Foolish Galatians

Galatians 3:1-5
1 - O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?
2 - This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—
3 - Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
4 - Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
5 - Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Galatians is a letter that was written to some people that had become Christians as a result of Paul's preaching in their town.  When Paul first came to these people, he told them the good news about Jesus.  Jesus had paid the price for their sins, and now God was offering eternal life to them.  They believed the message, accepted the offer, and were born into God's family and kingdom.

From the context of the entire letter, it is apparent that they also had seen some demonstrations of the supernatural power of God.  And not only had they seen God's power in operation, they were beginning to operate in this power themselves.

At some point, Paul moved on to the next town and some religious leaders came in here behind him and started trying to put additional requirements on these people.  These new believers were being told that they had to keep the rules and regulations of Judaism (a.k.a "works of the law") in order to be in right standing with God.

When Paul found out about this, he wrote this letter that we call "Galatians."  In this letter, he is very upset, and uses some very strong  language.  He is urging these new believers to reject this false teaching.

We get great benefit from being able to read this letter, because there are some very powerful truths contained in the arguments that Paul set forth under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

1 - A person's entry into God's kingdom has nothing to do with any religious activities.

These people simply believed the message Paul brought to them.  That's it.  They weren't keeping the Sabbath, going to church, praying, paying tithes, reading the bible, or anything like that.  They didn't even have a bible because there weren't any bibles yet.  There weren't even any churches there yet.  They probably didn't even know about most of that stuff.  They just believed what Paul said about Jesus.  God was extending peace to these people through an offer that is almost too good to be true.  If they would believe this message about Jesus, God would adopt them as sons and welcome them into His eternal kingdom.

2 - Operating in the power of God is not enhanced by keeping religious rules or traditions.  In fact, it can be hindered by that stuff.

God works through people that exercise faith...people that take Him at His word.  He doesn't require us to be perfect in our behavior and obedience as a prerequisite   Jesus already took care of all prerequisites on our behalf.  We just need to believe it.  Check it out...

2 Corinthians 5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  

You see, Jesus has already made amends for all of our failures and shortcomings.  Our failure to meet the standards has already been dealt with once for all time.  So, we are no longer viewed by God as sinners who are trying to get better.  We are viewed by Him in the same way He views Jesus....totally righteous.

With that in mind, take a fresh look at this phrase again from Galatians chapter 3, verse 5. It is a very amazing statement:


He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

God supplies the Spirit to us and works miracles among us as we act in faith.  This is not limited by a person's maturity level, nor is it limited by a person's ability to avoid sin.  It is limited by unbelief.  As far as I have been able to understand, the only thing that can limit God operating in power through us is unbelief.

Unbelief comes in many forms.  Here are a few of the most powerful ways that we can be drawn into unbelief.

1 - Trying to work to earn the right or privilege to operate in the power of God is actually a form of unbelief.  The very act of trying to earn it shows that you don't believe it is freely given.  Ouch.

2 - Trusting in human religious tradition rather than in God is also a form of unbelief.  Here are some examples of what I'm talking about:

• If you are part of an organization that believes that miracles were only for the days of the original apostles, then you will will be tempted to agree with that, and you can find yourself in unbelief towards the power of God working in you or in others today.  
• If you believe that miracles are done through the pastor or the priest or any other title, but not through those without a religious title, then you will also be in unbelief towards the power of God working through you.  
• If you believe God doesn't heal people that have sin in their life, then you will be in unbelief towards the "gifts" of healings.  You will disqualify people based on their addictions, habits, behaviors, sexual preferences, and etc.  You will be trusting in man's ability to perform rather than God's grace to give freely to those in need, and draw them to Himself through His love and kindness.  That is unbelief.

Our main enemy, most of the time, is not the devil, and it is not sin.  It is unbelief.  As Jesus said, all things are possible to him to believes.  We need to believe, and let this foolishness loosen its grip on us.

Radically Good News

John 3:16-18
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

This is a very radical set of statements.  I would like to examine them individually.

v16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

God loved the world before Jesus came and paid for our sins.  He loved the world while our sins were in full view.  He wanted to have fellowship with us.  He wanted us to be with Him through eternity.    

Because of this love, Jesus came on a mission.  God initiated the action, sending His Son to rescue the very people that were sinning against Him.  He paid for our salvation by taking our death sentence on Himself, dying in our place.  The price has been paid once for all time (Hebrews 10:10) for the whole world (1 John 2:2).

And now, everlasting life is given to anyone that believes in Jesus..."whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

v17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Many people have a picture of God that is something like this:  God is up in heaven somewhere with His arms crossed, looking down on humanity with anger because of our sin.  And, if we beg and plead, and promise to act better, then He may consider letting us go to heaven, but He's still mad at us.

This verse paints a very different picture.  God loved us before we were saved, before our sins were paid for, before we were even looking His way.  He sent His Son on a rescue mission, to save us.  He  wants all of us to be with him (1 Tim 2:4, 2 Peter 3:9).  This was His idea, not ours.  He is coming for us, rather than us begging and crawling to come to Him.  He took care of everything, and now all we have to do is exercise our free will and choose to believe.

v18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

If the other two passages were not enough to amaze you, this one should make everyone examine his thinking.

If you believe in Jesus, you are not condemned.

If you don't believe in Jesus, then you are condemned.

Notice that your ability to avoid sin is not a part of the equation.  You do not escape condemnation though good morals and ethics. You only avoid condemnation by believing in Jesus.  We are saved by grace through faith, not by works.

If you don't believe in Jesus, then you are condemned, period.  It makes no difference what else you do.

But, on the other hand, of you do believe in Jesus, then you are not condemned, no matter what else you do.  Sin and bad choices can totally ruin your life, and put you in situations that you will not enjoy.  There are  reasons that sin is called sin.  We should avoid sin.  But sin is not what condemns you.  Unbelief...rejection of Jesus...that is how a person is condemned.

We often think that condemnation comes from God as a result of our behavior.  This is not true.  Romans 8:1 says that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (see also Romans 8:31-34).  Condemnation only comes if you don't believe in Jesus.   It is not what you do that saves you or condemns you.  It is faith in Jesus.  You must believe that He paid it all for you.  Then you can stop approaching God based on how you feel about your performance, and come to Him based Jesus' performance (Romans 5:19).

God wants fellowship with you.  He has made peace from His side.  We have nothing to offer in return except to believe it.  We should take Him at His word, believe in Jesus, and receive eternal life.

The Purpose of the Law

(NOTE:  Whatever you do, don't just read the first half of this.  Either stop reading now, or make sure you read all the way to the end.)

In the bible, the phrase "the law" is used to describe a very long list of rules (613 of them) that include the 10 commandments, the religious ceremonial laws, and all of the civil laws of the Israelites.  It is basically God's standard for righteous behavior.

It is a flawless and glorious standard, and it demands lifelong perfection with no mistakes.  It divides humanity into two groups.

Group 1 - Those who keep the law perfectly without mistakes for their entire life.
Group 2 - Those who have broken one or more of the laws at some point in their life.

Unfortunately, it is impossible for humans beings to reach this standard, and so Group 1 is empty (except for Jesus).

If you have ever told a lie, or even thought about telling a lie, then you are completely guilty of breaking the whole law.  Just make one small mistake in your entire life, a single wrong thought, and you have fallen short, putting yourself in the same category with murderers and thieves.

If you study the what the law says, you will never find that people are encouraged to try to keep it.  There is no "trying."  You either keep the whole law, or you break the whole law.  To keep it, you have to keep it 100% forever without a single mistake.  Trying is not an option.

The apostle Paul summarizes the purpose and the effects of the law in the following passages.

Romans 3:19-20 - Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The purpose of the law is to show you that you are guilty.  It shows you where you have missed the mark.  It shows you the hopeless impossibility of attaining righteousness through behavior modification.  It makes you aware that you are guilty before God.

To quote Watchman Nee..."God knows...that I am weakness incarnate; that I can do nothing. The trouble is that I do not know it."  The law solves that problem for us.

Galatians 3:19 (NLT)  Well then, why was the law given? It was given to show people how guilty they are. But this system of law was to last only until the coming of the child to whom God's promise was made....

The law is perfect.  People, however, are not perfect.  The law shows imperfect people their shortcomings.  It shows them in big bold letters that they are in desperate need of help.  They are drowning and they need to be rescued.  They are in a hopeless situation with no way out, unless someone steps in to save them.

That brings us to the good news.  Someone did step in to save.

Jesus kept the law perfectly, and deserved to receive all of the blessings that come from it.  However, instead of receiving these rewards, He took on Himself the punishment that was coming to the rest of us:

Isaiah 53:4-5
4 - Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 - But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Jesus got what we deserved for our sin.  And in exchange, He gave us what He deserved for His righteousness.  He took our curse, and gave us His blessing.  He took our sin, and gave us His righteousness.  He took our sickness and gave us His healing.

Now, look at this:

Galatians 3:22-26

22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.
24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.


If you have believed the gospel and received salvation, then the law has done its job, and you are no longer subject to it....it no longer applies to you.

Think about this, and let it sink in.  Christians are not subject to the law.  We no longer have to do the animal sacrifices.  We are not judged by whether or not we keep the 10 Commandments.  We are not cursed if we don't bring the whole tithe into the storehouse.  We are not asked to keep all of the feasts of Israel.

All that the law demands has already been accomplished fully and perfectly by Jesus.  To all of those that believe the Gospel of Jesus, He gives righteousness as a free gift (Romans 5:17).  He did what we were unable to do, and gave us what we were unable to attain.

The Righteousness of God

Romans 3:19-24
3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 
3:20 For no one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. 
3:21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed – 
3:22 namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 
3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 
3:24 But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 

There are two kinds of righteousness contrasted in this passage.

1 - Our own human attempts at righteousness:  This is based on our behavior as judged by the 10 commandments and all the other instructions in God's law in the Old Testament.  The law judges not only outward actions, but also your thoughts and the things on the inside (Matthew 5:21-26).  Our righteousness is non-existent, because we have all sinned repeatedly and continually.

2 - God's righteousness:  God's righteousness is flawless and beautiful.  It has no lack, and no imperfection in it.

So, what is the point?

Part of the good news about Jesus Christ is that when we believe in Him, God gives us His own righteousness as a gift.  See verses 22 again:  the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe.  

This means that we no longer have to depend on our own ability to keep a code of conduct in order to have right-standing with God.  This righteousness from God is given to us freely as a gift that is unrelated to our behavior.  Your behavior and your moral conduct are not part of the equation for receiving this righteousness.  It is only received through faith.  (Note:  I am not negating the value of making good moral choices, I am saying that our morality comes up short every time.)

Romans 4:4-5
4:4 Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation. 
4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous, his faith is credited as righteousness.

Your faith in Jesus, not your work, is credited as righteousness.  It is all about who you believe in, not about how well you are able to do everything right.

Romans 5:1-2
5:1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 
5:2 through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory.

If your faith is in Jesus and what He did for you, then you are righteous in God's sight, and you have peace with Him.  He is not against you, He is at peace with you.  This was His idea, and He is the one who initiated the action.  He came to rescue us because we could not rescue ourselves.

Tithing or Giving

There are many different types of offerings described in the bible.  In the Old Testament, instructions are given for tithes, wave offerings, heave offerings, burnt offerings, first fruits,  and sin offerings, just to mention a few.  In the New Testament, instructions are given for free will offerings, and for being generous and sharing with others.  

Problems and confusion come in when you mix and match the different offerings and their associated instructions, selecting which parts to keep and which parts to ignore.  The purpose of this study is to examine the offering known as tithing, giving an overview of the practice as it is defined in the bible.

Before I begin, I want to be clear about my intention in writing this. It is aimed at people who are struggling with difference between tithing under the Old Covenant, and giving under the New Covenant.  

The questions I am hoping to answer are:  What is tithing?  Is it just another word for giving? Are Christians supposed to tithe? If so, how does it work? Do any (or all) of the rules for tithing in the Old Testament apply to Christians today?

Here is what I used to think:

We are to give God our first fruit...a tenth of our gross income.  It should be the starting point, but we can and should go beyond that with freewill offerings.  The tithe should be the first line item in our budget.  It is a way to thank God for what he has provided for us.  We are to give our tithe to our local church/assembly, or to the Christian organization or individual(s) who are “feeding” us.  There are blessings that come to us when we tithe, and many times those are financial blessings that come in a variety of ways, both natural and supernatural.  Tithing is a principle that precedes the Law (Abraham with Melchizidek in Genesis 14), and even Jesus told people to tithe (Mat 23).  Even if someone doesn’t have enough money to pay their bills, they should still tithe on their income, and trust God or the church to help fill in the gap.

During my study of this subject, I have found that the tithe is something very different than what I just described.  Giving generously is good, but it is not the same thing as tithing. I will take a few passages and point out some areas where corrections were in order for me.

One of the first things I learned was that the biblical description for tithing is quite complex, and there is not consensus even among Jewish scholars on some of the details.  In this study, I am not attempting to explain every jot and tittle.  Instead, I hope to give an overview that briefly explains the main points, and how those points agree or differ with what is generally taught today.

Depending on how you count them, there are three different tithes that were used for three different purposes.  I will cover those three, and then add some additional information afterwards. I will divide this document into the following categories:

1 - Levitical Tithe
2 - Priest Tithe
3 - Festival Tithe
4 - Abram and Melchizedek
5 - Jacob’s Vow
6 - Tithing in Christian History
7 - New Testament Christian Giving
8 - Summary

Sections 1-3 are the three different tithes, and the remaining sections contain other information relevant to the topic that I found interesting.

1 - The Levitical Tithe

(a tithe for support of the Levites)

Numbers 18:21-24
21 “Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting.
22 Hereafter the children of Israel shall not come near the tabernacle of meeting, lest they bear sin and die.
23 But the Levites shall perform the work of the tabernacle of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity; it shall be a statute forever, throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
24 For the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer up as a heave offering to the LORD, I have given to the Levites as an inheritance; therefore I have said to them, ‘Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.’”

Leviticus 27:30-33
30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD.
31 If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth to it.
32 And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the LORD.
33 He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; and if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.’”

A Levite is defined as a descendant of Levi, one of the 12 sons of Jacob/Israel.  The Levites were not given an inheritance in the land of Israel, but they were provided for by other means.   Many of the different offerings that people brought to the Lord were actually used as food for the Levites.  This “Levitical Tithe” is one of these offerings, along with the heave offerings, wave offerings, meat offerings, and so on.

According to this passage, one tenth of the tither’s produce and livestock was to be set aside to provide food for the Levites.   However, if the tither wanted to keep the food, he was allowed to give the value of the food in money, as long as he added “a fifth” to it (v 31).  This means you could keep your goats if you gave 120% of their value in money as a replacement.

Note that the tither can give money in place of food in this case, but he would have to pay an extra 20%.   So, this tithe is not ten percent of all of your income.  It is only ten percent of your produce and livestock (or the value in money plus 20%).  In fact, you will find that all three categories of the commanded tithes consisted of food, and not money.  This is an important point to remember, and it is consistent in every passage where instructions are given, including the “mint, dill, and cumin” that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 23.  There were many other sources of income in those days, but there are no instructions for craftsmen, for example, to give a tenth of their paycheck.

It is also interesting to look at the way the animals are supposed to be chosen for the tithe.   Consider these two verses again from Levicus 27:

32 And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the LORD.
33 He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; and if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.’”

The tither is specifically instructed not to choose the best animal, or the first animal.  Whatever cow goes under the rod in tenth place is the one that goes to the Levites.  So, if the tither were to go out and pick the best cow for the tithe, then technically he would be acting in disobedience.

Also consider that if the tither only has nine cows, then he is not supposed to give anything.  If he only had a few animals, he was not required to give at all.

If you do not raise livestock, or if you do not own a farm or a garden, then you are exempt from this tithe.  Remember, there were other professions in the days when these commands were given (weavers, blacksmiths, craftsmen, laborers, etc), and there are other offerings besides the tithe that provided nearly all people the opportunity to participate in giving in some way.

How would this tithe be applied today?  Farmers and gardeners would give food to the Levites for support while they are busy doing their Levitical duties in and around temple and the land of Israel.  However, since there is no temple, and there are no practicing Levites, there is no one that can rightfully receive this tithe.  In fact, tithing is no longer observed in Judaism.  You can verify this (as I did) by calling your local synagogue and asking them if they practice tithing.  The answer will be no.  The covenant people that received the command to tithe no longer practice tithing.

2 - The Priest Tithe

(the tithe given to the Priests from the Levites)

25 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
26 “Speak thus to the Levites, and say to them: ‘When you take from the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you shall offer up a heave offering of it to the LORD, a tenth of the tithe.
27 And your heave offering shall be reckoned to you as though it were the grain of the threshing floor and as the fullness of the winepress.
28 Thus you shall also offer a heave offering to the LORD from all your tithes which you receive from the children of Israel, and you shall give the LORD’s heave offering from it to Aaron the priest.
29 Of all your gifts you shall offer up every heave offering due to the LORD, from all the best of them, the consecrated part of them.’
30 Therefore you shall say to them: ‘When you have lifted up the best of it, then the rest shall be accounted to the Levites as the produce of the threshing floor and as the produce of the winepress.
31 You may eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is your reward for your work in the tabernacle of meeting.
32 And you shall bear no sin because of it, when you have lifted up the best of it. But you shall not profane the holy gifts of the children of Israel, lest you die.’”

The Levites were to set apart a tenth of what they had received from the people (the Levitical tithe), and give that tenth to the priests.  A priest is defined as a descendant of Aaron.  Since Aaron was a Levite, the priests are actually a subset of the Levites.  They were the ones who did most of their work in the actual tabernacle.

In contrast to the previous instructions, the Levites were told to choose the best of everything they had received from the people, and use that as a tithe to the priests.  Note the end of this passage, where there is a stern warning to the Levites regarding how this tithe is handled.  This should give some perspective to the often misapplied quote from Malachi 3:8-12, where the Levites appear to be the primary focus of the rebuke.

This practice is no longer in place today for reasons similar to the Levitical tithe.  There are no practicing Levites, so there is no Levitical tithe.  Therefore, there is no tithe from the Levites to the priests.

3 - The Festival Tithe

Deuteronomy 14:22-29
22 “You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year.
23 And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide, the tithe of your grain and your new wine and your oil, of the firstborn of your herds and your flocks, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.
24 But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the LORD your God has blessed you,
25 then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses.
26 And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.
27 You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you.
28 “At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates.
29 And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

According to this passage, this tithe is defined as a tenth of the increase of the tither’s livestock and produce that he is to set aside for specific purposes.  The actual use of the tithe is described in this passage as a cycle of three years.  

Years 1 and 2 (v 23-26):  The tither is supposed to set aside a tenth of the increase of his produce and livestock, and take it with him as he goes to the place the Lord chooses.  Then he and the members his household will eat it themselves.  He is not to give this tithe away to anyone.  If the destination is too far away, or if it is too difficult or cumbersome to transport all of the food, then he can sell it and just carry the money instead.  When he arrives at the place of the feast, he can buy whatever his heart desires...even alcohol (wine).  He and his family are supposed to have a celebration with this tithe, and he should also be willing share it with the Levites who are there.   Year 3:(v 27-28)  The tither is supposed to give a tithe away to Levites, orphans, widows, and people who need help.

Here are some points to consider about the festival tithe:

1 - If we are supposed to be tithing, then it appears that we have been neglecting a large part of the instructions, especially the part about using our tithe to hold a celebration.

2 - This tithe is not money, but it can be exchanged for money to make travel easier.  The actual tithe itself is actually just food from your gardens and fields.  

Since Christians are not instructed to keep the feasts of Israel (Colossians 2:16), then this tithe does not apply to Christians either.

The Law was not a set of suggestions that could be modified as needed depending on the circumstances.  The instructions for the tithe is a part of the Law, and it is a command for those under the Law.  It makes no sense to those that are not participating in the Old Testament system of Levites, priests, and festivals because it has no purpose outside of that context.

That concludes the definitions of the three different tithes that the Lord instructed the Israelites to observe.  Next is a collection of other topics that relate to the subject of tithing.

4 - Abram and Melchizedek

Genesis 14:18-24
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.
19 And he blessed him and said:

     “ Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
     Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 And blessed be God Most High,
     Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

  And he gave him a tithe of all.
21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.”
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth,
23 that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’— 2
4 except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”

In this story, Abram has gone to battle to rescue his nephew who had been kidnapped.  Abram was successful, and as part of his victory he won various spoils and captives.

In the passage above, Abram meets a priest who blesses him.  Abram responds by giving the priest a tithe (tenth) of all of the spoils of the victory, and then giving the other 90 percent of the spoils to the people who went with him to battle.  He kept nothing for himself.

Since this story happened long before the Law (and the included ordinances concerning tithing) was given, this passage is sometimes used to imply that tithing is an eternal principle that exists outside of the Law and applies to us today.

Here are some points to consider before agreeing with that theory::

1 - Abram was not commanded to give this tithe.
2 - Abram gave away 100 percent of his “increase.” 10% to Melchizedek, and 90% to other people.
3 - Abram did not return to Salem and repeat this offering weekly, monthly, annually, or ever again as far as we know.
4 - Circumcision also predates the giving of the Law, but circumcision is not required of Christians.  So, the fact that a practice predates the Law has no bearing on whether or not it should apply Christians.

5 - Jacob’s Vow

Genesis 28:20-22
20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on,
21 so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God.
22 And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”

In contrast to the commands in the law, and to the example of Abram and Melchizedek,  Jacob sets the conditions of a bargain he is attempting to make with God.  He is saying that if God will give him the things asks for, he will respond by giving a tenth of what he is provided with.

In my opinion, this behavior is not a standard we should emulate. We are not in a position that we make bargains with God. That is not the way our relationship with Him works.

6 - Tithing in Christian History

According to the Catholic encyclopedia, tithing was not introduced into Christianity until the sixth century.  Here is a quote from the encyclopedia that shows the reason it was introduced.

In the Christian Church, as those who serve the altar should live by the altar (1 Corinthians 9:13), provision of some kind had necessarily to be made for the sacred ministers. In the beginning this was supplied by the spontaneous offerings of the faithful. In the course of time, however, as the Church expanded and various institutions arose, it became necessary to make laws which would insure the proper and permanent support of the clergy. The payment of tithes was adopted from the Old Law, and early writers speak of it as a divine ordinance and an obligation of conscience. The earliest positive legislation on the subject seems to be contained in the letter of the bishops assembled at Tours in 567 and the canons of the Council of Maçon in 585. In course of time, we find the payment of tithes made obligatory by ecclesiastical enactments in all the countries of christendom. The Church looked on this payment as "of divine law, since tithes were instituted not by man but by the Lord Himself" (C. 14, X de decim. III, 30).
-from the Catholic Encyclopedia’s entry for tithes

Tithing as we know it today in Christianity was put in place to help finance the expansion of the “various institutions” and to help support the clergy.  Christianity survived 500+ years without putting a system of tithing on the believers.

7 - New Testament Christian Giving

A full study on this topic is beyond the scope of this document.  However, Paul gives us some good principles of free will giving in 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9.  I will attempt to summarize it briefly below, but I encourage you to read those chapters on your own and form your own opinion.  As you read, look for answers to these three related questions:

1 - What was the purpose of the giving?
2 - What is the proper motive for the giving?  
3 - Were they told to give ten percent of their income to their local church body?

Paul was taking up a collection to help believers in Jerusalem that were facing difficult times.  He was writing to the believers in Corinth to encourage them to participate in giving.  They were instructed to give whatever they had decided in their hearts to give.  They were not told to give ten percent of their income, and they were not accused of robbing God.  Instead, they were specifically told not to give under compulsion or of necessity, but rather to be generous and to be happy about it.
 
In this example, they were sharing with believers who needed financial assistance because of severe persecution.  And, though the specific details are different, the motive and spirit of the giving is very similar to what we see in Acts 2:42-47.  People are taking care of one another in love for God and love for one another.

Ministers are also included as recipients of generosity at times (Galatians 6:6), though Paul himself seemed to make efforts to avoid relying on this personally (1 Corinthians 9:1-18).   Using Paul as an example, there were times when he was supported by others, and there were times when he supported himself.  I believe that tells us that both scenarios are appropriate, depending on the circumstances.  It is good for person being ministered to to share, and it is also good for the person doing the ministering to be able to support himself if that option is available.

To sum this up, we can say that the New Testament teaches us to be generous and willing to share with each other when needs arise.  And, if a man (or woman) is being used by God to pour into your life, then it is good for you to share good things with him too.  We are encouraged to be generous, but none of this should be done out of compulsion.

It should be stressed again here that these practices are a completely different from tithing.  Giving and sharing and being generous are principles that are a part of the Christian walk.  Tithing, however, is not.  Tithing is for the age of the Law, where there were Levites, priests, and Jewish feasts and festivals.

8 - Summary

When you consider the purpose for the different tithes as laid out the bible, you can see that these practices would not apply to Christians, especially the Gentile Christians.  It was not practiced by the early church for several centuries.  This accounts for the fact that instructions for tithing are absent from the Epistles, and the fact that tithing was not even included in the letter from the Jerusalem council in Acts 15.

The modern day version of tithing appears to be a mix of some parts of the tithe, some parts of other Old Testament offerings, and some parts of the New Testament concept of free will giving.  
This mix has apparently evolved over time and is now part of an unbiblical tradition that is has found its way into many Christian assemblies.

He does the keeping

Jude says...
Jude 24 - Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.....

Paul says...
2 Timothy 1:12 - ...for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Peter says...
1 Peter 1:5 - ...who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Three different apostles (couriers) from God with same message.

God does the keeping, I do the believing.

My job is to believe.

His job is to keep me.

New Birth - Born of Spirit

It is always good to read scripture in proper context, and I encourage you to do so for any of these that speak to you.

John 1:12-13
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

If you "believe in His name," then you become a child of God, one of His offspring.  Your behavior is not part of the equation, only your faith.

John 3:5-6
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit

You become a child of God by being born again.  Notice that it is not a natural birth, but a spiritual one.  You are born again in your spirit.  You become a new spirit when you believe.

1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

A human being consists of a spirit, a soul, and a body.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart

Since the spirit and the soul can be divided, they are not the same thing.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 

This verse is talking about a new creation...your new spirit.

Ephesians 4:24
...and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Your "new man" was created righteous and holy by God.  In your spirit, you are already righteous and holy, regardless of your performance.

2 Corinthians 5:21
 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Our righteousness was a gift, and it is not mere human righteousness.  It is the very righteousness of God.  This is the righteous that exceeds that of the Pharisees (Mat 5:20)

Romans 3:21-22
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.

This righteousness is not based on the law.  It is not obtained by keeping rules and regulations.  It is a gift that is given by God freely to anyone who puts faith in Jesus.

Romans 4:4-5
Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

Our righteousness is a result of faith, it is not a result of our work.

Romans 5:19
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. 

We are made righteous because of Jesus obedience, not because of our own obedience.  Jesus was obedient, and I believe it, and according to God, that makes me righteous in His sight.

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

Our Father in heaven does not condemn us.  We who believe will never be condemned.

Romans 8:33
Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 

God is not bringing charges against us.  He is the one who has justified us.

Romans 8:34
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 

Jesus is not condeming us.  Instead, He came to die for us, and is interceding for us right now.

Romans 10:3-4
For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

It is impossible to establish your own righteousness.  Our righteousness comes from Christ, not from the law.

Romans 10:11
For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

We will never be put to shame.

2 Corinthians 5:19
...that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 

God is not counting our sins against us, and we have the priviledge of sharing that good news.

Hebrews 10:14
For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 

We are already perfected.

2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

We are being transformed into the same image...into the glory of the Lord...and it is being done by the Holy Spirit, not by us.

Jude 24
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy...

God keeps us from stumbling.  He also presents us faultless in His presence.  We are not tasked with making ourselves faultless.

Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Your spirit was born again as a new creation.  Your soul and your body were not born again.  The body needs to be put into subjection.  The soul (mind, will, emotions) needs to be renewed by the word of God, getting our thoughts in line with how God thinks...agreeing with Him and believing what He says.  We want our spirit to be in the lead, and our soul and body to follow.

James 1:21
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 

The word of God is what will rescue the part of you that is called your "soul."  It will help you change the way you think...the way you view the world, and the way you view yourself.

James 1:22-25
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;  for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.  But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. 

We need to look into the mirror (the word) and let it tell us what we look like...who we are in Christ.  We need to remember what we look like, what kind of men we are.  We need to see ourselves the way our Father sees us...righteous and holy, justified, forgiven, etc.