GENEROSITY GOES FURTHER!

No one would disagree that the verbs share, give, and serve are linked to the Body of Messiah.

There is no controversy when it comes to offering goods and resources for the common good. Charity and solidarity are words well regarded, even by those who are not part of the faith.

So far so good. The real divergences arise when discussing how, how much and to whom one should donate. This is where the discomfort begins.

One of the most controversial and therefore most attacked topics in the Body of the Messiah is the subject of tithing. The mere mention of the word can serve as a trigger for traumas and abuses that many people have experienced in different communities.

The “obligation” to give 10% of all earnings to the Body of the Messiah sounds like fanaticism and religious manipulation to some.

Does this specific “duty” and percentage actually reveal God’s purpose for the contribution of his people?

Believe me, the metric has never been just 10%.

The Old Testament does not talk about tithing, in the singular, but about tithes, in the plural. There were three types of tithes in Israel, as presented in the Torah texts:

Leviticus 27:30-34

“And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord. If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth to it. And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord. He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; and if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.’ These are the commandments which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel on Mount Sinai.”

Deuteronomy 14:22-23

“You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.”

Deuteronomy 14:28-29

“At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.”

These three collections had different purposes.

The first tithing collection was for the tribe of Levi and came from the other 11 tribes of Israel.

The Levites were set apart by God for their service in spiritual matters and worship. Unlike the other tribes, Levi’s family did not receive a portion of land by inheritance, but the task of exclusively intermediating worship. The religious work performed by the Levites was of indispensable importance to the whole nation. By their full dedication, the Lord commanded the other tribes to contribute to the support of the Levites. This tithe was from the Lord and for the Lord, but the tribe of Levi administered it and maintained itself through it.

The second tithe offering existed for the celebration of the Biblical Feasts.

These festivals reminded the people, generation after generation, of the Lord’s great deeds and the revelation of his law. The tithe for these events was intended to teach the people to fear the Lord and zeal over his Word:

Deuteronomy 14:23

‘And you shall eat before the Lord your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. ‘

Finally, there was also the social tithe, intended for the care of the poor:

Deuteronomy 14:28,29

“At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.”

At the end of every three years, the people were to set aside the tithe from the third year’s crops that would be used to feed orphans and widows. Unlike the other two, this one was not annual, but occurred at three-year intervals. If we average these three tithes, we find that about 23 percent of the Israelites’ annual crops were offered to the Lord. And this is without counting the royal tithe, introduced in the monarchy, and the other offerings. It is no wonder that the famous verse of the prophet Malachi states that the people robbed God in tithes (plural) and not in tithe (singular). These ordinances are attested beyond the biblical text, appearing in the writings of Flavius Josephus.

Certainly, it is undeniable that God asked his people in the Old Covenant for more than 10%.

But what about tithes in the “dispensation of grace”, as some say, referring to the New Testament?

How does the issue of tithing and contributions come into play in the revelation of Yeshua the Messiah?

The abundant generosity of the New Testament

 Yeshua the Nazarene, being a Jew, first announced his message to the Jews. The first people to respond and continue their mission were also from the people of Israel.

The Body of Messiah, at its birth, was composed mostly of Jews and had its beginning in Galilee.

And what about the custom of tithes and offerings? There is no mention of opposition. On the contrary, in Matthew 23:23 the Lord says, ‘“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.”

Although this passage is not a clear statement of the continuity of tithes, one thing is evident: the duty to practice the Law of Moses, that is, justice, mercy, and faithfulness. And the offers seem to be part of it. Moving on to the writings of the apostle Paul, there is also no direct mention of tithes, but an abundant presence of the theme of financial contributions in the life of the Ecclesia. Support for the needy and community leaders are recurring themes in the Pauline letters. In 1 Corinthians 9:13-14, Paul defends the right of church leaders to receive financial support for dedication to ministry.

1 Corinthians 9:13-14

“Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.”

He bases his argument on Old Testament examples, demonstrating that, like priestly service workers, those who live by the gospel should be supported financially. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 and 9:6-15, the apostle encourages the Ecclesia to contribute generously in helping the Body of Messiah and the poor of Jerusalem.

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

“Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Yeshua Messiah, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Messiah, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

A generous heart should result in freewill offerings in the care of the brethren, according to Paul. He himself, in Philippians 4, thanks the brethren for the offering sent to supply their needs in prison.

Philippians 4:10-20

“But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me. Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Yeshua Messiah. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

That is, believers are encouraged to contribute to the demands of the Body of Messiah, the needy, and missionary work. In addition to the Pauline writings, we have the most famous example, reported in Acts 2 and 4. There the brothers shared everything they had, to the point of selling their possessions so that there would be no one in need of anything among them. In view of this, we see that the reality of the New Testament surpasses even that of the Old. After all, what was 23% per year in the past becomes 100% in light of the revelation of the Lord Yeshua.

Acts 2:42-47

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved.”

Acts 4:32-37

Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Yeshua. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

How, why and how much to contribute today?

We see what Moses, Yeshua, and Paul spoke throughout Scripture about financial contributions. We can, therefore, conclude that the obligation of tithing as we commonly know it is not clearly revealed. However, disagreements on the subject usually become excuses to adhere to positions that most please the inclinations of the flesh, not the other way around. Generally, those who speak forcefully about the legalism of mandatory tithing do so in order to offer less than the minimum expected. On the other hand, there are those who, after contributing the 10%, are free to do whatever they want with the remaining 90%.

What, then, would be the correct position?

One of the great arguments against tithing is the fact that, in Messiah, we are no longer under the law, but under grace. It is argued that everything that was present in the Old Covenant must remain in total discontinuity with the “dispensation of grace” (Replacement Theology).

However, this thought itself already presents some contradictions with God’s revelation and its immutable character. Grace is part of God’s being; it is an inalienable attribute of the Lord. That is, the Lord has not become gracious, He has always been and always will be gracious. There has not been a single moment in existence when God has not expressed grace. To say that there was no grace in the law is to misunderstand the character of God and the purpose of the law itself. The law revealed through Moses is an expression of wonderful grace. We recognize that the grace revealed in Messiah Yeshua is overflowing, but that doesn’t change the fact that it was the same grace that prepared the whole process until the revelation of Lord Yeshua in history. From Genesis to Revelation it is God’s grace that underpins the entire biblical narrative. Even though we are living in a different time after Yeshua’s coming, this does not negate the revelation of the unchanging character of God the Father revealed in the first testament. A clear example of this truth is the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20). None of those ordinances have become obsolete at all. God remains the same.

Exodus 20:1-17

And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Yeshua Himself clearly stated that nothing is to be changed from God’s Word to Moses:

Matthew 5:17-20

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

The Messiah did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it, because, after all, God’s law is good and full of grace. It is perpetual, it will not pass. That is why it was also said that if our righteousness does not far exceed that of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, we will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:20). What the Lord expects of those who are in the Messiah is more, not less, than of the people of the Old Testament. This reality is expressed throughout the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7).

Grace, by revealing to us such an incredible, unsurpassable and unimaginable love, leads us to respond to this love in such a way that, through the Holy Spirit, we can live the righteousness of the Messiah in the fulfillment of the Law. Not out of obligation, but as a result of love, offerings and contributions as expressions of love. Love only manifests itself in voluntariness. Gratitude, worship, and obedience are the result of abundant grace revealed in the Lord.

Do those who love try to give the minimum necessary? Certainly not. There are biblical examples that illustrate this truth even before the revelation of the law itself in Moses.

In Genesis 4, before there was any ordinance about offerings or contributions, Abel set aside the best of his flock to offer to his Lord. In the same book, Abraham, several generations before Moses’ birth, gave a tithe of the spoils he had conquered (Genesis 14). Why? Because offerings are an expression of love and worship.

Genesis 4:3-7

“And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

Genesis 14:18-20

“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.”

Contributing and giving financially, far from being a matter of salvation, is an expression of love from the one who has been saved by tremendous grace. It is one of the ways to glorify the Lord with one’s life. No gift, talent, work, or merit comes exclusively from anyone, but from the Lord who willingly bestows everything. To offer is, therefore, to recognize and dedicate everything to Him. Freewill offerings are mentioned in several places in Scripture. The Tabernacle, Solomon’s Temple, and its rebuilding years later, were made through voluntary contributions. What marks each of these events is the joy and dedication of the people to contribute to the work of God. The desire to give was such that, in the case of the Tabernacle, Moses had to order the people to stop bringing offerings for its construction. While through tithes the needs of the Levites and the poor were met, through offerings the name of the Lord was magnified in the construction and rebuilding of a place for worship.

If all this happened in the Old Testament, where people did not yet know the revelation of Yeshua and the New Covenant, nor were they even the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, what can be done through the Body of Messiah?

Knowing the love and grace that has been revealed to us in Messiah Yeshua, are we inspired to do more or less than the people of the past?

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, in deep gratitude, fellowship, and love, we can abundantly and generously offer our possessions and resources to the glory of God. As a result of this great love, we offer Him not only our money, but our whole lives in praise, gratitude, and generosity so that His name may be magnified in all the earth.

In the sublime love of Yeshua haMashiach.