Understanding the Biblical Tithe
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Felex BandaUnderstanding the Biblical Tithe
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Felex BandaMONETARY TITHE UNSCRIPTURAL
JESUS IS NOW OUR TITHE.
TITHE DEFINED
WHAT IS TITHE? PART 2
It’s a common misconception in the Christianity and circular world that tithe is one-tenth of the
monthly salary paid to God as a security against the devourer.
Some even take a step further to say your daily revenue from a business undertaking is subject
to tithing.
Do scriptures support these notions? First, let us lay the groundwork by defining tithing
according to the scriptures.
The English language Learner’s dictionary defines tithe as an amount of money that a person
gives to a church which is usually equal to a tenth of that person's income.
This definition, I believe, is what proponents of tithing use to define the tithe.
The question is: are we supposed to go outside the bible and borrow a definition and force it to
explain bible words in a way that we want it to be? Far be it from the truth.
The Bible cannot be read in isolation from its original culture, language, and tradition.
The bible can never mean today what it never meant when it was written. The written word
remains infallible proof. God doesn’t change the bible because you don’t want to accept the
truth.
The one to make adjustments and realign with what the bible is saying is You! We cannot
isolate the original intent and context of the text and make some adjustments to suit our
desires. And we cannot borrow an English word to define bible terms because the English
language is very junior to the language of the bible.
The Old Testament was written in Hebrew and Aramaic language. And the first translators of
the New Testament were Greeks.
The English language emerged many years later. Hence the accurate meanings of words in the
bible must be defined by the bible itself.
Borrowing the circular definition of tithe and force it in the bible only leads to wrong
interpretation, which leads to wrong believing, and finally, a recipe for confusion.
The scriptural meaning of titheThe first time the word tithe is mentioned is in the book of
Genesis. (Gen 14:20)
(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.
The word tithes is from the Hebrew word ‘ma‛ă ś ê r ma‛ă ś ar ma‛aś râ h’ meaning
the tenth part.
The questions which arise are: A tenth of what?
Does the word tithe carry omnibus application? That is to say; whenever it is mentioned, it
carries the same meaning?
The first tithes were given by Abraham to King Melchizedek and were tithes of spoils.
Later on, we see Moses in Deuteronomy 14:22-26, giving a commandment of tithe to the
children of Israel.
(Deu 14:22) Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year
by year.
(Deu 14:23) And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to
place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy
herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
(Deu 14:24) And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the
place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when
the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
(Deu 14:25) Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt
go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:
(Deu 14:26) And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen,
or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt
eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household.
(Deu 14:27) And the Levite that is within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no
part nor inheritance with thee.
(Deu 14:28) At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the
same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:
(Deu 14:29) And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the
stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat
and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou
doest.
It can be seen that the tithes of Abraham to Melchizedek and the tithe practiced by Israelites are
completely different.
In the scriptures, the word tithe does not stand alone. Abraham tithed spoils of war and
Israelites tithed the increase of seed that their field produces annually. Are you noting the
difference?