THE TITHE

Tithing is a subject that causes many problems in the body of Christ, several servants of God have preached on this subject while giving biblical explanations and taking into account each context (very important thing), verses to support, However, the opinions are opposed, some go so far as to doubt the calling of others, even treating them of false servants of God.
What I have unfortunately noticed is that the love of one's neighbor has completely disappeared from hearts because of tithing, and one does not apply 1Th 5v20-22
I think, having doctrinal differences should not make us so wicked and to risk blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, when He uses someone. We really have to be very careful and above all to practice fraternal love.

A few days ago, I had in my heart, to bring my part of lighting on the question of tithing. But first of all it is important to know why tithing was instituted in the law (the sacerdotal law), I specify "sacerdotal law" because there are several laws in the Old Testament, the moral law (10 Commandments) and civil, social and priestly laws, all these laws were promulgated to instruct and guide the people of Israel in their daily lives and for the worship of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Tithing was part of the priestly law, it was taken to provide for the needs of the Levites and priests (the Levites and priests are all Levi), for at that time God had set apart the tribe of Levi for the service of the temple, and to lead the people of Israel in the obedience of the commandments of God, the tribe of Levi was consecrated to God accordingly, had no inheritance in Israel, not right to work like other tribes, tithing and offerings were their salary.

The Bible says: And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel. And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. Nomb 18v20-21

The Bible speaks of several kinds of tithes:
The personal tithing that was collected only once per year for personal use (Deut 14v22-26)
The tithe of the poor: it was collected every three years (Deut 26v12)
The tithe given to the Levites for the service of the temple: it was also collected every three years (Deut 14: 26-29)
And the tithe of the tithe: it was given by the Levites to the priests who were also of the tribe of Levi (Numb 18: 24-28).

If we want to practice tithing according to scripture, we must do it without adding nor subtracting it, because there is no tithe given every month throughout the Bible, while the tithes that the church asks is made At the end of each month, this practice has no foundation in the word of God, nor in the laws, where does it come from?
Malachi 3: 8-10: Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

This passage from the Bible is often used to justify the practice of tithing, it is perhaps by ignorance or simply by greed, it is possible. But the tithe of which Malachi speaks is not a monthly tithe, it is a question of "the tithe of the tithe," it is a tithes that the Levites gave to the priests, that is to say, they took All the tithes from all the people, and then they took 10% from all that they had collected and gave it to their brothers the priests. All the tithes were brought into the house of the treasury (a store specially made to deposit all the tithes and offerings of the people).

Nehemiah 10v37-40: And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.

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.  For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God. 

Some will say that Abraham gave his tithe to Melchizedek when he returned from war, and according to them tithes existed before the law given to Moses, but what they forget is that Abraham gave the tithe of one spoils of war and not a salary, and this act was done only once, never Abraham did it again nor taught to do it, it was simply a voluntary act, so it was not a law.

Others will say that Jacob promised to give tithe to God if He bless him, but the Bible does not tell us if he did it, or if he instituted it, no trace of tithe until it becomes a law (sacerdotal law) for a very specific purpose, as I mentioned above, one can not made it a doctrine.

The Bible says in Heb 7v4-9: Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.  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:  But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

TITHE IS NO LONGER VALID!
Since the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, the veil of the temple torn, at the birth of the Church of Jesus Christ, the law concerning the Levitical priesthood has been abolished, and therefore we are no longer under this law. We are all a kingdom of priests, we no longer need to pay tithing, for in Israel only the Levites were consecrated for the work of God, but in the new Covenant, anyone no matter what their origin (Israelite, Levite or non-Israelite) who receives the Lord Jesus Christ in his life, becomes a priest, no matter his role in the Church.
The Bible says Heb7v11-12: If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

Some say Jesus said that He did not come to abolish the law, but to accomplish it, by quoting Matt 5: 17-19, but what is important to do, is to define the law of which the Lord speaks In this passage, otherwise the Bible is contradicted itself, since the apostle Paul says otherwise in Galatians 5:18:  But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Gal 5:4: Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

The law of which the Lord Jesus speacks in Matthew 5: 17-19 is the moral law or the eternal law which are the ten commandments in Exodus 20: 1-17, it's in order to enable us to put it into practice that He came to die in Sacrifice and gave us His Holy Spirit who will lead us to observe it, but there is no question of the law relative to the Levitical priesthood in which were the practice of tithing, circumcision, animal sacrifices, etc.

In the New Covenant neither Jesus, nor His apostles mentioned tithing because they knew that it was no longer current, they speak rather of liberality, then, all those who affirm that to give tithe, It's to attracting the financial blessing in his life, here's what Paul says in 2Cor 9v7-9: Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:  (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

THE ORIGIN OF TITHING IN THE CHURCH: Tithes were adopted by the Catholic Church in the seventh century AD. They are mentioned in the councils of Tours in 567 and Mâcon in 585 and they were officially recognized and generalized under Pope Adrian II in 787. The peasants had to offer a tenth of their harvest, while the craftsmen had to offer a tenth of their production. The appearance of an "employee" clergy in the Church will bring one of the "fathers of the Church", Cyprian of Carthage, to look into the clerical functioning of the old covenant. He will then put tithing back in place to pay the priests.

PROTESTANT REFORMATION: Martin Luther, the theologian at the origin of the Protestant Reformation, recalled the law of grace which excludes the law from the obligation of tithing. Indeed, in a sermon of August 27, 1525, he recalls Paul's passage in Galatians 5: 3 where it is said that if I accept to live according to the law of Moses, I am obliged to practice all the whole law (Dt 28:58).

You who demand tithing from Christians, do you pay the singers, those who maintain your congregation, and all those who serve in the church, widows, orphans, and strangers? If you demand tithing without putting into practice everything for which it was instituted by God, you are in contradiction with the scriptures, you must repent of stealing Christians with your monthly anti-biblical tithes.

The Church must find another way to financially support herself , she can organize herself differently if she walks by faith, for I firmly believe that God will provide by touching the hearts of people to bless the ministries, because tithing such as that it is practiced in some ministries not only is anti-biblical (no tithe has been given per month) and is no longer relevant and therefore causes drought in many churches, and draws the spirit Of greed. Many churches that practice monthly tithing are poor and still have financial problems. Many Christians who do not pay tithing are feel guilty, while others do not pay tithing but give their offerings and are blessed.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 1Peter 2v9

I know that this teaching will cause me some problems with some Christians, but the God we serve is the God of truth and freedom, Christ is not dead on the cross for Christians to be under a yoke.

God bless you! Hawa Esther Maiga