Tithing, Mandate for the New Testament Church?

[acerrak]

Originally Posted by DaveC519

Greetings,

I think it's important to note vs. 9, though, because it was not simply Abraham who paid tithes to Melchisedec, but Levi as well. And, by extension, the Levitical priesthood (vs. 5).

The focus of the passage in Heb 7 is not then upon Abraham, or Levi and the priesthood, but on Melchisedec himself, and how he was worthy to receive tithes of Abraham. The implication, then, is that because Jesus is a priest forever after the order of Melchisedec, Jesus also is worthy to receive tithes of men, much more so than the Levitical priesthood was, because the Melchisedec priesthood is better (vs. 11), which necessitated a change also in the Law (vs. 12).

The Levitical priesthood is passed away and replaced by a better one. Therefore, the Levitical tithing system has also been replaced by a better one. The Melchisedec priesthood has a high priest who is more worthy to receive tithes of men than what the Levitical high priest was.

The only other New Testament mention of tithing is in Hebrews. The fact that Abraham was blessed by and paid tithes to Melchizedek illustrates the superiority of Melchizedek and Jesus Christ over the Levitical priesthood (Heb. 7:1-10). The passage then goes on to note that "when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law" (verse 12).

There was a change of the priesthood from the Levites to Jesus Christ, and this implies a change in the law that assigned the Levites to be priests. How much has been changed? Hebrews says that the old covenant is obsolete. The package of laws that commanded tithes to be given to the Levites is obsolete.

Humans should honor God by voluntarily returning some of the blessings he gives them — this is still a valid principle. The only place that a percentage is required is within the old covenant. There is good precedent for tithing before Sinai, but no proof that it was required

Under the old covenant, tithing was required for the support of the old covenant ministers. The Israelites were required to give 10 percent — and their blessing was only a physical one! Christians in the new covenant have much better blessings — spiritual ones. How much more willingly ought we to give in thankfulness for the eternal blessings we have in Christ Jesus?