It is interesting in many churches we hear about paying our Tithe. Some even bill their members. Now looking into the Scripture, we find only 32 references to the Tithe. All the references are under the Law. The first being in Leviticus (under the Law the Moses got from God, for the National of Israel).
Leviticus 27:30-32, Numbers 18:26, Deuteronomy 12:17,14:22-28,
2 Chronicles 31:5-6, Nehemiah 10:38,13:12, Amos 4:4 and Malachi 3:8-10
There are only 7 references in the Gospels:
Matthew 23:23 (Luke 11:42) 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.
Hebrews 7:5–9
All of these references are to the Jew, under the Law of Moses, even the words of the Lord Jesus.
Tithe: to pay a tenth part
If you read all the references in the Old Testament above, consider the following:
What about your income, Gross amount or Net? Government rebates?
Sale of a house, a car, a yard sale, any personal property?
Do you owe a tithe on all the Christmas gifts you received?
How about birthday presents?
You take a friend for a long drive, then they insist paying for the gas, do you pay a tithe?
Friends take you out for a meal, and pay for it, do you owe a tithe?
You get an inheritance because parents (or grandparents) die, the house, car(s), clothes, dishes, etc., everything within the house, do you owe a tithe on everything?
Be sure to read the above scriptures to understand what the Law actually requires.
What does the Apostle to the Gentiles (Paul) instruct the Churches?
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
2 Corinthians 9:5-8 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
The Tithe is NOT mandatory for the believer today. Asaph wrote Psalm 50 about the mighty God and his relationship to Him. It applies to believers today. God does not NEED our money. But our offerings show our need for Him.
It takes money to build a church building. It takes money to keep it running and in good repair. It takes money to spread the Word of Salvation and encourage believers in the word of God. We show our love of what God has done for us.
Reread 2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
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