Post by Standing Firm in Christ on Jan 8, 2014 15:29:30 GMT -6
Lately, I have had tithers try to convince me that we are to tithe our money, and that they have Scripture to prove it.
Their proof-text? 2 Chronicles 31:5, which reads:
2 Chronicles 31:5 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.
They argue that the phrase, “tithe of all things” is proof that not just agricultural products were tithed, but everything; i.e., crops, livestock, clothing, cookware, and yes,… even money.
Proof-texting always leads to wrong conclusions. When studying the Bible, or preaching from the Bible, it is important to keep Scripture in its proper context. Yes, the verse above does say “and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.” And when read alone, it appears that tithes may have been more than agricultural. After all, the Bible clearly says they brought agricultural products AND the tithe of all things, does it not?
It does. But again, one must read that verse in its proper context. When one does, one can clearly see that the “all things” is speaking about all things that the Law required to be tithed. Notice:
2 Chronicles 31:5-10 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. 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. In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel. Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 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.
The chief Priest Azariah reveals in the text what the “all things” that were in heaps in verse 5 was referring to. It was what was left over after the Levites and Priests had eaten enough. Something that was to be eaten. Keeping in perfect harmony with Leviticus 27:30-33; i.e., the only tithe that God ever required the children of Israel to give… agricultural products.
Leviticus 27:30-33 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. And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD. He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
The “tithe of all things” in 2 Chronicles 31:5 is clearly a tithe of agricultural products only.
Their proof-text? 2 Chronicles 31:5, which reads:
2 Chronicles 31:5 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.
They argue that the phrase, “tithe of all things” is proof that not just agricultural products were tithed, but everything; i.e., crops, livestock, clothing, cookware, and yes,… even money.
Proof-texting always leads to wrong conclusions. When studying the Bible, or preaching from the Bible, it is important to keep Scripture in its proper context. Yes, the verse above does say “and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.” And when read alone, it appears that tithes may have been more than agricultural. After all, the Bible clearly says they brought agricultural products AND the tithe of all things, does it not?
It does. But again, one must read that verse in its proper context. When one does, one can clearly see that the “all things” is speaking about all things that the Law required to be tithed. Notice:
2 Chronicles 31:5-10 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. 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. In the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. And when Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the LORD, and his people Israel. Then Hezekiah questioned with the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps. 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.
The chief Priest Azariah reveals in the text what the “all things” that were in heaps in verse 5 was referring to. It was what was left over after the Levites and Priests had eaten enough. Something that was to be eaten. Keeping in perfect harmony with Leviticus 27:30-33; i.e., the only tithe that God ever required the children of Israel to give… agricultural products.
Leviticus 27:30-33 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. And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD. He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
The “tithe of all things” in 2 Chronicles 31:5 is clearly a tithe of agricultural products only.