First, thank you taking the time to read my blog and for posting. I hope you feel free to do so again in the future.

I agree that the entire law was conditional. So is grace. If we accept the Son we have eternal life, if we do not accept him we stand condemned already.

Tithing:

I believe that tithing is the least one should do in giving so that the work of God can be accomplished. Do I believe that one is condemned if one does not tithe? No. The believer has been set free from the punishment of the law. That being said, how can the Church operate without giving? Additionally, if we are not willing to give to God the first tenth of our increase, what does that say about our attitude toward the blessings of God on our life?

I also believe that Jesus put his blessing on the commandments (law) being taught throughout the kingdom of heaven. Jesus says that the one who breaks the least of the commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is eternal, it never ends. What we do and teach concerning the commandments determines our place in the kingdom of heaven.

Mt 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Mt 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Paul when addressing giving, assumed that the church at Corinth understood what an amount in keeping with their income meant:

1Co 16:2 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.
1Co 16:3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.

It also states that if they did not set aside an amount, as instructed, there were going to be collections made. Sounds mandatory, doesn’t it? Is the amount one-tenth? Probably, given that Paul was blameless in things concerning the law, .

In Malachi, God impunes the Jewish people as having robbed Him in “tithes (giving related to operating the temple) and offerings (giving associated with our relationship with God.) If we as the people of God could rob him under the law, how much more can we rob him under grace? The way God dealt with Israel was left to us as an example of how God will deal with us. We, as possesors of the heavenly gift of salvation, are held to a higher standard than those who were the possesors of the law. That is why in the new covenant, the believers claimed none of their possesions as there own but shared freely with those in need.

My last point is this: Annanias and Saphira demonstrated that the condition of the heart is critical when one is giving to God. They were put to death by the Holy Spirit for holding back a portion of the whole amount of the sale of their property and saying that the decreased amount was the total purchase price from the sale. They lied to the Holy Spirit so that they could look good. Was the amount they held back one-tenth? Could be. Now wouldn’t that be ironic?

I pray that you will have a very blessed day,

John

IF you obey all 613 commandments, THEN you will be blessed.

IF you disobey even one of the 613 commandments, THEN you wil be cursed.

Tithing cannot legitimately be separaated from the entire law.

Author of Should the Church Teach Tithing?