DID JESUS ABOLISH TITHES?
Mathew 23:16-26
One of the things that have been venomously attacked in the church today is tithing. The media is awash with condemnation of this biblical injunction saying Jesus never taught it and that the early church did not tithe. This is not true. First, Jesus did not condemn tithing. He said he had not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. The only time he mentioned tithe, this is what he said.
Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy and faith, THESE OUGHT YE TO HAVE DONE, AND NOT TO LEAVE THE OTHER UNDONE, Mathew 23:23
Here Jesus did not condemn tithe. He only chastised the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy in laying emphasis on tithes rather than living right. If you are not obeying God’s word, of what purpose is your offering? He said they should face the weightier matters of the Law and not to leave the other (tithe) undone. Faith, Justice and holiness go parri- passu with obedience. In this case, obey the ordinance of tithe as well as chastity. You cannot do one and neglect the others.
What the Lord teaches here is that there must be a balance. Faith and holiness do not cancel and cannot replace Tithes and offering. In the same vein, your giving cannot be a substitute for righteous living. The virtues of a Christian must be seen in you. Remember the Macedonian church? They first surrendered their lives before giving.
Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped but first gave their own selves to the LORD, and unto us by the will of God, 2 Corinthians 8: 4-5.
Giving your life to the Lord is the foundation while your giving constitutes part of the building blocks for a solid relationship with the Lord. Jesus emphasizes having a relationship with God and living in peace with fellow men as pre-requisites for acceptable offering. He did not cancel tithes and offering. If you think he did, please read Matthew 23:23 again in several translations. May the Holy Spirit give you understanding?
PRAYER: I thank you Father for giving me understanding on this matter of tithing. Help me Lord to be a faithful and consistent tither payer in Jesus Name
