How do we move forward when life changes?

How do we continue moving on when life changes unexpectedly?  Obviously, we have to “keep swimming – or start sinking.”  Do we just trudge forward blindly and try to make things work on our own?  Or do we take a moment, pray about the situation, and seek God’s direction for our lives?  Sometimes God uses these life changing moments to get our attention, in order that we get our priorities of life back on track…especially since life is a gift that should not be squandered.   

What we initially see as a roadblock, such as losing a job, may easily end up being a blessing in disguise.  When God closes one door, we have to carefully pray about the situation as we wait for him to open another door or doors.  Metaphorically speaking, we can rattle the handles of different doors to see which doors are stuck shut and which doors open, even if we only catch a glimpse of what is behind the door.  Occasionally, God will give us a few open doors and make us decide our future destiny, even though everything may not be as it appears on the surface.  For example, one door may provide immediate monetary gain at the expense of your family and another door may provide you the opportunity to have a stable family life at the possible expense of financial security. 

Jesus Christ made it clear that sometimes we have to make life changing decisions in our lives, with the following words.

“Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”  (Matthew 7:13-14 NIV)   

Interesting enough, some people may perceive losing a job as a roadblock and the only way out of the situation is to get a better job.  However, other people may see a job loss only as a temporary setback since it allows them the opportunity to bond closer with their family members and try new things in life, such as possibly starting a business or serving fulltime in the ministry.  There is nothing wrong with trying to get a better job, as long as it does not negatively impact your personal relationship with God.

The following words of Jesus Christ help us better understand what open doors we should choose for our personal lives, especially when it comes to choosing new career paths.

“No one can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 7:24 NIV)

Overall, we need to make sure God is the center of our lives for all decisions and be content wherever he places us at different stages of our lives.  The author of Hebrews tells us – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5 NIV)  James reminds us how Job, an Old Testament patriarch, persevered while enduring numerous hardships and how God later blessed him for his obedience. (James 5:11; Job 1; 2:1-10; 42:10, 12) 

As for a closing thought, the Apostle Paul explains how everything works together for God’s purpose with the words – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NIV)

How do we handle life changes?

When life happens – and changes – how do we handle it?  When things change for the better, such as getting a job promotion, we can easily praise God and express our gratitude.  Conversely, we can easily get lost in our successes and possibly forget how God has blessed our path.  What do we do when our life seems to fall apart, like losing a job in a troubled economy?  Do we still have that same zeal for God or do we resent the situation? 

As people face struggles, especially financial struggles, sometimes they feel as though withdrawing seems to be the best answer, be it avoiding family, friends, church and/or God.  When people tighten their belts to accommodate shrinking budgets, the feelings of awkwardness can become overwhelming as their limited finances may make it difficult to dine out, enjoy outside entertainment or financially contribute to their church.  The perception of switching roles from a provider to a recipient can be an extremely humbling experience for some people, no matter how temporary the situation.    

Life happens to everyone around us, whether good or bad.  When it comes to our jobs, sometimes we can make the mistake of identifying ourselves with our occupations, instead of our niches and interests in life as well as our relationship with God.  Basically, a job is only a means of supporting ourselves and/or our families, not our ultimate goal in life.  Although people going through hard times may find it difficult to see God’s providence through the process, the Apostle Paul tells us how God may use these circumstances to make us a better person.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:1-5 NIV) 

Nevertheless, as believers, we need to remember life is a gift and we should be content in whatever situation God places us. (I Timothy 6:6-8)  God will never give us more than we can bear, even though we may not even know our own limits or stamina to endure. (I Corinthians 10:13)  The Prophet Isaiah uses the analogy of the potter and the clay to describe our relationship with God. (Isaiah 64:8)  Whereas, sometimes we just do not know the reason why things happen, but the way we respond to any given situation defines our character.

What does the Bible teach about giving?

What does Scripture teach about giving back to God?  Does the motivation for our giving matter?  Should believers systematically and/ or proportionately give based off an Old Testament ordinance?  Or do we give back out of a grateful heart, as the Holy Spirit guides our lives?  Is giving back limited to our resources?  Or does it include other things such as our time, individual talents, and spiritual gifts?

The theme of the New Covenant is basically summarized with the following words of Saint John – “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV)  In other words, we give back out of thankfulness and gratitude to God.  Giving of our resources is only one aspect of giving back.  Throughout the Word of God there is no single set standard for giving back to God, other than having a pure heart and the proper motives.  In the Book of Psalms, we find King David describing how a clean conscience before the Lord is an important part of any offering or sacrifice.  The Apostle Paul reiterates this point by saying how we can offer up ourselves as living sacrifices as our spiritual act of worship.   

“Oh Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.  You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalms 51:15-17 NIV)

“O Lord, I call to you; come quickly to me.  Hear my voice when I call to you.  May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” (Psalms 141:1-1 NIV)

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is you spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

Scripture goes on to tell us that we no longer have the need for a temporal priesthood to make daily offerings to God on our behalf, since we have permanent priest [Jesus Christ] who made a one-time sacrifice by offering his life for the sins of the world.  As a result, we are no longer under the Law of the Old Covenant, to include having priests offer daily sacrifices as a propitiation for our sins.  Thus, the Old Testament ordinance of tithing has been made null and void by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.   

“Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.  Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, be he always live to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:23-25 NIV)

Some would say that the Old Testament tithe – ten percent of everything from the Israelites’ land, herds and flocks – should be the starting point for giving, which many equate to ten percent of one’s income.  However, this position has several concerns as well as possible unintended consequences against the church.  For starters, the Old Testament tithe was strictly restricted to a tenth of everything from the Israelites’ land, herds and flock. (Leviticus 27:1-2, 30, 32)  Ninety percent of the tithe actually stayed with the Levites as part of their inheritance and rotational part-time temple duties, since their tribe did not receive any land inheritance in Israel. (Numbers 18:25-26, 28-29)  In addition, the Old Testament tithe did not include the entire harvest from the Israelites’ fields, since it also included an ordinance of gleaning which instructed the harvesters to leave remnants from their harvests in the fields to help feed the poor.  This ordinance was still practiced during the time of Jesus Christ’s ministry, as the gospels record how the Pharisees confronted Jesus Christ while going through the grain fields picking heads of grain with his disciples on the Sabbath. (Deuteronomy 24:19-21; Matthew 12:1-2)  The Israelites who earned an income from a craft or skill gave freewill offerings, not tithes…since tithes always consisted of food.  The poor also gave freewill offerings, as they were never required to tithe.  As a result, suggesting a ten percent starting point for giving disproportionately hurts the poor.  When it came to freewill offerings, the poor still gave less.  Just look at the example of Jesus’ parents giving two turtledoves (or pigeons) instead of a lamb, as an offering, for his purification in the temple?  (Luke 2:24; Leviticus 12:8)

When it comes to giving of one’s resources to God, the percentage is not relevant…but rather the heart or motive.  In the Old Testament, we see how the patriarch Abraham responded to his obligation of giving a one-time war tithe to Melchizedek, the king of Salem.  In response, Abraham refused to personally accept anything from the war spoils, other than what was already eaten or rightfully belonged to the men who served in the battle with him, because he wanted God to have the glory.  (Genesis 14:18-20)  Another patriarch, named Jacob, made a conditional vow to God that he would give a tenth of everything he received, if God blessed him.  However, Scripture does not clarify how Jacob dispersed the tenth or to whom he gave it.  (Genesis 28:18-22)  As for both Abraham and Jacob, neither of them were required to give anything to priest or a temple, since both of them were priests as patriarchs of their own households who built alters and worshipped God directly. (Genesis 12:7-8; 28:18-22)     

In the New Testament, there are various examples of people giving in relation to their motives.  We see the story of the poor widow placing her gift of two small copper coins into the temple treasury.  Jesus Christ used her example of giving to contrast how the rich people gave gifts out of their wealth, while the poor widow gave everything that she had to live on. (Luke 21:1-4)  Jesus Christ also said we should help out the needy for the purpose of glorifying God, not bringing attention to ourselves. (Matthew 6:1-4)  Likewise, the Apostle Paul gave instructions to the Corinthian and Galatian churches to have its congregants set aside a sum of money, in keeping with their income, in order that collections can be taken on the first day of the week for the purpose of helping God’s people. (I Corinthians 16:1)

Overall, when it comes to giving, we need to consider our priorities in life.  First and foremost, we have to take care of our individual relationships with God by placing Him first and foremost in everything, to include our personal financial decisions.  All we need to do is take a look at our personal budgets, beyond the basic needs of sustenance, and see how our personal priorities rank in relation to God’s priorities in our lives.  After we figure out how to prioritize our own lives, we can take those Godly principles and apply them by helping our families understand the importance of having God in our lives.  Once we begin to understand how the Holy Spirit works through our own lives and families, we can better help others learn about God’s grace by giving back to God, our churches, our communities and others.  Giving back involves many aspects, to include our resources, time, individual talents and spiritual gifts.  The Apostle Paul makes it clear that Christian leaders needs know how to manage their own families before taking care of other people, with the rhetorical question – “If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?” (I Timothy 3:5 NIV)

In summary, the key motive that distinguishes Christianity from all other world religions is that everything is done out of thankfulness and gratitude to God.  The Apostle Paul reiterates this point by saying, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (II Corinthians 9:7 NIV)  With Jesus Christ as our mediator to God and the Holy Spirit as our comforter writing the laws on our hearts, we must not forget one of the most important aspects of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death…believers can now offer their bodies as living sacrifices directly to God. (Hebrews 9:15; 10:15-16; Romans 12:1-2)  Likewise, once we grasp the reality of being free from the former regulations of the Law, we can realize “…a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.” (Hebrews 7:19 NIV)  Therefore, as a natural response, we will want to reflect God’s love in our lives by giving graciously and abundantly of our time, resources, individual talents and spiritual gifts to help support the work of the Lord, especially within the local church.

Are believers obligated to tithe?

The wording of the ordinance clearly states “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Levites and say to them: When you receive from the Israelites the tithes I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering…From these tithes you must give the Lord’s portion to Aaron the priest.  You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest of everything given to you.’” (Numbers 18:25-26, 28-29 NIV)  Scripture clearly explains that the Israelites were instructed to give a tenth of everything from their land, herds and flocks to the Levites, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them…A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord…The entire tithe of the herd and flock – every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod – will be holy to the Lord.’” (Leviticus 27:1-2, 30, 32 NIV)  In addition, the Israelites were not required to tithe during the Sabbath year (every 7^th year) and the Year of Jubilee (every 50^th year). (Leviticus 25:1-12)  God made it clear that this ordinance was specifically directed to the Israelites and this tithe was restricted to everything from the Israelites’ land, herds and flocks…not money earned from any of their crafts or skills.  

The ordinance of tithing to the Levites has obviously encountered many changes throughout the history of the Old Testament, to include the tithes being distributed directly to the kings and to the priests in the temple in Jerusalem. (I Samuel 8:10, 14-17; I Chronicles 23:1-5; II Chronicles 31:2, 4-6)  Likewise, Scripture records how the Israelites later resumed bringing their tithes directly to the Levites in the cities where they worked around Israel. (Nehemiah 10:36-37)  Nevertheless, the tithe was always limited to everything from the Israelites’ land, herds and flocks.  

The early church at Jerusalem apparently experienced problems with believers who still wanted to follow the New Testament teachings of Jesus Christ, while still trying to observe the teachings of the Law.  The Apostle Paul noted that the Pharisees from Judea and Antioch were trying to have the church in Jerusalem follow the law of Moses – “Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, ‘The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.’” (Acts 15:5 NIV)  Obviously, these Pharisees were trying to mandate that the other churches observe the Law, which likely included tithing to the temple.  The Apostle Paul further noted that the council at the church in Jerusalem confronted this issue by writing and sending the following letter to the other Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia, “’We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said.  So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul – men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing.  It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.  You will do well to avoid these things.’” (Acts 15:22-29 NIV) 

Approximately six years later, the Apostle Paul returned to the church at Jerusalem and states how the church was taken over by thousands of believers who zealously observed the Law. (Acts 21:17-20)  Before the Apostle Paul could address the rest of the church, the church leaders required that Paul and his men observe the Law by joining in their purification rites, paying their expenses and shaving their heads. (Acts 21:21-24)  As a result of Paul trying to appease the church’s infatuation with the Law, several Jews around Asia saw Paul at the temple and almost killed him for bringing Greeks into the temple and defiling the holy place.  After the Roman troops stopped the rioters from beating Paul, they subsequently arrested him and inquired what he was doing in the temple. (Acts 21:27-36)  The reaction by the Jews at the temple made it quite clear that Christians, who were not originally Jews, had absolutely no right to defile the temple by observing the ordinances of the Law.  Thus, any tithe that a Christian (who was not originally a Jew) gives to the Levitical priesthood would be unacceptable, since the ordinance of tithing was strictly limited to the Israelites.

As for other instances of tithing or giving a tenth, outside of the Law, the Bible mentions two primary instances – the first involving Abraham [Abram] giving a tenth to the king of Salem and Jacob vowing to give God a tenth of everything.  These instances are often used to explain tithing as an eternal principle.  However, an eternal principle or absolute is something that will often prove itself through nature, regardless of science or theological explanation.  For example, mathematics can be considered an absolute that will prove to be consistent over time.  Basically, the answer to the simple math problem “1+1” ends up being “2”…long before any formal mathematics system was ever created.  The same goes for giving.  People often find it a natural instinct to give and share with others – without regard to any given percentage they must share – they just do it.  Tithing on the other hand is restrictive, since it limits giving to only ten percent…no more, no less.  In other words, the eternal principle of giving does not have any limitations or boundaries.

As for Abraham, Scripture describes how he gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of the God Most High, after he returned from a war defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him. (Genesis 14:18-20)  On the surface, this looks like a prime example of a believer tithing before the Law was introduced.  However, the surrounding passages indicate that this was a one-time war tithe, since the king of Sodom told Abraham to give him the people and to keep the remaining goods for himself.  Abraham responded to the king of Sodom by saying, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say ‘I made Abram rich.’  I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me….”  Abraham makes it clear that he gave God the glory in the battle by accepting nothing from the war spoils. (Genesis 14:21-24 NIV)  Scripture indicates that Abraham did not have to tithe to a priest, since he was a priest himself as a patriarch of his household.  Scripture reveals how “The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’  So he built an altar there to the Lord…From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel…There he built an alter to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord….”  Abraham built alters and worshipped God directly. (Genesis 12:7-8 NIV)  The author of Hebrews reiterates this point by saying how great of a man Melchizedek was since “Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!” (Hebrews 7:4) 

As for Jacob, Scripture makes it clear that Jacob’s vow to give God a tenth of everything was a conditional vow.  While at the place called Bethel, “Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give a tenth.’” (Genesis 28:18-22 NIV)

In summary, Scripture clearly teaches that the ordinance of tithing was specifically directed toward the Israelites, not the New Testament church.  Israelites, who earned their livelihood from farming and herding, were the only people commanded to give a tenth of everything from their land, herds and flocks to the Levites.  Likewise, the Levites were commanded to give a tithe, of the best and holiest part, of all of their received tithes to the priests.  In other words, whenever tithing was practiced according to the ordinance, only one percent – not ten percent – of everything from Israelites’ land, herd and flocks ever made it to the priests, since the Levites kept ninety percent of the tithe as part of their inheritance and part-time duties in the temple.  On the contrary, Israelites who earned a living from a craft or skill, as well as the poor, were not required to tithe products or money…but rather they gave freewill offerings.

What is the history of the tithe?

God originally commanded the nation of Israel to give a tithe of everything from their land, herds and flocks to the Levites for their work in the temple and their inheritance, since the Levites did not inherit any land. (Numbers 18:23-24)  The tithe to the Levites consisted of a tenth of everything from the land, whether grain or fruit, as well as every tenth animal from the herd and flock that passed under the shepherd’s rod. (Leviticus 27:30, 32)  In addition, the Levites were commanded to give a tithe, of the best and holiest part, of all of their received tithes to the priests. (Numbers 18:26, 28-29) 

Over 300 years later, when the judges of Israel became dishonest and perverted justice, the elders of Israel asked Samuel for a king to lead them like the other nations. (I Samuel 8:1-5)  Samuel responded to the people and explained how the king would take the best tenth of their fields, herds, and flocks.  He warned how the people of Israel would become slaves to the king. (I Samuel 8:10, 14-17)  Approximately 80 years later, the tithe ended up going directly to the king instead of the Levites, since Scripture indicates King David accounted for the priests and Levites underneath his lists of leaders for Israel.  (I Chronicles 23:1-5)

Another 300 years later, King Hezekiah ordered the people to start bringing their tithes to the temple and the people brought the first fruits from their land and a tithe of the holiest from their herds and flocks. (II Chronicles 31:2, 4-6)  King Hezekiah later questioned why there were so many heaps of agricultural tithes in the temple.  In response, he gave orders to prepare storerooms in the temple and distributed a portion of the tithes to the priests and Levites. (II Chronicles 31:9-11, 17-19)  The reason for the excessive heaps of agricultural tithes appearing in the temple resulted from the people of Israel bringing their tithes to the temple, instead of bringing the tithes to the Levites who lived in the towns and pasturelands designated for them around the nation of Israel. (II Chronicles 31:9-10; Numbers 35:1-5)

About 250 years later, Nehemiah records how the people of Israel resumed the command of bringing a tenth of their fields, herds and flocks to the Levites in the towns where they worked.  Likewise, the Levites resumed the command of giving a tithe, of the best and holiest part, of all of their tithes to the priests.  The Levites brought their tithe to the temple and the priests escorted them as they brought their tithe to the storerooms in the temple.  (Nehemiah 10:36-39; 12:44; Numbers 18:23-24; 35:1-5)  In addition, the Levites also brought a portion of their received tithes to a storeroom in the temple, in order that the Levites serving in the temple would have food to eat.  Only 1 out of 24 courses, or groups of Levite households, served in the temple at one time.  Conversely, while the other 23 groups of households were not serving in the temple they stayed in their home cities and pastureland around Israel. (Nehemiah 10:39; 12:44-45; Numbers 35:1-5; II Chronicles 24:1, 3-5, 7-18, 19, 20-30, 31)

Nehemiah also talks about the evil thing that the priest Eliashib did to one of the temple storerooms used by the Levites.  While Nehemiah was away, Eliashib allowed Tobiah to empty the Levites’ storeroom of their tithes and temple supplies.  Once Nehemiah returned and found this out, he ordered that the rooms be purified and that their tithes and supplies be returned to the storeroom.  The temple supplies were returned to the storeroom, however, the Levites’ tithes were not.  As a result, all of the Levites returned to their own fields since they had no food to eat in the temple.  In response, Nehemiah rebuked the officials and asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected?”  To correct the problem, Nehemiah made a temporary exception to the Law by having all of the people bring their tithes directly to the temple storerooms, in order to replenish the Levites’ missing tithes so they could sustain themselves while serving in the temple. (Nehemiah 13:4-11 NIV) 

During this same time era, God spoke through Malachi and rebuked the priests for defiling the temple by vowing to offer the best animals up for sacrifices and then substituting them with sick, blemished, or stolen animals. (Malachi 1:6-8, 13-14)  Malachi further rebuked the priests for misleading people with their teaching and violating the covenant with the Levites. (Malachi 2:7-8)  Malachi then asks the priests, “Will a man rob God?’ and they asked “How do we rob you?”  Malachi responded by saying “In tithes and offerings” and challenged the priests to “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food” in the temple. (Malachi 3:8-10 NIV)  The text indicates that the priests possibly depleted the “food” in the temple by offering defiled sacrifices of stolen animals and/or allowing the Levites’ tithes to be stolen from one of the storerooms in the temple. (Malachi 1:13-14; Nehemiah 13:4-11)      

As we advance to the New Testament, we see that the ordinance of tithing was still practiced during the time of Jesus Christ.  In the book of Luke, Jesus used tithing as an example to contrast the differences between two individuals – a self-righteous Pharisee who exalted his tithing practices and a sinner who humbled himself before God. (Luke 18:9-14)  While condemning other practices of the Pharisees, Jesus said “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You give a tenth of your spices – mint, dill and cumin.  But you have neglected the more important matters of the law – justice, mercy and faithfulness.  You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” (Matthew 23:1-3, 23 NIV)  These two passages stress the fallacies of the Pharisees’ faith being dependent upon their strict adherence to the Law by giving of their tithes, rather than giving from a broken spirit humbled before the Lord.  King David emphasizes this same theme with the following words, “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.  You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart….” (Psalm 51:15-17 NIV)

In regard to Jesus’ comments about tithing in Matthew and Luke, was Jesus advocating that believers should continue the ordinance of tithing?   Well, this brings us back to the issue of interpreting Scripture within the proper context of its surrounding passages, within the context of time it was written, and within the context of the entire Bible.  For starters, Jesus was addressing the “…teachers of the law and Pharisees…” who were still following the tithing ordinance by giving tithes of everything from their land, herds and flocks, even though they tried to expand the Law by including a tenth of their “…spices – mint, dill and cumin.” (Matthew 23:23 NIV)  Jesus made it clear that he did not “…come to abolish the Law…but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17 NIV)  Jesus made it evident that the Jews were to continue offering their gifts in the temple as “Moses commanded.” (Matthew 5:23-24; 8:3-4 NIV)  While the Apostle Paul spoke to the church at Galatia, he explained how “…God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law….” (Galatians 4:4-5 NIV)  Jesus Christ was clearly born “under the Law.”  Consequently, Jesus addressed the issues of Pharisees’ tithing practices based off the tithing ordinance under the Law. 

The author of the book Hebrews, presumably the Apostle Paul, explains “If perfection could have been attained though the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was their still need for another priest to come…not in the order of Aaron?  For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.” (Hebrews 7:11-12 NIV)  The author further explains “The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless…Others became priests without any oath, but he [Jesus Christ] became a priest with an oath when God said to him: ‘the Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: You are a priest forever.’  Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.” (Hebrews 7:18, 20-21 NIV)  The author summarizes everything with the words – “He [Jesus Christ] sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself…the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made forever.” (Hebrews 7:27-28 NIV)  Scripture makes it apparent that Jesus’ sacrificial death, after the Law, nullified the need for the Levitical priesthood.  Likewise, the ordinance of tithing to the Levites was nullified by Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death.