As we continue our series ‘Tithing on Trial’, let’s evaluate another argument used to defend tithing.
ARGUMENT #2
Jesus Taught Tithing
In Matthew 23:23, Jesus is speaking to the pharisees and says this, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.”
Undoubtedly because these words come out of the mouth of Jesus, many believe this settles the tithing issue for them. But this assumption is made out of ignorance and the conclusion is not within scriptural context. If you read the whole chapter of Matthew 23 and research the other Old Testament commands that Jesus taught, we can reveal that the tithing issue is not settled by the words of Jesus.
If you were to understand what Jesus was talking about, who he was talking to, and under what circumstances in Matthew 23:23, then we need to start at the very begging on the passage and understand it’s context.
Matthew 23:1 begins by saying, “Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe,[a] that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.”
At the beginning of Matthew 23, Jesus confirms that the pharisees sit in Moses’ seat, and then commands the disciples to obey the pharisees (which is surprising). The introduction in Matthew 23 reveals that Jesus upheld the Mosaic law, and still commanded it. One of the keys to remember in this passage is that we can learn from the teachings of Jesus, but it doesn’t mean Jesus’ address to the disciples and the Israelites is a personal plea for the New Testament Church. If you believe Church leaders sit in Moses’ seat and that we are to observe the Mosaic laws, then i can see why you believe that everything Jesus’ commanded back then should be commanded now.
In another example of Jesus teaching the law, we read Matthew 5:23-24, “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Considering that this was near the end of Jesus’ life on earth and somewhat close to the birth of the Church, i am somewhat shocked that Jesus is still giving the Israelites instructions on how to worship on an altar.
Luke 5:14 is another passage of Jesus upholding the law when he commands a healed man to show himself to the priest. If you read more scripture, you will see that Jesus observed the Passover and attended the feasts prescribed in the Mosaic law. There was no question that Jesus obeyed the law, practiced the law, and taught the law. So, who is to say that Jesus was commanding the New Testament Church to tithe?
Let’s review Matthew 23:23 again where Jesus highlights how meticulous the Pharisees were tithing the small herbs in their crops, and then criticizes them for omitting justice, mercy, and faith. If you have an understanding of how tithing was practiced in the Mosaic law, you would know that the only items that could be tithed upon were crops and animals. This means that neither money, nor goods were accepted for the tithe. What’s important to remember here is that Jesus did not ridicule them for their obedience to the specifics of the Mosaic law; he approved their obedience to the Law. So, if you believe Jesus commendation to tithe is applicable to us, then you must also believe that only the tithes of animals or from crops is applicable.
If you need some sort of litmus test to determine what laws in the old testament are commanded today and what laws are not, you could likely use the actions of the Pharisees as your test. We know the Pharisees excelled at keeping the Mosaic law, but did not excel at obeying universal principles such as justice, mercy, and faith. So, you could abstain from any of the laws that the pharisees were religious about without worrying if you are doing the wrong thing. In regards to tithing, please take note that the Pharisees excelled in this area.
Now that the evidence has been given in this court of law, it is your turn to decide; Did Jesus Teach Tithing for us- Guilty or not guilty?
YOU BE THE JUDGE
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Jared Bartholomew is the author of www.tithing.com. There are over 300 articles written on research and reviews about tithing information.
Outstanding article. I hear that verse in Matt 23 more and more lately as an argument that Jesus endorsed tithing. I hear it from the emergent churches, and I hear it in the more established SBC churches.
I am going to highlight your series on my blog. Keep up the good work.
Tom, where is your blog?
I think tithe should be the one that we must be careful on that because some believers they question what they believe
Some Christians claim that Jesus taught tithing therefore Christians should tithe. First, mentioning tithing and teaching tithing are not the same. Jesus is not speaking in terms of tithing as a commandment for Christians. The tithe commandment is part of the Mosaic Law/Old Testament. According to scripture the only people commanded to tithe were the ancient Israelites/Hebrews/Jews who farmed the land and raised livestock. As such Jesus, his disciples and Paul, for example, would not have tithed.
One important fact is that Jesus lived under the Moasaic Law – not the New Testament. The NT wasn’t established until after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. And this would also explain why Jesus mentions tithing and why he upheld the Mosaic Law.
You’re doing an excellent job of explaining tithe scriptures in context. Keep spreading the truth.
I want to thank you for your insight on this pastors money making machine called TITHE. If you understand what Malachai is say, you will see that our pastor or preachers just pick some verses to back up their sinful act of tithing.
The prophet was warning the people of Isreal not all but the prinst who are incharge of recieving tithes about Gods disappointment in their practices. offering blemish and rotten sacrifices and keeping the good once for themselves thereby robbing God. God is not talking to the church. It is good to support church activities as your heart leads you not as a command in the form of tithe.
I live in a community of people who do not even want to discuss the tithing subject away from the church. they either shut down or tell me im teaching unacceptable doctrine. if the keeping of the law is tough enough for the jews who grew up on it, how much more us who just happened to come in this late. anyway i wonder about what it means to us if the word says a man is cursed for not keeping the whole law. are those who practice tithing are cause they do not keep the whole law? Gal 3:10.
If circumcision were as big a moneymaker as tithing, that law would be enforced on the church as well. All the males would be running out the front door and the women would take over. People can make that Bible say anything they want it to say if money is at stake!
But we should all understand that the bile tells us in Colossians 2:4… that Jesus nailed the Law on the cross. How do we read our bibles. Its due time we jump out darkness and get our eyes open.
Giving ten percent of your income is a blessing to you and the person or people you give it to. It becomes a problem when you make it a law or demand. We are under grace and tithes was never money and no one pays tithes like they did in the Bible, they just give ten percent of their money and the Bible has no example of this. You are not sinning if you give ten percent and you are not cursed if you don’t, you are only cursed if you are trying to keep the Law. Gal. 3:9,10. If you consider yourself a pharisee as in Matt. 23:23, tithe.
Let the tithe advocates also keep stoning to death of any married women caught on sexual immoralities
When I say this to people, I recieve negative glares that speak volumes. I dont mention it anymore. I dont pay tithes, but the whole church I attend does. I have felt more encouraged to give rather than someone telling me I’m cursed for not tithing. I believe that the church of Christ is to look after the needy like they did in the book of acts. that is far more responsible than the in that, giving someone money or help without expecting them to pay it back is far more noble, yet more difficult to do. If we could look in the church and help the needy. I sometimes feel tithing is a scapegoat because people feel “I have tithed, I have done my part, I need not do more”. Yet right there in the pews, is someone who is so in need, we ignore them.
My concern is, in this world, why do Christians seek to empower themselves and not each other. How do you do that in a world where it is not taught in the churches. Everyone seems to believe the same way. You see in the church, they give white envelopes for tithes and brown for offering. so if you never take the white you obviously dont tithe. It just bothers me the way we act as Christians.