Rsbc
November 9, 2003
Sunday Night
Subject: Is Tithing for Today?
Text: Hebrews 7:1-10
Intro: I have often heard by many people that tithing is an old testament duty, that under grace we do not have to tithe, but rather just give an offering.
I will endeavor in the message to set forth the truth of Tithing as I understand it from this text. Many people rob God, many people tip God, Many people give a tithe and an offering to the LORD which is what we are supposed to do.
Paul quoting the LORD JESUS CHRIST said these words: Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Giving is something that is natural with a child of God. We should want especially since the LORD has given us so much. In our text we will look at three main thoughts concerning Tithing...
I... “ Tithing before the Law”...vs 1-4
Here we Abraham after a war tithing the spoils of war to the High Priest of the LORD. Many speculations have been suggested about Melchisedec some even believe him to be the LORD JESUS CHRIST. I do not. I will show you why I don’t.
Keep in mind that Jesus Christ was not a created being...and Melchisedec was. He is called a man verse 4. You might ask the question about what is said about him in verse 3.
This is in order that he might be a proper type of Christ. Under the Levitical priesthood, a Priest must have the proper Tribal connections by birth, if not he could not qualify for the priesthood. Next the Levitical priesthood was temporary and Melchisedec priesthood was not. A priest served a certain period of time and then stepped down. SO they could not properly be recognized as a type of Christ.
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Ezra 2:59‑62
Even though this man’s life is a mystery we can see how he prefigures the Lord. There is somewhat of history of him in Genesis 14, In Psalm 110 there is some prophecy of him, and then in this chapter that is before us.
II... “ TITHING UNDER THE LAW”..VS 5-7
1st. The tithe was 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.
2nd. Tithing was also of their crops: Deuteronomy 14:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
Even of their flocks: 2 Chronicles 31:6 And [concerning] the children of Israel and Judah, that dwelt in the cities of Judah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and sheep, and the tithe of holy things which were consecrated unto the LORD their God, and laid [them] by heaps.
3rd. The Lord Jesus preached tithing: Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
It was under the law that the Iseralities robbed the LORD. Malachi 3:8‑10 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation. 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].
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III... “ TITHING AFTER THE LAW”...VS 8-10
In all three cases that are in this chapter they paid Tithe to the their High Priest and we pay Tithe to our High priest which is the LORD Jesus Christ. We pay it through his church.
1. Does tithing consist only of our money?
It could argued that we owe the LORD a tithe of all that we have, we could break it down into three area’s...
A. That of our income:
Deuteronomy 8:17‑18 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of [mine] hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for [it is] he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as [it is] this day.
We must often be reminded that it belongs to the Lord listen to what Jesus said:
Matthew 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
B. Our Talents:
God endows all of us with some kind of gift to serve him, some people do it and some don’t. I believe whatever talent you have God gave it and you owe him a portion of it in his service.
Matt 25:14-30
We need to glorify the Lord with the talents he has given us. You know what you can do, and don’t be as this man who dug a hole and hid his. Paul said in Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
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c. Our time:
The bible has a lot to say about time, it says there is a time to be born and a time to die. It is that period between birth and death that we are to serve the Lord with our time.
James speaks of our life as a little time: James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
So whatever time we have on earth left we should be using it wisely doing the will of God. Solomon said: Proverbs 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
1. Give the Lord each day a portion of your time by reading and studying your Bible...
2. Give the Lord each day a portion of your time by praying to him.
3. Give the Lord each day a portion of your time by witnessing for him.