Campus CrossWalk Magazine: 2007 Spring Issue -- Tithing Test

“How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?”
Psalm 116:12
To “tithe” means to give a tenth of your income or possessions. Tithing was practiced in both the Old and New Testaments. Should you do the same? Before you answer, educate yourself. The test below is a great way to begin that education in earnest. It’s an “open book” test. The relevant scripture passages are provided for your convenience below the lists of questions.

PART ONE:: 1. Who was the first priest to receive a tithe? See Genesis 14:17-20.; 2. Who woke up from a dream and committed himself to tithe? Genesis 28:10-21.; 3. What were the Hebrews required to tithe? Leviticus 27:30-32.; 4. To whom were the tithes paid in ancient Israel? Numbers 18:21.; 5. Why did this particular tribe get the tithes? Numbers 18:20.; 6. Did the Levites have to tithe too? Numbers 18:26.; 7. The best of what you give should be presented to whom? Numbers 18:29.; 8. Does the Old Testament advocate cheerful giving? Deuteronomy 12:5-7.; 9. Did the tithe regulations ever benefit aliens, orphans & widows in Israel? Deuteronomy 14:22ff, & 26:12f.; 10. When the Israelites brought only part of their tithes, who were they robbing? Malachi 3:8-10.

SCRIPTURE TEXTS (answers found within):: "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” Genesis 14:17-20.; “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” Genesis 28:20-22.; “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.” Leviticus 27:30.; “The LORD said to Aaron, ‘You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites. ‘I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting…’ “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the LORD’s offering.” Numbers 18:20-21 & 26.; “You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.” Numbers 18:29.; “But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling… [there] bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you.” Deuteronomy 12:5-7.; “Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.” Deuteronomy 14:22.; “When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.” Deuteronomy 26:12.; “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ ‘In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,’ says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” Malachi 3:8-10.

PART TWO:: 11. Did the Pharisees tithe? See Matthew 23:23.; 12. Did Jesus approve or disapprove of the Jews paying tithes? Matthew 23:23-26 and Luke 11:42.; 13. Does the NT specify a commanded percentage for all Christians to give in support of God's work or to help the poor? (hint: notice no text reference here).; 14. On which day of the week did Paul tell the Corinthian Christians to set aside a collection? 1 Corinthians 16:1-3.; 15. Cite some of the criteria for giving in the following passages: 1 Corinthians 16:1-3 and 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.; 16. Where was the money that Paul was raising to be sent? 1 Corinthians 16:3.; 17. True or False: It is not for us to decide what we give to God! 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.; 18. True or False: The extent of your sowing has nothing to do with the extent of your reaping. 2 Corinthians 9:6.; 19. True or False: It is fine for church leaders to use compulsion to get the offering up. See 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.; 20. To whom did Abraham give a tenth of his plunder? Hebrews 7:1ff.

SCRIPTURE TEXTS (answers found within):: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” Matthew 23:23-26.; “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.” Luke 11:42.; “The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” Luke 18:11-12.; “Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.” 1 Corinthians 16:1-3.; “[See] that you also excel in this grace of giving...” 2 Corinthians 8:7.; “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7.; “Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people….” (Hebrews 7:4-5) “In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living…” (Hebrews 7:8) “The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God... .Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.” Hebrews 7:18,19 & 22.; “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10.