(Is it possible that tithe in the old testament is a type and a picture of how new testament churches can take care of their pastors?
Does Jesus want churches to think well of their pastors, to want to take care of them, and to bless them back for what they do for us?)
I Thessalonians 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
I Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.
II Timothy 2:6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
(Our pastors are charged with caring for our spiritual needs, so we should gladly care for their physical needs:)
I Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Galatians 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Romans 15:27b For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
(The old testament shows us, by examples, how the LORD intends for his people to be a blessing to the man of God:)
Romans 15:4a For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning,
I Corinthians 10:6a Now these things were our examples,
11a Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition,
(The first example was before the law, where Abraham, on his own, chose to give a tenth to the priest of the most high God:)
Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
Genesis 14:19b and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Hebrews 7:2a To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all;
(Later, under the law, the LORD showed that, like with Abraham earlier, the tithe is a very good thing, which is holy unto the LORD:)
Leviticus 27:30 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 unto the LORD.
(The LORD chose the tribe of Levi to be his ministers. They did not receive any inheritance like the other tribes.
They served about the house of God, they led in worship, and lived in strategically placed cities of the other tribes, to teach people the word of God:)
Numbers 8:14 Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.
Numbers 18:24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.
(The tithes of the children of Israel were for the Levites, to feed them and their families, to take care of them, and to be a blessing.
Then the Levites were to then give a tithe of those tithes, to the house of God, to take care of the priests:)
Numbers 18:26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even a tenth part of the tithe.
(The Levites were to live by those tithes, and the other tribes were admonished to not to forget to take care of the Levites:)
Deuteronomy 18:1b and all the tribe of Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel: they shall eat the offerings of the LORD
Deuteronomy 12:19 Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest upon the earth.
(There came a time when the people were not taking good care of the Levites, by not giving the tithe.
But a good king arose, Hezekiah, who encouraged the people to encourage the Levites, and the people immediately did so:)
II Chronicles 31:4 Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.
5 And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.
(So much so, that there was actually more than enough, and everyone was greatly blessed:)
10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.
(Later, the people slid back again, in many different ways, and in chastisement, they went to Babylon for 70 years.
When they returned, Nehemiah, like Hezekiah, before him, encouraged the people to take care of the Levites:)
Nehemiah 10:37 And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage.
38 And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.
(A little later, the people stopped taking care of the Levites again:)
Nehemiah 13:10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.
(The LORD sent a prophet to explain to the people that they were not only, not taking care of the Levites, but were thus robbing God:)
Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
(But then the LORD challenged them to prove him - that if they bless the Levites, the LORD would bless them:)
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.
(But then, by the time Jesus came, giving had become a profession for many, an outward sign of their religious deeds.
But there were still some who gave from the heart, even when it was difficult, and they were noticed by Jesus:)
Mark 12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
(Religious giving had become a show, a form of pride:)
Luke 18:11a The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are,
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luke 11:42b for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God
(Yet the early church was encouraged to live by heart giving, rather than religious giving:)
Acts 20:35b and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Romans 12:8b he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity;
(Jesus is not a tax collector, he doesn't demand, or take, our money, he desires for us to want to give, to be willing to give.
And he doesn't expect for us to give what we don't even have, like going into debt for some giving program.
No, he provides for us, and from that, we can give, if we're willing:)
II Corinthians 8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
(Jesus doesn't even want us to give if we think that we are being compelled to give.
He desires for us to purpose in our hearts what we are going to give.
Jesus wants us to give cheerfully, not grumbling or complaining.)
II Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
(When we are willing, like that, to take care of our pastors, like people took care of the Levites at the time of Hezekiah,
everyone is blessed - the givers are blessed, the pastors are blessed, and Jesus is blessed.)
(Jesus desires for us to want to take care of our pastors, and showed us examples of these kind of blessings, of the Levites in Israel.
He doesn't demand for us to give a certain amount, like Uncle Sam does for taxes, no that is not how Jesus is.
He showed us examples of how the giving and blessing work for everyone's benefit.
The tithe, or the tenth, was an example, and that 10% didn't first come from the LORD, it was Abraham who first came up with that.
Some give more than a tenth, and some may give less, for reasons we do not know, but the examples of a tenth worked out good.
It's up to us whether we will give cheerfully, what we purpose in our hearts.)
I Corinthians 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Galatians 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
(That way everyone is blessed, and especially Jesus:)
II Corinthians 9:7c for God loveth a cheerful giver.
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