FREEDOM FROM FINANCIAL BURDEN

GOD’S PLAN FOR GIVING

“SET YOUR CHURCH FREE FROM OBLIGATORY GIVING TO FREEWILL VOLUNTARY CHEERFUL

GIVING!”

PRINCIPLES OF NEW TESTAMENT GIVING

GOD'S PLAN FOR GIVING

From creation to the law, the Mosaic law to Jesus and from the early church to

present.

Table of Contents

I. IntroII. 4 Categories of StewardshipIII. 3 Periods of Biblical History of Giving1. Before Moses2. Between Moses and Jesus3. From Jesus to the present

IV.

the stewardship of money is a critical area of life

money is a good barometer on spirituality, because the way you handle your money is

an indication of your Christian stewardship of life. More than any other single commodity, money is your hands.

You're constantly dealing with money.

4 Categories of Stewardship

Christians are faced with many decisions regarding money.

1. How we feel about money.2. How we earn money. 3. How we spend money. 4. How we give money

The Bible says a lot about

1. How we feel about money

1. We are not to love it.1 Timothy 6: 10, "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.“

2. That we are not to trust and put ourconfidence in our money.1 Timothy 6:17, "Charge those that are rich not to trust in their money."

Trust in money is idolatry.

Matthew 6:24, "You cannot serve two gods. You can't serve

the true God and money.“

"Walang aliping makakapaglingkod nang sabay sa dalawang panginoon, sapagkat kapopootan niya ang isa at iibigin ang ikalawa, paglilingkuran nang tapat ang isa at hahamakin ang ikalawa. Hindi kayo maaaring maglingkod nang sabay sa Diyos at sa kayamanan.

The Bible tells us that we are not to seek to be rich. We are to seek to honor God. If He

desires to make us rich, that's His business. We're to seek to work as hard as we can, do the very best we can for His glory. If He desires to make us rich in response to that, that's His business.

1 Timothy 6:9,

"Those who would be rich fall into many hurtful lusts and their souls ultimately are drowned in destruction and loss.“

Ang mga nagnanasang yumaman ay nahuhulog sa tukso at nasisilo sa bitag ng masasamang hangaring magtutulak sa kanila sa kamatayan at kapahamakan.

Not ours stewards only

Also in regarding money, we are not to regard money as our own. It is God's.

We are stewards of it.

What does the Bible say about

2. How we earn money

or how we get money?

a. We're not to steal it.There are lots of ways to steal:

Psalm 37:21. "The wicked borrows and pays not back.“

Amos 8:5 and Hosea 12:7 the prophets talk about falsifying the balance owed and then deceiving somebody out of money.

b. We are not to exploit others by usury (patubo.)

Or we are not to overcharge desperate people.

c. Also, we are not to defraud people by not paying them what we owe them.

James 5:4, says, "Sumisigaw laban sa inyo ang mga umani sa inyong bukirin dahil hindi ninyo ibinigay sa kanila ang kanilang sweldo. Umabot na sa langit, sa pandinig ng Panginoong Makapangyarihan sa lahat, ang mga hinaing ng mga mang-aani na inyong inapi!"

d. The Bible also says that we're not to gamble for it.

“If we trust the sovereignty of God and the providence of God, chance has no part in it.”

How are we to get it?1. The primary way is we earn money by

work.Good old work.

The Bible says, "six days shalt thou," what? "Labor and do all thy work. The seventh shall you rest.“

Proverbs 28:19, “Sagana sa pagkain ang magsasakang masipag, ngunit nagdarahop ang taong tamad.”

Proverbs 14:23, “Ang bawat pagsisikap ay may pakinabang, ngunit ang puro salita, ang bunga ay kahirapan.”

2. Also, we are to get it by receiving gifts.Love gifts, kindness

3. By making wise investments.Matthew 25: 27, “…bakit hindi mo na lamang inilagay sa bangko ang aking salapi! Kahit paano'y may tinubo sana ito!”

We can earn money by making wise investments. Interest can be made.

What does the Bible say about

how we spend money?

1. We are to provide for the needs of our family and the needs of those around us.

1 Timothy 5:8, “Ang sinumang hindi kumakalinga sa kanyang mga kamag-anak, lalo na sa mga kabilang sa kanyang pamilya, ay tumatalikod sa pananampalataya, at mas masama pa kaysa sa isang di mananampalataya.

So you are to spend your money for your needs and the needs of your household and the needs of those around you who have needs.

1 John 3: 17,“Kapag nakikita ng isang maykaya sa

buhay ang kanyang kapatid na nangangailangan, at hindi niya ito tinulungan, masasabi bang siya'y umiibig sa Diyos.”

2. You're to spend your money to pay your debts immediately.

Romans 13: 8, "Owe no man anything but love.“

II Kings 4:7, Sinabi ni Eliseo sa babae, "Ipagbili mo ang langis at bayaran mo ang iyong mga utang. Ang matitira ay gamitin ninyong mag-iina."

3. Save your money.Proverbs 30: 24, Sa daigdig ay may apat na

maliliit na hayop ngunit may pambihirang kaisipan.

Future planning is very reasonable, it is biblical and it is wise.

how you give your money.

How we give our money is extremely important.

God's pattern for giving is not tithing

It isn't even tithing in the Old Testament. The tithe is never mentioned in the New

Testament in reference to the churches giving, never. In all the passages where the church gives, there is no mention at all any place of tithing.

It never has been tithing, it never will be tithing.

You know what's wrong with the 10%?

1. It isn't biblical and it's giving for the wrong

reason. It's giving to fulfill an obligation rather than a response to a loving willing and heart.

2. It hinders what you could do by making you think you're done.

3 Periods of Biblical History of Giving

1. Before Moses2. Between Moses and Jesus3. From Jesus to the present

All teach the same pattern of giving. There is no difference.

The people who teach that we should tithe, teach on this basis.

Since the tithe was before Moses, since Abraham tithe and Jacob tithed before

the mosaic law, tithing was before Moses, it was before the law, it is therefore to be after the law.

It is a universal principle, therefore, since the tithe was first, the law came in the middle, the universal continues afterwards. So the tithing is continuous.

Accepting anything before the law as normal after the law, will

create problems: The Sabbath was also before the law. So

we've got quit meeting on Sundays. The sacrificial system was initiated with

the garden and we're going to have to go back to killing animals.

I. Before Moses

Two categories of Giving before Moses:

1. Freewill giving 2. Required giving

The Bible does not institute tithing in Genesis.

There is no statement from God ever regarding tithing at this point.

No one told Abraham to give a tenth. No one told Jacob to give a tenth, certainlynot God. There is no universal law as such stated in

Scripture

The First Offerings Genesis 4: 3-5

Now the first offering given to God was from Cain and Abel

It was a voluntary offering, there was no requirement, no, condition, no percentage, no amount…

There is no command that they were to do this. God did not tell them specifically to do this, at least it is not so recorded in the Scripture. It seems to mean that just in process of time it came to pass that they did it.

It was then voluntary. It was a free choice on their part.

Noah’s OfferingGenesis 8: 20

Noah immediately goes out to make a sacrifice or to make an offering to God.

Again, it is completely voluntary. There is no command. There is no

conditioned amount. There is no percentage given.

Noah determined that in his own heart. It was natural.

Abram’s Offering

Genesis 12: 7, he builds an altar to the Lord. And in offering to the Lord,

There again is no command. There is no condition. There is no requirement. Only the free spirit of Abraham in

response to the wonderful promise of God as he says thanks to God by way of an offering.

Abram’s Offering

Genesis 13: 18, he did it again. He built another altar to the Lord in Hebron.

And so always a volunteer thing, never in response to the command of God.

Here we have people freewill giving. These people gave to God of their own

possessions out of love and thankfulness and it was totally natural.

This is the pattern of freewill giving.

The first mention of the tithe

Genesis 14:20Now, the king of Salem was a man named

Melchizedek who was a king and a priest of

the most high God. So when Abram sees this man who

represents God, he wants to express thanks to God for the victory, "he gave him a tenth of

all."

Now it doesn't say God told him to do this. Again, it's not commanded that he give a tenth.

He did not gave a tenth of everything that he owned.

He gave a tenth of something that he took in this battle.

Abraham lived 160years. At no time in Scripture is it ever recorded before or after this incident that he ever gave a tenth.

This is the only time that he ever gave a tenth in the record of his 160 years on earth.

Jacob’s titheGenesis 28: 22

Now at this point, Jacob is making a vow. In other words, God if you do this I will,

you know, bow down to you. That's really bad. Jacob was at a low

spiritually. He was so shallow, it was really sad.

What he was doing was buying off God. All right, God, if you'll give me safe

journey and bread and clothes then I will let you be my God…

Don't take this as normal of spirituality. Jacob gave a tenth. He was trying to buy

God. There's no command that he must give it. It was completely voluntary with no obligation at all to tithe.

from Cain and Abel right through to the gift of Jacob and in all cases they were freewill voluntary gifts.

Required giving(before the Mosaic law)

There was required giving of money or of possessions.

In fact, most of the time in Genesis, they don't give money at all, because their exchange was not money, but it was animals or seed or land.

Joseph’s story… Genesis 41:34, “…take up the fifth part

of the land of Egypt in the seventh plenteous years."

For seven years tax the people at what rate?

What's a fifth? 20%. Here is the introduction of taxation

in the economy of Egypt. This is introduced by God.

This is the first time you find the taxation of a national entity expressed this way.

Genesis 47: 24, 26

The fifth part goes back to the government.

Required giving in the Old Testament was 20%.

Was instituted in Egypt and it was the funding of the national government,

Basically the 20% taxation was the basic taxation rate in Egypt. This was God's plan as it was expressed through Joseph.

From the time of creation to the time of giving the law.

Freewill giving is directed toward the Lord personally in a response of love and sacrifice.

Required giving is given to the national entity for the supply of the needs of the people.

II. From Moses to Jesusor from the Law to Jesus

Required giving …Tithes or Taxation:

1. Lord's tithe or the Levites tithe:

Lev. 27: 30, "Lahat ng ikasampung bahagi, maging binhi o bunga ng pananim ay nakalaan kay Yahweh.

Numbers 18: 21-24, "Ang bahagi ng mga Levita ay ang ikasampung bahagi na ibibigay ng Israel, at ito ang nauukol sa kanilang paglilingkod sa Toldang Tipanan. 22 Mula ngayon, ang mga taong-bayan ay hindi na maaaring lumapit sa Toldang Tipanan, kundi'y magkakasala sila at mamamatay. 23 Ang mga Levita lamang ang gaganap ng anumang paglilingkod sa Toldang Tipanan at pananagutan nila ito. Ito ay tuntuning susundin habang panahon sa lahat ng inyong salinlahi. Subalit walang kaparteng lupa ang mga Levita sa Israel 24 sapagkat ang bahagi ng mga Levita ay ang ikasampung bahagi ng buong Israel, kaya ko sinabing wala silang kaparte sa Israel."

Who were the Levites?

They were the priests The entire tribe of the Levites, the taxation

of all the rest of the tribe went to supply the needs of the Levites or one of the 12 tribes, the priests of tribes. So this is the Levites tithe.

The Levites tithe was 10% of everything that they had in terms of produce from the land animals.

The emphasis here is on quantity. It belonged to God.

This is not a freewill offering to God, this is His already. You are robbing Him if you don't give it.

That is what Malachi said? You are robbing me in the tithes. It is mine.

So the 10% of the animals given to the tribe of the Levites to support them, they were the priests and they didn't earn a living other than just carrying on priestly functions

They ran a theocratic government. They ran the nation.

2. Festival TithesDeuteronomy 12: 6-17

This 10% was to be taken to Jerusalem and it was to be eaten.

It was eaten by the family, the friends, the servants, and the priests in the sanctuary.

The idea of it was to stimulate devotion to the Lord, also to promote unity in the family and the servants and they would all go to Jerusalem and they would consume this particular tithe.

3. Poor Tithe

Deuteronomy 14: 28-29, “"Tipunin ninyo ang ikasampung bahagi ng inyong ani tuwing ikatlong taon. 29 Ito ay ibibigay ninyo sa mga Levita yamang wala silang kaparte sa inyong lupain. Bibigyan din ninyo ang mga dayuhang kasama ninyo, ang mga ulila, at ang mga balo. Kapag ginawa ninyo ito, pagpapalain kayo ni Yahweh sa lahat ng inyong mga gawain.

The Jew gave 23%

1. They were funding the people who ran the government, the Levites. The priestly program

2. they were supplying for national feasts in the festival tithe. The national religious program

And the third one was the poor tithe. The welfare program.This is all funding for the national entity.

Tithes in O.T. is Taxation to fund the Nation

All three of those are taxation, not freewill giving to God.

Tithing was always taxation. So that the programs of the government could run.

The priestly program, the national religious program and the welfare program.

3 Kinds of Tithes

1. The Lord’s Tithe or Levites Tithes, 10% (fruit of the land & livestock)

2. Festival Tithes, 10% (Religious bonding time with others feasting…)

3. Poor Tithe, (10% every 3 years, to be given to the poor, strangers, slaves, servants, Levites, etc.) 10% / 3 years =

3.33%TOTAL = 23.33%

Profit sharing plan in Israel

Leviticus 19: 9 "Kung mag-aani kayo sa inyong bukirin, itira ninyo ang nasa gilid, at huwag na ninyong balikan ang inyong naanihan. 10 Huwag ninyong pipitasing lahat ang bunga ng ubasan ni pupulutin man ang mga nalaglag, bayaan na ninyo iyon para sa mahihirap at sa mga dayuhan. Ako si Yahweh, ang inyong Diyos.

Exodus 23: 10, "Anim na taon ninyong tatamnan ang inyong mga bukirin at anim na taon din ninyong aanihin ang bunga. 11 Sa ikapitong taon, huwag ninyo itong tatamnan at huwag din ninyong aanihin ang anumang tutubo roon. Bayaan na ninyo iyon sa mga kapatid ninyong mahirap, at ang matira ay ipaubaya na ninyo sa mga maiilap na hayop. Ganoon din ang gagawin ninyo sa inyong mga ubasan at taniman ng olibo.

II. From Moses to Jesusor from the Law to Jesus

Freewill giving …the emphasis is not on the quantity or the percentage,

but it's on the attitude of the giver and the quality of his gift.

First fruit giving and freewill offerings

Numbers 18:12, "Ibinibigay ko rin sa iyo ang pinakamainam sa lahat ng unang bunga ng halaman na ihahandog nila sa akin, gayundin ang langis, alak at pagkain.

Proverbs 3:9, “Parangalan mo si Yahweh sa pamamagitan ng iyong mga kayamanan,at mula sa iyong mga pinakamainam na ani, siya ay iyo ring handugan. 10 Sa gayon, kamalig mo ay lagi nang aapaw, sisidlan ng inumin ay hindi nga matutuyuan.

God's promise to Israel

1. Honor God with every penny that you have.

2. Give him right off the top sacrificially the first fruits.

He'll fill your barns and your presses will burst out with new wine.

First fruits, whatever you've got give the best. This is FREEWILL GIVING!

Freewill offerings, first fruits. The principle is in Proverbs 11:24-25, “Ang taong mapagbigay ay lalong yumayaman, ngunit naghihirap ang tikom na mga kamay. 25 Ang taong matulungin, sasagana ang pamumuhay, at ang marunong tumulong ay tiyak na tutulungan.”

Freewill Giving for the Tabernacle of Tent

Exo.25: 1, Sinabi ni Yahweh kay Moises, 2 "Sabihin mo sa mga Israelita na maghandog sila ng kaloob sa akin at tanggapin mo ang mga buong pusong inihandog nila. 3 Ito ang kanilang ihahandog: ginto, pilak, tanso; 4 lanang kulay asul, kulay ube at kulay pula; mga pinong telang lino at hinabing balahibo ng kambing; 5 balat ng lalaking tupa na kinulayan ng pula, mainam na balat, at kahoy na akasya; 6 langis para sa ilawan at pabangong panghalo para sa langis na pampahid at para sa insenso.

How much? "Whosoever is of a willing heart."

Exo. 35: 4, Sinabi ni Moises sa mga Israelita, "Ito ang iniuutos ni Yahweh: 5 Maghandog kayo kay Yahweh.

21 Lahat ng nais tumulong ay naghandog kay Yahweh ng inaakala nilang magagamit sa paggawa ng Toldang Tipanan,

22 Babae't lalaki ay naghandog. May nagdala ng pulseras, hikaw, singsing, kuwintas at iba pang alahas na ginto. Dinala ng bawat isa ang kanyang alahas na ginto at inihandog kay Yahweh.

What is God really after in giving?

A willing heart. It is not a legal law. It is a willing heart that He's after. Exo. 36: 4-7, “kaya't nagpunta kay Moises

ang mga manggagawa. 5 Sinabi nila, "Napakarami na po ang ibinigay ng mga tao ngunit patuloy pa rin silang nagdadala.“ 6 Kaya iniutos ni Moises, "Huwag na kayong magdala pa ng kaloob para sa gagawing santuwaryo." Noon lamang tumigil ang mga tao sa pagdadala ng handog. 7 Gayunman, sumobra pa rin ang mga handog na naroon.”

Sumobra/ Too much

When people believe in theministry and when they believe what you're doing exalts God, they will give too much, too much.

The Biblical Ordained Tithe

The Bible shows who were to pay the tithe,

who were to receive the tithe, the types of products that were to be

tithed, who was not to tithe, how the tithe was to be used, along with

regulations that gave limitations and restrictions on its use

What Products Were Tithed?

1. One was from agricultural production. "All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s" (Leviticus 27:30). This meant that a tenth of all agricultural produce of the land of Israel, whether fruits or vegetables, had to be tithed.

2. The second type of tithable income was the increase of animals. "All the tithe of the herd or flock, whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord" (verse 32). Only these two specific income producers were subject to the tithe.

Who & Who Don’t Pay the Tithes

Farmers & Ranchers, owners of farms and flocks were required to tithe. 

The owner of a farm had to tithe, but his hired hands were exempt.

Fishermen did not tithe, though this industry is mentioned in the law (Leviticus 11:9–12). Likewise, the mining industry is referred to (Deuteronomy 8:9), but the tithe of minerals extracted from the earth was never called for. The lumber business is mentioned (1 Kings 5:7–12) and construction work on buildings (1 Kings 5:13–18) but tithes were not extracted from people who worked in those trades. The same held true for those earning an income from weaving, handicrafts, or from any form of manufacturing or merchandising. They all were immune from tithing including all those in the military and government workers. And though the Levites were commanded to pay a tenth of the tithe they received from the farmers and ranchers to the Priests, those Priests themselves were totally exempt from paying any tithe.

Tithing is a biblical law. But so is circumcision and so is the sacrificing of animals.

Does this mean that Christians today should ritualistically circumcise their children or sacrifice animals because these laws were once ordained in the Bible?

Tithing in the Wilderness and Canaan

Moses found it necessary to make some adjustments on many points of the law. This was needed because the Israelites were leaving their nomadic existence in the desert and they were entering a civilized type of environment in the Land of Canaan.

It became clear to Moses, however, that the giving of the tithe had to be different in the Land of Canaan than in the wilderness. That land was well over one hundred miles long and some fifty miles wide. The various Israelite tribes were going to be scattered over an expansive area and even the Levites and Priests were to live in forty-eight cities located throughout the land (Joshua 21).

This dispersal of the people made it difficult to pay the tithe at one central location. This prompted Moses to authorize the forty-eight priestly cities scattered over the land as official sites where tithes could be stored or to be paid in certain tithing years.

Moses commanded that Israelites were no longer to perform their tithing obligations in the manner they had observed them in the wilderness. "Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here [within the wilderness] this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes" (Deuteronomy 12:8). Moses began to regulate the religious activities of the Israelites with more precision. He made the laws more strict and with greater detail for Israel’s observance in the Land of Canaan.

The Tithing Laws For Canaan

Since the wilderness existence of the Israelites allowed little increase from agricultural products or animals. But now that Israel was going into the land of Canaan, it became necessary to regulate the matter. Moses recognized that a great deal of money and produce would be arriving at the central sanctuary each year. There had to be directions on how those monies should be used and distributed. Moses decided to adopt a system that would fairly benefit all the people in the nation.

Since the tribe of Levi was a small tribe in Israel, Moses saw that tithing ten percent of all agricultural and animal increase to them every single year would give the Levites tremendous financial advantage over the other Israelites. 

When Moses saw that the Levites would be receiving more money than ordinary Israelites, he decided on a plan that would equalize the situation and let all Israelites have a share in the economic blessings that God was giving.

First, he ordered that all Israelites set aside ten percent of their agricultural and animal production each year. Then he commanded that this tithe should be brought to a central place where the Tabernacle (later called the Temple) would be located (Deuteronomy 14:22–24). To accomplish this in a convenient way, Moses changed the law by allowing the tithe to be turned into money without the premium penalty of a fifth extra. This permitted the Israelites who lived far from the sanctuary to carry monetary tithe to the central Temple area unburdened (Deuteronomy 14:25). Those who lived closer could still transport their tithe of grain, oil or firstlings to the sanctuary.

When the Israelites arrived at the Temple, Moses commanded them to do something with their tithe that they were not allowed to do while in the wilderness. They could now use part of their tithe to rejoice before God at the central sanctuary. They were also to share it with the Levites (Deuteronomy 14:27). While formerly, only the Levites were to be given all tithes, now it was different.

The Levites Place in Society

The Levites were not given territorial lands like other Israelites. They (along with the Priests) were allotted forty eight cities in which they could earn a living. This means the Levites received a reasonable amount of acreage to cultivate besides the fact that many of those cities were located in some of the best parts of the Land of Canaan.

• Numbers 35:1–3

Many people have not realized that Moses gave the Levites the means by which to earn a living without having a dependence upon tithe alone. Other than the tithe of the third and sixth years of a sabbatical cycle, the only Levites that received tithe were those who attended the service of the Tabernacle (and even then it was only that part left over from the festival use by ordinary Israelites). At other times they had to earn their own living within the cities and lands allotted them. The Levites were expected to work for their livelihood like any other normal citizen within the community of Israel.

This is why the Levites were provided with open lands surrounding the cities. The suburb of each Levitical city had on each side for grazing their cattle (Numbers 35:4).

Tabernacle in the Wilderness

Solomon’s Temple

Zerubabel’s / Herod’s Temple

Jesus cleanses the Temple

Since some of the cities that the Levites inherited were the most prosperous in the nation, their combined property value would almost equal that of the lesser Israelite tribes. These facts ought to put to rest the belief of some church leaders who imagine that the Levites lived solely off the tithe of the other tribes. In no way was this true. The Levites had to work for their living as anyone else. Only when Levites attended the service of the Tabernacle (whether on a full-time or part-time basis) was the tithe expected to support them (Deuteronomy 18:6–8).

"But the fields of the open land about their cities may not be sold; for that is their perpetual possession" (Leviticus 25:34).

Though the Levites were scattered throughout the land of Israel, there was only one place in the land where they could assist in the service of the Tabernacle (and later, the Temple). 

But the greatest percent of the Levites did not perform services in the Temple. That building was simply too small for all of them to work there. Most Levites performed duties in other employments within the nation of Israel.

The occupation of the Levites were in what we call professional fields today

They were ordained to be teachers of the nation (Deuteronomy 24:8; 33:10; 2 Chronicles 35:3; Nehemiah 8:7).  

They also represented many of the judges of the land, and in the time of Ezra they were the sole members of the Sanhedrin — the Supreme Court of the nation (Deuteronomy 17:8–9; 21:5; 1 Chronicles 23:4; 2 Chronicles 19:8; Ezekiel 44:15, 24) 

Most medical services were in their care (Leviticus 13:2, 14:2; Luke 17:14). 

They were professional singers and musicians (1 Chronicles 25:1–31; 2 Chronicles 5:12; 34:12). 

Producers of books and librarians were almost exclusively Levites (2 Chronicles 34:13). 

It may appear strange to some but even law enforcement was in their care (1 Chronicles 23:4) — they were the "sheriffs" (Moffatt).  

Many of the Levites were architects and builders (2 Chronicles 34:8–13).

And while the ordinary Israelite gave his tithe every third year to the Levites (and the destitute), look at the services he got besides the management of the Temple. Israel got teachers for their children, physicians for their ills, scribes, musicians, singers, judges, and law enforcement officers. A part of their tithe even went to support a type of social security service every third and sixth year for the destitute.

Malachi 3:6 "Ako si Yahweh. Hindi pa kayo lubusang nalilipol sapagkat hindi

ako nagbabago sa aking pangako. 7 Subalit tulad ng inyong mga ninuno, tumalikod kayo at sinuway ninyo ang aking mga kautusan. Manumbalik kayo sa akin at manunumbalik din ako sa inyo," sabi ni Yahweh na Makapangyarihan sa lahat. Itinatanong ninyo, 'Paano kami manunumbalik sa inyo?'

               8 "Ang tanong ko nama'y, matuwid bang pagnakawan ng tao ang Diyos? Hindi! Ngunit pinagnanakawan ninyo ako. Sa paanong paraan? Sa mga ikasampung bahagi at mga handog. 9 Isinumpa ko kayong lahat sapagkat ako'y pinagnanakawan ng buong bansa. 10 Dalhin ninyo nang buong-buo ang inyong mga ikasampung bahagi sa tahanan ng Diyos upang matugunan ang pangangailangan sa aking tahanan. Subukin ninyo ako sa bagay na ito, kung hindi ko buksan ang mga bintana ng langit at ibuhos sa inyo ang masaganang pagpapala. 11 Hindi ko rin hahayaang salantain ng mga balang ang inyong mga pananim at mamumunga na nang sagana ang inyong mga ubasan. 12 Dahil dito'y sasabihin ng lahat ng bansa na kayo'y mapalad sapagkat napakainam manirahan sa inyong lupain," sabi ni Yahweh na Makapangyarihan sa lahat.

Stealing From God

"But ye say: Wherein shall we return?" Who is the "ye" to whom Malachi is referring? The answer is plain. It was the ancient Jewish nation existing in the time of Malachi.

Verse 8:"Will a man rob God ? Yet ye have robbed me, But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings." But who were these "robbers"?

They were the people of Judah who lived in Palestine that Malachi was scolding. They had not been giving their tithe nor proper animal sacrifices for the rituals of the Temple. They were "cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation" (verse 9).

The New Testament and Tithing

When Christ was on earth he told his disciples that tithing was a doctrine still in, but this was before the ekklesia was established.

Jews at the time were supposed to pay the tithe.

While Christ was alive the Temple was still standing. The Levites and Priests were still performing their ordained functions and were then the legal recipients of the tithe.

Mateo 23:23

"Kahabag-habag kayo, mga tagapagturo ng Kautusan at mga Pariseo! Mga mapagkunwari! Ibinibigay ninyo ang ikasampung bahagi ng naaani ninyong yerbabuena, ruda, linga, ngunit kinakaligtaan naman ninyong isagawa ang mas mahahalagang turo sa Kautusan: ang katarungan, ang pagkahabag, at ang katapatan. Huwag ninyong kaligtaang gawin ang mga ito kahit na tamang gawin ninyo ang pagbibigay ng ikasampung bahagi ng ani.

The New Covenant had not been introduced.

Being under the Old Covenant administration at the time, it was only natural that Christ would tell the Pharisees to obey the law of tithing that Moses ordained.

Indeed, before Jesus was crucified he even informed his disciples to offer animal sacrifices (Luke 5:14); to pay the annual half-shekel for the upkeep of the Temple (Matthew 17:24–27); and even to recognize the Scribes and Pharisees as sitting in Moses’ seat and to do as they commanded (Matthew 23:2–3).

New Testament giving is more clearly defined, but it is the same.

There are two kinds of giving stressed in the New Testament.

1. One, pay your taxes. 2. Two, give God whatever you want. There

is no amount.

Pagbabayad ng Buwis Para sa Templo

           Mateo 17: 24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax ?" 25 "Yes, he does," he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. "What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes--from their own sons or from others?" 26 "From others," Peter answered. "Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him. 27 "But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours."

Mateo 22: 17, “ Ano po ang palagay ninyo? Naaayon ba sa Kautusan na magbayad ng buwis sa Emperador, o hindi?"

               18 Alam ni Jesus ang kanilang masamang layunin kaya't sinabi niya, "Kayong mga mapagkunwari! Bakit nais ninyo akong hulihin? 19 Ipakita ninyo sa akin ang isang salaping pambuwis."

               At ipinakita nga nila ang isang salaping pilak. 20 "Kaninong larawan at pangalan ang nakaukit diyan?" tanong ni Jesus.

               21 "Sa Emperador po," tugon nila.                Kaya't sinabi niya sa kanila, "Kung

gayon, ibigay ninyo sa Emperador ang para sa kanya, at sa Diyos ang para sa Diyos."

Roman 13:

Jesus paid His taxes, this is required giving.

Taxation is necessary and Jesus said pay your taxes.

That's Required giving

PRINCIPLE DESCRIPTION LOCATION

1 SystematicMaparaan

Give on a regular basis, weekly, bi-monthly, monthly, etc.

1 Cor.16:1

2 Proportional Give as you have been prospered; according to your ability

1Cor. 16:22 Cor. 8:2-3

3 Sacrificial, GenerousMapagbigay

Give generously, even sacrificially, but not to the point of personal affliction

2 Cor. 8:2-3Phil. 4:17-18

4 Intentional Give deliberately in order to meet a genuine need, not out of guilt merely to soothe a pressing request

2 Cor. 8:4Phil. 4:16

5 Cheerful God loves a cheerful giver 2 Cor. 9:7

6 VoluntaryKusang-loob

Giving ought to be found out of one’s free volition

2 Cor. 8:2-3, 8; 9:7Phil. 4:18

PRINCIPLES OF NEW TESTAMENT GIVING

PRINCIPLES OF NEW TESTAMENT GIVING (cont.)

PRINCIPLE DESCRIPTION LOCATION

7 Motivation Our Motivation for giving should be love for others, a desire for reciprocity, and an eye to the reward from God

a. Love As Jesus died for the sins of others, believers should give of themselves out of love

2 Cor. 8:9

b. Equality Believers are to give so that all needs are met

1 Cor. 9:14-152 Cor. 8:12-14

c. Blessing Give in order to receive more from God so that you can continue to bless others generously

2 Cor. 9:6

1 Cor. 16: 1-2

1 Tungkol naman sa tulong para sa mga kapatid sa Jerusalem, gawin ninyo iyon ayon sa sinabi ko sa mga iglesya sa Galacia. 2 Tuwing unang araw ng sanlinggo, ang bawat isa ay maglaan ng bahagi ng kanyang kinikita at ipunin iyon upang huwag nang manghingi pa ng tulong pagpunta ko riyan. 3 Pagdating ko riyan, bibigyan ko ng sulat ang mga taong pipiliin ninyo upang magdala ng inyong tulong sa Jerusalem.

2 Cor. 8: 1-5

1 Mga kapatid, nais naming malaman ninyo ang ipinakitang kagandahang-loob ng Diyos sa mga iglesya sa Macedonia. 2 Dumanas sila ng matinding kahirapan at ito'y isang mahigpit na pagsubok sa kanila. Ngunit sa kabila ng kanilang paghihikahos, masayang-masaya pa rin sila at bukas ang palad sa pagbibigay. 3 Sila'y kusang-loob na nagbigay, hindi lamang sa abot ng kanilang kaya, kundi higit pa. Alam ko ito sapagkat 4 mahigpit nilang ipinakiusap sa amin na sila'y bigyan ng pagkakataong makatulong sa mga kapatiran na taga-Jerusalem. 5 At higit sa inaasahan namin, inilaan nila ang kanilang sarili, una sa Panginoon, at pagkatapos, sa amin, ayon sa kalooban ng Diyos.

Filipos 4: 16-18

16 Noong ako'y nasa Tesalonica na, makailang ulit ding pinadalhan ninyo ako ng tulong. 17 Hindi sa hangad kong laging tumanggap ng mga kaloob, kundi ang nais ko ay makatanggap kayo ng masaganang gantimpala. 18 Narito ngayon ang katibayan ng labis-labis na kaloob ninyo sa akin. Higit pa sa pangangailangan ko ang tulong ninyo sa akin na hatid ni Epafrodito. Ang mga ito ay tulad ng mabangong handog sa Diyos, mga alay na katanggap-tanggap at kalugud-lugod sa kanya.

2 Cor. 9: 7

7 Ang bawat isa'y dapat magbigay ayon sa sariling pasya, maluwag sa loob at di napipilitan lamang, sapagkat iniibig ng Diyos ang kusang nagbibigay nang may kagalakan.

Lucas 16: 9, At nagpatuloy si Jesus sa pagsasalita, "Kaya't sinasabi ko sa inyo, gamitin ninyo ang kayamanan ng mundong ito sa paggawa ng mabuti sa inyong mga kapwa upang kung maubos na iyon ay tanggapin naman kayo sa tahanang walang hanggan. 10 Ang mapagkakatiwalaan sa maliit na bagay ay mapagkakatiwalaan din sa malaking bagay; ang mandaraya sa maliit na bagay ay mandaraya rin sa malaking bagay. 11 Kaya kung hindi kayo mapagkakatiwalaan sa mga kayamanan ng mundong ito, sino ang magtitiwala sa inyo ng tunay na kayamanan? 12 At kung hindi kayo mapagkakatiwalaan sa kayamanan ng iba, sino ang magbibigay sa inyo ng talagang para sa inyo? 13 "Walang aliping maaaring maglingkod ng sabay sa dalawang panginoon sapagkat kamumuhian niya ang isa at iibigin ang ikalawa, paglilingkuran nang tapat ang isa at hahamakin ang ikalawa. Hindi kayo maaaring maglingkod ng sabay sa Diyos at sa kayamanan."

  Lucas 19: 8, Tumayo si Zaqueo at sinabi niya kay Jesus, "Panginoon, ipamimigay ko po sa mga mahihirap ang kalahati ng aking mga kayamanan. At kung ako'y may nadayang sinuman, isasauli ko ito sa kanya ng maka-apat na beses." 9 At sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus, "Ang kaligtasan ay dumating ngayon sa sambahayang ito sapagkat anak din ni Abraham ang taong ito.

Justin Martyr [p252] (150 AD) (tithing) 

 "And the wealthy among us help the needy. . . when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgiving, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succors the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us" (First Apology, chap. 67).

Irenaeus [p254] (150-200 AD). (tithing)  Did not teach tithing. Against Heresies, book 4, chap. 13, para. 3 and chap. 18

  Tertullian [p242] [Church Father] (150-220

AD), 304. (tithing)  Did not teach tithing. [Apology, xxxix "Every man brings some

modest coin once a month or whenever he wishes, and only if he is willing and able; it is a freewill offering. You might call them the trust-funds of piety; they are spent . . . on the support and burial of the poor. "

Wesley, John,  Explanatory Notes(tithing) 

(On the Use of Money" from a sermon preached in 1744): give all you can; or in other words, give all you have to God. Do not stint yourself, like a Jew rather than a Christian, to this or that proportion. Render unto God not a tenth, not a third, not half, but all that is God's (be it more or less) by employing all on yourself, your household, the household of faith and all mankind, in such a manner that you may give a good account of your stewardship when ye can be no longer stewards..

SPURGEON, CHARLES H; APRIL 18, 1880, SERMON 2716; 

“But you are not under a system similar to that by which the Jews were obliged to pay tithes to the priests. If there were any such rule laid down in the Gospel, it would destroy the beauty of spontaneous giving and take away all the bloom from the fruit of your liberality! There is no law to tell me what I should give my father on his birthday. There is no rule laid down in any law book to decide what present a husband should give to his wife, nor what token of affection we should bestow upon others whom we love. No, the gift must be a free one, or it has lost all its sweetness.”

Evangelical Church of Lutheran Confession in Brazil:

IECLB is supported through funds originating from voluntary contributions and gifts of the members of its communities destined for community and mission work. There is no mandatory tithing, and church services, including baptism, weddings, visitation, among others, are rendered free of charge.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, (tithing)  The New, Jerome Smith [p188]

(p. 1026.). The LORD commanded the Israelites to "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house...." (Malachi 3:10) Christians are often urged to tithe based upon amistaken appeal to this Old Testament text, which is wrested out of its rightful context, when applied to such a purpose... The storehouse is clearly the temple, not the church... Taken in context this passage lends no support to the mistaken doctrine of `storehouse tithing,' whereby Christians have been directed to restrict all their financial giving to their own denomination or local church, or as a variation, church members have been directed to pay the tithe to the local church, and restrict giving to outside organizations to amounts over and above the church tithe.

(p. 1152.): Tithing is not taught in the New Testament as an obligation for the Christian under grace... Because we are not under law, but under grace, Christian giving must not be made a matter of legalistic obligation, lest we fall into the error of Galatianism?

Scofield, C. I., (tithing)  The New Scofield Reference Bible [p141, 144, 177-179], Oxford Press, 2 Cor 8 and 9: 270. "In contrast with the law, which imposed giving as a divine requirement, Christian giving is voluntary, and a test of sincerity and love.“

Nelson's Bible Dictionary, tithe; (tithing) ,, Nashville: Thomas Nelson [p11]. "The law of Moses prescribed tithing in some detail. Leviticus 27:30-32 stated that the tithe of the land would include the seed of the land and the fruit of the tree. In addition the Hebrew people were required to set apart every tenth animal of their herds and flocks to the Lord. . . . Nowhere does the New Covenant expressly command Christians to tithe. . ."

MacArthur, John [p54], (tithing) , Mega-successful church builder, college founder, author, TV ministry.

"So when someone says the Jew gave ten percent, that isn't true. The Jew gave twenty-three percent to begin with. It was for the poor people, the widows, and people who didn't have anything to eat. So they were funding the people who ran the government, which were the Levites; they were providing for national feasts through the festival tithe; and they gave for the welfare program. All this was funding for the national entity. All three of these were taxation, not freewill giving to God. Tithing was always taxation so that the programs of the government could run: the priestly program, the national religious program, and the welfare program" 76.

Commentary on the Book of Romans 9-16 (p.233)Christians are not under obligation to give a specified amount to the work of

their heavenly Father. In none of their forms do the tithe or other Old Testament levies apply to Christians.

Thoughts On Tithing (from sermon preached at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, CA):

Tithing, basically, is never, ever advocated in the New Testament; it is never taught in the New Testament-never!

Viola, Frank, Straight Talk To Elders (tithing)

If we approach the New Testament by lifting verses from various letters and putting them together, we can build a case that tithing is a New Testament practice. And therefore we can tell God's people that they must tithe. But if you look at the story of the first-century church, you will discover that the Christians did not pay tithes. It is not there, brothers. It is not there. I will add something to this. The early Christians recognized that the tithe was part of the Old Covenant. The tithe was Israel's income tax to support the temple and to help the Levites, who were not given an inheritance. But it was also for the purpose of supporting the widows, the fatherless, the poor, and the strangers. This rarely gets mentioned when ministers preach on tithing today. Nevertheless, Jesus Christ has put to death that whole system. Today, all of us, all of God's people, are functioning priests. We, the church--God's people--are the temple. Now here is something that I don't think any of you know. Historically, you cannot find any Christians tithing until the eighth century! The eighth century. This is historical fact. The Christians in the first century did not tithe. The Christians in the second century did not tithe. The Christians in the third century did not tithe. It wasn't until 700 years passed that tithing became a Christian institution. But that's not all. Brothers, it wasn't until the fourth century--under Constantine the Roman emperor who converted to Christianity and made a Christian state out of the Empire--it wasn't until Constantine that the church had a paid clergy. Church leaders did not receive a salary from God's people until the days of Constantine. Do you understand? Tithes were not practiced among the Christians until eight hundred years passed. It was not part of the first-century church's practice. It was part of the Law. And we have been freed from the Law. I know that Melchizedek was given tithes by Abraham. And I understand that this happened before the Law. But, brothers, may I make this observation? Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek one time. So if you wish to hang tithing around the neck of God's people by using Abraham, then you can only use it to support a one-time tithe

Billy Graham Evangelistic AssociationQuestions and Answers

It (tithing) is not mentioned in the New Testament except where it is describing Old Testament practices or in the Gospels where Jesus is addressing people who were under the Old Testament law. Note Jesus' comments to the Pharisees in Luke 11:42? A New Testament teaching on giving which may be helpful to you is found in 1 Corinthians 16:2.... This passage brings out four points: we should give individually, regularly, methodically, and proportionately. The matter of your giving is between you and God, and He always takes into account our circumstances. He knows when they are beyond our power to direct and control. The important thing is that we see giving as a privilege and not a burden. It should not be out of a sense of duty, but rather out of love for the Lord and a desire to see His kingdom advanced. 

Evangelical Leaders Say Tithe Not Required (Natl. Assoc. of Evangelicals)

Many evangelical churches regularly encourage their members to tithe, or give the church at least 10 percent of their income. Yet, according to the

February Evangelical Leaders Survey, most evangelical leaders do not believe the Bible requires Christians to tithe. The survey showed that 58 percent do not believe the Bible requires a tithe, while 42 percent do. 

“The Old Testament called for multiple tithes, sort of combining government taxes with religious stewardship. Many churches later adopted 10 percent as the standard,” said Leith Anderson, NAE President. “Since there is such a strong evangelical tradition of tithing I was a little surprised that a majority of our evangelical leaders say the tithe system of the Old Testament does not carry over to the New Testament or to us.”

Didache (Church Manual)The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations (Gentiles).

Chapter 13. Support of Prophets

But every true prophet that wills to abide among you is worthy of his support. So also a true teacher is himself worthy, as the workman, of his support. Matthew 10:10; cf. Luke 10:7 Every first-fruit, therefore, of the products of wine-press and threshing-floor, of oxen and of sheep, you shall take and give to the prophets, for they are your high priests. But if you have not a prophet, give it to the poor. If you make a batch of dough, take the first-fruit and give according to the commandment. So also when you open a jar of wine or of oil, take the first-fruit and give it to the prophets; and of money (silver) and clothing and every possession, take the first-fruit, as it may seem good to you, and give according to the commandment.