Information Related to "Does the Bible Describe More Than One Tithe?"
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Chapter 4
Does the Bible Describe More Than
One Tithe?
How many tithes are mentioned in the Bible? What are
the purposes for the tithes described in God's Word?
Many people are surprised to learn
that God, in His Word, reveals seven annual festivals (Leviticus 23). These special
times of the year have been set aside by the Creator God as "holy convocations"
(verses 2-4), sacred meetings or gatherings at which God's people are to assemble
together. Like the weekly Sabbath, God set apart these festivals as sacred to Him.
God shows us in His Word that these holy festivals are times dedicated for group
worship and abstention from normal work. They serve to enlighten God's people regarding
His marvelous plan of salvation for all mankind. They are reminders of God's intervention
for His people and foreshadow significant events in the fulfillment of His divine
plan (Colossians 2:16).
God's people have observed these feasts from ancient times. Jesus observed them during
His lifetime (Luke 2:40-43; John 7:37), and His apostles and the early Church of
God continued to do so after His death and resurrection (Acts 2:1; 12:2-4; 18:21;
20:16; 27:9; 1Corinthians 5:8), in obedience to God's commands.
The Bible records that on several occasions -- when a righteous leader led the people
of God back to Him out of periods of deception and neglect in their relationship
with Him -- God's festivals were zealously observed as a prominent part of that spiritual
reformation (2Chronicles 30; Ezra 3,6; Nehemiah 8).
Bible prophecy shows that the time is coming when God will see to it that the inhabitants
of the earth are brought to the point of obediently observing His festivals (Zechariah 14:16-19). (For a thorough explanation of the significance of these days in comparison
to many modern holidays, be sure to request your free copies of the booklets
God's
Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind
and
Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Keep?)
Once we come to see the need to observe these festivals as God commands, a question
naturally arises: Where do we get the financial resources to attend them?
The gathering together of God's people for group worship often involves significant
expenses: temporary lodging, meals, transportation and the cost of providing a suitable
place to hold worship services. Does God give instruction on how these things should
be paid for? Indeed He does. God gives instruction regarding a tithe of one's annual
increase to be used for festival observance. Let's examine the Scriptures to understand
this.
A tithe for the work of God
Elsewhere in this publication we explain from the Scriptures the first tithe. The
first tithe, which is holy to God, is used to finance the mission of the Church of
spreading the gospel and caring for those God calls to be a part of the Church. As
was noted, this tithe is to be given by God's people so the commission of the Church
can be carried out. To withhold it is tantamount to robbery from God (Malachi 3:8).
The first tithe is "holy unto the Lord" (Leviticus 27:30). Under His covenant
with Israel, God commanded His people to give His tithe to His representatives at
the time, the Levites (Numbers 18:21). God gave the tithe to the Levites to support
them in carrying out their commanded role of properly leading the people in worship.
The people were not to use this tithe for any personal purposes -- it was to be given
in its entirety to the Levites.
Jesus affirmed that those who serve God should continue to give this tithe, a 10th
of their increase, since it belongs to God and not to them (Matthew 23:23). He confirmed
that tithing continues. But now, God, through Jesus Christ, is making a "new"
and "better" covenant with His people (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 8:6-13),
no longer limited to the physical nation of Israel.
The group God is working with is now expanded to those of all nations, the Church
of God, the spiritual "Israel of God" (Galatians 6:15-16; 3:26-28). This
change has required administrative revisions, including who should receive His tithe.
No longer is it to be given to a physical tribe of Israel, the Levites.
The priesthood was changed (Hebrews 7:12) when Christ was crucified and resurrected
to become our High Priest. Now, under the New Covenant, it is understood that this
tithe is to be received by those set aside by God as the ministers of Christ for
carrying out His work.
The first tithe was to be given in its entirety to the Levites. The individual giver
was not to use any of it for personal consumption. This is important to keep in mind
when we further examine God's instruction. Notice it.
God commanded His people to come to the location He would choose to observe, as a
group, the annual holy festivals (Deuteronomy 16:16). In coming to this place, they
were commanded to bring their tithes (plural -- Deuteronomy 12:6).
A tithe for observing God's festivals
One of these tithes is the tithe that was set aside entirely and exclusively for
the use of the Levites. But God gives further instruction that a tithe (singular)
was not to be eaten by the individual at home but was to be eaten at the place of
central festival worship (Deuteronomy 12:17).
This prohibition on personal consumption would be unnecessary if there were only
one tithe, the "first" tithe already discussed above. God had already made
it clear that the first tithe was to be given in its entirety to the Levites (Numbers 18:21). Yet, in Deuteronomy 12:18, the individual was given the right to eat "it"
(proper translation from the Hebrew) as part of his joyous festival observance.
This tithe that was to be used personally for festival observance is a second tithe,
quite distinct from the first tithe given to the Levites. In Deuteronomy 14:22-26
God gives further explanation of the purpose of this second, or festival, tithe.
It is to be used by God's people to enjoy the physical abundance He provides, at
His feasts, as they worship Him and learn to reverence and fear Him in a manner that
pleases Him and is a blessing to them.
The Jewish historian Josephus, who lived about the time of Christ, documented the
understanding of his time regarding this festival tithe.
In Antiquities of the Jews, Book IV, Chapter 4, Section 8,
we find the following statement summarizing
and paraphrasing God's commandments given through Moses: "Let there be taken
out of your fruits a tenth, besides that which you have allotted to give to the
priests and Levites. This you may indeed sell in the country, but it is to
be used in those feasts and sacrifices that are to be celebrated in the holy city:
for it is fit that you should enjoy those fruits of the earth which God gives
you to possess . . ." (emphasis added).
Although the need for physical sacrifices ended with Christ's one perfect sacrifice
of Himself, God expects us to continue to observe His festivals, as shown by the
practices of the apostles and early Church.
Today the members of the United Church of God, an International Association, understand
and observe God's deeply meaningful annual festivals. They also practice the method
God has revealed in His Word to finance these observances. Members save a 10th of
their annual increase to be able to attend the feasts.
The members who are able also contribute a portion of their festival tithe to defray
the costs of the Church in observing these feasts, including providing meeting places
and financial assistance for people otherwise unable to afford to attend. They gather
in locations around the world to rejoice before God and learn, out of His Word, about
His marvelous plan of salvation.
A tithe to care for the poor
We have seen the instructions found in God's Word for the financing of the work of
the Church and the observance of God's annual festivals. The Scriptures, however,
contain additional financial instruction: how we are to care for the poor. God does
not forget them.
Jesus acknowledged that conditions would always be prevalent that would lead to some
people being truly poor and in need (John 12:8). But He also said it is more blessed
to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). His apostles taught the same, that Christians
have an obligation to help others who are truly in need (Galatians 2:10; 1Timothy 5:3).
The teaching of Jesus and His disciples is a continuation of the commandments found
in God's Word regarding the obligation of those more blessed to help those truly
in need. Twice in the Scriptures, in Deuteronomy 14:28 and 26:12-13, God gives instruction
regarding a tithe that is to be saved and distributed every third year.
The "first" tithe and festival ("second") tithe were to be saved
every year. The first was taken to a central place of worship for distribution and
the second for consumption (Deuteronomy 12:6,17-18; 14:22-27). This special tithe
of the third year, however, was handled quite differently.
It was to be set aside locally and stored within each city or town (Deuteronomy 14:28;
26:12) for the use of the Levites and the poor of the community -- the stranger, fatherless
and widow.
Historical sources describe three tithes
Josephus, the first-century Jewish historian, clearly states that this tithe collected
for the poor was different from the other two. "Besides those two tithes, which
I have already said you are to pay every year, the one for the Levites, the other
for the festivals, you are to bring every third year a third tithe to be distributed
to those that want; to women also that are widows, and to children that are orphans"
(Antiquities of the Jews, Book IV, Chapter VIII, Section 22).
In the apocryphal book of Tobit, which many scholars date to about 200 B.C., the
writer states: "I, for my part, would often make the pilgrimage alone to Jerusalem
for the festivals, as is prescribed for all Israel by perpetual decree. Bringing
with me the first fruits of the field and the firstlings of the flock, together with
a tenth of my income and the first shearings of the sheep, I would hasten to Jerusalem
and present them to the priests, Aaron's sons, at the altar. To the Levites who were
doing service in Jerusalem I would give the tithe of the grain, wine, olive oil,
pomegranates, figs and other fruits.
"And except for sabbatical years, I used to give a second tithe in money, which
each year I would go and disburse in Jerusalem. The third tithe I gave to orphans
and widows, and to converts who were living with the Israelites. Every third year
I would bring them this offering, and we ate it in keeping with the decree of the
Mosaic law and the commands of Deborah, the mother of my father Tobiel; for when
my father died, he left me an orphan" (Tobit 1:6-8, New American Bible).
Seven-year cycles
It is important to note that a seven-year cycle was in place. The seventh year was
a year of rest for the land during which no crops were planted (Leviticus 25:1-7,18-22), so there was no "increase" every seventh year. God promised to
provide His faithful people with enough bounty in the sixth year that they could
rest the land in the seventh year. We can conclude, then, that the tithe to be set
aside every third year was actually every third year (that is, years three and six)
of a seven-year cycle.
Were this not the case, there would be a problem in the 21st year. The two laws (a
tithe of the increase every third year, and a land rest with no increase every seventh
year) would be in conflict in year 21. The flow of Deuteronomy 14:28-29, dealing
with the special tithe for the poor every third year, immediately followed by instructions
dealing with the special nature of every seventh year in Deuteronomy 15:1, further
indicates that the "third" tithe applies to the third and sixth years of
a seven-year cycle.
In modern times the tendency of national governments to institute mandatory taxes
for social welfare and care for the poor has led to a dilemma. If the government
taxes a person's income through social security and similar welfare taxes, and uses
those funds for the care and maintenance of the poor, is a Christian obligated to
pay the special tithe in addition? If we pay taxes for this purpose -- at rates far
higher than a 10th of one's increase two years out of seven -- must we still set aside
a tithe two of every six years, also for the care of the poor?
What about today?
In addressing this question, the Council of Elders, the primary administrative body
of the United Church of God, has examined the matter and concluded that, when Christians
are forced to pay social welfare taxes at high rates common in many countries, it
is appropriate to provide relief from such double payments for the same purpose.
As an administrative matter, the council has issued the following statement:
"The Council of Elders has resolved that where governments provide programs,
the intent and purpose of which is to provide for the needs of those that the biblical
third tithe was designed to assist, and that where such programs are funded by an
annual rate of taxation greater than the biblical third tithe, members are not obligated
to pay what amounts to an additional third tithe to the Church.
"The Council of Elders further resolves that since there will always be members
of the Church whose needs will not be adequately provided for by national government
social programs, and since the clear example in Scripture is that the Church care
for its members in need (Leviticus 19:9-10; Isaiah 58:7; Matthew 25:35-40; Galatians 2:9-10), that those members of the Church who are able are encouraged to contribute
to the Church Assistance Fund so that the biblical injunction to care for the needy
within the Church can be fulfilled."
This statement represents the understanding and application of the third tithe in
our day and age by the United Church of God, an International Association. GN
©1999 United Church of God, an International Associtaion
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