The Strand Study Bible

MALACHI “MINI” SERIES The Doctrine Of Tithing

*The tithes and offerings were meant to satisfy the people (Deut 12:7,12,18 & 14:26 & 26:11, Neh 12:43-44 and Rom 15:25-27) * The tithes and offerings were meant to satisfy God (Deut 14:23 and II Cor 9:7-9) NOTE - The Bible teaches us to support those ministers who feed us spiritually (Gal 6:6 and I Tim 5:17-18) NOTE - It would be cruel and unrighteous not to feed, i.e., support the one who works for you (Prov 12:10, Mt 10:10, Lk 10:7 and I Tim 5:18) Also, Paul admitted that he had sinned in not teaching the church at Corinth to tithe so as to take care of those who worked for God (II Cor 11:7-9 & 12:13) * If those who work for you spiritually do not receive support then they will become discouraged (II Chro 31:2-4, Neh 13:7-14 and II Cor 11:7-9) 3. Why support the Priests and Levites / pastors? Answer - Two reasons: * The laborer is worthy of his hire (Lev 19:13, Deut 24:14-15 & 25:4, Prov 12:10 and I Cor 9:7-14) 4. Why sustain the poor and needy? Answer - Two reasons: * We ourselves were once strangers, poor and needy (Exo 22:21-27 & 23:3,6,9, Lev 19:9-10,33-34 & 25:35-38,42,55 and Deut 10:17-19 & 15:7- 15 & 24:19-22) 5. How were the tithes and offerings to satisfy the people who brought them? Answer - Two answers: * Those who gave the tithe found it to be rewarding scripturally (Prov 3:9- 10, Mal 3:8-10 and Lk 6:38) * Those who gave an offering found it to be rewarding scripturally (Prov 11:24-26 & 22:9, Rom 15:26,27 and II Cor 9:6-8) * We ourselves are poor and needy, i.e., debtors to Him who brought to us salvation (Exo 14:13,30 & 15:2,16, Deut 15:12-15 and Rom 15:25-27)

NOTE - According to Exodus 12:35-38 & 13:2,12-13,15 & 16:4-5 & 22:29-30 & 23:16,19 and Deuteronomy 26:1-2, God never required His people to tithe off of gifts (the spoils that they received from the Egyptians, when they exited Egypt). Offerings, from spoils taken in battle, were given voluntarily (Exo 25:1-3 & 35:4-5,21-29)

1 Towns, Elmer. Tithing is Christian , Lynchburg, VA, Church Growth Institute, 1985. Print.

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