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NASB | Deuteronomy 14:1 "You are the sons of the LORD your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave your forehead for the sake of the dead. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Deuteronomy 14:1 "You are the sons of the LORD your God; you shall not cut yourselves nor shave your forehead for the sake of the dead, |
Subject: Can you please explain tithing? |
Bible Note: Hello jl, Thanks for responding. Unfortunately you presented nothing more than your belief and offered nothing that even suggests that the tithe is no longer commanded by God. Let me attempt to address your post in the order that you laid it down. First you write: that “what I mean is no one required someone to give ten percent.” My response: The answer to your statement that no one required is, God required (please refer to my previous post for scriptural support). You write that the tithe was a part of the law and does not justify us. I agree, your on track here. At no point have I argued that we are justified by following any commands of God. We are justified by faith in Christ alone. Please study the book of Romans for understanding. You ask me to explain that the tithe is not part of the law. This confuses me as I have already argued that the tithe is a command from God. Anything that God commands is part of His law. Regarding your reference to my quoting Luke 11:42 I am still not sure of your point. Are you trying to insinuate that I was teaching that paying your tithe relieves you from the responsibility of obeying God in all areas?????? This is not my position at all and I’m not sure why you might have drawn that conclusion. Regarding Jesus and the disciples not requiring believers to tithe “to them”. I think you have missed the point completely. We do not tithe to any person, but to God. Again, referring back to my previous post I pointed out that the tithe was a well established part of God’s law at that time and practiced without question (though I am sure there were those then, as now, who did not obey it fully as they did not obey other commandments). The tithe is made to God. It is “received”, or “taken” by those that God has entrusted leadership over His people. Again, as I mentioned previously, in the OT this was the tribe of Levite, after the finished work of Christ, it is the church. Regarding the passages in Hebrews, I continue to believe you are missing the point. Lets look at it. Heb 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? Heb 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. What is being said here? This is the basic teaching of Christianity. The law here is referring to the whole economy of the time if you will. That is, where tithing was concerned it was commanded, it recognized that all they had came from God in the first place, it served to provide for the needs of the Levites who did not have the option of doing other works to provide for their sustenance. Secondly, the passage is making reference to the sacrificial system by which the people of God made atonement. This served two purpose generally speaking. It demonstrated the requirement of death as the penalty for sin and it pointed to the need for a sacrifice and to the Savior to come. Heb. 7:11 is rhetorical. Many believe that Paul wrote this book and this verse is a good representation of Paul’s way of presenting his point by anticipating the question his reader might ask. “If perfection were by the Levitical priesthood...” We know it wasn’t, “what further need was there that another priest should rise...” We know there was the need. So what change in the law is Paul referring too? Is it the Ten Commandments, the tithe, etc.? I don’t believe so. Is it the law as it pertains to the system of sacrifice which was established by God and required of the people before the coming of the Savior? I say yes. And this answer is supported by the wider teachings of scripture in context. There is no other teaching I have found that suggest that any other law of God has been abolished. You argue that the tithe was part of the law and I agreed. Jesus said: Mat 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Paul said: Rom 3:30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law. Hope this was helpful, in love, Jeff |