A thought on tithing

[jediwill83]

Abrahams tithe is a poor example because it was spoils of war and what he paid the tenth on wasn't even his possessions but the king of sodom.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by DaveC519

Hi seekerman,

Apparently, to his representatives:

"So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel." (1 Cor 9:14 NASU)

"So also" referring back to the preceding verse 13:

"Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of the temple, and those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar?"

Paul uses the general principle of tithing in support of the Lord's command for ministerial maintenance. Although we are no longer under the Levitical priesthood, we are under the Melchisedec priesthood, and that priesthood also received tithes of men (Abraham, Levi et all: Heb 7:9).

Originally Posted by seekerman

I agree that we are under the Melchizedektic priesthood, but that priesthood exists today in the person of Jesus Christ. We, as followers of Christ, are also partakers of that priesthood and it isn't limited to those who call themselves preachers, pastors, bishops or priests.

There is no temple today in which to perform sacred services nor is there a literal altar on which to offer animal sacrifice unto God. A building isn't the 'house of God' nor is the clergy a continuation of the levitical priesthood with it's various rituals and ordinances.

Giving isn't the issue with me, it's the issue of WHERE to tithe. How does one give the tithe to the great Melchizedektic high priest? I'm His representative, you're His representative. How do we determine who receives the tithe as unto Jesus?

Good rebuttal by seekerman, Dave. I'd like to hear your response. Thanks!

[navygoat1998]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Good rebuttal by seekerman, Dave. I'd like to hear your response. Thanks!

[Sam]

Originally Posted by seekerman

...How do we pay tithes to JESUS?

Well, in Acts 9:4, Jesus asked Paul, "Why are you persecuting me?"
Jesus had previously said, "he who receives you, receives me" (Matthew 10:40)
Paul said that we sin against Christ when we sin against a brother (1 Corinthians 8:12)
And there is also Matthew 25:31-46 where it says that when we feed the hungry we are feeding Jesus, etc.

So I guess we pay a tithe to Jesus when we pay it to one of His people.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by jediwill83

Abrahams tithe is a poor example because it was spoils of war and what he paid the tenth on wasn't even his possessions but the king of sodom.

Abraham spending someone else's money sounds like our government spending someone else's money.

[jediwill83]

Religious tax? Lol and jacob is a poor example for tithing as well because its before the law and it was a conditional vow...the condition was that IF God blessed him...not whether He blessed him or not.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by jediwill83

Religious tax? Lol and jacob is a poor example for tithing as well because its before the law and it was a conditional vow...the condition was that IF God blessed him...not whether He blessed him or not.

and Jacob was gone for 21 years after that and we never read whether he tithed or not

[Truthseeker]

Does a father tax his own son?

[Steve Epley]

Tithing was practiced BEFORE the law(430 years in fact).
Tithing was practiced DURING the law.
Tithing was commanded by Jesus.
Tithing was practice by the early church.
I have tithed all my life in the church God has blessed me. AND I have given freewill offerings and helped the poor.
God has been good to me. No complaints.

[jediwill83]

Tithing may have been practiced by Jewish believers early on but Gentiles*Strangers* were exempt from the tithe as well as those living outside the borders of Israel.