The Roots of Giving from the Old Testament
When we think about tithing we look at the New Testament and the teachings of Jesus and the references and comments He made about giving to the Kingdom. I want to look at tithing in the laws of the Old Testament and from the Traditional Jewish view. This is the foundation of our beliefs of giving.
I want to thank C. G. Tuland for information about the three tithes of the Old Testament.
The first one is the sacred tithe which is traced back to Abraham and is given to the Levites and priests for their service to the temple and the congregation. This is the tithe we continue to give under the priesthood of Melchizedek in the New Testament. It is the tithe consecrated to God and the furtherance of the gospel and has, therefore, validity for all believers in Christ.
The second tithe is the tithe of the feasts. This one is similar to a Christmas Club savings plan. The Levitcal law required that a Jew had to go to Jerusalem on certain occasions. Money would be set aside to cover the cost of going to Jerusalem, like a vacation fund with a religious purpose.
The third tithe is the tithe for the poor. This one was given every third year and was for the Levite, sojourner, fatherless and the widow. The money set aside wasn't distributed by the individual, but was a community project to which everybody had to contribute.
Summarizing the three types of tithe in the Old Testament period we find a much broader concept of giving, giving that included first, God; second, man's own physical and spiritual welfare; and third, their neighbor's need.
The Old Testament was like "training wheels" of the New Testament. We live under grace, not the law. We are gifted and empowered to do more under grace than what was instructed by the law. Accordingly, these three tithes are a good starting point for giving, but only a glimpse of the minimum of true Christian benevolence as discussed in previous articles. To give less under grace than what was required under the law would be a disgrace to grace.
In the next article we will look at the "tzedakah" or in English "Charity"
Kjell Austad, Stewardship Chairperson
