God And His Word - A Question And Answer Approach To Understanding The Bible

6. DURING REVIVAL PERIODS, TITHING WAS ALWAYS RE-ESTABLISHED. Spiritual people desire to give, but cold hearts have no interest in tithing. 2 Chronicles 31:5-12; Nehemiah 10:37; 38; 12:44; 13:5, 22. 7. DID THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS EVER MENTION TITHING? Absolutely! Malachi links God's unchanging nature with tithing (3:6-12). Haggai the prophet thundered "Consider your ways!" (1:5). When God's people dwelt in tents, God was content to dwell in a tent also. When they prospered and began to live in houses, God also chose to dwell in a house. Compare Deuteronomy 28 with Haggai 1 - God has a way of relieving us of our money (often with interest) to show us our failure. Note: Ecclesiastes 7:12; Proverbs 11:24, 25; 3:9, 10; Psalms 10:3. 8. WHAT WAS JESUS' ATTITUDE ABOUT GIVING? In Matthew 23:23 Jesus commended the Pharisees' tithing, but condemned their omissions. Jesus' teaching about "alms" refers to the "Third Tithe" mentioned in Question 5. The Lord's Tithe goes to the ministry and church, while alms go to poor individuals. Matthew 6:14. Jesus watched people giving, Luke 21:1-4. Matthew 6:19 links the heart with the treasure. We should be liberal: Matthew 10:8; Luke 6:38; Acts 20:35. Riches are deceitful: Matthew 13:22; Luke 12:15-34. Perfection conquers the love of money: Matthew 19:16 30. Jesus' own ministry was supported by others: Luke 8:1-3.

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