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NASB | Acts 13:39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 13:39 and through Him everyone who believes [who acknowledges Jesus as Lord and Savior and follows Him] is justified and declared free of guilt from all things, from which you could not be justified and freed of guilt through the Law of Moses. |
Subject: tithing |
Bible Note: Tithing is an Old Testament practice carried over to the present. Paul, speaking to the Corinthians, says in 2 Cor 9:6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Again he says in 1 Cor 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. We are not bound today by the "one tenth" rule, but as Paul says, "God loves a cheerful giver" and sowing sparingly, reaps sparingly, sowing boutifully, reaps bountifully. This collection was to help the needy saints in Jerusalem. What happened after this need was satisfied? Did the brethren stop collecting, laying by, saving? This is a much debated issue and I will not get into it too deeply. I will only say that tithing today is not what tithing was when it began. Tithing is first mentioned in Gen 14:20. Abram gives Melchizedek (a priest of God Most High, vs 1) a tithe of all. I am sure those who read this are aware that tithe only means "one-tenth". Some principles of tithing can be learned in Deut. 14:22-29. It says here that the tithe was to be paid every third year (vs 28) and it was to only be a tithe "of that year". The things tithed were to support the Levitical preisthood, strangers, orphans, and widows (if I miss anything, please let me know). The lesson to be learned here is that Israel was to take one tenth of everything they possessed and contribute it to the Lord (for the above purposes). We today are not bound by tithing but we can read that Jesus and his disciples had a treasury, we know that in today's world it takes money to do just about everything and individual congregations are not excluded, maintaining a building, a minister, aid to the needy, etc. all take money. Whether we call it tithing or whatever is immaterial. |