NOTE: This was recently uploaded here in because this site is new. However, it was first published in 2016
Greetings!
I am Harry Agina, and this is your Socio-Political Critic, “No Bullshitting.” This is another Sunday, another good day for me to veer away from political commentaries and talk about some of the things that I see in the contemporary Christendom as Bullshit! I guess I can never apologize enough for my slogan—Bullshit—because I do understand it’s connotation of being uncouth in language, especially with today being a holy day. Do indulge me, will you.
Pentecostal pastors today preach to their flocks that a Christian that does not pay tithe to them is committing the heaviest sin on earth, and he or she is doomed to poverty and eventual hellfire. I am really sick and tired of listening to that crap! Nothing is farther from the truth!
I want to start by declaring my two key positions, which I will push in this discourse to debunk this new-wave extortionist doctrine. First, I insist that A CHRISTIAN CAN ACTUALLY PAY TITHE WITHOUT GIVING IT TO A PASTOR. My argument down the line on the origin and purpose of tithe will support my position, offering my reasons for the disqualification of MOST of the present day pastors from receiving tithe. Secondly, I DECLARE THAT TITHE IN THE BIBLE IS TIED TO EXTRA BLESSINGS FOR IMPROVED ‘HARVEST’ OR INCOME; it says nothing about heaven or hell.
God has given many of us Christians the common sense, or “spirit of discernment,” which we constantly pray for, but many of us are often unaware when our prayers are answered. Those of us that try to discern, are accused of blasphemy, or the popular one—being judgmental! In my effort to be insightful and objective, I have sought the expertise and opinions of individuals who are versed in the Holy Bible. I am extra careful about discussing tithe and tithing because it presents a very sensitive dilemma for me.
On the one hand, I am worried that my reader may misconstrue any comment that I make here as condemning tithing, which would be tantamount to challenging an ancient commandment of God. I certainly don’t want that stigma; I would never dare to challenge God. On the other hand, I believe that keeping quiet about what is going on about tithe in the contemporary Christendom is much worse than any mistake that I may ‘innocently’ commit in discussing it. The divine command of tithe has been highly abused by contemporary pastors, especially in Nigeria, who extort Christians through willful, mischievous misrepresentation of tithe.
It was for this dilemma that I had resolved to entirely avoid the subject of tithe in the first edition of this book when it was published in the United States of America in 2010. However, that decision was before I came across Aloysius Attah’s story about the demand for 20% tithe by the pastor of “Land of Canaan and Calvary Deliverance” Church in Onitsha, Southeastern Nigeria. The story inspired me to express my feelings about the concept of tithe, albeit cautiously. You may choose to disbelieve this, but I am truly one of the people on earth that Baba God has chosen to save a few people in Nigeria, maybe beyond, from the self-serving brainwash-spells of some of our so-called pastors. As usual, I will base my argument on biblical facts, with sincere interpretations that are devoid of self-serving motives of the new-wave pastors. Mind you, this is not to say that all my postulations are perfect; but they certainly are sincere, and I stand to be corrected with superior arguments on the veracity of my statements. I sure will give my opponent a great run for his or her money in the argument!
Yes indeed, caution is my watch word on this subject; I certainly do not want my views to be misconstrued as challenging the commandment of God. My first statement of caution is that I do believe in the concept of tithe in the Christendom, because it is contained in the Holy Bible as a direct commandment to the people of Israel by God, thus:
“Bring one-tenth of your income into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way, says the Lord of Armies. See if I won’t open the windows of heaven for you and flood you with blessings. Then, for your sake I will stop insects from eating your crops. They will not destroy the produce of your land. The vines in your field will not lose their unripened grapes,’ says the Lord of Armies. ‘All nations will call you blessed because you will be a delightful land,’ says the Lord of Armies.”
The above passage comes from the Book of Malachi, chapter 3; verses 10 to 12. I certainly have no problem with the commandment; God forbid! My bone of contention here is the interpretation and application of the commandment by contemporary Christians. Consistent with the general theme of this book, I insist that many Christians interpret the passage erroneously. Some do so out of ignorance or lack of the capacity to understand the scripture due to illiteracy, or other reasons. Others willfully misinterpret the scripture with the clear intention to deceive fellow Christians, for self-enrichment. They base most of their misguiding indoctrination on the above passage in Malachi, capitalizing on the fact that the passage does not stipulate exactly how and when to “bring one-tenth of your income into the storehouse.” It also does not say where the “storehouse” is to be located and in whose custody, or who benefits from it and how. The funky pastors capitalize on this situation of ambiguity to extort their fellow Christians, underplaying more detailed/explicit passages, such as Deuteronomy chapter 14. Mind you, Malachi does not contradict Deuteronomy in any form at all. The only difference is that, whereas Malachi does not state the two forms of tithe and exactly how they are to be utilized; Deuteronomy does clearly stipulate everything.
My argument on the topic of tithe is segmented into two stages or eras in my life. There’s the old era when I only knew about tithe as written in Malachi chapter 3. Then, my new era, which was ushered-in in January 2014 by a lady that I encountered during a small-group discussion, or should I say, debate, on the topic of tithe—a very excitable, sanguine character named Mrs. Jacqueline Uche Aniesona (nee Ikeotuonye). She re-introduced me to chapters 12 and 14 of the Book of Deuteronomy, with a new understanding about tithe. I say re-introduced, because I had actually gone through the entire Holy Bible once, from Genesis to Revelation, you know, the novel type of reading, before my fateful encounter with Mrs. Aniesona. But, in spite of my reading, I was still ignorant of the facts about tithe; just as guilty as so many Nigerian Christians today.
Now check this out! I never really assimilated what I had read in Deuteronomy chapters 12 and 14 in those earlier readings. Because, my eyes only actually saw what my memory wanted to see—the same old doctrine that has been handed down to us from the architects, and imprinted in our minds—which says that we must regularly give ten percent of all our earnings to our pastors. According to Deuteronomy 14 (22-29), this doctrine is half-truth, at best. It is the result of a masterful tactic to draw undue attention of Christians to Malachi 3, which has a certain ambiguity that pastors capitalize on to make their flocks to pay outrageous tithe to them.
Let’s break this down, shall we. Tithe is discussed in at least sixteen passages in the bible (by my count as listed at the end of this treatise), and one of them is Malachi—the last chapter of the Old Testament—chapter 3, verse 10. Of this number of mentions, at least four are in the New Testament, after the arrival of Jesus Christ on the scene. The passages that interest me quite a bit in the New Testament are Mathew 23, verse 23, and Luke 11, verse 42—where Christ rebuked the scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites who paid so much attention to tithe; without actually obeying the “more important” commandments that Moses had taught them, thus:
Matthew 23:23 (Latino Heritage Translation–LHT): “HOW HORRIBLE IT WILL BE FOR YOU, SCRIBES AND PHARISEES! YOU HYPOCRITES! YOU GIVE GOD ONE-TENTH OF YOUR MINT, DILL, AND CUMIN. BUT YOU HAVE NEGLECTED JUSTICE, MERCY AND FAITHFULNESS. THESE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IN MOSES’ TEACHINGS. YOU SHOULD HAVE DONE THESE THINGS WITHOUT NEGLECTING THE OTHERS.”
Luke 11:42 (KJV): “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.”
Now, are you beginning to see why I say that funky pastors lie about the “heavy-sin” tag that they put on non-payment of tithe to them? Mind you, I am not suggesting that Christ condemned tithing outright; but he did say in plain language that it is not as important as the virtues that Moses had taught them, such as loving one another. You “have omitted the WEIGHTIER MATTERS…” says the Lord, according to the King James Version of Mathew 23:23. The Latino Heritage Translation states it in simpler English—“These (justice, mercy & faithfulness) are the most important things in Moses’ Teachings.”
This is simple English clearly written in the bible, and no amount of deceitful (‘wayo wayo’) interpretation by any funky pastor can change it. But this is not what today’s tithe-hungry pastors want us to know; they are brainwashing their followers with the doctrine that Christians who do not pay tithe have committed the worst sin, will never prosper, and will go to hell when they die.
Remember—before Malachi 3, the tithe commandment is discussed in at least eleven passages. Many of those passages, especially Deuteronomy chapter 14, verses 22 to 29, give more enlightening details than Malachi 3. But today’s pastors only choose to quote Malachi, which is in the 12th chronological position in the bible. Read on, and you will see my scripture-supported statement of the reasons for the popularity of Malachi. I will argue through Deuteronomy that today’s pastors are making Christians to pay more tithe than what God commanded or commands. And, grievously, there is another stipulation of the Commandment that they disobey—they are spending tithe on wrong purposes. The strict purpose of tithe according to the Bible is TO FEED THE NEEDY IN THE SOCIETY! Tithe is definitely not to be spent on church-building, or purchase of church furniture or anything else than feed the needy, period!!! Read on, and I will bring your attention to the bible passage on how and why the Levites/pastors were/are included among THE NEEDY.
Notwithstanding, true to my sworn sincerity and objectivity in this treatise, I must say that I believe that the funky pastors are partially right about the ‘denied-prosperity’ stuff that they preach; but only if they state all the conditions in the bible about tithe—the frequency, the true beneficiaries, etc—and stop spreading half-truths and outright lies.
So, what is the truth about tithe? Read on with an open mind!
THE TWO CATEGORIES OF TITHE & THE STIPULATIONS:
Even before my re-discovery of the Book of Deuteronomy I did ask questions about tithe, and I subconsciously resisted paying tithe because I did not receive convincing answers to my questions. Happily, my new revelation in Deuteronomy actually supports my not-so-informed earlier position against paying tithe to pastors. Armed with this new revelation, my argument is now more complex, but also more refined and better articulated. I am now equipped with that powerful guy called ‘Mr. Information,’ whom I seek to introduce to anybody that has not found him on this matter of tithe. I mean information about the conditions in the bible about tithe, which goes beyond the ambiguous Malachi citation. I am talking about information contained in the much earlier and less ambiguous, more explicit passages in the bible—The Book of Deuteronomy. No amount of fancy ‘abracadabra’ talk from a pastor can change the plain simple-English contents of Deuteronomy chapter 14, verses 22 to 29 (also chapter 12, verses 17 and 18). There is nothing mysterious or confusing in those passages.
I say that Malachi 3 is ambiguous because it does not name the categories of tithe, and it does not specify how the tithes are supposed to be utilized. But then, there is a good reason for this non-explanation in Malachi—tithe has already been explained in much earlier passages in the bible, including and especially Deuteronomy chapter 14. In my “Latino Heritage Bible” it is titled “Giving God One-Tenth of Everything,” and it contains the same as every other bible, but in simple English. Starting from verse 22, the passage clearly states two categories of tithe, and how they are to be utilized, thus:
- “Every year be sure to save a tenth of the crops harvested from whatever you plant in your fields. Eat the tenth of your grain, new wine, and olive oil, and eat the first-born of your cattle, sheep, and goats in the presence of the Lord your God in the place that he will choose to put his name. Then you will learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live.
“But the place the Lord your God will choose to put his name may be too far away. He may bless you with so much that you can’t carry a tenth of your income that far. If so, exchange the tenth part of your income for silver. Take the silver with you, and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you want: cattle, sheep, goats, wine, liquor—whatever you choose. Then you and your family will eat and enjoy yourselves there in the presence of the Lord your God. Never forget to take care of the Levites who live in your cities. They have no land of their own.”
- Then, verses 28 and 29 go further with a second form of tithe, which says: “At the end of every third year bring a tenth of that year’s crop, and store it in your cities. Foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your cities may come to eat all they want. The Levites may also come because they have no land of their own as you have. Then the Lord your God will bless you in whatever work you do.”
My next edition on this topic will follow next Sunder; it will start with “The Purpose of Tithe.” Meanwhile, I will end this edition with a glossary—a list of all the passages I could find in the Bible containing tithe—16 in all, in chronological order. Where I deem it necessary, I have my comments/notes at the end of the citation. Now, if you understand English, then you certainly can understand everything said in the passages If your Bible is one of those confusing ‘thou art’ ancient kind of English, then get yourself a simple-English translation—they all basically say the same thing. If your pastor says anything different, I put it straight to you that IT BEHOOVES YOU TO ASK HIM OR HER TO SHOW YOU WHERE ELSE HE OR SHE MANUFACTURED HIS INTERPRETATION FROM!!! The Bible has been demystified; it is no longer the preserve of the clergy, to manipulate us with (a topic for another day):
THE BIBLE TITHE GLOSSARY:
- Genesis 14:20 KJV—And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thine hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
- Exodus 22:29 (New Living Translation—NLT): “Do not hold anything back when you give me the tithe of your crops and your wine. ‘You must make the necessary payment for redemption of your firstborn sons.’”
MY NOTE: Like the popular Malachi, these first two passages do not mention or differentiate the two types of tithe as done in Deuteronomy 14; neither do they state exactly what purpose a tithe serves. But this is not a flaw; the authors and/or editors figured that there was no need in repeating all the details each time tithe is mentioned in the same book. If I had anything to do with it I would probably suggest to go ahead and repeat the detail every time, especially if I had the foresight of what today’s funky pastors would do with ambiguous statements. A funky pastor can interpret Exodus 22:29 to suit his or her extortion agenda.
- Leviticus 27:30 & 31 (New International Version—NIV): “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.” Verse 31 (NIV): “If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it. The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the LORD.” Verse 32 (KJV): And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord.
MY NOTE: We all know that the Lord does not eat any food; so, obviously, He has humanitarian purpose for the “tithe of everything from the land,” and I have explained it in this book with the detailed passages. Again, the editors/authors saw no reason to go into details here to explain that “orphans, widows, and foreigners, then pastors/Levites were/are all beneficiaries. Again, ambiguity exists in favor of mischievous persons who do not ever refer to the more explicit passages that exist in the same bible in order to clear the ambiguity in this passage.
- Numbers 18:21 (NAS): “To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.
MY NOTE: In all honesty and objectivity I must admit that this is the one passage that kind of phases me a bit, because of the phrase—“…all the tithe…” Christians believe that the Almighty God inspired the authorship and supervised the compilation of the various Books of the various authors that make up the Holy Bible. If so, there cannot be a contradiction between two passages in the same bible. The Almighty God could not possibly contradict Himself by giving the Levites “all the tithe,” including the one that He says in Deuteronomy 14 that the tither is supposed to eat with his family. So then, the pertinent question is—what does this passage mean by “all the tithe?”
My first shot at it was that God meant/means the second tithe; that’s the entire tithe of “every third year” as contained in Deuteronomy 14, verse 28. I guess I did not even consider the first tithe because I just don’t want anything to tamper with the tithe that we are supposed to eat, no sir! I enjoy merriment and I love the idea of merriment in the presence of the Lord! But then, there is also a problem with my initial reasoning—according to Deuteronomy, the third-year tithe did/does not belong only to the Levites/pastors. It is to be shared with “orphans, widows, and foreigners.” Again, I reason that God was/is not likely to contradict Himself by cancelling out the “orphans, widows, and foreigners,” whom he includes/included in Deuteronomy 14. Could He have suddenly changed His mind and decided to give “all the tithe” to the Levites alone? Unlikely!
So far, I have used some explicit passages in the bible to explain the ambiguous ones. My ultimate argument has been that the interpretation of the scripture should be sincere, and not designed to favor the personal caprices of pastors. Deuteronomy 14 explicitly discusses the two types of tithe; and we know that one of them is to be eaten by the tither. Hence “all the tithe” to the Levites in the book of Numbers chapter 18 cannot be talking about the first form of tithe. And, it is not likely to be talking about the second tithe because it is not for the Levites alone. So then, how do we reconcile this seeming-contradiction? What other tithe is the Book of Numbers chapter 18, verse 21 talking about? I am truly, honestly seeking a reasonable explanation, devoid of mischief and selfishness! I would love to listen to a God-inspired explanation from a truly anointed person.
Meanwhile, my shot at it now is from the point of view of one of my key postulations earlier in this book—that some contents of the bible have been tampered with, tinkered out of the perfect shape that the Almighty God intended them to be. Any of the influences that I have discussed under that topic could have caused the inconsistency or contradiction that SEEMS to exist in Numbers 18:21. For instance, it is not outlandish to postulate that it is probably the result of typographical error, such as the one that I observed in the Latino Heritage Bible. Maybe the word “all” got in Numbers 18:21 by typo error sometime in the distant past as the bible underwent one of its numerous revisions so far.
Or, who knows, maybe Emperor Constantine and his cabinet had got a little drunk and got a bit confused on the days of their decisions on what to add and what to remove from the original authors’ writings. This is one of the reasons that I often muse that God has given humanity too much privilege of will/choice. I have always wondered how the world would be if we had no choice of good or evil; if God did not allow humanity to do any evil at all! Bad as it sounds to say it, life would most probably be very boring! I don’t even think that I would like that world at all! However, I often muse that God should at least prevent some atrocious acts, such as tinkering with His inspired messages and commands to humanity in the bible. He could simply have stopped Constantine and all the other wrong or bad influences in the bible, and saved humanity all the mischief that they have caused. But, hey, who am I to question God’s deeds and will! However, I certainly question anybody that tries to pretend that the original contents of the various “Books” that made up the Holy Bible were never tampered with!!!
Continuing with Numbers chapter 18, verse 24 says: (NAS) “For the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they offer as an offering to the LORD, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore I have said concerning them, ‘They shall have no inheritance among the sons of Israel.’”
MY NOTE—This verse is obviously talking about the tithe of every third year, which we are supposed to “bring to the storehouse,” as contained in Deuteronomy 14:28 & 29; and not about the annual tithe that you are supposed to EAT in the presence of God with your family. It does not say “all the tithe” as in verse 21.
Verse 26 (NIV): “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD’s offering.” Verse 28 (KJV): “Thus ye also shall offer a heave offering unto the Lord of all your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give thereof the Lord’s heave offering to Aaron the priest.”
My note—Verses 26 and 28 are easy to understand. When the Levites received the ten percent tithe every third year; they had their customary offerings that they performed to God out of the tithes.
- Deuteronomy 12:6 & 7 (NIV): “To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts; what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There in the presence of the Lord your God you and your families shall EAT and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you.” Verse 11 (KJV): “Then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your tithes, and heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the Lord. Verses 17-19 (NIV): “You must not eat in your own towns the tithe of your grain and new wine and oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. Instead, you are to eat them in the presence of the Lord your God in a place the Lord your God shall choose—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns—and you are to rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you put your hand to. Be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.”
My note: Verses 17 to 19 are obviously talking about the first tithe only, and the command to ensure that the feasting happens in the house of the Lord, in His presence; a build up to the next chapter, the explicit chapter 14, thus:
- Deuteronomy 14:22 (NIV): “Every year be sure to save a tenth of the crops harvested from whatever you plant in your fields.” Verse 23 (NIV): Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always.
Verses 24 to 27 (NIV): “But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish, then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. And DO NOT NEGLECT THE LEVITES LIVING IN YOUR TOWNS, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.”
Verses 28 & 29 (Latino Heritage Bible): “At the end of every third year bring a tenth of that year’s crop, and store it in your cities. Foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your cities may come to eat all they want. The Levites MAY ALSO COME because they have no land of their own as you have. Then the Lord your God will bless you in whatever work you do.”
- Deuteronomy 26:12 (NIV): “When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce IN THE THIRD YEAR, THE YEAR OF THE TITHE, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.”
My note—With all the detail in Deuteronomy—chapters 12, 14, and 26; it is a marvel to me that so many funky pastors misrepresent tithe so blatantly. But, really, what is more marvelous is that the entire Christendom of today, especially in Nigeria, does not bother to ask questions.
- 2 Chronicles 31:5 (NIV): “As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the first-fruits of their grain, new wine, oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything.”
Verse 6 (NIV): “The men of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the LORD their God, and they piled them in heaps.” Verse 12 (KJV): And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Cononiah the Levite was ruler, and Shimei his brother was the next.
MY NOTE: Again, with the non-mention of the type of tithe in verse 6 (the first type, or the second), I have to conclude with the common sense logic that God gave me—going from the known, to the unknown factors—that these two verses of Chronicles chapter 31 (5 and 6) are talking about the second tithe, which happened in every third year, since we do know that the annual tithes are supposed to be eaten (feasted on) by the tithers.
- Nehemiah 10:37 (NIV): “Moreover, we will bring to the storerooms of the house of our God, to the priests, the first of our ground meal, of our grain offerings, of the fruit of all our trees and of our new wine and oil. And we will bring a tithe of our crops to the Levites, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all the towns where we work.
Verse 38 (King James Version—KJV): “And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.”
My note: This passage shades a little more light on the matter—tithe of the tithe—ten percent of ten percent, which the Levites gave back to God from the third-year tithe.
- Nehemiah 12:44 (KJV): And at that time were some appointed over the Chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. Nehemiah 13:5: And he had prepared for him a great Chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the offerings of the priests. Verse 12 (KJV): “Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.”
- Amos 4:4 (KJV): Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years.
My Note: Now this is another confirmation that tithes are paid every three years! And then, the popular Malachi, thus:
- Malachi 3:8 (KJV): Will a man rob God? But you say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Verse 10 (NIV): “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, 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.
- Matthew 23:23 (KJV): “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for YE PAY TITHE OF MINT AND ANISE AND CUMIN, 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.”
MY NOTE: As I discussed before, there is nothing to explain here; it is very clear that Christ said that tithe was not as important as the Scribes and Pharisees made it out to be; that virtues were more important. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY CONTRARY TO WHAT PENTECOSTAL CHURCHES ARE PREACHING TODAY! And they say that they represent Christ’s will?
- Luke 11:42 (KJV): “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.”
- Luke 18:12 (KJV): I fast twice in the week, I give tithe of all that I possess.
- Hebrews 7:5 (Latino Heritage Bible—LHB): Moses’ Teachings say that members of the tribe of Levi who become priest must receive a tenth of everything from the people. The priests collect it from their own people, Abraham’s descendants. Verse 6: Although Melchizedek was not from the tribe of Levi, he received a tenth of everything from Abraham. “Verse 8: Priests receive a tenth of everything, but they die. Melchizedek received a tenth of everything, but we are told that he lives. Now the priests, who are descendants of Levi, are commanded in the law of Moses to collect a tithe from all the people, even though they are their own relatives. In addition, we might even say that Levi’s descendants, the ones who collect the tithe, paid a tithe to Melchizedek through their ancestor Abraham.” Verse 10: “Even though Levi had not been born yet, he was in the body of Abraham when Melchizedek collected the tithe from him.”