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© Light the Fire Ministries All rights reserved 2008
To tithe or not to tithe?
The question of is widely discussed in the body of Christ, ranging from those who tithe as a matter of law; to those who do not believe tithing to be a part of the New Testament.
Both the above positions are incorrect. Tithing is very much a part of the New Testament, but not to be done as one under the law of Moses. I would like to share with you some pertinent revelation from the Word of God regarding tithing.
First we need to establish The first instance of tithing recorded in the Word is in Genesis 14:18-20, where Abraham tithed to Melchisedec. Abraham, having just returned from an awesome military victory wrought in the power of God, is met by this Melchisedec; described as the King of Salem and the priest of the Most High God. He blessed Abraham and Abraham promptly responded by giving him a tithe of all the spoils. For Abraham to have responded in this manner, without any previous experience with regards to tithing, without the law and no recorded act of tithing in the history of man, to that point; this must have been a very significant event. So let us examine this portion of Scripture.
Melchisedec was no ordinary priest; Hebrews 7 describes him as follows:
Hebrews 7:1-4 (King James Version) For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; (2) To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; (3) Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. (4) Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
Here is the first instance of priesthood in the Bible. A priest is a mediator between man and God and here for the first time a priest appears, before the law, and one “like unto the Son of God” When reading the rest of Hebrews 7, we see that Jesus Christ is a priest according to the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 7:14-17 (King James Version) For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. (15) And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, (16) Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (17) For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.(Psalm 110:4)
So it is safe to say that Melchisedec and Jesus Christ is one and the same Person. That is why the writer of Hebrews points out that Christ’s Priesthood began before the law and the Levitical priesthood and continues for eternity after the annulling of that ineffectual priesthood. He is our eternal High Priest according to the order of Melchisedec.
So why did he serve Abraham bread and wine? He preached the Gospel to Abraham and revealed to him the future, being the birth, death and resurrection of the Christ. Consider the following scriptures:
John 8:56-58 (King James Version) Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. (57) Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? (58) Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Galatians 3:8 (King James Version) And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
After having preached the Gospel to Abraham, as priest of the Most High God, blessed Abraham. Abraham having received this awesome revelation and blessing conferred upon him; responded immediately by tithing. Why did he tithe? He, having received this blessing and having heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, immediately responded by honoring Melchisedec with .
Both the above positions are incorrect. Tithing is very much a part of the New Testament, but not to be done as one under the law of Moses. I would like to share with you some pertinent revelation from the Word of God regarding tithing.
First we need to establish The first instance of tithing recorded in the Word is in Genesis 14:18-20, where Abraham tithed to Melchisedec. Abraham, having just returned from an awesome military victory wrought in the power of God, is met by this Melchisedec; described as the King of Salem and the priest of the Most High God. He blessed Abraham and Abraham promptly responded by giving him a tithe of all the spoils. For Abraham to have responded in this manner, without any previous experience with regards to tithing, without the law and no recorded act of tithing in the history of man, to that point; this must have been a very significant event. So let us examine this portion of Scripture.
Melchisedec was no ordinary priest; Hebrews 7 describes him as follows:
Hebrews 7:1-4 (King James Version) For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; (2) To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; (3) Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. (4) Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
Here is the first instance of priesthood in the Bible. A priest is a mediator between man and God and here for the first time a priest appears, before the law, and one “like unto the Son of God” When reading the rest of Hebrews 7, we see that Jesus Christ is a priest according to the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 7:14-17 (King James Version) For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. (15) And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, (16) Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. (17) For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.(Psalm 110:4)
So it is safe to say that Melchisedec and Jesus Christ is one and the same Person. That is why the writer of Hebrews points out that Christ’s Priesthood began before the law and the Levitical priesthood and continues for eternity after the annulling of that ineffectual priesthood. He is our eternal High Priest according to the order of Melchisedec.
So why did he serve Abraham bread and wine? He preached the Gospel to Abraham and revealed to him the future, being the birth, death and resurrection of the Christ. Consider the following scriptures:
John 8:56-58 (King James Version) Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. (57) Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? (58) Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Galatians 3:8 (King James Version) And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
After having preached the Gospel to Abraham, as priest of the Most High God, blessed Abraham. Abraham having received this awesome revelation and blessing conferred upon him; responded immediately by tithing. Why did he tithe? He, having received this blessing and having heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, immediately responded by honoring Melchisedec with .
Tithing is a matter of honor, not law or exchange for the blessing. Abraham had already received the blessing and tithed in response to this blessing, not to obtain the blessing. He being a man of faith acted and tithed.
Genesis 14:19-20 (King James Version) And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: (20) And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
You and I are children of Abraham and he is the father of us all. We have been brought into Christ by faith, without the law and that because faith was before the law.
Galatians 3:7-9 (King James Version) Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (8) And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. (9) So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Romans 4:16 (King James Version) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
We, being the descendants of Abraham, having such a great High Priest as Jesus Christ, who has made us sons of God, members of His household, having blessed us with all spiritual blessings, co-heirs with Him, seated with Him in heavenly places, washed in His blood, redeemed, righteous and so much more... We should like our father Abraham respond in honoring this great High Priest with our tithes.
When the whose priesthood continues in Christ, was instituted, tithing followed. Why then would tithing cease after the law, since His priesthood had nothing to do with the law and is higher than the Levitical priesthood, which has passed away.
Hebrews 7:5-9 (King James Version) And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: (6) But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. (7) And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. (8) And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. (9) And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in .
Priesthood and tithing go together, before the law in Abraham, during the law under the Levitical priesthood and now during the eternal High Priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Under the law tithing was regulated and the people had to be told to tithe, what to tithe, how to tithe and when to tithe. However, no one instructed Abraham, he responded in faith and knew what was required. They, under the law, being natural men needed ordinances.
You are a spirit being and not under any law. You are not required to, nor instructed to tithe. Since you are a descendant of Abraham, you like your father Abraham respond in faith and follow his example in tithing, just as you followed his example in being justified by faith. You have the Holy Spirit living inside you and having the Spirit of God, know what is required and inherently desire to honor your High Priest in tithing. Just do what you know to do and manifest the blessings that have already been conferred on you in Christ Jesus.
1Corinthians 2:15 (King James Version) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1John 2:20, 27 (King James Version) But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (27) But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Tithing is all about your heart and your honoring of Jesus Christ as your High Priest; your response to the goodness and all surpassing grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, towards you.
© 2008 Stephanus Hendrik van Schalkwyk
Genesis 14:19-20 (King James Version) And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: (20) And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
You and I are children of Abraham and he is the father of us all. We have been brought into Christ by faith, without the law and that because faith was before the law.
Galatians 3:7-9 (King James Version) Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (8) And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. (9) So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Romans 4:16 (King James Version) Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
We, being the descendants of Abraham, having such a great High Priest as Jesus Christ, who has made us sons of God, members of His household, having blessed us with all spiritual blessings, co-heirs with Him, seated with Him in heavenly places, washed in His blood, redeemed, righteous and so much more... We should like our father Abraham respond in honoring this great High Priest with our tithes.
When the whose priesthood continues in Christ, was instituted, tithing followed. Why then would tithing cease after the law, since His priesthood had nothing to do with the law and is higher than the Levitical priesthood, which has passed away.
Hebrews 7:5-9 (King James Version) And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: (6) But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. (7) And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. (8) And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. (9) And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in .
Priesthood and tithing go together, before the law in Abraham, during the law under the Levitical priesthood and now during the eternal High Priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Under the law tithing was regulated and the people had to be told to tithe, what to tithe, how to tithe and when to tithe. However, no one instructed Abraham, he responded in faith and knew what was required. They, under the law, being natural men needed ordinances.
You are a spirit being and not under any law. You are not required to, nor instructed to tithe. Since you are a descendant of Abraham, you like your father Abraham respond in faith and follow his example in tithing, just as you followed his example in being justified by faith. You have the Holy Spirit living inside you and having the Spirit of God, know what is required and inherently desire to honor your High Priest in tithing. Just do what you know to do and manifest the blessings that have already been conferred on you in Christ Jesus.
1Corinthians 2:15 (King James Version) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1John 2:20, 27 (King James Version) But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (27) But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Tithing is all about your heart and your honoring of Jesus Christ as your High Priest; your response to the goodness and all surpassing grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, towards you.
© 2008 Stephanus Hendrik van Schalkwyk
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tithing
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priesthood of Melchisedec
Melchisedec
the tithe
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