What do we do with the tithe?

[jmt356]

I understand that the Israelites are to give the tithe to the Levites (see Nehemiah 10:35-39). However, Deuteronomy 12 and 14 state that the Israelites are to consume the tithe. Which is correct – give the tithe to the Levites or consume it? It hardly seems to me to be a sacrifice if the Israelites can consume it.

Here are the relevant verses from Deuteronomy 12 and 14:

Deu 12:5 "But you shall seek the place where the Lord your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place; and there you shall go.

Deu 12:6 There you shall take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, your vowed offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.

Deu 12:7 And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all to which you have put your hand, you and your households, in which the Lord your God has blessed you.
…
Deu 12:17 You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or your new wine or your oil, of the firstborn of your herd or your flock, of any of your offerings which you vow, of your freewill offerings, or of the heave offering of your hand.

Deu 12:18 But you must eat them before the Lord your God in the place which the Lord your God chooses, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in all to which you put your hands.



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

Deu 14:23 And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.

Deu 14:24 But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the Lord your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the Lord your God has blessed you,

Deu 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.

Deu 14:26 And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.

Deu 14:27 You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you.

 

[for_his_glory]

Paul in Galatians 2:19 did not say the law was dead; he said he was dead to the law. In other words the law had no authority over him because he was under grace and law and grace cannot mix, Galatians 2:21. The law is not dead as some teach. You can live under the Law if you choose, but Galatians 3:10-13 states the law is very much alive, so alive that it carries a curse with it if violated trying to live by it.

Paul never taught tithing, in truth he taught against it. Tithing is not for the born-again believer today. Tithing was incorporated into the law given to Moses, Leviticus 27:26-34. The same law where circumcision was incorporated into, Lev. 12:1-8. We do not circumcise or sacrifice animals according to the law, so why do we tithe. Romans 10:4 For Christ are the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes. Galatians 3:10-13 for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse and man is not justified by the law in the sight of God, but Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.

When you tithe, if you do not tithe correctly according to the law you will be cursed with a curse, Malachi 3:8, 9. If you tithe correctly you will get blessings poured out upon you, Malachi 3:10. The blessings are not just all about money for there are many different types of blessings. In truth, if you tithe correctly the blessings of God would be overflowing in your life. Some of you, like myself, have been tithing and tithing and nothing has changed in your life. If the way tithing has been taught by man than all the ministries that have been teaching tithing for years should have so much money they would not have enough room to store it all and the banks would be overflowing with all the money you should be receiving by the way man has taught us for years.

Tithing has never been taught to be money in the scriptures. Tithing has put people under bondage and a lot of people need to be set free from the bondage law of 10%. Most people cannot afford to give 10% of their paycheck. They would not have time to count out 10% of all their perishable and nonperishable food items and bring them into Gods storehouse. The laws given to Moses in Leviticus 27 required all this. The storehouses that God was talking about was storing up food to feed the priest and scribes in the temple so they could be about those things of the Lord and not have to worry about what they should eat or how to provide food for themselves.

You can give 10% when you know the truth. When you do not know the truth and you are tithing because you are told to tithe this is called tithing under the Old Testament law. God does not honor this today. Just because we do not know the truth, this does not change God's word. We have all tithed. To this day has anybody ever showed you in the Bible where tithing is money? You have just taken mans word for it all these years.

The God I serve and read about in the Bible is not a God that would expect you to give the babies milk money to him. He would not expect your family to go without twenty dollars worth of food so you can give the last 20 to the church. Even the women with the two mites gave her last from the heart and not because she had to, but because she wanted to. If tithing meant money in today's world we would need ten or twelve banks just to hold our money. See, the over abundance is not happening. Tithing is nothing more than good intentions and good intentions do not get you your blessings. The only thing that is going to set you free is the truth of the word of God. Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith; these ought to have been done and not to leave the other undone. See, the hypocrites do these things for show, but they do not give out of love. They give because they were told to do so.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Which is correct – give the tithe to the Levites or consume it?

Both.

In years one and two you eat your tithe in rejoicing before the Lord, sharing some with the Levite (and, presumably, the fatherless, the widow, and the foreigner among you as well). But every third year you give it all to be put into the storehouse for distribution to the Levite, the orphan, the widow, and the foreigner.

28“At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. 29“The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied - Deuteronomy 14:28-29

Yeah, I know. That's not how the church teaches it. That's why we're supposed to be Bereans and check these things out for ourselves instead of just letting teachers and preachers tell us what the Bible says and what it means.

I'm glad to see people's eyes finally being opened to what the Bible really says about how to tithe. Teachers and preachers who came into the ministry to get rich need to know they can't deceive us anymore about tithing/giving. They need to go back to selling cars. Unless they don't mind only getting paid every third year, lol.

 

[jasonc]

Both.

In years one and two you eat your tithe in rejoicing before the Lord, sharing some with the Levite (and, presumably, the fatherless, the widow, and the foreigner among you as well). But every third year you give it all to be put into the storehouse for distribution to the Levite, the orphan, the widow, and the foreigner.

28“At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town. 29“The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied - Deuteronomy 14:28-29

Yeah, I know. That's not how the church teaches it. That's why we're supposed to be Bereans and check these things out for ourselves instead of just letting teachers and preachers tell us what the Bible says and what it means.

I'm glad to see people's eyes finally being opened to what the Bible really says about how to tithe. Teachers and preachers who came into the ministry to get rich need to know they can't deceive us anymore about tithing/giving. They need to go back to selling cars.

not that I disagree, I personally have tithed like this and only under those that I knew were stewards of the money. these preached against things like you say and still do.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

not that I disagree, I personally have tithed like this and only under those that I knew were stewards of the money. these preached against things like you say and still do.

I'm personally okay with tithing. Not because it's a law, though, that's for sure. I just know God does not forget about the person who gives to the needy and those in ministry. A tenth just seems to be a good benchmark for giving. And it's true that you can not out give God, whether you give 1%, 5%, 10%, or 80%.

Folks, just remember Deuteronomy 14 when teachers and preachers start pressing you for your tithe. And as most of us know, they will.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

It hardly seems to me to be a sacrifice if the Israelites can consume it.

It signifies the overflow and abundance and goodness of God.
You yourself feast on it with thanksgiving, and you give it out to those around you for them to enjoy, too.
This applies to everything the Lord gives.
The blessings of God are not just for everyone else's benefit. They're for us too.

 

[jasonc]

ralph , you can tithe to ralph. that what you can do. but seriously, its not a legal command but one shouldn't eschew giving

 

[for_his_glory]

I understand that the Israelites are to give the tithe to the Levites (see Nehemiah 10:35-39). However, Deuteronomy 12 and 14 state that the Israelites are to consume the tithe. Which is correct – give the tithe to the Levites or consume it? It hardly seems to me to be a sacrifice if the Israelites can consume it.

When the Israelite's crossed over the Jordan River into the land of the Canaanites God gave them instruction to first pull down all the pagan worship centers, the groves and the altars of the Canaanites. Then there were to be specific worship centers set up for the Lord. The tithe was to be brought before the Lord at these places. They were to bring their tithe and then feast in His presence.

The tithe was also intended as provision for the Levites who were the religious leaders and social leaders of the community. The tithe was to create a provision for the Levites who were not given an inheritance of land to farm. Their provision and also the provision for widows and orphans was to come from the tithe.

There was another instruction in Deuteronomy 14 that if the town that God designated was too far away to drag their fruit, grain and oxen then they could sell it in their town, take the money with them, and repurchase what they needed when they arrived at the designated place God told them to go to.

 

[jmt356]

for_his_glory: I disagree with your contention that we are not under an obligation to tithe under the New Covenant because Paul did not preach the tithe. Just because Paul did not preach something does not mean that it is not required of us. Jesus made clear in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42 that we are under an obligation to tithe.

We are required to tithe “everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees” (Lev 27:30). However, this must be read within the context of an agrarian people. In the current context of modern society, we are to tithe on our income because we are not farmers.

The question then becomes: What are we do to with our tithe? Should we give it to the Levites, as commanded in Nehemiah 10? Or should we consume it, as commanded in Deuteronomy 12 and 14? Or should we give it to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow in the third year (the year of tithing), and consume it in the other years?

Jethro Bodine: I am not sure I agree with your interpretation of Scripture. As I read Leviticus 27 and Numbers 21, we are required to tithe all of our increase. Consider:

• Lev 27:30 "'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.
• Num 18:29 You must present as the LORD's portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.'

We are to give this to the Levites (see Numbers 18:21 and Nehemiah 10:37-39).

However, Deuteronomy 12:2-18 and Deuteronomy 14:22-27 state that we are to consume the tithe. In contrast, Deuteronomy 14:28-29 and Deuteronomy 26:12-15 state that we are to give the tithe to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow in the third year (the Year of Tithing).

As I read the scripture, we must always tithe. While it is unclear what we are supposed to do with the tithe in the first and second years, it is clear that we are to give the tithe to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow in the third year. As for years one and two, if Numbers 18:21 and Nehemiah 10:37-39 govern, we must give the tithe to the Levite. However, if Deuteronomy 12:2-18 and Deuteronomy 14:22-27 govern, then we must consume the tithe.

I question whether Deuteronomy 12:2-18 and Deuteronomy 14:22-27 can be correct. I was always taught that the tithe is about self-sacrifice. It does not seem like self-sacrifice if we are to consume the tithe or trade it for money and spend the money on “whatever your heart desires” (see Deuteronomy 14:24-26). Perhaps there is some mistranslation of Deuteronomy 12:2-18 and Deuteronomy 14:22-27 at play or some other explanation, but I just cannot accept as correct that we are to consume the tithe or spend it on ourselves in years 1 and 2 and only give it to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow in year 3.

Also, if your proposed interpretation is applied, then the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow would starve in years 1 and 2.

 

[for_his_glory]

for_his_glory: I disagree with your contention that we are not under an obligation to tithe under the New Covenant because Paul did not preach the tithe. Just because Paul did not preach something does not mean that it is not required of us. Jesus made clear in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42 that we are under an obligation to tithe.

We are required to tithe “everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees” (Lev 27:30). However, this must be read within the context of an agrarian people. In the current context of modern society, we are to tithe on our income because we are not farmers.

How are we suppose to tithe according to Leviticus 27:26-34 that explains the tithe which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai. It was man, not God, that decided to change God's command making tithing to be 10% of your money.

There is a curse that comes with tithing in the wrong way as God commanded. Jesus was made an end to the curse of the law. This is why under the new covenant of God's grace we are no longer commanded to tithe as many do not raise cattle, goats, sheep or plant fields. We are to give from our heart with judgement, mercy and faith. That's the problem with modern society as the Bible is not socially acceptable as man for century's has been adding to and taking away from it

Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Luke 11:42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 43 Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.

In Matthew chapter 23 and Luke 11:42, 43 Jesus characterizes and then condemns the Pharisees. Jesus condemns them for the way they tithed as being a haughty act neglecting more important things like God's judgement, mercy and faith.

The question then becomes: What are we do to with our tithe? Should we give it to the Levites, as commanded in Nehemiah 10? Or should we consume it, as commanded in Deuteronomy 12 and 14? Or should we give it to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow in the third year (the year of tithing), and consume it in the other years?

The question is, are you and Israelite who is under the Leviticus law or are you under grace through faith that is Christ Jesus who made an end to the curse of the law, Galatians 3:10-14?

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Also read Matthew 25:31-40 as this is what we are to do with our offerings done unto the Lord.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

As I read the scripture, we must always tithe. While it is unclear what we are supposed to do with the tithe in the first and second years, it is clear that we are to give the tithe to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow in the third year. As for years one and two, if Numbers 18:21 and Nehemiah 10:37-39 govern, we must give the tithe to the Levite. However, if Deuteronomy 12:2-18 and Deuteronomy 14:22-27 govern, then we must consume the tithe.

They both govern. If you ignore the details of how to tithe in Deuteronomy 14 you create a false doctrine from Numbers 18. Virtually all false doctrine is created by not considering all that the Bible says about a topic. That's why it's important for believers to read and study the Bible for themselves and not rely on paid clergy to do that for you.

I question whether Deuteronomy 12:2-18 and Deuteronomy 14:22-27 can be correct.

Don't.
Just thoughtfully search for how seemingly contrary passages of scripture can be reconciled with each other. Usually, one fits inside the other, as in the example of the tithing passages. The more detailed passage takes precedent. You settle many of the church's supposedly undetermined truths by doing this.

In the current context of modern society, we are to tithe on our income because we are not farmers.

I agree.
If you are convinced that you must tithe then do so, because you're sinning if you don't (read Romans 14). Just remember that the tithe is from your increase. That means you subtract everything you spent to get your paycheck and compute 10% of what's left. That's your profit. Then distribute the computed tithe as you see fit for two years (don't forget those in ministry), then give it all to those in ministry and poor people in the third. But I think you are entitled to give it all away in all years if you want to.

It does not seem like self-sacrifice if we are to consume the tithe or trade it for money and spend the money on “whatever your heart desires” (see Deuteronomy 14:24-26). Perhaps there is some mistranslation of Deuteronomy 12:2-18 and Deuteronomy 14:22-27 at play or some other explanation, but I just cannot accept as correct that we are to consume the tithe or spend it on ourselves in years 1 and 2 and only give it to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow in year 3.

Just accept it and move on. Don't start wondering if a part of the Bible is true or not. That's a dead end road in my opinion. If you cut out part of the Bible now you'll be tempted to cut out more of it later when the desires of life tempt you to do that.

As far as you eating it, be aware that the fellowship offering was consumed by the worshiper.

Also, if your proposed interpretation is applied, then the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow would starve in years 1 and 2.

No, the Levite gets a share of your tithe all the time. And the law has other provisions for feeding the poor like allowing them to glean fields after the field has been harvested by the owner.

 

[jmt356]

for_his_glory:

Leviticus 27 states:

Lev 27:30 A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.

Lev 27:31 Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it.

Lev 27:32 Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod—will be holy to the LORD.

This is to be interpreted in light of Deu 14:22, which states, "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year.”

The tithe is about the increase. If you had 100 animals in the first year and 10 more were born in the second year, then you are required to tithe on the 10 by giving one animal to the Levites. This is because the tithe is calculated not on the tither’s ownership of property, but on his increase.

However, I do not believe the tithe was meant to be literally interpreted to apply to only the increase in the land (i.e., grain, fruit and livestock). The increase in the land was the currency at the time, so the tithe was expressed in terms of the increase in the land, but I believe (though I might be wrong), the tithe was to be paid by all of the Israelites for all of their increase. So if a carpenter constructed and sold 100 chairs, then the currency (grain) he received for 10% of those chairs (i.e., 10 chairs) would need to be tithed to the Levites. Therefore, as I understand the tithe, all of the Israelites were expected to pay it, even if they were not farmers that had land. If even the Levites were expected to pay it (see Number 18:26-29), then surely the Benjamite or Judan who was a carpenter, a cook or a tentmaker would have had to pay the tithe along with his fellow farmers as well.

In modern society, which is largely no longer agrarian, the “increase” is our income. Man has not made it, as you say, “10% of your money.” Any church that teaches this is wrong. You can have $1 million in the bank, but unless you have an income, you do not tithe. And if you have $1 million in the bank and your income is only $10, then you tithe only $1, not $100,000 or $100,001.

Therefore, we are not to interpret the Old Testament commands to tithe 10% of the grain, fruit and livestock to the Levite literally. In today’s context, the grain, fruit and livestock is our monetary income and the Levite is our local church and pastor, to whom we must tithe 10%.

I am not suggesting we tithe with a haughty attitude and ignore the weightier matters of the law. I am suggesting that we address the weighty matters of the law while also tithing.

No, the Levite gets a share of your tithe all the time. And the law has other provisions for feeding the poor like allowing them to glean fields after the field has been harvested by the owner.

Jethro Bodine:

Nehemiah 10:37 says that we are to give the tithe to the Levites, but this must be understood in the light of Deuteronomy 12, 14 and 26, which make clear that the Israelites are to consume the tithe or exchange it for money and spend it on themselves in years 1 and 2 and only give the tithe to the Levites, the stranger, the widow and the orphan in year 3. The following verses are of significance:

Deu 12:6 There you shall take your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, your vowed offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.

Deu 12:7 And there you shall eat before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice in all to which you have put your hand, you and your households, in which the Lord your God has blessed you.

Deu 12:17 You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or your new wine or your oil, of the firstborn of your herd or your flock, of any of your offerings which you vow, of your freewill offerings, or of the heave offering of your hand.

Deu 12:18 But you must eat them before the Lord your God in the place which the Lord your God chooses, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God in all to which you put your hands.

Deu 14:23 And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.

…

Deu 14:26 And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the Lord your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.

Deu 14:28 "At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates.

Deu 14:29 And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

Deu 26:12 "When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your increase in the third year--the year of tithing--and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be filled,

Deu 26:13 then you shall say before the Lord your God: 'I have removed the holy tithe from my house, and also have given them to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed Your commandments, nor have I forgotten them.



As these verses make clear, the tithe is to be consumed by the Israelites in years 1 and 2 and given to the Levites, the stranger, the orphan and the widow in years 2 and 3.

 

[Blood Bought 1953]

I don’t remember where I got this......I thought it was worth putting out there....


New Covenant Giving


God would never expect someone to give more than they have available but to give “according to what one has."
Today, under a new and better covenant, we are not under the legalistic requirements of the tithe because if we were, then we’d have to also be giving the three tithes as required by the Law in the Old Testament. As James said, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it" (James 2:10). If you’re going to tell others that the tithe is still binding, then you’re going to have to pay the second and third tithe also. Every year that means that you should be giving 20% of your gross income, because the tithe was a 10% of everything you had and every third year you’d be required to pay 30% gross of everything you had for the year; allocated for the poor. You can not keep some of the Law and not all of it. The same thing goes for the Sabbath. For those who try to keep the Sabbath the way it was required in the Old Testament, then you couldn’t even start your car (no fires could be started), you couldn’t drive to church (couldn’t travel that far on the Sabbath), you couldn’t even prepare meals on the Sabbath…unless you’re willing to be stoned!
A Cheerful Giver


God cares less about how muchyou give as He does about your attitude of giving. Let your conscience guide your giving, or as Paul says, “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 Cor 9:7). Paul wrote, “But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced" (Phil 1:14). This does not mean that it’ll make you happier just to give tiny amounts. Paul thought of that as he wrote, “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully" (2 Cor 9:6).

 

[jmt356]

Blood Bought 1953:

You wrote that if keeping the Old Testament law, then every year:

“you should be giving 20% of your gross income, because the tithe was a 10% of everything you had and every third year you’d be required to pay 30% gross of everything you had for the year; allocated for the poor.”

However, the Bible does not require a tithe of 20% of gross income, nor does it required payment of 30% gross of everything owned. The word “tithe” comes from the Old English tēotha, which in the ordinal sense means “tenth,” not “twentieth” or “thirtieth.”

This is what the Bible requires:
- A tithe (10%) of everything from the land (grain and fruit) (Lev 27:30)
- A tithe (10%) of the produce of the year (Deu 14:28)
- An additional 20% of the tithe (i.e., 2% of the 10% tithe, for a total of 12%) if the tithe is redeemed (Lev 27:31)
- A tithe (10%) of the herd and flock (every tenth animal) (Lev 27:32)

Also, there is no requirement to pay a percentage over “everything you had for the year.” The tithe is not a wealth tax. It does not look at everything you have or own. It is an income tax. It only looks at your “increase” (Deu 26:12) (i.e., whatever you have this year that you did not have last year). If in 2019, you had 100 bottles of wine and in 2020 you had 110, you would tithe 1 bottle (10% of 10), not 11 bottles (10% of 110).

 

[Edward]

The question then becomes: What are we do to with our tithe? Should we give it to the Levites, as commanded in Nehemiah 10? Or should we consume it, as commanded in Deuteronomy 12 and 14? Or should we give it to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow in the third year (the year of tithing), and consume it in the other years?

Jethro Bodine: I am not sure I agree with your interpretation of Scripture. As I read Leviticus 27 and Numbers 21, we are required to tithe all of our increase. Consider:

• Lev 27:30 "'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.
• Num 18:29 You must present as the LORD's portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.'

When it comes right down to it, I agree with you. If that in Leviticus & Numbers was valid then then Jesus [aid the price so it is all His now, not to mention that the Lord does not change. So I can see the tithe obligation. But it's like you say, things are a bit different now in that we work for money and are not farmers. So, what to do with the tithe?

Through study and prayer and the Word, I learned that...we should treat our gross pay as first fruits, and that it is ok to pay your tithes wherever your heart tells you to. This could be to a church or directly to the poor and needy. Wherever there is a need. The key is, with a good heart and intention and never making a point of saying this is my tithe to the Lord when you help someone. Don't let the left hand know what your right is doing.

That's what I do. I am at peace in my spirit about going about it this way.

 

[Blood Bought 1953]

Blood Bought 1953:

You wrote that if keeping the Old Testament law, then every year:

“you should be giving 20% of your gross income, because the tithe was a 10% of everything you had and every third year you’d be required to pay 30% gross of everything you had for the year; allocated for the poor.”

However, the Bible does not require a tithe of 20% of gross income, nor does it required payment of 30% gross of everything owned. The word “tithe” comes from the Old English tēotha, which in the ordinal sense means “tenth,” not “twentieth” or “thirtieth.”

This is what the Bible requires:
- A tithe (10%) of everything from the land (grain and fruit) (Lev 27:30)
- A tithe (10%) of the produce of the year (Deu 14:28)
- An additional 20% of the tithe (i.e., 2% of the 10% tithe, for a total of 12%) if the tithe is redeemed (Lev 27:31)
- A tithe (10%) of the herd and flock (every tenth animal) (Lev 27:32)

Also, there is no requirement to pay a percentage over “everything you had for the year.” The tithe is not a wealth tax. It does not look at everything you have or own. It is an income tax. It only looks at your “increase” (Deu 26:12) (i.e., whatever you have this year that you did not have last year). If in 2019, you had 100 bottles of wine and in 2020 you had 110, you would tithe 1 bottle (10% of 10), not 11 bottles (10% of 110).

Nobody should be concerned about all of these complex formulas for calculating Tithes.....The Tithe was a system devised under the Law— The Old Covenant.It does not apply to those under the New and Better Covenant after the Cross....If one is a member of the Body of Christ, that person gives whatever they “ want” to give.....God is looking for “ cheerful” givers— NOT those that do it under a sense of Obligation. God isn’t going to come and “ get you” if you fail to Tithe.....If one chooses not to give, they just hurt themselves.....Paul said that the more you give the more you get.....be rich in Eternity or be Poor.....the choice is ours....” Build up your Treasure in Heaven”
On an important side note — God ORDERS us to share materially with the man who gave you the Gospel that lead to your Salvation....Why do we never hear about that?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

— God ORDERS us to share materially with the man who gave you the Gospel that lead to your Salvation....Why do we never hear about that?

Because the church calls it tithing.

"bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, 29so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied " - Deuteronomy 14:28-29

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[Blood Bought 1953]

Because the church calls it tithing.

"bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, 29so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied " - Deuteronomy 14:28-29

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That would make the Church mistaken......Tithing means NOTHING in the Age Of Grace......failure to Tithe is no worse than failure to trim your beards
Paul was against Tithing but STILL insisted that you “ share materially” with the one who brought you the Gospel.....nothing mentioned about one tenth, three tenths , etc......not even a “ day” to share is mentioned.
Anybody who finds Salvation through the teachings of a certain Preacher wont have to be Told what to give or when to give it ....it will come naturally.....If things are done in the right Spirit, no one will be able to “ keep” the Newly Saved man from “ sharing materially” with the one who delivers the Gospel Message to him and the joy and peace of mind that accompanies it.....

 

[Jethro Bodine]

That would make the Church mistaken......Tithing means NOTHING in the Age Of Grace......failure to Tithe is no worse than failure to trim your beards
Paul was against Tithing but STILL insisted that you “ share materially” with the one who brought you the Gospel.....nothing mentioned about one tenth, three tenths , etc......not even a “ day” to share is mentioned.
Anybody who finds Salvation through the teachings of a certain Preacher wont have to be Told what to give or when to give it ....it will come naturally.....If things are done in the right Spirit, no one will be able to “ keep” the Newly Saved man from “ sharing materially” with the one who delivers the Gospel Message to him and the joy and peace of mind that accompanies it.....

I suppose this is as close as you're going to get when it comes to a 'law' of giving in the New Covenant:

"2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made." - 1 Corinthians 16:2

 

[Who Me]

Only problem Paul isn't talking about an offering, but about a collection for those in need else where.

There is no law about giving for the Christians only the challenge that under a far greater promise, how can a Christian give less than what was required by the law and remember the tithe was only the start of a devout Jews giving.