Month 6:18, Week 3:3 (Shleshi/Bikkurim), Year 5935:160 AM
Teshuvah 19/40
Gregorian Calendar: Friday 16 September 2011
The 10% Tithe
Its New Covenant Application
There is a great deal of confusion about the Biblical Tithe in both Christian and Messianic congregations and part of the problem is that conext is everything. I have written a number of articles on tithing over the years that have reflected multiple positions. How can there be multiple positions when there is only one tithe? The answer is: it depends on the covenant.
I am not going to make this a detailed discussion but rather give a concise summary to make this principle comprehensible. There are at least three forms of tithing described in the Bible and they are these:
- 1. The Patriarchal Tithe: When Abraham paid his tithe to the Cohen Gadol or High Priest Melchizedek, King of Salem (in fact, Shem, son of Noah), it was a flat 10% of his total wealth and increase. No details are given as to how his tithe was divided - that was not the tither's responsibility. This was the Order of Tithing practiced by the Patriarchs until the time of Moses;
- 2. The Mosaic Tithe: When the Nation of Israel reached the Promised Land, they entered a theocratic system - a system where state and religion are echad or one. Accordingly the tithe was somewhat differently applied as it now included what we might call 'state taxes' too. The Mosaic Tithe was paid according to the Shemittah cycle as follows:
Ma'aser (Tithe) |
1st Year |
2nd Year |
3rd Year |
4th Year |
5th Year |
6th Year |
7th Year |
Levitical (Ma'aser rishon) |
10% of 100% |
10% of 100% |
10% of 100% |
10% of 100% |
10% of 100% |
10% of 100% |
None |
Festival (Ma'aser sheni) |
10% of 90% |
10% of 90% |
None |
10% of 90% |
10% of 90% |
None |
None |
Poor (Ma'aser ani) |
None |
None |
10% of 90% |
None |
None |
10% of 90% |
None |
Total Tithe % |
19% |
19% |
19% |
19% |
19% |
19% |
None |
Since this also included state 'tax', as it were, the overall tithe actually added up to about 19% of ones income per annum, consisting as it did of multiple 'tenths' or tithes. The key emet or truth here is the tavnith or pattern of the tithe which has a threefold use: For the support of the Levites (ministers), the poor, and to enable family participation in the festivals. This was, at any rate, how it was supposed to be done in Eretz Yisra'el - in the land of Israel;
- 3. The New Covenant Tithe: There is no theocratic nation today as believers are scattered across the whole world in all the nations where they are obliged to pay state taxes which, as we all know, can be crippling. Though abused by governments universally and are far too high, part of them are used for functions that once belonged to the Theocratic State of Israel and will once more belong to it when Yah'shua (Jesus) returns. Moreover, we are no longer under the Mosaic or Aaronic Priesthood and its Covenant but are back under the Melchizedek Priesthood and an equivalent New Covenant with Yah'shua (Jesus) as our Cohen Gaddol (High Priest). This means that we pay a straight 10% tithe of our gross income and the rest is the state's chunk, since Yahweh has authorised the secular state to assume some of the theocratic nation's functions for now. It means the state is ripping us off, of course, but that is a burden we must carry until Messiah returns. How are we to divide the 10% due to Yahweh under the New Covenant? In the same threefold way as described by the Shemittah Cycle:
- 1. A third for the ministry (to a local congregation if we belong to one or to some ministry if we don't, as moved by the Ruach/Spirit);
- 2. A third for the poor (as the Ruach/Spirit moves us - can be believers or unbelievers, to teach us compassion and obedience); and
- 3. A third for the festivals (for personal food, travel, accomodation expenses, etc. - Torah-obedient believers are expected to assemble with other believers for at least Pesach, Shavu'ot and Sukkot, the three pilgrim festivals, and so should contribute to such gatherings they are taking part in).
As you will see from this beautifully simple system, we are not required to pay 10% to ministers or ministries, but about 3.33%. This contribution can not, moreover, be demanded by a minister as a condition of membership in a congregation but must be a matter of the believer's conscience, as no minister can demand a salary. However, one who is doing so voluntarily should be considered worthy and eligible for priesthood responsibilities in a congregation when called. Thus in MLT, one of the conditions for priesthood ordination to the Deaconate (Shammashim) or Eldership (Zaddokim) is that members be regular tithe-payers, since the ministry is to set a living example to the rest of the congregation. One of the Covenants of Shavu'ot, at which young men and women can enter Bar/Bat Mitzvah covenants, is that they agree to obey the Torah which includes paying tithes.
Many Christians, who falsely believe the Torah has been abolished, likewise believe the tithe has too. It hasn't. The tithe is still Yahweh's and demanded by Him for the threefold purpose assigned to it. Love offerings and donations in general are, of course, also encouraged when believers have surplass, but are not compulsory in a legal sense - however, if Yahweh inspires you by the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) to give above and beyond the 10%, then the faithful believer will of course do so, since technically all our wealth is His. It's just that the 10% is specifically for the ministry, the poor and for the festivals (including travel for all assemblies, including the Sabbath if congregating believers are separated by wide distances). The latter, in particular, must therefore be carefully planned as this requires saving in advance.
This is the Law of Tithing as currently understood by this ministry.
Share
|