As we continue our ‘Tithing on Trial’ series, we will evaluate the most common tithing arguments used to defend its practice. So let’s evaluate another argument used to promote tithing.
Argument: Israel Gave their Tithes to the Storehouse, So We Should Give our Tithes to the Church.
Malachi 3:10 – “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.”
There are good principles we can draw from Malachi 3, but using the storehouse as an argument to bring tithing to Church is not accurate. Yes. We should supply ministers and the Church body with food and provisions for their needs, but the principle in Malachi 3:10 is about supplying for the needs of others; it is not about giving 10% to a Church. Here are 3 areas to review on why the Church is not a storehouse for tithing.
Only 1% Made it to the Temple Storehouse
The temple storehouse only received 1% of Israel’s increase, the other 9% was stored in Levitical cities – not at a place of worship.
Nehemiah 10:37-38 to bring the firstfruits of our dough, our offerings, the fruit from all kinds of trees, the new wine and oil, to the priests, to the storerooms of the house of our God; and to bring the tithes of our land to the Levites, for the Levites should receive the tithes in all our farming communities. And the priest, the descendant of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes; and the Levites shall bring up a tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the rooms of the storehouse.
The Israelites were responsible for giving their tithe to the Levites and in turn, the Levites were then responsible for giving a tenth of the tenth towards the temple storehouse. 1% of Israel’s increase was used for the support of those ministering and serving in the House of God. I’m sure the percentages today do not come anywhere close tho this figure. The latest giving statistics state that 85% of the offerings received by Churches are used for internal operations. The Priests only absorbed 10% of what was given to the Levites (or 1% of Israel’s increase)
The irony of all this is that the decree in Malachi 3:10 was not addressing the whole Israelite nation. It was only addressing the Levitical tribe since they were the only ones responsible for the 1% that was supposed to bring food to God’s StoreHouse. As a word of wisdom to leaders in our Churches who may be reading this – In Malachi 3, it was those who received the tithe that was neglecting their duties to give. Considering 85% is spent on internal operations, I don’t think we’re any better off than those in Malachi were . . . what a scary thought!
If you wish to read more about the Levitical cities, they are first outlined in Numbers 35:2-3, while other references can be found throughout scripture in regards to the storage of tithes and offerings within these cities as well.
Did Your Church Build a Storehouse?
A storehouse actually STORES something. Duh! Right! If you had a storehouse for your farm, that means you are safekeeping your grain to be used later for feed or for seed. The Church building, is not used as storage to preserve or distribute anything. Quite simple to understand, don’t you think?
Most people don’t pick up on the fact that Malachi 3:10 mentions two different places. First, God mentions a “storehouse”; then, God mentions a separate place and calls it “my house”. The two are exclusive of one another. God’s house is NOT the storehouse, and the storehouse is NOT God’s house. Did you think the grain was sitting in the Holy of Holies? Maybe they stored some of their corn in the ark of the covenant? There was no Shekinah Glory sitting above the grain house. God’s house was not a place to bring your goods or possessions. Neither was it a place to make transactions.
Matthew 21:12-13 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
God kicked ALL the money changers out. There were no exceptions for those who were honest and those who were dishonest. Jesus statement was that in the presence of God, there was to be prayer, not business.
I know that I stated the temple is not the Church building today, so it’s not like these restrictions in the Temple are applicable to worship buildings today, but this means if these restrictions aren’t applicable, then it also means that the Church building is not a resemblance of the Storehouse or the Temple.
The storehouse was was not considered a holy place or part of the worship process. The only reason why a storehouse was needed was because there was food to store. If you are unaware of the temple tax; it was a monetary offering required for everyone to pay for the upkeep and maintenance of the House of God. The temple tax was never kept in a storehouse. So, God doesn’t need a storehouse in order for us to have a reason to give to support His work.
One last note. If you observe the New Testament, there is no reference to a Church storeroom to bring your tithes or offerings. Nor was the word ‘storehouse’ mentioned whatsoever.
Our Storehouse is Not in This World
Let’s set aside the technicalities and semantics and focus on the spiritual application of a storehouse. Some of you believe that the Storehouse in the Old Testament, through spiritual meaning, is comparative to a church today. I get why this thought occurs to most people. But let me show you two significant differences between a church and the Temple and a storehouse.
1. A Building was Where God Dwelt – Isaiah 66:1-2, 1 Chronicles 17:6, 1 Kings 8:27 Our Soul Is Where He Dwells Now – Acts 7:48, John 1:14, 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
In the Old Testament, the temple was known as the House of God, but in the New Testament, we know that God does not dwell in houses made with hands. We are the temple of God.
2. A Storehouse Stores Corruptible Things – Luke 12:16-21, Matthew 6:19 Heaven Stores Incorruptible – Matthew 6:20, Matthew 19:21, 1 Peter 1:3-4
The earthly Storehouse symbolizes the purpose of an eternal storehouse, it does not symbolize a worship building or any other form of infrastructure you may have for the local Church. The storehouse symbolism is perfectly described in Matthew 6:19-20 where Jesus commands us not to store up treasure on earth, but to store treasure in heaven.
It’s a disservice to consider your worship building God’s Storehouse. I know there are many great programs and actions that come through some local churches and their facilities, but certainly, God did not want us to focus on earthly legacies. He wanted us to focus on eternal legacies. If anything, Malachi 3:10 should be a reminder to lay up treasures in heaven, not to bring a check to the next service.
Review
Here is a review of the key points from the article.
Only 1% of Israel’s tithing increase was used to support the service in God’s house while 9% was NOT used within God’s House
The Temple was not a building to store money or goods, and was not used for any financial transactions. A Storehouse was Not needed unless there was something to store.
God no longer resides in a building and our storehouse is found in heaven, not on earth.
If a Church wants to consider itself a storehouse for tithing, then by all means make sure they follow the guidelines in the Old Testament. Otherwise, let’s not call the Church building a storehouse. In the mean time, let’s encourage one another to give as God leads us. May it be sacrificially, liberally and cheerfully.
You Be the Judge
Now that the evidence has been given in this court of law, it is your turn to decide
We’ve given you lots of reasons on this website on why you should not tithe, so here are a bunch of reasons why you should tithe.
You Want to be Cursed If you want to be cursed, then a good way to go about it is to keep trying to be justified by the law. (Galatians 3:10)
You Think Giving Should be Motivated by Obligation If you are a military officer maybe you think God’s people need enforcement otherwise we won’t give out of love. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
You Despise Liberty I can see how a slave can envy the freedom of others, how about You? (Galatians 2:3-5)
You Abuse Grace Too Easily If you are worried that you might abuse the grace of God with no laws in place, then keep on tithing (Galatians 2:21)
You Think You are an Israelite Israel gave the tithe to the Levites since the Levites had no land inheritance (Numbers 18:20-32)
You Don’t Believe Christ Fulfilled the Law Either you were tricked into believing that “Fulfill” really means “Continue”, or you just don’t believe that Christ completed the law (Matthew 5:17)
You Are Comfortable With Only Offering 10% Have more to give than 10%? Then this works out for you
You are Too Scared to Give any Other Way Maybe you’ve been practicing tithing for so long, that you are scared about the results of what happens when you give any other way
Ignorance is Bliss! Studying the Bible for the truth might open a can of worms and you’ll be just as happy not knowing the truth (1 Peter 3:15, Romans 16:18)
You are Really Dumb? 10% is easy math for you.
You Believe That Keeping 90% is Not Robbing God Some of you have poor stewardship with the other 90%, but you think you aren’t robbing God since you gave your 10th to him. (Mark 10:21)
You Don’t Want God’s Love God Loves a cheerful giver. It doesn’t say anything about a dedicated one, so maybe this works out for you if you want to lay low on God’s radar (2 Corinthians 9:7)
You Need a Tax Deduction Gotta stay under the next tax bracket? Then Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s (Matthew 22:21)
As we continue our ‘Tithing on Trial’ series, we will evaluate the most common tithing arguments used to defend its practice.
Argument: Jesus is the High Priest and Should Receive a Tithe
If the Church wants to continue tithing as it happened in the Old Testament, there is an enormous obstacle to overcome with the absence of crucial elements including the Levites, the Mosaic law, the temple; and the Israelites. Tithing was used to support the infrastructure of Old Testament worship, but with that infrastructure replaced, supporters today try to find the missing link that connects the whole tithing system in the Old Testament with the infrastructure of the New Testament.
The priesthood of Jesus is used as a missing link that somehow transforms the practice of “tithing under the law” – To – “tithing under Grace”. Tithing had been contingent upon the Mosaic law, the temple, the Levites, & Israelite soil, but these links have been cut off; so we would need another type of bond to help graft tithing back into the chain of requirements. Unnaturally, Jesus’ priesthood gets linked in between the Law and Grace and creates a defective union between the old and the new so that tithing can be grafted in with the Church. This is what the bible calls putting new wine into old wineskins. (Matthew 9:17)
Most of the confusion about Jesus Priesthood and what it has to do with tithing is found in Hebrews 6:19-Hebrews 8:6 It would be good for you to read the passage before reading the rest of this post because there is a lot of information, but if not, i’ll do my best to fill you in.
Let’s get some context
Hebrews is written to a group of people who had trouble transitioning from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. Hence the name of the book is ‘Hebrews’. It is not called, ‘Greeks’, or ‘Gentiles’ since it was the Jews who had this problem. Although, i think it would serve well to rename the book – “Gentiles” today, since 2000 years later it seems the Gentile Church has a huge problem with this Law issue.
In a brief paraphrase, this passage in Hebrews uses Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20) to illustrate how the priesthood of Christ is greater than the Levitical priesthood.
Other Offerings Given to Priests
I think one of the major problems is that everyone focuses on tithing and overlooks all the other offerings for the priests. Here are some details on the overlooked offerings received by the priests.
Twice a Year (Numbers 28) – Two lambs, a tenth of an ephah of grain, a quarter-hin of wine
Once a month (Numbers 28) – Two bulls, three-tenths ephah of flour, half-hin of wine – One ram, two-tenths ephah of flour, third-hin of wine – Seven lambs, tenth ephah of flour, quarter-hin of wine
Once Each Harvest (Nehemiah 10:38) – One-tenth of Israel’s tithe from crops and animals (1%)
Once a Year (Numbers 28) – Two bulls, Three-tenths of an ephah of flour – One ram, two-tenths of flour – Seven lambs, one-tenth of flour
Question 1: If Jesus is the High Priest and deserves at least the same offerings that the earthly Priests were offered, then why do we stop at tithing?
Question 2: Why would Jesus Priesthood get 10% of our increase, when the Priests only received 1% of Israel’s increase? (Nehemiah 10:38)
Another thing most people do not understand is that the Israelites never tithed to the priests. They only tithed to the Levites and then the Levites were responsible for then tithing to the priests. So, not only did Israel not give to the priests, but the priests only received 1% of Israel’s increase.
Other symbolic Titles of Jesus
Regardless of my previous points, let’s say that Jesus’ position as a high priest is what compels us to keep the tradition of tithing going. In this case, you would have some explaining to do if we were to honor His offices found both in the Old and New Testaments. Let’s address a few other positions . . .
Jesus was named the . . .
Lamb of God Are we compelled to kill any lambs? (1 Peter 1:19)
First Fruits of the Dead Are we compelled to offer our first born, first paycheck, first car? (Colossians 1:15)
Passover Lamb Are you spreading blood on your door posts? (1 Corinthians 5:7)
High Priest Are you giving your tithe?
All the rituals found in the Old Testament that were meant to symbolize who Jesus was or what Jesus would do, have all been fulfilled. For some reason, people feel the need to resurrect a few of these ceremonies and continue to practice them.
I don’t know what reasons you may have for practicing tithing, but to practice it for the sake of honoring the Priesthood, would be comparable to raising an altar and sacrifice an animal in honor of the Lamb of God. I know it sounds ridiculous to compare tithing with slaying a lamb on an altar, but honoring any one of these rituals has no less severity over any of the others.
Looking forward, there is one task that Jesus asked us to perform in honor of him.
As Often as You Eat This Bread & Drink This Cup
Jesus didn’t ask us to commemorate anything except for his death. Luke 22:19 states, “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.“
Between the meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek, there were two things offered – A tithe and also bread & wine. The ironic thing is that before Christ’s death He initiates a Church practice with his disciples, but specifically mentions one of the offerings and not the other. It was the Lord’s Supper that Christ asked us to perform in remembrance of him under the New Covenant. He did not say tithe, sacrifice a lamb, shed some blood, or offer your firstborn. Since the meeting between Abraham and Melchizedek is not what launched the Lord’s Supper into church practices, then why would tithing be added to Church practices?
Some people treat tithing as if we are to obey it in commemoration of Jesus’ priesthood just as we obey the Lord’s Supper in commemoration of his death. I’m not sure how the Lord’s Supper can be placed at the same table as tithing? Tithing was being practiced looking forward to the fulfillment of our final Priest, and the Lord’s Supper is being practiced while looking back at the fulfillment of his work on the cross.
There are so many symbolic practices of Christ found in the Old Testament. Just to name a few: Noah’s Ark, Manna, the Tabernacle, the Bronze Altar, the Mercy Seat, the Bronze snake, the Passover, Scapegoat, etc. All of these are just as symbolic of Christ as the tithe would be to Christ’s priesthood. . . yet, do you practice them?
As The High Priest, Jesus Set The Precedent
After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
What other example do you need? The High Priest of High Priests set up his ministry on earth through the freewill offerings of his followers. Pastors talk from the pulpit about the “order of Melchizedek” and continuation of tithing to our living high priest. We are quick to exemplify Abraham’s tithe to an earthly priest and yet overlook Mary, Joanna, & Chuza’s literal example of giving to Jesus. The ultimate question is why is Abraham giving to Melchizedek more significant than these women actually giving to Jesus?
If the argument here is about Jesus’ priesthood supporting the tithe then don’t use Moses, the Law, Abraham, or Melchizedek to illustrate when you have a clear example right in front of you. All this, if Jesus is actually the one we are trying to honor, unless we know it’s really not about Jesus but admittedly we know it’s about the money. In that case, I respect you for your honesty at least.
Conclusion
Our giving should be cheerful, free, liberal, and sacrificial and should look nothing like tithing to the priests. It should resemble how God gave to us when he gave his only Son. The Priesthood of Jesus is not the missing link that that enables tithing to be grated between the old and the new. This union is defective and can be illustrated in the example of new wine put into the old wineskins.
Luke 5:36-39 He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.”
You Be the Judge
Now that the evidence has been given in this court of law, it is your turn to decide
As we continue our ‘Tithing on Trial’ series, we will evaluate the most common tithing arguments used to defend its practice. So let’s evaluate another argument used to promote tithing. This argument comes directly from a well-known author on finances from Crown Financial Ministries – Larry Burkett. He has now passed, but we are going to evaluate his argument below taken from his book, “Giving & Tithing.”
While reading through the book, “TIthing & Giving” by Larry Burkett I came across a section that asked, “Is Tithing Legalism”? In the beginning, Larry states, “Although the tithe is mentioned in the law, no punishment was indicated for not tithing. There is a consequence (the loss of blessings), but there is no punishment from God for not tithing.”
What happened when Israel didn’t tithe?
I am not sure where Larry Burkett is getting his information about tithing in the bible, but you have to know that there certainly was a curse on Israel for not tithing. Malachi 3:9 states, “You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed me.”
Malachi 3:11 goes on, “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,“
I don’t think there is any question about the curse for Israel not tithing. We can find further proof in the book of Deuteronomy when God is laying out the laws for Israel. In chapter 26 he outlines the rules for tithing and by chapter 28 beginning in verse 15, God outlines in the next 50 verses the curses and punishments that would come upon them for not obeying his commands that were just laid out.
What Happens When Your Don’t Tithe?
As counterintuitive as it may sound, when we don’t tithe the opposite of what happened to Israel happens to us as Christians. The answer is that when we don’t tithe, we are blessed. Here are five reasons we are blessed for not tithing.
You are under grace (Romans 6:14)
God said He would supply all our needs without mentioning the tithe (Philippians 4:19)
Our gifts are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God (Philippians 4:18)
God Loves a Cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
The Spirit gives life (Romans 8:5-10)
As Christians, we should have confidence in these new promises under grace and the blessings that come with them. There is a caveat that I want to mention. Even though there are no consequences of not paying tithes, and we receive some inherent benefits and blessings, our greatest blessing comes when we give freely without obligation instead of giving a tithe.
This is not an excuse to give nothing. We should be willing to give from the love of our hearts. God has given us so much that it should compel our hearts to give back as he sacrificially gave to us. This is not an external force compelling us to give. This is an internal force that aligns with our heart’s attitude.
Are We Cursed When We Don’t Tithe?
Even though we receive a blessing for not tithing, some may still be wondering about the curse for not tithing and did it go away. The answer is no, God does not curse us if we don’t tithe. We are no longer under the curse of the law. We are under grace. You are cursed if you do tithe and blessed if you don’t.
If you don’t practice tithing, you are free from the curse, free from the law, and free from tithing. So many feel led to give to someone outside their church but are terrified to do so because of the fear of the curse. It’s not that they don’t like their church or disagree, but in their heart, they have the desire to fill a more urgent need. When people pass up the opportunity to give from their hearts, they invite doubt or even guilt in their hearts, which robs them of their blessing.
The problem with Larry Burkett and others with the same mentality towards tithing are that they know that tithing looks out of place when we attempt to fit it into a Church that is not supposed to be governed by the law. So they modify its appearance a little bit and make tithing more user-friendly than what it was in the Old Testament. The deception is that if we can mix in a little grace by disassociating it from the curse, then the tithe will appear as if it fits right in there with the other principles we practice today. This reformulation of the tithe is nothing but the law dressed up in grace’s clothing.
THE LAW + GRACE + LENIENCY = THE LAW
You Be the Judge
Now that the evidence has been given in this court of law, it is your turn to decide. You be the judge.
As we continue our ‘Tithing on Trial’ series, we will evaluate the most common tithing arguments used to defend its practice. So let’s evaluate another argument used to promote tithing.
Argument: We should practice tithing because we want to acknowledge that God owns everything.
In what way, shape, or form does giving a small portion of what you own portray that you actually don’t own any of it? Does paying your taxes also acknowledge that Government owns everything?
Some people believe that giving a tithe (10%) will establish the right attitude about the other 90%. But maybe for others, giving 10% would actually set the wrong tone for how they should spend the other 90.
Some may give up the 10% and feel that they have just appeased the wrath of the volcano god, and that they can do whatever they want with the other 90. Without a platform that we could raise ourselves up to, there is no feeling that one has ‘arrived’ or appeased the wrath of the volcano god.
The platform of tithing allows some to gloat about their accomplishments and develop a feeling that they have ‘arrived’. If there were no benchmark in place, then there is no platform to stand on to distinguish our accomplishments from the rest of those “underachievers”.
10 reasons why tithing does not automatically acknowledge God owns everything
The Pharisees tithed religiously and yet, the bible calls them “lovers of money” (Luke 16:14)
God knows the thoughts and intents of the heart regardless of how we give. (Hebrews 4:12)
The servant in Matthew 25 actually gave 100% of his talents back to his master and yet was still called wicked.
Ananias Sapphira only kept back a portion of their sold land and were destroyed regardless of what they had given. (Acts 5)
God owns everything, regardless of whether i acknowledge it or not.
People use tithing to brag (Luke 18:12)
God asked the rich ruler to sell his possessions (not to tithe) and come follow him. (Matthew 19:24)
The bible asks us to sacrifice ourselves (not to tithe) if we are to follow Jesus. (Romans 12:1)
Believing that tithing acknowledges God’s ownership is simply not found in the bible anywhere.
Look at God’s example: he gave his only son, not a tithe. (John 3:16)
I’m certain that there are those who do tithe, that really believe and practice that God owns everything; but I’m also just as positive that there are those who do not tithe, that also practices and believes that God owns everything.
Can you look at the verses and examples above and tell me that tithing actually does a good job at making people believe God owns it all? Did you see how great the Pharisees excelled at tithing, while they also gloated about their works and lusted over money?
Now that the evidence has been given in this court of law, it is your turn to decide
As we continue our ‘Tithing on Trial’ series, we will evaluate the most common tithing arguments used to defend its practice. So let’s evaluate another argument used to promote tithing.
Argument: Malachi 3:6 States That God Never Changes, so we must continue to obey tithing.
Malachi 3:6-8 “For I am the Lord, I do not change; . . . Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.”
Anyone who says that tithing never changed because God never changes couldn’t explain these next NINETEEN ways that tithing had been changed. These 19 changes are not only examples of how things have changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament, but many of these examples show how tithing was altered and even exempted at times within the Old Testament alone.
Change #1 From This: Abraham tithed on all the spoils of war (Hebrews 7:4). → To This: Later Israel could only tithe from their crops or animals (Leviticus 27).
Change #2 From This: Abraham tithed items made outside the land of Israel → To This: Israel could only tithe from items grown from within the land of Israel. (Deuteronomy 12:5)
Change #3 From This: Abraham gave 1/10 of the spoils of war. → To This: Israel was commanded to give 1/500 of their spoils of war. (Numbers 31:9, 27-29)
Change #4 From This: FIRST, Abraham gave the tithe out of obligation (Genesis 14:20) → To This: AND then Jacob offers it voluntarily (Genesis 28:22) → → Then To This: AND then the nation of Israel is required to give it out of obligation (Leviticus 27) → → → And Finally To This: Now, we are under grace so we are told that it’s now voluntarily obligated? Huh?! (Galatians 4)
Change #5 From This: Israel’s tithe only went towards taking care of the poor, Levites, and national feasts (Nehemiah 10:38, Deuteronomy 14:22). → To This: Today, we’ve been told that the tithe can be used for anything including building funds.
Change #6 From This: Non-farmers and non-herdsmen (ie: Bankers, Lawyers, Doctors, and Carpenters) were not allowed to tithe their income. (Leviticus 27) → To This: Today, we’ve been told that every occupation is required to tithe their income.
Change #7 From This: It was directly commanded by God to not include the best nor the first in the tithe. (Leviticus 27:32) → To This: Today, we are told to include the best and first fruits of our tithe, disregarding not only the Old Testament command in Leviticus 27:32 but also the New Testament command in 2 Timothy 2:6.
Change #8 From This: The poor didn’t give tithes in the bible, they received them. (Nehemiah 10:38) → To This: Today, not only do the poor probably see very little of the tithe, if any, but they are told they are required to tithe.
Change #9 From This: Most of the tithe was stored in storehouses to be distributed and consumed mostly outside the temple. (Nehemiah 10:37-38) → To This: Today, there is no storage house for the tithe, and mostly consumed within the Church instead of distributed.
Change #10 From This: Only 1% was stored in the Temple Storehouse, the other 9% were stored in Levitical cities → To This: Today, we are told to bring the whole 10% to the Church building. (Deuteronomy 14:28)
Change #11 From This: Some of the agricultural tithes were only given 5.5 out of every 7 years – The 7th year was sabbatical, so there was no gleaning or planting. The first half of the next year was planting. (Leviticus 25) → To This: Today, we changed it to give tithe year after year without a single sabbatical or rest.
Change #12 From This: Abraham & Israel gave a tithe while under the Old Covenant → To This: We are told it is still required under a completely new covenant.
Change #13 From This: Many types of offerings in the Old Testament were also required → To This: We’ve been told these offerings are freewill now.
Change #14 From This: We are no longer under the curse (Galatians 3:13) → To This: But are reminded that we are still under the curse of the tithe (Malachi 3:9)
Change #15 From This: The tithe was given to the Levites because they couldn’t have an inheritance of land (Numbers 18:24) → To This: No one is stopping ministers from owning land today.
Change #16 From This: Jesus’ own ministry was supported without tithes and also sent the disciples out without tithes. (Luke 8:1-3, Matthew 10:8-10) → To This: Ministries today do not follow Jesus’ example.
Change #17 From This: The tabernacle was built and maintained through only freewill offerings (Exodus 35). → To This: Today, we support the church through tithing while other “outside” ministries receive freewill offerings.
Change #18 From This: From 1 A.D. through 566 A.D. the Church did not recognize tithing. → To This: In A.D. 567 The Church ordered the payment of tithes.
Change #19 From This: God did not accept money for tithing (Leviticus 27). → To This: The church accepts checks, cash, credit card, and even Bitcoin.
Now that the evidence has been given in this court of law, it is your turn to decide