief that God will always honor His promise, seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added unto you.