Do we then nullify the law by this faith? Not at all !! Rather we uphold the law. ''
Dear People of God, let us understand why tithing is important and how it needs to be practised with due diligence.
Dear People of God, let us understand why tithing is important and how it needs to be practised with due diligence.
To begin with I would like to quote some Scriptures from the New Testament where Jesus instructs about Tithing.
'' Matthew 23 :1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples : 'The teachers of the law and the Pharsees sit in Moses' seat.So you must obey them and do everything they tell you.' ''
'' Matthew 23:23 '' Woe to you , teachers of the Law and Pharsees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the Law - justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practised the latter, without neglecting the former.'' ''
( In Matthew 23:23 the term ''Latter'' implies practising Justice, Mercy and Faithfulness - and the term ''Former'' implies giving tenth of spices.)
In this above scripture, where Jesus was addressing the Pharisees, HE has clearly instructed that tithing is something that one must not neglect.
Jesus, being the very Son of God, came to fulfill the Father's Law, but not to nullify it.
And gave us instructions on various things that should govern our walk with God.
When Jesus told the crowds not to disobey the teachings of the Pharisees ( Matt 23:1), and quoted in the teaching He was giving to pharisees ( Matt23:23 ) not to neglect giving tithes, He clearly affirms that HE WANTS HIS PEOPLE TO GIVE TITHES TO GOD WITHOUT FAIL.
And when we obey His word, its only then God's love will be truly made complete in us.
Withholding tithes is nothing but robbing God:
Jesus paid the price and bore the punishment of the Law and granted us redemption in HIS name. He came to fulfill the Law, but not to make the law itself void ( Rom 3:31).
Hence in Malachi it is specified as ''tithes and offerings.''
'' 2 Corinthians 9 : 6-8 Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and who ever sows generously will also reap generously.Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.''
'' 2 Corinthians 8:7 But just as you excel in everything - in Faith , in speech , in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us - see that you also excel in this grace of giving. ''
Having understood this, lets move further and understand what Peter has foretold about ''Error of lawlessness'' that is making most of our fellow believers stumble in keeping this command.
'' Matthew 23 :1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples : 'The teachers of the law and the Pharsees sit in Moses' seat.So you must obey them and do everything they tell you.' ''
'' Matthew 23:23 '' Woe to you , teachers of the Law and Pharsees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the Law - justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practised the latter, without neglecting the former.'' ''
( In Matthew 23:23 the term ''Latter'' implies practising Justice, Mercy and Faithfulness - and the term ''Former'' implies giving tenth of spices.)
In this above scripture, where Jesus was addressing the Pharisees, HE has clearly instructed that tithing is something that one must not neglect.
Jesus, being the very Son of God, came to fulfill the Father's Law, but not to nullify it.
And gave us instructions on various things that should govern our walk with God.
And we all know that when He gave us his two commandments, He did not actually cancel the ten commandments God has given through Moses, but those ten commandments are imbibed in the two.
''Matthew 5:17 -19
Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest
Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest
letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
Anyone who breaks one of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.''
Anyone who breaks one of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.''
Let's read the same instruction on tithes, from Luke:
'' Luke 11:42 ''Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God.You should have practised the latter without leaving the former undone.'' ''
In Jesus, Word became flesh and the instructions of the Law are written on our hearts and Jesus had paid the total price of the Law as we are too weak to observe all the rules and regulations God wanted his people to observe, which were basically described in the first 5 books of the Old Testament.
Let us read briefly from Isaiah 51:6,7,8
Let us read briefly from Isaiah 51:6,7,8
'' Hear me you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: ''
''My righteousness will never fail...''
''My righteousness will last forever ... ''
Dear people, Jesus is our Righteousness. We cannot be called righteous by our own acts, but by only accepting Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, and by following all the instructions He has given us.
''1 John 2:4 The man who says ''I know him,'' but does not do what he commands is a liar,and the truth is not in him. But if anyone who obeys his word God's love is truly made complete in him. ''
Jesus has affirmed in Matthew 23:23 that tithing should not be neglected.
''My righteousness will never fail...''
''My righteousness will last forever ... ''
Dear people, Jesus is our Righteousness. We cannot be called righteous by our own acts, but by only accepting Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, and by following all the instructions He has given us.
''1 John 2:4 The man who says ''I know him,'' but does not do what he commands is a liar,and the truth is not in him. But if anyone who obeys his word God's love is truly made complete in him. ''
Jesus has affirmed in Matthew 23:23 that tithing should not be neglected.
The words of God are flawless.
There is no duplication or confusion or manipulation.
When Jesus told the crowds not to disobey the teachings of the Pharisees ( Matt 23:1), and quoted in the teaching He was giving to pharisees ( Matt23:23 ) not to neglect giving tithes, He clearly affirms that HE WANTS HIS PEOPLE TO GIVE TITHES TO GOD WITHOUT FAIL.
And when we obey His word, its only then God's love will be truly made complete in us.
Withholding tithes is nothing but robbing God:
'' Malachi 4 : 8 -10 But you ask 'How do we rob you?' ''In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse -the whole nation of you - because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the store house that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,'' says the Lord Almighty,
''and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.''
Let us not bring curses upon ourselves by presuming that Jesus had paid the price and tithing is followed in the old testament as a Law and therefore it need not be observed now because we live under the grace and not under the Law - Such presumption is nothing but distortion of truth.
Jesus paid the price and bore the punishment of the Law and granted us redemption in HIS name. He came to fulfill the Law, but not to make the law itself void ( Rom 3:31).
And He has very clearly stated in His teachings that giving tithes is something one should not leave undone.
Needless to say, giving tithes doesn't mean you must limit your giving to only tithe.
Needless to say, giving tithes doesn't mean you must limit your giving to only tithe.
Hence in Malachi it is specified as ''tithes and offerings.''
'' Malachi 3:8 ''But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' ''In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse - the whole nation of you-because you are robbing me.'' ''
Offering is something which we give cheerfully to God, from the material blessings HE gives us. And this does not have any specific limit. The word of God tells us that God loves a cheerful giver and that we should not give reluctantly or under compulsion. ( 2 Corinthians 9:7)
This giving is based on our hearts and it is the offering that we give into the kingdom of God. This is different from giving of tithes.
This giving is based on our hearts and it is the offering that we give into the kingdom of God. This is different from giving of tithes.
Tithes, as the word of God declares, BELONG TO GOD.
So giving our tithe is a duty that must be done with due diligence.
After we give out to God what belongs to God, from the remaining comes our offerings that we must cheerfully give according to how much we decide to give into God's kingdom - without being reluctant or being forced.
'' 2 Corinthians 9 : 6-8 Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and who ever sows generously will also reap generously.Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.''
'' 2 Corinthians 8:7 But just as you excel in everything - in Faith , in speech , in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us - see that you also excel in this grace of giving. ''
Having understood this, lets move further and understand what Peter has foretold about ''Error of lawlessness'' that is making most of our fellow believers stumble in keeping this command.
Continued in Part 2:
Link: Tithes - Error Of Lawlessness ForetoldGod Bless You.
