Should a Christian tithe, what does the Bible say

Because first it says here (ώδε) referring to the Levites, then there (εκεί) referring back to Melchizedek. It's a comparison between Melchizdek and the sons of Levi to show how much greater the latter is because Levites who die paid tithes to Melchizedek in Abraham (next 2 verses).

(CLV) Hb 7:8
And here, indeed, dying men are obtaining tithes, yet there, one it is witnessed that he is living.

I would say one reason behind lack of study is most religions preach everyone in "their group" is saved. Why would they be prompted to study if they are already saved.

And besides, these same religions teach it isn't up to us anyway. They preach Christ repents for them, obeys for them, "Walks" for them, carries their cross for them. We have little or no participation in our own Salvation according to most Christian pastors, certainly "many" on this forum.. God picks those He picks and if I am in their church it means God picked me.

On top of that most religions teach most of the Bible is Obsolete and that the God of the Old Testament along with His instructions have been replaced by New Laws or no laws, and a New God, different from the Old God. So why would I study a book that has been rendered useless by "many" preachers?

Also, EVERY one is sent to heaven by the Mainstream Christian Church. Every Christian Pastor who presides over a funeral teaches that the deceased is in heaven with all their loved ones who had died previously. Why should a man study if their going to heaven anyway, no matter what the lifestyle.

Jesus, the Prophets and the Disciple's spent a lot of time warning about religious man. Their influence has corrupted God's Word since Abel was killed by his "Christian" Brother Cain according to the Bible. But if I'm already saved, and only need to listen to this preacher or that, how can I know the warnings?

i don't think the remedy is terror and accusation, but thanksgiving and love - things that grow cold when iniquity increases.

Click to expand...

How can I know God or His Love, if I don't "SEEK" Him? How can I know what God's Love is, unless He reveals it to me? Why would I seek Him if most EVERY "Christian" Pastor has the same message; "You are Saved".

Rom. 12:
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Not just the mind, but the bodies as well. How can a person who doesn't know the God Paul is speaking to here, know what is acceptable to Him? Why would I even care since my pastor has already deemed me saved?


2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Would this also mean, and maybe specifically mean, the religions of the World?

If I'm already saved as "many" preachers tell me. Why do I need to "prove" anything? If I'm already Saved as most religions preach, and Jesus does it all for me, as "many" on this forum preach, then why do I need to sacrifice anything? Isn't that "My Work".

It's a lot easier "seeing" these things from the outside of religious influence, than from the inside. But it's important to note that the Word which became Flesh has already told us of these preachers and our collective reaction to them. But according to these same preachers, it doesn't matter what He said, we are already saved.

Jer. 5:
30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;
31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

There will always be the "voice" telling us "You shall surely not die" (You are saved), and they will always use God's Word to convince us of this. My hope is that people will choose the Word's of their Savior over this "voice" and be like Abraham, not Eve.

Matt. 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity(Transgression of God's Commandments) shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

What kind of mindset expects to spend eternity with Christ and plan to show up in heaven knowing not even the first thing about Him?

I study because I am saved. I know that knowledge of Him is life so I seek it all the more. That's not a common mindset... It being true what you say, that people are complacent thinking there is no need to seek Him, but IMO that's no kind of love for Him, it's a very superficial kind of idea such people have of 'being saved'

I reckon you think closer to how I do about knowledge of God and it's importance to gain than the thinking of such people as you're mentioning.

The verse says prove what is good. Not prove yourself worthy of being saved.

Several centuries ago 'prove' could mean 'test' in the way we use the language now.

This isn't at all a salvation-requirement verse, and it's God who renews the mind.

This thread is truly disheartening. David, when he was being chased by King Saul (who was completely off base and in the wrong) did not wish to do him harm because he recognized that he was God's anointed. Yet here is this thread full of people who take the name of the Lord thy God but throw spears and arrows and accusations at each other. The next time you wish to throw out a hurtful comment, or accuse somebody of being a false shepherd, false prophet, of the devil, horribly ignorant, deceived, etc.... Please take a moment and ask yourself "Is this wording bringing honor to my Father, or can the Holy Spirit help me to say what is on my heart in a way that is profitable?" We know that iron sharpens iron, but biting and gnawing at each other surely is cause for a facepalm in heaven.

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Not religious man or our own righteousness)

It says a lot more than "prove what is good".

Of course it does. But you only mentioned it as though it meant the unsaved have to prove something through works, as though you yourself have no assurance and you seek it through a justification by your deeds.
That's not what it says.

Have a look into what the therefore is there for, and I hope one day you are able to trust Him and take hold of the sure hope of His promise.

I do trust Him Post, I just don't trust your religious views about Him. It's like I can do anything, everything, and He will accept me. But if I actually strive to do as He instructs, if I "work" to prove, as instructed, not what the Catholics say I should do, or another religious franchise says to do, or what you preach I should do, but what He instructs me to do, I am somehow trying to save myself.

As if by "presenting my mind and body a living sacrifice to God" I'm trying to be justified by my own works. As if submitting to God and His Righteousness, as Paul is clearly saying here, I am somehow trying to create my own path to eternity.

There is no sense even responding. We have been here over and over. God gave the instruction and commanded men to follow them in order to live. The Serpent, using some of God's Words, convinced Eve God was not faithful to do what He says. I have heard this same teaching, but have chosen to trust God, and not the "Voices" of those who would contradict Him.

It is God's Will that I trust Him enough to follow His instructions, created for my own good, with all my might. In my weakness He will help Me. ("I believe, help me in my unbelief") That is my hope because as Paul says: "9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?"

The mainstream preaching that Jesus does everything for me. Repents for me, obeys for me, "walks" for me is not supported in the Bible. It is a very popular doctrine in mainstream religious circles and certainly on this forum. But the Scriptures clearly teach that I have a part in my own salvation, and if I refuse to hold up my end of the bargain, I shall be cut off. Just like the Mainstream Church of His Time.

The preaching Jesus changed His judgment isn't what the Bible teaches.

Rom. 11:
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Matt. 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

We just have fundamental disagreements of the sovereignty and perfection of the God of Abraham.

I do appreciate your encouraging words though;

"and I hope one day you are able to trust Him and take hold of the sure hope of His promise"

I am not there yet, but this is truly my hope and my goal by the grace of God..

Phil. 3:
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

OK, then start growing crops and grain and give 10% of all your agricultural increase, and you will be correctly tithing, that's what tithing was all about you know. However, if you want to offer monetary offerings then by all means give as much as you want, just understand its not TITHING, its GIVING, and that you can do cheerfully! When you come to understand the difference, and get away from traditions you can begin to experience Christianity with a wonderful new zeal. I was just like you brought up in a highly legalistic denomination, men's traditions were taught as though they were truth. I was ignorant to the blessings I was missing out on. When I finally was blessed to find a church that believed in preaching the BIBLE not men's traditions I begin to grow and develop a renewed love for the thing of God. Now I actually enjoy being a Christian, I enjoy going to church, I look forward to what God has for m every service, I enjoy GIVING, not from necessity, but out of a cheerful heart. God wants you to enjoy your Christian life, but you will never be happy following the traditions of man.

...and eat it yourself, in the presence of the Lord. Except every third year in which you give it to the needy.

"22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.23Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name...

28At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, 29so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied..."

Deuteronomy 14:22-23, 28-29

Danny, if you and your church are going to tithe because you think you still have to, you really ought to do it the way the Bible says to do it, right? That's means YOU eat it (and you share it-see vs.27). It's for YOU. Only in the third year does it go exclusively to the needy.

If we could only get this message to our church leaders there would never be another sermon on tithing in the church used to convict us and manipulate us into giving to them.

Muslims pay zakat, a set amount to seem as if they follow a god. Israel had the law, to pay those tithes, but the law was not honourable yet...Isaiah 42:21 The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. Thinking in the terms as told, the law is magnified, increased, it is no longer the tenths to pay, it is much more. Jesus was asked directly, this rich mans question, sell whatsoever you have, and give it to the poor. That is astonishing news though, and it brings relief to the righteous, but sorrow to all other. All the Apostles confirmed, they have left all, and followed Christ. Jesus confirmed to them, all men that have forsaken houses and lands, or estates, will receive much more, because they are sharing. We see also, it is not any cheerful freewill offering, it is what all had in common. As many as had houses or lands, sold them and distributed. Others held part back, it was not approved by God. Give alms, of what you have, because where your treasure is, your heart is there also. The righteous gives, they do not spare what they give, as their heart is very set. The example of Jesus is to be poor to make us rich, and the ransom of our lives are our riches too, we make ourselves poor to be rich. When we pity the poor, this is giving to the Lord what we have, and God returns what it is we gave, all, something, or nothing, because all the riches people seem to have are not really theirs, God will pass it on Himself when the time has come. The rich give, but it adds up to nothing. The poor give and it is all. We need to sell all that we have to find that pearl of great price, the treasure of Heaven is well hid, but you need to be illuminated to let your good be spoiled to understand there is better reward in Heaven, and how all these things are only dung, to tempt us to lose our souls, and to remain as self seeking, for that root of evil and love of money to have full hold over us, and the Pharisee payed tithes but he lacked lowliness and humility, he believed he was right, but the right way is when we wont so much as lift our eyes to Heaven, and to be much more generous than the Pharisees too...

Mark 10:17-27 Good master,what good thing must i do to inherit eternal
life?Jesus answered him and said,why callest thou me
good?None is good,save one,and that is god.But If thou wilt
enter into life,keep the commandments.He saith unto
him,which?Do not commit adultery,do not bear false
witness,do not commit fornication,do not not covet,and love
your neighbour as thyself?All these have i observed from my
youth up:what lack i yet?Jesus looking on him loved him and
said,One thing thou lackest yet,if thou will be perfect go
sell whatsoever you have and distribute it to the poor and
you will have treasure in heaven:then take your cross and
come and follow me.But when the man heard that saying he
went away very sorrowful and grieved:for he had great
posessions.And when Jesus
saw that he was very sorrowful,he said unto his
disciples,how hardly shall they that have riches enter into
the kingdom of heaven! And the disciples were astonished at
his word.But Jesus answered
again and said unto them,children,how hard is it for them
that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of god! For
it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle
than for a rich man to enter heaven.When the disciples heard
it they where astonished beyond measure and said among
themselves,who then can be saved?

mark10:28-30,matthew19:27-29.luke18:28-30 Lo we have
left all and followed thee,what will we receive?Every one
that has forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father or
mother or wife or children or lands for
my sake and the gospels and the kingdom of heavens sake
will receive a hundred times more mothers and brothers and
sisters and lands in this world with persecutions and in the
world to come life everlasting.But many that be first shall
be last,and the last shall be first

Acts2:44,45 All that believed had all things
common and sold all of their posessions and distributed
them.4:32-35 As many as
where posessors of lands or houses sold them and brought
the price and distributed it.

Acts 5:5 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.



Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Proverbs 21:26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

Proverbs 13:7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
8 The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Proverbs 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Proverbs 28:8 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

Luke21:1-4 Rich men were casting their gifts into
the treasury,and also a poor widow cast in thither two
mites.Of a truth,this poor widow cast in more then they
all:for all these of their abundance cast it unto the
offerings of God:but she of her penury hath cast in all the
living that she had.Mat13:44-46 Treasure hid in a
field,which when a man hath found,he hideth,and for joy
thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath,and buyeth that
field.Find one pearl of great price,sell all that you have
to buy it

Hebrews 10:32-34 When illuminated you endured a great
fight of affliction,and took joyfully the spoiling of your
goods as there is better reward in heaven.

Philipians3:8-11 For Christ Jesus i have suffered the loss of all things and
do count them but dung,that i may win Christ and be found in
him,not having mine own righteousness,which is of the
law,but that which is through the faith of Christ,the
righteousness which is of God by faith:that i may know
him,and the power of his
ressurection,and the
fellowship of his sufferings,being made conformable unto
his death,if by any means i might attain unto the
ressurection of the dead,not as though i had already
attained,but i follow after.I count not myself to have
apprehended:but this one thing i do,forgetting those things
which are behind,and reaching forth unto those things which
are before,i press toward the mark for the prize of the high
calling of God in Jesus Christ.

luke18:9-14 A parable UNTO
CERTAIN WHICH TRUST IN THEMSELVES THAT THEY ARE RIGHTEOUS
and despise others:two men went up into the temple to
pray,the one a pharisee and the other a publican,the
pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,God i thank
thee,that i am not as other man
are,extortioners,unjust,adulterers,or even as this
publican.I fast twice in the week,i give tithes of all that
i possess.And the publican,standing afar off,would not lift
up so much as his eyes to heaven,but smote upon his breast
saying,God be merciful to
me a sinner.I tell you,this man went down to his house
justified rather than the other:for EVERY ONE THAT EXALTETH
HIMSELF SHALL BE ABASED:AND HE THAT HUMBLETH HIMSELF SHALL
BE EXALTED

So for all who think they can be like that rich Pharisee, to have treasure on earth and treasure in Heaven also, God is not mocked, you will receive as you have sown, the law was not ended, it became the righteous law of Christ, this is why the new covenant( a Christian is supposed to believe in that) is Gd writing the law in our minds and heart. Tithes is not taken away, because nothing was, but everything was magnified, if you follow Christ with a sincere heart, not a hardened in pride heart, then remember the Shepherd you are supposed to be following, having nowhere to ly His head, and all of those Apostles the same, Apostle Paul to the Gentiles, who have to ignore the only examples to follow, as they cant follow anything like the same..

Luke 9:57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

I like the CLV. Do you have ISA Basic? Great program!

Or "there" is referring back to chapter six verses 19 and 20.

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth (us) into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, (for HE liveth) made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 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; 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; 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. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 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: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that He liveth.

The word "but" in verse eight continues the idea of receiving. That is why a lot of translations add it. The words in bold are all in the present tense.

If the HE in verse eight is Melchisedec then why is Levi recorded as paying tithes in Abraham in the next versed and not directly to Melchisedec since Melchisedec is alive at the time of Levi until now?

And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
(Heb 6:18-7:10)

The writer wasn't equating Melchizedek with Christ. He was just using him for illustrative/comparative puposes to show the supremacy of Christ's priesthood.

"there" is directly referring to when Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek -- the only time it is ever recorded that Melchizedek ever received a tithe in all of scripture.


also in vv. 1-2


while it is true that this is an extraordinary type of Christ - even a Christophany - why go back to chapter 6, paragraphs away, when there is a very clear and very straightforward and obvious connection to what "there" refers to right here in the very next thing the scripture says ((v. 9)), branching from the very thing that this saying originated with ((vv. 1-2))?

Melchizedek received a tenth exactly once and once only

Christ died once and once only.

paid in full, AMEN -- this is our steadfast assurance and sure hope! to keep hold of it, believing in faith is to overcome

Romans 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Coveteousness and debate go together, questions and strifes of words, to tithe or not to tithe, instructions are in the heart, by Gold or by another god of this world, who wont let people know how to be content with clothing and food

1 Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:20-21).

1. How does the Believer lay up treasure in heaven?
2. How does a Believer know that Jesus has their heart?
3. What does in mean if the Lord doesn't have your heart?

And realistically, what Abraham gave Melchizedek wasn't a tithe. He simply gave him 10% of other peoples' stuff because he wanted to, not because it was lawful. The lawful tithe on war booty was 0.2% from those who fought.