What does Jesus say about tithing and offerings?
I have a penchant interest for criminal forensics in solving robberies, murders and fraud. Pathological forensics is that which is unreasonable or false. If you are a fan of the PBS “Antiques Show”, as I am, the stars of the show are the forensic professionals who certify original from fake artifacts. Stories on the show, by some people about their priceless original trinkets prove to be fake; they only resemble the originals. At times, forgeries abound as individuals seek gain in their enterprise relying on their ancestors’ inaccurate testimonies.
Biblical truths are not exempt from counterfeits. Biblical tithing and offerings have produced false teachings, which have slowed the advancement of the Kingdom of God and the joy of giving and the evidence of miracles in Christian lives. (More on the decline of church giving from George Barna’s statistics on church giving in my next article.) Forensics is needed in a world of self-opinion doctrines.
The challenge of a Rubik’s cube is matching each side with a different solid color by systematic twists and turns. It is an art and skill to be a Rubik’s cube expert. If not an exact match, there is no symmetry of completion. In order, to have symmetry in the scriptures concerning doctrines all the sides must match like a Rubik’s cube. Peter 2: 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Hermeneutics, forensics or the science of interpreting scriptures is an art and skill to align the symmetry of Biblical doctrines. Unfortunately, some people grasp Biblical principles for their personal bias that violates the rest of scriptures. Here is an example: Pro and Con views on the rights of the unborn amongst church leadership. On the Pro-life view, a baby is created in the image of God with inalienable rights based on: Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. The Con opinion of the unborn having no rights is based on: Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. The abortionists purport that life doesn’t begin until the baby takes their first breath outside the womb. Therefore, the fetus is a non-being. Who’s right? The Bible interprets itself. The Bible isn’t statements of principles and absolutes that contradict itself. In some Bible verses it might appear that one verse disagrees with another verse on the same subject. On the abortion debate keeping with continuity of circumstantial evidence the truth becomes clear that an unborn is a human being created in His image.
Another case in point, In Exodus 20: 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you. In Luke 14: 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. The late atheist Madelyn O’Hara in debates with Christian leaders would use these two verses to imply the Bible contradicts itself. Sadly, few Christian leaders had enough proper insight to correctly join the two scriptures with continuity. When keeping with a truth through Old and New Testaments no Corpus Delicti emerges or the appearance of a breach of law. The spectrum of Divine law flows from the mind of God to empower obedience from His children through grace. Grace and law are inseparable.
Many errors of Biblical interpretation divide the church. Leaning on a personal opinion often breaks the continuity of truth.
Today, there has crept into the church a Biblical pseudo-grace teaching that promotes the broad road to travel on and denies the true Biblical grace of the narrow road that promotes holy living. Why do Christians cling to cheap grace? Cheap grace puts them in control not God. This neo-grace claims that tithing is not in the New Testament. However, a little forensics will show that tithing is for today. I have yet to meet a non-tithing believer who gives, or if they do, it’s petite. The non-giver proudly claims ‘my life’ belongs to Jesus.’ What should follow from them saying this is, except for my wallet. Talk is cheap.
Here is a familiar scene of people coming under this false teaching: Joe conveys to Bob, that tithing is not for nowadays. Bob protests, but my church takes up tithes and offerings every Sunday. They even teach on tithing. Joe bounces back; “Your church is still under the law, but now we are now grace. Joe snaps at Bob, “Get out from underneath that bondage.” Bob quickly calculates he could be spending his monthly three hundred tithed on his bills or some other need. He not only stops tithing he stops giving altogether, except for an occasional tip.
Over the years, Christians have told me stories like the one above to only realize tithing is Christian living. It is undeniable, there are two traits of a Christian, they give, and they forgive.
Isaiah 1:20 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Luke 18:20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. Doesn’t Jesus know we are not under the law anymore but under grace? I wonder what a cheap grace preacher’s reply to the rich young ruler would be? It is what they are saying today, your not under the law, but under grace; obey if you feel like it not because a command requires your obedience.
Here is the disingenuousness of this false teaching: So you’re liberated from the law, and now you’re under grace. Shouldn’t you be free in your giving and even express your newfound freedom by giving more than what the law requires? The truth is you don’t. I believe you are in worst bondage – deception. The famed atheist Bertrand Russell said something to the effect; if I believed what Christians’ purport I would have evidence of my personal sacrifice to that end. I have not seen one yet. Again he states, “I could trust a fact but always cross-examined an assertion.” This atheist has more discernment than some Christians.
He is your Lord and Savior you claim, but you can’t open your wallet to promote His economy. Giving is worship; it’s a fact of action, not an assertion.
What setting in the New Testament proves tithing ended? There is none whatsoever. The opposite is true. Therefore, to exonerate those of us that have been falsely accused about tithing, forensics will be applied to prove tithing and offerings are the bedrock of Worship for the New Testament believers. What does Jesus say about tithing and offerings? Shouldn’t He have the last say on the topic? Show me where Christ taught that tithing ended?
Matthew 23:23-24
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. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Pharisees were proud of their tithing, but short on the important part of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith. Notice Jesus legitimize the law and combined tithing to it. He never reversed this statement. Some might object, saying, this statement was the antecedent before His crucifixion that established grace. Wrong. 1 Peter 1:18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. The principle of grace is an Old Testament and New Testament concept. Today, non-tithers pride themselves on mercy and faith omitting law, judgment and tithing. You are wrong as the Pharisees, but just on the opposite end.
