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man, blessed by the God of heaven
and earth!
The Principie of Tithing
Jacob and bis famiJy later mi–
grated to Egypt to find food for their
numerous flocks and herds during a
time of prolonged drought. In
Egypt, they multiplied illto a large
nation within a few generations. But
they had, meanwhile, become slaves
to the Egyptians. According to the
biblical narrative, God called a man
named Moses to Iead his people out
of Egypt.
After punishing the Egyptians
with frightening plagúes, God con–
vinced Pharaoh to Jet the Israelites
Ieave Egypt. After the Israelites
carne to the wildemess of the Sinai
península, God began teaching
them more about bis Iaws and ways.
One of those laws was the principie
of tithing.
God promised to bless thern
greatly if they obeyed him, and he
reminded them: "And all the tithe
of the land, whether of the seed of
the land, or ofthe fruit ofthe tree, is
the Lord's:
it
is holy unto the Lord.''
Then God added: "And concerning
the tithe of the herd, or of the flock,
even of whatsoever passeth under
the rod, the tentb sball be boly unto
tbe Lord" (Leviticus 27:30, 32).
The tithing principie, God told
ancient Israel, was one of his laws
(verse 34). If they expected to be fi–
nancially prospered and blessed,
they were required to obey this fi–
nancia! comrnandment, a divinely
instituted law of God.
Tithing was not an ancient cus–
tom that evolved among the nations
of old. It was originally a God–
ordained principie which has been
obeyed by the servants of God
down through history.
What relevance does this fact
have for you? We shall see!
An Ancient Revival
During the centuries that the
twelve tribes of Israel remained in
the Middle East, the principie of
tithing began to be neglected and
44
ignored, along with other laws of
God. Israel fell into idolatry, Baal
worship, and forsook the comifiand–
ments of God. As a result, the
northem ten tribes of Israel were
carried away into captivity by Assy–
rian invaders (Il Kings 17).
Despite what had happened to
Israel, the northern kingdom, the
people of Judah were also tempted
to sink into the depravity of the pa–
gan nations around thern and to
worship Baal. As the situation dete–
riorated, a king who had good judg–
ment and was righteous in God's
sight carne to the throne. He at–
tempted to stem the tide and turn
the people back to their God. His
name was Hezekiah.
During tbe reign of Hezekiah, a
vast reform was instituted. Pagan
idols and carved images of alien
gods were broken in pieces
(II Chronicles 3
1:
1).
Interestingly, one principie Heze–
kiah reinstituted was titbing. "And
as soon as the commandment
carne abroad, the children of Israel
brought in abundance the firstfruits
of corn, wine, and oil, and honey,
and of all the increase of the field;
and
the tithe of al/ things brought
they
in
abundantly.
And concerning
the children of Israel and Judah,
that dwelt in the cities of Judah,
they also brought in the tithe of
oxen and sheep, and the tithe· of
holy things which were consecrated
unto the Lord their God, and laid
them by heaps" (verses 5-6).
As long as the people of Judah
obeyed God's laws and paid their
tithes to hirn, they were blessed; but
when they forsook God's laws and
neglected to tithe faithfully, they
were punished - adversity and
calamity carne upon thern!
But you rnay wonder, what does
all this have to do with those of us
living in the 20th century?
Tithing Abol ished?
Is tithing relevant to our modern
generation? There is controversy
arnong theologians as to whether
tithing is valid or applicable today.
Sorne argue that Jesus abolished the
need of the ritualistic law of Moses
and the tithing law as well. Yet
Christ's abolition of the need of the
rituals, which were added to the law
in the time of Moses, could in no
way abolish a principie or law which
preceded Moses' time by hundreds
of years!
Let's understand this point.
Notice the words of Jesus hirnself
about what he carne to do and not
to do: "Think not," he told his dis–
ciples, "that I am come to destroy
the law [the law which preceded the
rituals of Moses' time] or the proph–
ets: 1 am
not
cometo destroy, but to
fulfil" (Matthew 5: 17).
Jesus himself said he carne not to
destroy- that is, to annul or rescind
- the law, but to
fulfill
it - that is,
to fill to the full, as you would
fil1
up
a bottle with water. In other words,
Jesus carne to
keep the law,
setting
us an exarnple that we should follow
in bis steps
(1
Peter 2:21).
Did Jesus also intend the tithing
law to rernain in etfect? Yes! Notice
the warning to the Pharisees of his
time, "For verily
J
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. Whoso–
ever therefore shall break one of
these least commandments, and
shaU teach meo so, he shaU be
called the least in the kingdom of
heaven : but whosoever shall do and
teach them, the same shall be called
great
in
the kingdom of heaven"
(Matthew 5: 18-19).
Many would probably look upon
the tithing law as the "least" of
God's commandments. But Jesus
knew the hearts of men; and - he
gave clear warnings about those
who would discount any of the com–
mandments of God!
So that no one would be mistaken
on that point, Jesus Christ specifi–
cally mentioned tithing as a prin–
cipie which people ought to perform
faithfully.
Jesus was well aware of the hy–
pocrisy of the establishment. He
told his hearers, "Woe_ unto you,
PLAIN TRUTH May 1973