I am not a Pastor...but I LOVE and Choose to tithe based on how I understand the scriptures...
Heb 7:12
For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
The priesthood was changed (no more Levitical priesthood), so the law was also changed. Therefore tithing under the Levitical priesthood has been ABOLISHED.
Heb 5
8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
10
Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Jesus is a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Since we are no longer under the Levitical priesthood, but under the Melchizedek priesthood, we need to consider if there is tithing under the Melchizedek priesthood and how it is/was done.
Under the Melchizedek priesthood, we GIVE tithes. We don't PAY tithes. That's the difference for me. Abraham GAVE tithes of all. He did not PAY tithes.
Heb 7
2To whom also Abraham
gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham
gave the tenth of the spoils.
5And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9And as I may so say,
Levi also, who receiveth tithes,
payed tithes in Abraham.
Gen 14:20
And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And
he gave him tithes of all.
We should notice that tithing under the Melchizedek priesthood was GIVEN not PAYED. When we pay tithes, it implies we're owing God. However, when we GIVE tithes, it shows gratitude to God. So it comes back to the Cross of Jesus Christ.
We are NOT commanded to PAY tithes, but rather to GIVE tithes. It's an act of FAITH. Abraham was not commanded, he tithed by revelation.
The church is not built upon commands but by the revelation of the HolyGhost.
So in all, I tithe by the grace of God, not because I'm afraid of a curse, but because it's ONE (not the only) means by which I can show gratitude to God.
Btw, my pastor is not a paid pastor, so he does not take tithes...The tithes are used to help the needy in the church and church projects.
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