Is the principle of giving tithes based on the Old or the New Testament? Part 1

In modern days some confessions divide the New Testament from the Old Testament. We will not be discussing about why it has been done, but let us first understand that the Testaments cannot be separated from each other and the entirety of both Testaments has been called the Bible. Secondly both Testaments are perfecting each other. It means that if we didn't have the Old Testament, we would not know, for example, everything about the commandments, or about the fact that the prophets have prophesied about the coming of Messiah hundreds of years before the actual event. If we didn't have the New Testament, we would know nothing about the Son of God. There are many such examples. Therefore in the future all matters will be examined referring to the scriptures from both Testimonies and I believe that a reader, who knows the Bible, will easily understand if the mentioned scripture is from the Old or the New Testament.

The Commandments and the tithe

The concept of the tithe comes from the Old Testament, where it has been described how the Law orders people to obey it and contribute to the church one tenth of all their income, including also the grown harvest.

Therefore the tithe is ...all the tithe of the land:

Lev. 27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's. It is holy to the Lord.

The owner of the tithe is God. ...is the Lord’s, and we must treat the tithe with deep and sincere respect because It is holy to the Lord.

The tithe is mentioned in several scriptures of the Old Testament, for example:

"Speak thus to the Levites, and say to them: 'When you take from the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you shall offer up a heave offering of it to the Lord, a tenth of the tithe.

Deut 14:22 You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year.

Deut 14:25 then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the Lord your God chooses.

2 Chr 31:5 As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.

The principle of tithing does not fit in the Laws of the Old Testament or its explanations, because it was practiced long before the commandments were given.

It is written that Abraham was the first, who gave tenth from all of his possession. It means that people were performing tithing 700 years before God gave Moses the Law.

Gen 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.

Gen 14:19 And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;

Gen 14:20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all.

Abraham’s action is confirmed by the New Testament:

Heb 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

Heb 7:2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king of peace,"

Heb 7:3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

Heb 7:4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.

Heb 7:5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham;

Heb 7:9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak,

Heb 7:10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

We belong to Christ and we are heirs of Abraham. I is known that heir owns all the promises written in the testament.

Gal 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

If we are heirs, then we are to overtake the heritage. The commandments are part of the heritage and we must take it into consideration together with all its laws that come with the heritage. The tithe is one of the laws of the commandments, not a part of it. Therefore tithe has been set by the law which may not be broken.

Gal 3:15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it.

Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.

Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.

Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

The principle of tithes is described in the Old, just like in the New Testament, therefore the tithe is a lawful principle of sustaining God’s Church described in both Testaments. It is a law which came from the laws of Moses, and those laws came from God.

The difference between the commandments and a general law is this:

The commandments are given from God and they are unchanging and we must obey to them, whereas a general law is a part of the commandments and it must be kept until it is in effect. General laws keep changing in the world, but the commandments are constant and therefore God’s set laws are also unchanging in time. For God the commandments are as general laws, and in the world there are laws and there are additions to the law.

God orders us to obey the Laws of Moses in the Old and also in the New Testament.

Deut 13:18 because you have listened to the voice of the Lord your God, to keep all His commandments which I command you today, to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord your God.

1 John For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

Considering the fact that the Commandments are everlasting and the law is taken from the Commandments, which has not been cancelled by anyone, then also the law that is included in the Commandments is everlasting because Jesus said:

Luke 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

Therefore,

Mal 4:4 "Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments.

Heb 7:5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham.

Author: Vyacheslavs Kostigovs