TO TITHE OR NOT TO TITHE? ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES – ARE YOU CURSED OR ARE YOU BLESSED? “Would a man rob Elohim (God)? Yet you are robbing Me! But you said, ‘In what have we robbed You?’ In the tithe and the offering! Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.” ~ Malachai 3:8-9 The greater majority (more than 80%) of born-again, spirit-filled, “New Covenant” believers do not tithe and are thus cursed – per the Word of Yahweh. Many, many believers do not know the covenant promise of His provision and protection because they are not walking in full obedience to the covenant – which includes (but is most definitely not limited to) the tithe(s) of Yahweh. “Let your manner of life be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, Yahweh is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” ~ Ibrim (Hebrews) 13:5-6 It does not matter if you “feel” cursed or if you “feel” blessed… It does not matter if you have a million dollars or if you are dead broke. The Word of Yahweh alone decrees, declares and determines if YOU ARE CURSED or if YOU ARE BLESSED! Your opinion doesn’t even matter in the court of Heaven. OUR TESTIMONY: Personally, my wife and I have been blessed to give the first and second tithes of Yahweh, free will offerings as well as the First Fruits of Yahweh – as His Spirit has ALWAYS led us in full agreement with His Word and we can honestly say that we have NEVER lacked for any good thing! We have always known the blessing of His promised provision and protection. Ever since we entered into the covenant of marriage with Yahweh and one another in early 2009 – neither one of us have had to go to the doctor’s office, clinic or hospital – even one time. Could this be because we learned to walk in full obedience to the re-new-ed covenant of Yahweh – as recorded in His Torah (Deut. 5-28) – by the leading of His Spirit and not according to the religious traditions we learned had first learned from men?
“BELIEVE IT OR NOT” – EVERYBODY TITHES! However, the overwhelming people do not tithe to Yahweh – to whom it rightfully belongs – rather they tithe to Hollywood, various amusements, dining out and / or anything else their flesh desires! According to the full counsel of the Scriptures, the tithe is ALWAYS the first ten percent of that which Yahweh has blessed us with. Whether we give it to Yahweh or not is immaterial – it is still the tithe. According to our personal value system – we honour whatever we love the most with our first fruits, tithes and offerings. When it comes to tithing – the maxim, “MONEY TALKS” is forever true!
Giving the tithe to Yahweh proceeds the giving of the Torah to Moshe’ (Moses) and it still continues till this day. Giving Yahweh’s tithe to anyone who is not authorized to receive it, is stealing that which belongs to Yahweh alone. “Do not be deceived! Yahweh is not mocked! Whatever a man sows, so shall he also reap!” ~ Galatians 6:7 By the way, the above Scripture – in the context which it was written – was an exhortation concerning giving to those who teach the Word and preach the Good News! “One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.” ~ Galatians 6:6
WHAT DOES THE FULL COUNSEL OF THE SCRIPTURES REALLY TEACH ABOUT TITHING? The first tithe mentioned in the Scriptures was from Abraham to the first-born, priest-king – who was the Melek-Zedek (i.e. King of Righteousness) of his generation. I.e. Shem the son of Noah. ~ Bereshith (Genesis) 14:18-20 This is very significant, because according to the law of first use, (for rightly interpreting the Scriptures), we can learn several immutable truths from this passage, if it is taken into consideration with the historical record – “The Book of Yasher” which is referred to in Yahoshua (Joshua) 10:13 & 2Shemuel (Samuel) 1:18. Note: Yasher is a Hebrew word that means righteous and / or complete record. You can get a free copy by doing a web-search (The Book of Jasher + pdf). Disclaimer: I am not endorsing this book as Scripture in any way. A) Abraham tithed directly to his Torah (Bible) teacher – not to a religious organization. B) He tithed silver money – even-though Abraham was very rich in agricultural livestock. C) The tithe of Yahweh precedes the Torah of Moshe’ (Moses). D) Abraham’s Torah teacher is the very one who taught Abraham about the tithe of Yahweh. E) Abraham recognized Yahweh alone was his source of provision, via a covenant relationship.
FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP 101 For your edification, here is financial stewardship 101, from the full counsel of Scripture. 1) Anything / everything that any man possesses in this lifetime is only temporary, and it all belongs to Heaven first. ~ Tehilim (Psalms) 103:15-16 & 24:1 “As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.” “The earth is Yahweh’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”
2) The only reason anyone possesses whatever he possesses in this lifetime, is strictly because of Heaven’s favour. ~ Qoheleth (Ecclesiastes) 3:13 & 5:19, Romans 12:6 “And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of Elohim.” “Every man also to whom Elohim hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of Elohim.” “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith.” 3) The tithe of every man’s increase always has and always will belong to Yahweh. ~ Way yiqra (Leviticus) 27:30-32 “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is Yahweh’s: it is set-apart unto Yahweh. And if a man will at all redeem any of his tithe, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be set-apart unto Yahweh.” 4) To hold onto Yahweh’s tithe ALWAYS has and ALWAYS will be robbing Him. ACCORDING TO THE PROPHET’S TESTIMONY – CONCERNING THE END OF THE AGE – ALL TRUE REPENTANCE BEGINS WITH THE RESTORATION OF THE TITHE OF YAHWEH! ~ Malachai 3:6-9 “For I am Yahweh, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith Yahweh of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? Will a man rob Elohim? 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.” 5) Tithing is a very integral part of every man’s covenant relationship with Yahweh. ~ Bereshith (Genesis) 28:22 & MattithYahu 23:23 “And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be Elohim’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” “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 Torah, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” 6) Yahweh commands each of us to be personally responsible to make sure His set-apart tithe was first distributed to our Torah teachers and then fairly distributed to Messianic widows, Messianic orphans and Messianic strangers within our midst. He also commanded us to properly honour His set-apart feasts / appointments with His set-apart tithes. ~ Debarim (Deuteronomy) 26:12-13 & 14:25-26
“When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled; Then thou shalt say before Yahweh thy Elohim, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them” “Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which Yahweh thy Elohim shall choose: And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before Yahweh thy Elohim, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household.” Note: This was a second tithe, which was commanded in the third year and the sixth year of every Sh’mitah or Sabbath cycle of years. Today, this second tithe would equal approximately an additional 3% of our annual income and should be set aside and distributed for these five specific purposes commanded only.
NOWHERE IN SCRIPTURE DOES YAHWEH COMMAND HIS TITHE(S) TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO A CHURCH, 501c3 ORGANIZATION OR ANY OTHER HUMANITARIAN / NON-PROFIT CHARITY! The tithe(s) belong to Yahweh and He has already told you where He wants His tithe(s) distributed and He has not changed His mind. He does not care about what your denomination or church teaches about the tithe(s) of Yahweh, neither does He regard your opinion concerning the tithe(s) of His covenant. I.e. Mizmore (Psalm) 89:34, 105:8 & 111:9 “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips.” “He hath remembered His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations.” “He sent redemption unto His people: He hath commanded His covenant forever: set-apart and awesome is His name.” 7) Abraham was extraordinarily blessed because he walked in complete and total obedience to Yahweh by faith – in the fear of Him – in a covenant relation – which included tithing. ~ Bereshith (Genesis) 26:5 “Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” 8) Yahoshua commanded all of His followers to tithe. ~ MattithYahu (Matthew) 5:17-18, 23:23 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete.” For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Torah, till all be fulfilled.” “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.”
Note: For the first forty years the “Good News” was preached there was still a temple standing in Yahrushalayim (Jerusalem) (30-70 CE). Therefore, all the tithes would have still been gathered and given to the Levites, the widows, the orphans, the strangers and for keeping the set-apart feasts. This means that all of the missionary work of the Good News of Yahoshua haMashiach was first completed on love offerings alone. E.g. Acts 2:44-45 & 2Corinthians Chapters 8-9 “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.” Please prayerfully consider what I have written and prayerfully repent – if you have not been a faithful steward of Yahweh’s resources – which He has entrusted to you. According to Luke 19:12-27, the day is coming very, very soon when we will all have to give a full account to the Master! “He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Master, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Master, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. And another came, saying, Master, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared thee, because thou art a harsh man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow. And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was a harsh man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. And they said unto him, Master, he hath ten pounds. For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.” Shalom Aleichem (Peace be upon you), His servant and yours, Robert-Arthur: McDuffie – Galatians 6:14 Ps – Free will offerings are not commanded in Torah and therefore are 100% between you and Yahweh. As His Spirit leads – give generously and with a cheerful heart – for He loves a cheerful and generous giver. Pps – The First Fruits of Yahweh also belong to Yahweh and we are commanded to give of our First Fruits to Him in addition to His tithe(s). The ancient sages of Yisrael taught that this command equaled approximately 1/40th of every newly harvested annual crop. I have elected to teach on this very important and very much misunderstood subject in a separate study.