The subject of tithing has come up in our Shul. All of us knew what the churches teach on this issue, since we have all come out of the church system, but we wanted to know for sure what tithing entails and how we are to implement it as Nazarene Israelites. These are some general notes I will be adding to and putting together as time goes on.
Main Premise of Fossilized Customs - : No Levitical priest hood, no Tithe. Incorrect Premise in my view.
Deut:26:12: When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;
Mal:3:8: Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
Can we still incur a "curse"?
Mal:3:10: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Windows of Heaven relate to Enoch. Portals of blessings controlled by
Angels.
[Chapter 76]
1 And at the ends of the earth I saw twelve portals open to all the quarters (of the heaven), from 2 which the winds go forth and blow over the earth. Three of them are open on the face (i.e. the east) of the heavens, and three in the west, and three on the right (i.e. the south) of the heaven, and 3 three on the left (i.e. the north). And the three first are those of the east, and three are of the 4 north, and three [after those on the left] of the south, and three of the west. Through four of these come winds of blessing and prosperity, and from those eight come hurtful winds: when they are sent, they bring destruction on all the earth and on the water upon it, and on all who dwell thereon, and on everything which is in the water and on the land. 5 And the first wind from those portals, called the east wind, comes forth through the first portal which is in the east, inclining towards the south: from it come forth desolation, drought, heat, 6 and destruction. And through the second portal in the middle comes what is fitting, and from it there come rain and fruitfulness and prosperity and dew; and through the third portal which lies toward the north come cold and drought. 7 And after these come forth the south winds through three portals: through the first portal of 8 them inclining to the east comes forth a hot wind. And through the middle portal next to it there 9 come forth fragrant smells, and dew and rain, and prosperity and health. And through the third portal lying to the west come forth dew and rain, locusts and desolation. 10 And after these the north winds: from the seventh portal in the east come dew and rain, locusts and desolation. And from the middle portal come in a direct direction health and rain and dew and prosperity; and through the third portal in the west come cloud and hoar-frost, and snow and rain, and dew and locusts. 12 And after these [four] are the west winds: through the first portal adjoining the north come forth dew and hoar-frost, and cold and snow and frost. And from the middle portal come forth dew and rain, and prosperity and blessing; and through the last portal which adjoins the south come forth drought and desolation, and burning and destruction. And the twelve portals of the four quarters of the heaven are therewith completed, and all their laws and all their plagues and all their benefactions have I shown to thee, my son Methuselah.
It Behooves us then to find out if we are being robbed by "robbing" Almighty.
1st Corinthians 9
6: Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
7: Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
8: Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
9: For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
10: Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11: If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12: If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
Heb:7:12: For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
11: If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12: For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13: For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14: For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15: And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16: Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17: For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18: For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
Our purpose is become-- Jn:1:12: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: SONS OF ELOHIM.
A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully
trained will be like his teacher.
Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good
things with his instructor.
Abraham gave tithes unto Melchisedec because he was LEARNING from him! It is the same thing that Paul says about teaching and sharing what they know.
During Israel's time, under Levitical priesthood, UNITED ISRAEL received blessings which can only be spiritual derived by the Levitical vehicle and sacrificial system.
Hebrew 1
1: For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2: To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3: Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4: Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5: And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
Tithing has reverted back into the Melchisedec type tithe, not based on the Levitical priesthood, for it is a moot point, but continues on to support the work. What is that work? Growing babies and the lost up in THE FAITH. Its HARD work, spiritually, physically, and emotionally consuming. However, our mandate is to "feed the sheep." Jn:21:15
If we feed sheep spiritual things, is there a "power" of receiving carnal things?
If we feed them with spiritual things, "....is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?" 1Cor:9:11b