Podcast Introduction

Today we will complete the book of  Leviticus 25-27. I’ll have comments on both chapters after the reading, and I’m calling today’s episode “Try Me.”

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Comments on Leviticus 27

If you’ve been listening very long to the show, you have probably noticed that I’m willing to talk about subjects that might make people uncomfortable. Subjects that others might prefer to avoid. My attitude is that those are the subjects that *need* to be talked about. God put them in His Word because He considers them important. So let’s talk about money.

Verses 30-33  about tithes. The translation we used for chapter 27 today used the term “tenth-part gifts.” Verse 34, the closing verse of Leviticus, says, "These are the commands that the LORD gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites."

So giving tithes was a command. It was not optional.

The question is, are we as believers in Jesus obligated to tithe? Let's do a little digging.

First, what is a tithe? A tithe is an offering of 10%. And it did not originate with the Mosaic Law. There are references to tithes being given in Genesis 14 and 28, before Moses was born.

The New Testament does not give a requirement to tithe, but it does mention the tithe with favor. One example is Hebrews 7:4-10, when Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek. 

Giving however, is commanded in 1 Corinthians 16:1-2. Paul even said that not only should giving should be done, but that it should be planned for and done regularly.

"Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. 2On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once." NLT

And if that wasn’t enough, In 2 Corinthians 8:8, Paul says that giving is a test of our love for God, and those who do His work.

And in 2 Corinthians 9:6, Paul compares giving to a farmer. The farmer who plants sparingly will reap sparingly. The one who plants generously will reap generously. 

And then he goes on in the very next verse and says that each person must decide in his or her own heart how much to give, and don't give reluctantly or because of pressure. Why? Paul said, "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." And, he says, God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 

And in 1 Corinthians 9:7-14, Paul says that we should give to those who feed us spiritually. Verses 11-14, “11If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it so much to ask to harvest some material things from you? 12If others have these rights over you, don’t we deserve them all the more? However, we haven’t made use of this right, but we put up with everything so we don’t put any obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get to eat food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share part of what is sacrificed on the altar? 14In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who preach the gospel should get their living from the gospel.”

This is Paul speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, beloved. If we accept the Bible as true, then we need to accept these verses as true.

Now, let me tell you my experience in giving. First, I was not brought up in a believing home. My parents did not go to church, though my mom did in at least her teen years. I wasn't even aware of that fact until after she passed away, when I was going through some of her papers and found that she was a leader in her youth group. But since my dad was very much anti-church and anti-God, going to church was a non-starter when I was a boy. I tell you that to say that I did not have any training from home on giving to God's work.