Deuteronomy 14:22 ¶ Thou
shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth
year by year. 23 And thou shalt eat
before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name
there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings
of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God
always. 24 And if the way be too long
for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too
far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when
the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: 25
Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in
thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:
26 And thou shalt bestow that money for
whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for
strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there
before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
27 And the Levite that is within
thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with
thee. 28 At the end of three years thou
shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it
up within thy gates: 29 And the Levite,
(because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the
fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and
shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the
work of thine hand which thou doest.
Tithing, the rendering of a
tenth as an offering, is first mentioned in Genesis, before the Law.
Genesis 14:18 And
Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest
of the most high God. 19 And he blessed
him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and
earth: 20 And blessed be the most high
God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes
of all.
In Genesis this mention of a tithe, or tenth, is given
to God through His high priest. This rule or custom is not found in the New
Testament passages given to we Gentile Christians. But, if you are concerned
about how much to give a tithe is a good place to start.
Again God insists that this
will be eaten in a place that He ordains and notice several things. The
individual Israelite is not forbidden strong drink like the priests were, as we
have seen. Also, a portion of his abundance goes to the support of the Levites
at regular intervals.
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