Lev 27:30-32 'Thus all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S; it is holy to the LORD. 'If, therefore, a man wishes to redeem part of his tithe, he shall add to it one-fifth of it. 'For every tenth part of herd or flock, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the LORD.
Deu 14:22-28 "You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year. "You shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always. "If the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the LORD your God chooses to set His name is too far away from you when the LORD your God blesses you, then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. "You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household. "Also you shall not neglect the Levite who is in your town, for he has no portion or inheritance among you. "At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town.
| From John Gill's exposition of the Bible: | |
| Lev 27:30 - And all the tithe of the land,.... Of which there were
various sorts, the first tithe, the tithe out of the tithe, the second
tithe, and the poor's tithe, which are generally reduced to three,"The
first tenth part of all increase I gave to the sons of Aaron, who
ministered at Jerusalem: another tenth part I sold away, and went, and
spent it every year at Jerusalem:'' (Tobit 1:7)so Maimonides (p)
says,"after they had separated the first tithe every year, they separate
the second tithe, as it is said Deu 14:22; and in the third year, and in
the sixth, they separate the poor's tithe, instead of the second
tithe:''so that, properly speaking, there were but two tithes, though
commonly reckoned three; the tithes of all eatables were given to the
Levites every year, and a tenth part of that given by the Levites to the
priests, and the second tithe was eaten by the owners; instead of which,
according to the above writer, in the third and sixth years it was given
to the poor, and called theirs; of this second tithe, Jarchi interprets
this law, and so does Maimonides (q):
(p) Hilchot Maaser Sheni, c. 1. sect. 1. (q) Hilchot Maaser, c. 1. sect. 2. |
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Gal 3:24-25 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
Gen 14:18-20 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. 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." He gave him a tenth of all.
Gen 28:20-22 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take, and will give me food to eat and garments to wear, and I return to my father's house in safety, then the LORD will be my God. "This stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You."
"Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering
for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give.
(Exo 25:2)
Act 24:17 "Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings;
Rom 15:26-27 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.
1Co 16:1-5 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me. But I will come to you after I go through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia;
2Co 8:1-5 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
| care for the poor, united in Christ, practical expression of love (see 1 Jo 3:17). |
Act 4:34-35 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.
Act 4:37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and
laid it at the apostles' feet.
| Communal nature - money brought to apostle's feet to be distributed as had need - wasn't up to person who sold to give it out. |
[true giving begins with giving of self]
2Co 8:5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to
the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.
[true giving is in response to what Jesus has given for us]
2Co 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was
rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might
become rich.
[true giving will be generous rather than grudging or reluctant]
2Co 9:5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance
and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will
be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
Sowing Generously
2Co 9:6-15 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what
he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for
God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so
that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in
every good work. As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever." Now he who supplies seed to the sower and
bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge
the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that
you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will
result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only
supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions
of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves,
men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the
gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone
else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of
the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable
gift!
Deu 8:18 "But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
1Sa 2:7 "The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts.
Prov 3:9-10 Honor the LORD from your wealth And from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine.
Jer 9:23-24 Thus says the LORD, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the LORD.
Mat 6:1-4 "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. "So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."
Rom 12:6-8 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Rom 14
1Co 16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.
2Co 8:12-15 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality-- at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality; as it is written, "HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK."
2Co 9:6-7 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
1Ti 3:2-3 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.
1Ti 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1Ti 6:7-10 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
1Ti 6:17-18 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
1Jo 3:17 But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and
closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
Jam 1
"In the use of resources we either declare our affinity to Christ and our obedience to Christ's word or the very reverse of it." -A. Begg
"Have it, but not be held by it."
"They currency is only good here."
Dangers & Duties
Dangers: Arrogance. Treat other people with contempt. Misplaced security. Count on what they accrued.
Duties: Do good, be generous and be ready to share.