Tithe - Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me... of Jesus' Righteousness...

[One Baptism]

Tithe - Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me... of Jesus' Righteousness...

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: - Matthew 7:28

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power. - Luke 4:32

And the scribes and chief priests heard [it], and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. - Mark 11:18

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. - 1 Timothy 4:6

Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. - Titus 2:10​

How can we too have this, where people will simply be “astonished” at the Doctrine of our God, in whom we believe? We must "adorn" it, not merely speak about, think about, preach about it, or point to examples of it [though all good things].

Is it enough to say I “believe”, and not as the just, which “live by faith”, even the “faith of the Son of God”, “Jesus Christ”? No. Never.

If we truly believed as Jesus, and preached as Jesus, lived as Jesus ["adorn", put on Him, His works], by the Holy Spirit, the whole wicked world would tremble and “fear”, for there would be manifest on earth a second witness to the power of God to overcome temptation and thus also every sin, in the here and now, even in the very Body of Christ...

Jesus, the Head, was the first witness, and the world will not long stand to listen or bear such, but it will produce the effect necessary and then Jesus will come...

Every Doctrine should be connected with the Plan of Salvation/Redemption.

“... The central theme of the Bible, the theme about which every other in the whole book clusters, is the redemption plan, the restoration in the human soul of the image of God. From the first intimation of hope in the sentence pronounced in Eden to that last glorious promise of the Revelation, “They shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads” (Revelation 22:4), the burden of every book and every passage of the Bible is the unfolding of this wondrous theme,—man’s uplifting,—the power of God, “which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57. ...” - Education, p. 125-126 - http://text.egwwritings.org/publica...ng=en&collection=2&section=all&pagenumber=125​

Therefore, since “the burden of every book” and “every passage” of the Bible “is the unfolding of this wondrous theme”, being “the redemption plan”, which is “the restoration” “in” “the human soul of the image of God”, then this means that every single Doctrine/Practice of which Jesus taught/did also bears this same burden.

Listen to the words of Jesus, who truly was “God with us” [Matthew 1:23, etc], and “God manifest in the flesh” [1 Timothy 3:16], for He was “born of the Spirit” [John 3:6; see also Luke 1:35], yea, “born of God”, and “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” [1 John 3:9], “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” [1 John 5:4], “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” [1 John 5:18]

Every doctrine and practice must be connected to the vine, they must be connected to Jesus Christ Himself, otherwise they will be without power, without Life.

“... The officers who were sent to take Jesus reported that never man spake like this man. But the reason of this was that never man lived like this man; for if he had not so lived, he could not so have spoken. His words bore with them a convincing power, because they came from a heart pure and holy, full of love and sympathy, beneficence and truth. There is eloquence beyond that of words, in the quiet, consistent life of a pure, true Christian. We shall have temptations as long as we are in this world, but instead of injuring us, they will only turn to our advantage, if resisted. The bounds are placed where Satan cannot pass. He may prepare the furnace, but instead of working injury, it will only consume the dross, and bring forth the gold of the character, purer than before the trial. ...” - Gospel Workers 1892, Page 244 - http://text.egwwritings.org/publica...ng=en&collection=2&section=all&pagenumber=244​

Jesus said,

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. - John 5:39

Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, - Proverbs 40:7

Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. - Hebrews 10:7

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. - Luke 24:27​

Let us look at some examples, and begin with the Everlasting Gospel itself, and do we present it selfishly or unselfishly, for merely our own benefit, or for God's own joy?

“...Those who think of the result of hastening or hindering the gospel think of it in relation to themselves and to the world. Few think of its relation to God. Few give thought to the suffering that sin has caused our Creator. All heaven suffered in Christ’s agony; but that suffering did not begin or end with His manifestation in humanity. The cross is a revelation to our dull senses of the pain that, from its very inception, sin has brought to the heart of God. Every departure from the right, every deed of cruelty, every failure of humanity to reach His ideal, brings grief to Him. When there came upon Israel the calamities that were the sure result of separation from God,—subjugation by their enemies, cruelty, and death,—it is said that “His soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.” “In all their affliction He was afflicted: ... and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” Judges 10:16; Isaiah 63:9. ...” - Education, p. 263.1 - http://text.egwwritings.org/publica...ng=en&collection=2&section=all&pagenumber=263​

Woe unto us, if we have not understood the Heart of God in this, if we have missed the true importance, which is to say what is upon the heart of God, His burden for the salvation/redemption of lost men.'

For what Jesus taught and lived, He received from His Father, that we might know the Father in Christ Jesus, for it was from the very Bosom of the Father that Jesus Christ was sent from to tell us, show us, demonstrate and example for us.

Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. - John 7:16

The Faith of Jesus... was in His Father.

Our prayer ought be, I am sorry Father... I have not recognized your heart, my sympathy was not with you in your suffering, in your burden for the salvation of souls, in the living out your will... help, that we may do the will of our Father with understanding of the heart of our God and Father in Heaven...

It is written:

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. - Daniel 12:3

Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. - Daniel 12:10​

Who then are the wise, and what do they understand? How to merely identify the Beast or its image, time prophecies, as important and necessary in this present day as that all is? No, but to also understand that it is all connected to the salvation/redemption of men, in Christ Jesus, the very understanding the burden of the Heart of the Father in Heaven.

The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. - Proverbs 14:2

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise. - Proverbs 11:30

And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. - Jeremiah 24:7

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. - John 17:3​

Therefore, as sons/daughters and stewards, do we rob God of the Righteousness of Christ Jesus? Let us see...

The Tithe:

Q. How much belongs to God?

 

[One Baptism]

...The Tithe:

Q. How much belongs to God?

Q. How much belongs to God?

Exodus 13:2 - Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, [both] of man and of beast: it [is] mine.

Exodus 19:5 - Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth [is] mine:

Exodus 34:19 - All that openeth the matrix [is] mine; and every firstling among thy cattle, [whether] ox or sheep, [that is male ].

Leviticus 25:23 - The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land [is] mine; for ye [are] strangers and sojourners with me.

Job 41:11 - Who hath prevented me, that I should repay [him? whatsoever is] under the whole heaven is mine.

Psalms 24:1 - [[A Psalm of David.]] The earth [is] the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Psalms 50:10 - For every beast of the forest [is] mine, [and] the cattle upon a thousand hills.

Psalms 50:12 - If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world [is] mine, and the fulness thereof.

Ezekiel 18:4 - Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Haggai 2:8 - The silver [is] mine, and the gold [is] mine, saith the LORD of hosts.​

Q. What else belongs to God?

Romans 12:19 - Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.​

If we wrongfully take or keep these things from God, what have we done? If we take [steal] “vengeance” into our own hands and say to ourselves, “I will repay” for what 'they' did to me, etc, instead of letting the LORD deal justly in righteousness, it is verily as much Robbery of God, as it would be to keep the Tithe, or to withhold from God that which is rightfully His. It would be transgression of the 8th Commandment, “Thou shalt not steal.” Exodus 20:15 [see also Leviticus 19:11; Deuteronomy 5:19; Matthew 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 2:21, 13:9; Ephesians 4:28; for “thieves” shall not inherit the Kingdom of God: Matthew 6:19,20; 1 Corinthians 6:10], which is to take the name of the LORD thy God in vain [Proverbs 30:9], even to break every Commandment of God [James 2:10].

There are many which may not outwardly demonstrate that they love to take “vengeance” into their own hands, yet inwardly they glory in it, seeking to praise it in others, or to glorify it through their support of watching others in the acts, deeds and words of it. Sports in their wars of attrition and subjugation, Hollywood/Media through movies [westerns, martial-arts, action, etc], comics/manga ['super-heroes', 'anti-heroes'], cartoons, anime [and worse] and all manner of fiction through printed page, video games, even worldly music all love to portray “vengeance” being taken into the hands of men, stealing it from God, the one who can truly read the heart of all and render to all accordingly. They proclaim the prerogatives of Satan in taking vengeance, by their methods, out of God's own hands. Those thieves are all verily teachers and professors in the art of robbing of God, even as those who love those which proclaim such a message to the world.

Q. What more belongs to God?

Leviticus 27:30 - And all the tithe of the land, [whether] of the seed of the land, [or] of the fruit of the tree, [is] the LORD'S: [it is] holy unto the LORD.

Leviticus 27:32 - And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, [even] of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.​

The Tithe is the LORD's. To keep that which is His, and not return that which is His unto Him, is stealing, and moreso, it is actually robbing God:

Malachi 3:8 - Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Malachi 3:9 - Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation.

Malachi 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].

Ezekiel 33:15 - [If] the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Psalms 119:61 - The bands of the wicked have robbed me: [but] I have not forgotten thy law.
​

To rob God is to more than simply steal from Him, for theft without the person being stolen from present is stealing, yet not robbery. To rob someone of something, the person being stolen from must be present. God is verily present in all such cases [Matthew 28:20 - “... lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”; “... behold, I [am] with thee ...” Genesis 28:5, etc], when the Tithe is withheld from Him and misused, mismanaged and not returned. God has given us of His own substance, and will we yet keep back that which He asks as His own in return?

1 Chronicles 29:14 - But who [am] I, and what [is] my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things [come] of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

1 Chronicles 29:16 - O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name [cometh] of thine hand, and [is] all thine own.

1 Chronicles 29:17 - I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.​

Tithe is a matter and testing of the heart, in whether one is truly trusting in God, and having faith in Him to continue to supply all our needs [Malachi 3:10]. If we withhold from Him, we verily say unto Him, I cannot trust you God with your own, so I will hold it for you, and use it more wisely than you would, even as Judas declared in his actions, who held the money bag [John 13:29] and yet took from it as he saw fit, being [John 12:6] covetous and greedy of heart, a “disobedient” child of the devil [Ephesians 2:2, 5:6; Colossians 3:6; 2 Peter 2:14], and so he was forever lost [1 Corinthians 6:10; Ephesians 5:5] for the love of money [1 Timothy 6:10], and of distrust in God's management, and trust in self-management.

 

[One Baptism]

... Tithe is a matter and testing of the heart, in whether one is truly trusting in God, and having faith in Him to continue to supply all our needs [Malachi 3:10]. If we withhold from Him, we verily say unto Him, I cannot trust you God with your own, so I will hold it for you, and use it more wisely than you would, even as Judas declared in his actions, who held the money bag [John 13:29] and yet took from it as he saw fit, being [John 12:6] covetous and greedy of heart, a “disobedient” child of the devil [Ephesians 2:2, 5:6; Colossians 3:6; 2 Peter 2:14], and so he was forever lost [1 Corinthians 6:10; Ephesians 5:5] for the love of money [1 Timothy 6:10], and of distrust in God's management, and trust in self-management.

Q. What is the Tithe?

Genesis 4:4 - And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

Genesis 14:20 - And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Hebrews 7:2 - 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;

Hebrews 7:4 - Now consider how great this man [was], unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

Hebrews 7:8 - And here men that die receive tithes; but there he [receiveth them], of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

Hebrews 7:9 - And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

Genesis 28:22 - And this stone, which I [Jacob] have set [for] a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I [Jacob] will surely give the tenth unto thee [LORD God].

Leviticus 27:32 - And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, [even] of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.​

The Tithe of the LORD thy God is thus 10 percent of all, but is that all? No. Tithe is not merely 10%, for it is even a specific 10%. We may ascertain by a simple question, that the Tithe is more than a mere 10% or just any 10%, and we also see that well before Moses, Abel brought of the “firstlings” to God, the very thing God asked for, Abraham gave “tithes of all” unto Melchizedek the type of Christ Jesus, and Jacob [re-named with the spiritual overcoming name of “Israel”] swore to give the “tenth” unto God [he having nothing at that present time, having fled because of his sin], and so even his descendants returned tithe at “God's house”, being the Sanctuary and later Temple that would be built.

Will we be as the old Jacob, taking hold [Genesis 25:26], deceiving [Genesis 27:12], “defrauding” [Matthew 10:19; 1 Corinthians 6:8] our Elder Brother, Jesus, and worse teaching others to also do so by example [Matthew 5:19, “... break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so ...”]? Or will we be as the overcomer Jacob [re-named “Israel” [Genesis 32:28], a type of Christ Jesus], and cease from defrauding God and believe His Forgiveness, and take hold of His Strength to obey Him in all His Commandments by the Love of God?

For those which say in their heart and actions, “I will not return Tithe, but I do this and this, and give this and this, etc...”, yet to withhold the Holy Tithe and devour it, is sin, and this sin is a terribly cruel deceiver, for it costs more than we can truly give and yet live [Romans 6:23 - “For the wages of sin is death ...”], and so Scripture says:

1 Samuel 15:22 - And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.​

Q. Is the Tithe merely of food [victuals], of crops, of cattle?

Genesis 14:11 - And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.

Genesis 14:12 - And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

Genesis 14:16 - And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

Genesis 14:17 - And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that [were] with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which [is] the king's dale.

Genesis 14:18 - And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he [was] the priest of the most high God.

Genesis 14:19 - And he [Melchizedek] blessed him [Abram, Abraham], and said, Blessed [be] Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

Genesis 14:20 - And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Genesis 14:21 - And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.​

Abram [Abraham] would not take a thing of the “goods”. Thus this Tithe is surrounded by the very context that it is God that owns “all”, “possessor of Heaven and Earth” [Genesis 14:19,22], and thus the Tithe would include more than food [“victuals”], crops and cattle, and it would include “anything” [Genesis 14:23] of “increase” from God, even down to a “thread” and “shoelatchet”.

This is where the New Testament Pharisee had learned to return tithe down to the smallest item, but abused it [Luke 18:12 - “... I give tithes of all that I possess.” ], because they missed the “weightier matters” [Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42] of the Law.

Genesis 14:22 - And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

Genesis 14:23 - That I will not [take] from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that [is] thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:​

Thus the Tithe was given before anything else, which remained, was distributed.

Genesis 14:24 - Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.​

All of the spoils, “goods” [Genesis 14:16] [“increase”, including money, wealth, etc], among which is the “victuals” [Genesis 14:11], now belonged to the victor, and thus Abram [Abraham] was increased, and yet not desiring it, he still gave “tithes of all” of that which was his rightfully in victory to Melchizedek, the High Priest Of Peace and Righteousness. This is the typological history pointing to the Salvation in Christ Jesus.

We, as sinners, being taken captive by Satan, yet being delivered by a saviour, and not taken back to the previous condition, Sodom, but brought to Salem, with the Tithe/Firstfruits being presented, and so we are indebted [Romans 8:12, 15:27], etc.

 

[One Baptism]

... We, as sinners, being taken captive by Satan, yet being delivered by a saviour, and not taken back to the previous condition, Sodom, but brought to Salem, with the Tithe/Firstfruits being presented, and so we are indebted [Romans 8:12, 15:27], etc.

Q. Is the Tithe to be the 10th [10%] of the worst, or the last, the middle, or what is left over after a person is done with the rest? No, so Tithe is more than simply 10% of all, for if a person were to return to God the middle 10% of all, or the last 10% of all it would not be Tithe. If a person were to return to God the worst of all, or the so-so of all, it also would not be Tithe. It must be the specific part of all that God requires, for even Joshua, that type of Christ, understood this:

1 Chronicles 26:27 - Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the LORD.​

Joshua recognizes that the Firstfruits of Ai belong unto the LORD:

Joshua 6:24 - And they burnt the city with fire, and all that [was] therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.​

Q. Or will we yet withhold that which belongs unto God as did Achan?

Joshua 7:21 - When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they [are] hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.​

Q. What was Achans “reward”, his “wages” [a type of the second death, a valley, stones and fire, and complete loss of all] for “covetousness”, to even secretly desire a “Babylonish garment” instead of the clothing of the Righteousness of Christ, and to keep back the “gold” and “silver” for himself rather than to have the joy, approval and approbation of God, His Father?

Q. What did this sin of selfishness cost and bring upon own kin and brethren?

Q. Was this the demonstration of Love to God and neighbour?

Q. Was it the Holy Spirit that led Achan to withhold that which rightfully belonged unto God, or was it from the unclean, greedy and sneaking spirit of Satan? Even as he thought to hide the items in the earth, in his tent, so too he sought to hide this sin from all eyes, buried in his earthen heart, in the midst of his fleshy tabernacle, but God reads the hearts of all, for there is nothing hid from Him, which shall not come abroad.

Joshua 7:22 - So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, [it was] hid in his tent, and the silver under it.

Joshua 7:23 - And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.

Joshua 7:24 - And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.

Joshua 7:25 - And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.

Joshua 7:26 - And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.​

Let us be careful to notice, that there are troublers in Israel, even tares among wheat, goats among sheep, foolish among wise, and yet the final judgment by a great and fiery hail of stones is coming, and so let us not be among that number. When our “Joshua” [Jesus] conquers our worldliness, and the strongholds of sin in our lives, let us not be as Achan, who continued to desire, covet and secretly obtain the Babylonish garments, the worldly wealth and ill-gotten gain, but rather let us openly, and in the light, honour the LORD with all the “increase”, even with all our substance.

Let us notice another, a “fool” [Proverbs 30:9], who was “not rich toward God”, but “bestowed” “all” into his own barns, for his own pleasure, of those things in which he was increased, to which he thought was his own, and did not acknowledge them and himself as God's property, to use them in service, ministry unto others, for the glory and kingdom of God:

Luke 12:13 - And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

Luke 12:14 - And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

Luke 12:15 - And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Luke 12:16 - And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

Luke 12:17 - And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

Luke 12:18 - And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

Luke 12:19 - And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry.

Luke 12:20 - But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

Luke 12:21 - So [is] he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.​

 

[One Baptism]

... Luke 12:20 - But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

Luke 12:21 - So [is] he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.[/INDENT]

Q. Is the Tithe Holy? And if so, Why?

Leviticus 27:30 - And all the tithe of the land, [whether] of the seed of the land, [or] of the fruit of the tree, [is] the LORD'S: [it is] holy unto the LORD.

Leviticus 27:31 - And if a man will at all redeem [ought] of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth [part] thereof.

Leviticus 27:32 - And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, [even] of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.

Leviticus 27:33 - He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.

Romans 11:16 - For if the firstfruit [be] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and if the root [be] holy, so [are] the branches.​

Q. Is the Tithe the worst or best, is it the last or first? Why?

2 Chronicles 31:5 - And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all [things] brought they in abundantly.

Deuteronomy 14:22 - Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

Deuteronomy 14:28 - At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay [it] up within thy gates:

Deuteronomy 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;

Proverbs 3:9 - Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

Jeremiah 2:3 - Israel [was] holiness unto the LORD, [and] the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.​

The LORD is to be “Honour[ed]” [Proverbs 3:9; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; Malachi 1:6; Matthew 15:4, 19:19; Mark 7:10, 10:19; Luke 18:20; John 5:23; Ephesians 6:2] by returning the “Holy” “Tithe” unto Him, and those that do so will He Honour [1 Samuel 2:30; John 12:26], even as we are gifted from God of the Holy Spirit Himself [Luke 11:13]. Even the Holy [Exodus 20:8-11; 2 Peter 2:21] 7th Day Sabbath of the Lord thy God is 1/10th of the Ten Commandments [Law] of God to made for us, is so that we may Honour Him in [Isaiah 58:13] it. Since the Tithe is Holy, let it not be given into the possession of the world, and into the hands of Satan for his use and spread of his 'gospel', which is not another [Galatians 1:7-9]:

Matthew 7:6 - Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.​

The “Holy” Tithe comes from the “increase”, and is the “firstfruits”, and is it not written that God has added to us the Son of His right Hand, even Jesus Christ? see John 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 2:15; Hosea 11:1. Go back and notice Jeremiah 2:3 all the more closely.

Q. Since the Tithe is the Holy Firstfruits, what actually is this Holy Firstfruits?

1 Corinthians 15:23 - But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

1 Corinthians 15:20 - But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Romans 11:16 - For if the firstfruit [be] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and if the root [be] holy, so [are] the branches.

Genesis 4:3 - And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

Genesis 4:4 - And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

Genesis 4:5 - But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.​

 

[One Baptism]

...Genesis 4:3 - And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

Genesis 4:4 - And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

Genesis 4:5 - But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.[/INDENT]

Q. What is included in this “increase” [Deuteronomy 14:22,28, 26:12; Proverbs 3:9, etc], for is it only fruits, goods and cattle?

Though the “increase” is often spoken of as coming from the “seed”, “field” and from the “flocks”, the underlying Hebrew word for “increase” is “tĕbuw'ah”, and is also used in the following passages [in red]. Take notice of the connecting and associated words therein:

Proverbs 3:14 - For the merchandise of it [is] better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

Proverbs 8:9 - My fruit [is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

Proverbs 15:6 - In the house of the righteous [is] much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

Proverbs 16:8 - Better [is] a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

Job 31:12 - For it [is] a fire [that] consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 - He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this [is] also vanity.​

Thus these Bible texts give us further definition of the word “increase”, and showing that it is not reduced to mere association with 'farming' or 'agriculture', even as Strong's Concordance agrees with, “"1) produce, product, revenue; a) product, yield, crops (of the earth usually); b) income, revenue; c) gain (of wisdom) (fig); d) product of lips (fig)" - https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/Lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=H8393&t=KJV

Further, the word “revenue” is also defined Bibically as it is found in the following:

Ezra 4:13 - Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up [again, then] will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and [so] thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings.

Proverbs 8:19 - My fruit [is] better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

Proverbs 15:6 - In the house of the righteous [is] much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

Proverbs 16:8 - Better [is] a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

Isaiah 23:3 - And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the harvest of the river, [is] her revenue; and she is a mart of nations.

Jeremiah 12:13 - They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, [but] shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.​

And “revenue” is classically defined as:

“REV'ENUE, noun [Latin revenio; re and venio, to come.]

1. In a general sense, the annual rents, profits, interest or issues of any species of property, real or personal, belonging to an individual or to the public. When used of individuals, it is equivalent to income. In modern usage, income is applied more generally to the rents and profits of individuals, and revenue to those of the state. In the latter case, revenue is
2. The annual produce of taxes, excise, customs, duties, rents, etc. which a nation or state collects and receives into the treasury for public use.
3. Return; reward; as a rich revenue of praise.
4. A fleshy lump on the head of a deer.” - http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Home?word=Revenue​

 

[One Baptism]

... - http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Home?word=Revenue[/INDENT]

We can now go back and look again at Leviticus 27:

Leviticus 27:25 - And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall be the shekel.

Leviticus 27:26 - Only the firstling of the beasts, which should be the LORD'S firstling, no man shall sanctify it; whether [it be] ox, or sheep: it [is] the LORD'S.

Leviticus 27:27 - And if [it be] of an unclean beast, then he shall redeem [it] according to thine estimation, and shall add a fifth [part] of it thereto: or if it be not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to thy estimation.

Leviticus 27:33 - He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.

Leviticus 27:30 - And all the tithe of the land, [whether] of the seed of the land, [or] of the fruit of the tree, [is] the LORD'S: [it is] holy unto the LORD.

Leviticus 27:31 - And if a man will at all redeem [ought] of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth [part] thereof.

Leviticus 27:32 - And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, [even] of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.

Leviticus 27:33 - He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.​

The “increase” of the “tithe”, if it be of the seed, field, fruit, flock, etc could be “redeemed” for “shekel” [Leviticus 27:25] of the Temple, even “of the money” [Leviticus 27:15,19] having “value” [Leviticus 27:8,12] of “estimation” [Leviticus 27:15,19,23,25,27], if a “fifth” part was added to it.

Truly the Firstfruits of Holy Tithe is full of “value”, a true “treasure”, in “gold” and “silver” even, since, in certain instances, “Silver” [Exodus 30:15; Leviticus 27:3] is the symbol of Redemption in Christ [2 Samuel 24:24; Zechariah 11:12,13; Matthew 26:15, 27:3,5,6,9; Acts 19:19] and “refining” [Zechariah 13:9; Proverbs 17:3, 27:21], and “Gold” the symbol of “tried” [Zechariah 13:9] and perfect Character of Christ fulfilling all the will of God [Genesis 24:22; Deuteronomy 10:4; Psalms 19:10, 119:127; Isaiah 13:12; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:3; Matthew 22:40; 1 Corinthians 3:12; 2 Timothy 2:20; 1 Peter 1:7; Revelation 3:18], Christ Jesus being the true Treasure:

Psalms 135:4 - For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.” Psalms 135:4

Isaiah 33:6 - And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

1 Peter 1:18 - Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, [as] silver and gold, from your vain conversation [received] by tradition from your fathers;

1 Peter 1:19 - But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:​

Christ Jesus, the precious “kinsman” redeemer [Numbers 27:11; Ruth 1:1-4:22] and we are his “purchase”:

Exodus 15:16 - Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

Psalms 74:2 - Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.

Psalms 78:54 - And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.

Acts 20:28 - Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.​

 

[One Baptism]

... Christ Jesus, the precious “kinsman” redeemer [Numbers 27:11; Ruth 1:1-4:22] and we are his “purchase”:...

Q. Is the Tithe just a Genesis to Malachi thing?, an Old Testament thing?, or is it verily as much as part of the New Testament?, the New Covenant?, in the Christian life and of the Gospels to Revelation?

Matthew 23:23 - Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Luke 11:42 - But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.​

Thus, as Christians, our faithfulness is to far exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, and to do all matters, from the newly created heart, born of God.

John 8:39 - "... If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham."​

[see Hebrews 7:2,4,8,9, and Genesis 14:20 and ask,

Q. What did Abraham do unto Melchizedek, the type of Christ Jesus [Hebrews 7:3]?

Q. Are we Christians also to be such children of faithful Abraham? See Luke 1:55, 9:7-10; Romans 4:16; Galatians 3:16,29

Q. Are we [Luke 12:4; John 15:14,15] as Abraham was, the very “friend” of God [2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23], as Moses [Exodus 33:11]?]​

Hebrews 7:1 - 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;

Hebrews 7:2 - 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;

Hebrews 7:3 - 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.

Hebrews 7:8 - And here men [Levites] that die receive tithes; but there [in the Heavenly Tabernacle]he [Jesus, the anti-type of Melchizedek] [receiveth them], of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.​

Melchizedek was but the type, while Christ Jesus is the true High Priest after that order [Exodus 29:4-8; Leviticus 8:12; Psalms 133:1-3; Acts 1:1-26, 2:1-47; Revelation 5:5-6; Hebrews 4:14, 5:6,10, 6:20, 7:11,15-17,21]. Paul's argumentation, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in Hebrews 7 is drawing from the events in Genesis 14. Abraham gave tithes unto Melchizedek, and those in [the loins of] Abraham [such as the Levites, as physically] gave tithes to Melchizedek through faithful Abraham [Hebrews 7:9], and thus anyone which is of the seed of Abraham [True Christians, the spiritual], being faithful, will return tithes to Christ Jesus, the Highpriest of the Melchizedek order, for the Holy Tithe is in relationship to Salvation from the Enemy:

Genesis 14:20 - And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.​

Therefore, as Abraham was called out of Ur [of the Chaldees; Babylon; Genesis 11:31, 1:1] to walk in the Way of the LORD, long before Moses, to keep His [God's] Commandments, and to heed the Voice of the LORD [Genesis 26:5] and enter into the land of Canaan, so too are we [Revelation 18:4].

The Tithe itself is a symbol/type of Jesus Christ and His Righteousness, and only that which the Father can accept, for He cannot accept our self-righteousness. We may see that the Tithe is the “Firstfruit” which is even “Holy”. It is the Best and First which is to be returned unto God.

As Christ Jesus is our “Great High Priest” [Hebrews 4:14], we, being of the “children of Israel” [Exodus 31:16,17; Hosea 11:1; Matthew 2:15], the “many sons” He has brought “unto glory” [Hebrews 2:10; Isaiah 8:13-20; Isaiah 56:1-8], we are called to be a “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people” [1 Peter 2:9] unto Him:

Exodus 19:6 - And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Deuteronomy 7:6 - For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that [are] upon the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 14:2 - For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that [are] upon the earth.

1 Peter 2:5 - Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9 - But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Revelation 1:6 - And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 5:10 - And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.​

 

[One Baptism]

Q. Is the Tithe just a Genesis to Malachi thing?, an Old Testament thing?, or is it verily as much as part of the New Testament?, the New Covenant?, in the Christian life and of the Gospels to Revelation?...

Thus, as such, we, the “children of [True] Israel [Jesus Christ]” [“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” [2 Corinthians 1:20]], can turn unto the pages of the prophet Malachi, and read therein those prophets words, for though it details the events of the first coming of Christ Jesus and the responsibilities of those that looked for it, it also details the Second Advent of Jesus [Ecclesiastes 1:9, 3:15] and the responsibilities of those looking for that “blessed hope” [Titus 2:13], which are even for that “Israel” in the last days, for since it is written that, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” [2 Timothy 3:16]:

Malachi 1:1 - The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

Malachi 1:2 - I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? [Was] not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,

Even as it is written, “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:” [Romans 11:26]:​

Malachi 1:6 - A son honoureth [his] father, and a servant his master: if then I [be] a father, where [is] mine honour? and if I [be] a master, where [is] my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

[see also, “Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.” Luke 13:13 ; “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.” John 13:13]​

Malachi 2:1 - And now, O ye priests, this commandment [is] for you.

Malachi 2:2 - If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay [it] to heart.

[See also that this Tithe then, is included in the Everlasting Gospel, and to give Glory unto God, “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” Revelation 14:6; “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Revelation 14:7]​

Malachi 2:6 - The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.

[See also, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:” 1 Peter 2:22; “Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” Psalms 32:2, “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.” Psalms 34:13; “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” John 1:47; “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:” 1 Peter 3:10 and in the 144,000 themselves, “And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Revelation 14:5]​

Malachi 2:7 - For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he [is] the messenger of the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 2:11 - Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.

Malachi 3:6 - For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Malachi 3:7 - Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept [them]. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said,Wherein shall we return?

Malachi 3:8 - Will a man [Heb. “'adam”, mankind] rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Malachi 3:9 - Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation.

Malachi 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].

Malachi 3:11 - And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 3:12 - And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 3:13 - Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken [so much] against thee?

Malachi 3:14 - Ye have said, It [is] vain to serve God: and what profit [is it] that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?

Malachi 3:15 - And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, [they that] tempt God are even delivered.

Malachi 3:16 - Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

[see also, “... Fear God ...” Revelation 14:7]​

Malachi 3:17 - And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

Malachi 3:18 - Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

But, thus saith the LORD, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20​

 

[One Baptism]

... But, thus saith the LORD, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20[/INDENT]

These prophecies and promises in Malachi have two-fold fulfillment, in the first coming of Christ, and again in the Second:

Malachi 3:1 - Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Malachi 4:4 - Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, [with] the statutes and judgments.

Malachi 4:5 - Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

Malachi 4:6 - And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.​

We find the last fulfillment of the spirit of Elijah [Luke 1:17] message, which “shall come” [Matthew 17:11] in the group of people “prophesying again” [Revelation 10:9-11, 12:17, 14:6-7, 18:1-24, etc] and proclaiming of Jesus' 2nd coming. Therefore, the Holy Tithe is for the spread of this Good News, and all who are purposefully withholding it, in self unrighteousness, have the blood of many others upon their garments. Let those who have done so, go now!, and get thee of the Blood of the Lamb to wash thee, and make thee clean and pure.

The “reward” of the faithful labouring minister of the Everlasting Gospel is found in the Scripture:

1 Timothy 5:17 - Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

1 Timothy 5:18 - For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer [is] worthy of his reward.​

Q. Who is the labourer, what are they to labour for and who also is their hire?

In these passages, we find the faithful servant of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, quoting from Moses in Deuteronomy 25:4, “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out [the corn].” and from Jesus in Luke 10:7, “And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.”

Those who preach the Everlasting Gospel, are to live of that Gospel, and so Paul even speaks to this from several examples:

1 Corinthians 9:1 - Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?​

Thus we see that “Jesus Christ our Lord” is the one who hires, and the Apostle Paul, as a faithful and wise steward and servant, was one who laboured [1 Corinthians 3:8,14] for the Master, and those he had ministered to out in the “field”, are called “my work in the Lord”.

1 Corinthians 9:2 - If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.​

 

[One Baptism]

...Those who preach the Everlasting Gospel, are to live of that Gospel, and so Paul even speaks to this from several examples:

1 Corinthians 9:1 - Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?​

Thus we see that “Jesus Christ our Lord” is the one who hires, and the Apostle Paul, as a faithful and wise steward and servant, was one who laboured [1 Corinthians 3:8,14] for the Master, and those he had ministered to out in the “field”, are called “my work in the Lord”.

1 Corinthians 9:2 - If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.​

The Holy Spirit explains through Paul:

1 Corinthians 9:3 - Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

1 Corinthians 9:4 - Have we not power to eat and to drink?​

[See also Luke 10:8 - “And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:”​

2 Thessalonians 3:8 - Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

2 Thessalonians 3:9 - Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 - For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.​

Please notice the argumentation, and from where at least eight points of argument are drawn for the providence of those labourers who are preaching the Everlasting Gospel.]

1 Corinthians 9:5 - Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and [as] the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

1 Corinthians 9:6 - Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

[See also, Acts 6:2 - "Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples [unto them], and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables."]​

[Argumentation 1] 1 Corinthians 9:7 - “Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? ...”

[Argumentation 2] “... who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? ...”

[Argumentation 3] “... or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?”

[Argumentation 4] 1 Corinthians 9:8 - Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

1 Corinthians 9:9 - 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?

[See also the same in 1 Timothy 5:17-18]​

[Argumentation 5] 1 Corinthians 9:10 - 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.

[Argumentation 6] 1 Corinthians 9:11 - If we have sown unto you spiritual things, [is it] a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

[Argumentation 7] 1 Corinthians 9:12 - 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.

[Argumentation 8] 1 Corinthians 9:13 - Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live [of the things] of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

[Conclusion] 1 Corinthians 9:14 - Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.​

Herein Paul was being more charitable to those he preached to, not claiming the right, and yet working among them, even supporting himself through his tent-making trade [Acts 18:3], though the right was his, being granted unto him by the testimony of Jesus, by the written word in the Law/Torah, for though the Tithe was to assist in his spreading the Everlasting Gospel as it was for every such minister, he would not demand it, but accepted it when pressed, as he says, “if against my will”, so that none would be offended [Romans 14:7,8,13], nor that he “abuse” his “power in the Gospel”:

1 Corinthians 9:15 - But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for [it were] better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

1 Corinthians 9:16 - For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

1 Corinthians 9:17 - For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation [of the gospel] is committed unto me.

1 Corinthians 9:18 - What is my reward then? [Verily] that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.​

Though the Tithe is also for the faithful minister of the Everlasting Gospel to live of, it is not our real “reward”, for the actual “reward” is Christ Jesus Himself [Numbers 18:20; Ezekiel 44:28; Hebrews 11:26].

 

[One Baptism]

... Though the Tithe is also for the faithful minister of the Everlasting Gospel to live of, it is not our real “reward”, for the actual “reward” is Christ Jesus Himself [Numbers 18:20; Ezekiel 44:28; Hebrews 11:26].

Q. What is the 'reward' of those which hoard to themselves, and keep back of that which belongs unto God for His service, and/or faithlessly wastes the Lord's talents?

James 5:1 - Go to now, [ye] rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon [you].

James 5:2 - Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

James 5:3 - Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

James 5:4 - Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

James 5:5 - Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

James 5:6 - Ye have condemned [and] killed the just; [and] he doth not resist you.

James 5:7 - Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.​

While the general person is responsible before God, how much more are those in positions and offices of responsibility within the very Body of Christ, even those at the highest levels. What will happen if they keep back even the “hire” of those God hath called to be “labourers” in His “field” and misappropriate it for selfish schemes? The Holy Tithe and so also offerings, etc are to be for the upbuilding of the Body of Christ, and God knows that there are many a “labourer” which has gone many a day without that which was due unto them and they and the work of God, suffered, whether small or great, because of covetousness, and souls were lost, due to greed and love of/for this world, more than God and their fellows were loved, and weeping upon earth and Heaven are recorded in the Books, as are the deeds of those “rich” men [Revelation 3:17]. Rich in this worlds goods, but not towards God, is no real richness, but fleeting vanity, even soon to be dust in the mouth, and cold ashes upon the tongue. The day is coming, even very soon, in which the personal account of each of us is to be made before God, even Jesus Christ, for our talents, and soon, very soon [Revelation 3:10], the judgment and examination is to pass from the [professed] dead to the [professing] living.

Matthew 18:23 - Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.​

Therefore, let us be faithful, and give Glory unto God, and not as the wicked one who tried to take all the Glory of God unto himself:

Jonah 2:9 - But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD. ​

Q. Therefore, knowing these things, is it proper to misuse/devour or Rob God of the Holy Tithe?

Proverbs 20:25 - [It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

Jeremiah 2:3 - Israel [was] holiness unto the LORD, [and] the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.

Hosea 11:1 - When Israel [was] a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

Matthew 2:15 - And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Acts 4:27 - For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

Acts 4:30 - By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

Luke 1:35 - And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.​

Jesus Christ is Truly Israel, the victorious overcomer [Revelation 3:21; Genesis 32:28], He is the Firstfruits and Holiness unto the LORD. Christ Jesus is the Best, Unblemished, and Holy, and He which is returned unto God, and it is only in His righteousness that anything is acceptable unto God.

Whosoever therefore attempt to “devoureth” Him which is Holy, and any in Him, is cursed [Jeremiah 2:3].​

1 Corinthians 11:27 - Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink [this] cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.​

The Tithe is way more than mere money [though it includes it], for it is the very Type of Jesus Christ and His Holy Righteousness. Even if a person gave the first 10% and even their own “best” it could still not be acceptable unto the LORD, for unless in the New Heart dwells Christ Jesus, and the Tithe returned from the New Heart born of Christ [John 3:3,7; 1 Peter 1:23], it cannot be accepted, for it would be polluted with our own righteousness, which is as “filthy rags” [Isaiah 64:6], it would be even as the righteousness of Cain, instead of that offered by Abel, who himself obeyed God by Faith [Hebrews 11:4] and returned of the “firstlings” [the Holy Tithe] of the flock unto God [Genesis 4:4], since it was the Type pointing to Christ Jesus Himself [“... God will provide himself a lamb ...” Genesis 22:8].

 

[One Baptism]

... Jesus Christ is Truly Israel, the victorious overcomer [Revelation 3:21; Genesis 32:28], He is the Firstfruits and Holiness unto the LORD. Christ Jesus is the Best, Unblemished, and Holy, and He which is returned unto God, and it is only in His righteousness that anything is acceptable unto God.

Whosoever therefore attempt to “devoureth” Him which is Holy, and any in Him, is cursed [Jeremiah 2:3].​

1 Corinthians 11:27 - Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink [this] cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.​

The Tithe is way more than mere money [though it includes it], for it is the very Type of Jesus Christ and His Holy Righteousness. Even if a person gave the first 10% and even their own “best” it could still not be acceptable unto the LORD, for unless the in the New Heart dwells Christ Jesus, and the Tithe returned from the New Heart born of Christ [John 3:3,7; 1 Peter 1:23], it cannot be accepted, for it would be polluted with our own righteousness, which is as “filthy rags” [Isaiah 64:6], it would be even as the righteousness of Cain, instead of that offered by Abel, who himself obeyed God by Faith [Hebrews 11:4] and returned of the “firstlings” [the Holy Tithe] of the flock unto God [Genesis 4:4], since it was the Type pointing to Christ Jesus Himself [“... God will provide himself a lamb ...” Genesis 22:8].

Q. Do any think that by returning Tithe to God that they offer their own righteousness?

God forbid, and be ever so far from the thought! If it is so, repent! If it does not come in the sweet smelling savour of Christ Jesus and His Righteousness, in what He the Saviour has done, it is a stink in nose of God, a burning in His eyes and a broken sound in His ears, an abomination, a turning away from what God Himself provided in His sacrifice, in His forgiveness and cleansing, in His Son and gift of the person of the Holy Spirit!

Those which knowingly refuse to return the Holy Tithe unto God from the Heart born of God, and place anything else there in its stead, even if they seem to offer all they had, are verily removing Christ Jesus and His righteousness in offering to God, and substituting something else, an 'anti-Christ', an 'in the place of Christ', which is opposed to Christ Jesus! Can God accept it? He cannot.

The Tithe is to be returned unto God, because it is already His, and we cannot pay out of something which is not our own, but only return that which is given, but if we continue to keep that which is not our own, it is more than theft, for we do it in the very presence of God, it is then Robbery.

Q. The Tithe is the increase, and firstfruits of the Seed, but why?

Deuteronomy 14:22 - Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

Galatians 3:16 - Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.​

There is yet more, for the Holy Tithe, the Firstfruit of the Increase, given of God, was for service of the Temple/Sanctuary and the inheritance.

Numbers 18:21 - And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, [even] the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

1 Corinthians 9:14 - Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.​

It is thus written, that the Tithe was for the Inheritance and service in/of the Temple of God. Do we not know that the LORD is our inheritance, and He the True Temple [Revelation 21:22], we being living stones [1 Peter 2:5] built upon the ROCK, even the Foundation Jesus Christ [Isaiah 44:28; Zechariah 8:9; Luke 6:48; Ephesians 2:20]? It was in His great sacrifice of coming to dwell with us, to live a perfect sinless life, to die upon the Cross as the sacrifice that Jesus “finished” [John 19:30] laying the Foundation of the perfect Character, for us and example [Luke 9:23; John 10:27; 1 Peter 2:21] to us. More on this later in another study, entitled, What was really “finished” at the Cross! For there was spun in the loom of God's own hands a perfect Robe... The Tithe points to our True Inheritance, and if we are faithful in that which is least, even in type, we shall inherit all things. Therefore, even if all rob, turn from and forsake the LORD, “what is that to thee, follow thou me,” [John 21:22,23] saith He.

Deuteronomy 18:2 - Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren: the LORD [is] their inheritance, as he hath said unto them.

Ezekiel 44:28 - And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I [am] their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I [am] their possession.

Ephesians 1:11 - In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Colossians 3:24 - Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Hebrews 8:5 - Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, [that] thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

John 2:19 - Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

John 2:21 - But he spake of the temple of his body.

Hebrews 10:5 - Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

[a physical body, and a spiritual body, see the Biblical principle of 1 Corinthians 15:44,46, that which is natural first, then after, the spiritual, for Christ Jesus had a physical body prepared then, and so now another body is being prepared, even the Church]​

1 Corinthians 12:27 - Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Romans 12:5 - So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

1 Corinthians 12:12 - For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also [is] Christ.

Ephesians 5:23 - For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Ephesians 2:21 - In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

1 Peter 2:5 - Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.​

As God made the First Adam, a body, and breathed into him breath of Life, so too there is a spiritual body, that will have the Holy Spirit in it.

When we return the Holy Tithe, the Firstfruits of all the Increase, we must do so from the Heart born of God, in full recognition of that which we are actually returning to God, in that it is nothing of ourselves, nothing of which we have earned, nothing of which we can claim as our righteousness, but must understand whose Righteousness it is, and whom the Tithe represents – Christ Jesus, the Gift of God's Love freely given unto us, and shall we not return that love freely unto Him, who first loved us?

 

[One Baptism]

...When we return the Holy Tithe, the Firstfruits of all the Increase, we must do so from the Heart born of God, in full recognition of that which we are actually returning to God, in that it is nothing of ourselves, nothing of which we have earned, nothing of which we can claim as our righteousness, but must understand whose Righteousness it is, and whom the Tithe represents – Christ Jesus, the Gift of God's Love freely given unto us, and shall we not return that love freely unto Him, who first loved us?

And so on... Tithe is more than fruits, vegetables, cattle, etc, as it also includes money ["increase"], etc, but even this has greater significance in the plan of Redemption... for we were "bought" with a price... and the "firstfruits" more than simply something of the field, for it deals with a far greater harvest, than an earthly harvest, and a much greater reaping than the reaping of earthly things... the reaping of perfect Character unto Everlasting Life, for will the Seed, the character of Christ Jesus be found to have grown unto Fruition in us? For if Christ be not in us, we will come to vanity – nothingness.

Galatians 2:20 - I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Philippians 1:21 - For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.​

And that death to self, is the “gain”, and the Eternal Way of Life in Christ, is the real “increase” of the Son of God. Will we allow God to make even our very lives “firstfruits” unto God? We will allow Him to make us “Holy”, and redeem us from all sin? Should we not also be found in Christ Jesus, the reality of the Tithe?

Q. Will we return that which is God's to Him?

Matthew 22:21 - “Render therefore ... unto God the things that are God's.”​

And ought not Love be returned unto Him? What then is the perfect expression of this Love? To obey our loving Father.

Q. What if there might be some which will misappropriate the Tithe returned? When Tithe is returned, do we give to men or God? Does the Tithe belong to men or God?

Since the Holy Tithe, the Firstfruits, is that type of Christ Jesus, did not the Heavenly Father Himself know that by giving His precious only-begotten Son, that He would be greedily used for unlawful gain, spitefully abused, misused, cruelly maltreated, and cast aside as unholy, and be despised of His very own people, and even highest religious Leaders and worldly government authority and be killed? Of course The Father, and even Christ Jesus knew, but is not Jesus' life, His, to lay down or take up?

John 10:18 - No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.​

What about Judas, did not Jesus know that he had the bag, and was stealing from it and misappropriating it for his own ends? Was this not a test to both Judas and the other disciples to Trust in Jesus, that He knew/knows best? Is it not Jesus' money? Is Jesus the wonderful numberer, or no? Does not Jesus send rain upon the just and unjust?

What about the widow and her two mites, even all the living she had? Did Jesus condemn or commend her before all? Did Jesus not know the corrupt state of the Temple priests and Religious Leaders? Did Jesus say to her, “Wait, do not do place your last two mites into the Temple Treasury, but give your money into my bag?” Do we think that the greedy and covetous Religious Leaders which payed Judas the 30 pieces of silver to betray Christ Jesus, paid it out of their own pockets, or do you think it was from the very Temple Treasury, and that it could even be possible that these two mites helped in procuring Jesus unto them?

Mark 12:42 - And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

Mark 12:43 - And he called [unto him] his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

Mark 12:44 - For all [they] did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, [even] all her living.

Luke 21:1 - And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

Luke 21:3 - For all [they] did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, [even] all her living.

Luke 21:4 - For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.​

Why should their unfaithfulness to God, not all the more recommend her faithfulness to God, and magnify it, being in stark contrast, even as witness unto all the heavenly on-looking peoples and universe?

What of the example of Peter and Jesus? When Peter went ahead and said that he and His Master [Jesus] pay the Temple Tax, did Jesus know who the Religious Leaders were and what they were doing with the monies? Is it even possible that these were even later used to pay Judas the 30 pieces of Silver for his betrayal of Jesus, instead of from their own pockets? Yet, what had Jesus to say to Peter, Pay or do not Pay? Of course Jesus paid, even for them both, even as He has paid for you and I in a far greater and infinite capacity by His sacrifice.

Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. Matthew 17:27​

Would Jesus have told the Disciples and Apostles to withhold the Tithe and keep it to themselves, or to send it otherwise somewhere else, other than to where it ought go?

What of a more personal example of faithfulness, in Firstfruits, which even deals with that which is beyond the price of gold and silver. The price of a child. So what then of the sweet smelling savour and example of Hannah. Did Hannah in 1 Samuel 1:1-28 say that she would in faithfulness give of her Firstfruits unto God? Did she know the poor example of Eli, and of the corrupt and wicked sons, Hophni and Phineas, who were even 'priests' at the very Temple, and seriously abusing their positions and the people of God?

1 Samuel 2:12 - Now the sons of Eli [were] sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.​

What did Hannah do? She was faithful unto God's faithfulness, and entrusted Him with the firstfruits, Samuel. She fulfilled her vows and brought her very son unto the Temple. If she her very valuable son, how much more then should we return the Tithe?

1 Samuel 1:27 - For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

1 Samuel 1:218 - Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.​

Just because others, even maybe the highest Religious Leaders, are unfaithful, we ought not let that unfaithfulness spark the same unholy fire in us, or allowed to be excuse for us to quench the Holy Spirit, but rather let us be faithful and give glory unto God, stoking the Holy flame kindled in us of God, in that we trust Him who is faithful and just, and will repay.

Psalms 66:13 - I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows,​

Can we be justly angry with the misuses of and rebellion from that which is God's own? Yes.

Ephesians 4:26 - Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:​

 

[One Baptism]

...Can we be justly angry with the misuses of and rebellion from that which is God's own? Yes.

Ephesians 4:26 - Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:​

Q. Do we allow [even a true and righteous] emotion to guide our action, or rather do we always go by “Thus saith the LORD”, and “It is written”?

Let us not say in reaction to others, “Because they did this, I will repay, I will be like them and do so and so … eye for an eye, and tooth for a tooth ...”, for this is taking vengeance, and maybe even further, but rather let us say, “LORD, thy will be done. You know all things, and Thou art ever Faithful and True, and thy Just Judgment perfect, and You will repay. Amen and Amen.”

Malachi 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].​

Will any continue to withhold from God? Will any continue to heap up for themselves treasures on earth, and not in Heaven? Will any turn from the ever-Loving and ever-Living God, for the love of Mammon? Will our own lives be filled with the pleasant things, and the House of the LORD, His very Temple, His Body, His Church, lie in disarray and waste, slowly dying away, crumbling to dust?

Haggai 1:4 - [Is it] time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house [lie] waste?

Haggai 1:5 - Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

Haggai 1:6 - Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages [to put it] into a bag with holes.

Haggai 1:7 - Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.​

Q. Do we have faith?

James 2:18 - Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Romans 14:23 - “... for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

1 John 3:4 - Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.​

Our Father, in Heaven, please grant us repentance, and forgive us of our sin and rebellion, and allow us to come to you humbly and say “I am sorry for having robbed you!, for attempting to pay others back with vengeance stolen from you, and also for attempting to pay you back for your so great sacrifice and salvation, with my own righteousness, my own way of giving and living, for having not understand what the Tithe is unto you, and to whom it represents, and what you have given unto us in Him, Christ Jesus! Please create with me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me, and make of me what you will and to do of your good will and pleasure, that you may be glorified in righteousness, and your Holy Name vindicated in the power of the Everlasting Gospel, we ask in the name of Jesus, Amen.”​

Ezekiel 33:15 - [If] the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Ezekiel 33:16 - None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

Luke 19:8 - And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore [him] fourfold.

Luke 19:9 - And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.

Luke 19:10 - For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.​

Let us then be found in Him, who is faithful and good [“servant” Philippians 2:7], and overcome, even as He overcame [Revelation 3:21]:

Matthew 25:21 - His lord said unto him, Well done, [thou] good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Matthew 25:23 - His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Luke 19:17 - And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.​

For additional, please consider:

https://www.audioverse.org/english/sermons/presenters/226/g-edward-reid.html

http://www.adventistsaffirm.org/article/177/previous-issues/volume-20-number-2/in-search-of-the-storehouse​

 

[vooks]

One Baptist
A question for you
How much did the Jews tithe out of their agricultural produce?
A. 10%
B. 22.3%
C. I don't know

 

[One Baptism]

One Baptist
A question for you
How much did the Jews tithe out of their agricultural produce?
A. 10%
B. 22.3%
C. I don't know

Brother vooks, the question is already 'pre-empted' in the material presented [and as you read, I am sure you will find it], as well as given in the last two links. Please read those materials if you are truly interested in the answer. Having discussed directly with R.E.K. on several occasions, he cannot Scripturally answer what has been presented [show him all that I have presented here if you think I am incorrect, for I have done so before] and he still refuses to Tithe, and mocks those who do, and attempts to lead others into his robbery of God.

I give you brotherly warning about those who 'teacheth' robbery of God 'with their fingers' and 'teach other men' to do so also:

He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; - Proverbs 6:13

Frowardness [is] in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. - Proverbs 6:14

Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. - Proverbs 6:15​

Suddenly, even as it did for the man who boarded the phantom ship - http://www.temcat.com/003-Advent-H-History/Canright.pdf

Do you return to God His Holy Tithe, brother vooks?

 

[Alcott]

I work to make a living. God didn't help me earn a nickel, nor does he need a nickel from me. Greedy ministers and churches can continue their cafeteria scriptures and brainwashing, but it will have no effect on me.

 

[vooks]

Brother vooks, the question is already 'pre-empted' in the material presented [and as you read, I am sure you will find it], as well as given in the last two links. Please read those materials if you are truly interested in the answer. Having discussed directly with R.E.K. on several occasions, he cannot Scripturally answer what has been presented [show him all that I have presented here if you think I am incorrect, for I have done so before] and he still refuses to Tithe, and mocks those who do, and attempts to lead others into his robbery of God.

I give you brotherly warning about those who 'teacheth' robbery of God 'with their fingers' and 'teach other men' to do so also:

He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; - Proverbs 6:13

Frowardness [is] in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. - Proverbs 6:14

Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. - Proverbs 6:15​

Suddenly, even as it did for the man who boarded the phantom ship - http://www.temcat.com/003-Advent-H-History/Canright.pdf

Do you return to God His Holy Tithe, brother vooks?

I can't see nothing nowhere sir. As usual just mishmash. You'd deal wisely in answering this question

 

[One Baptism]

I can't see nothing nowhere sir. ... You'd deal wisely in answering this question

Yes, I do understand that you "can't see nothing nowhere", brother vooks, in all that was given, for blindness is rampant these days, and gross darkness covers the people, and many grope in the darkness of their hearts, having turned away from the light, but it is not for the lack of the love and grace of God in giving light, sight, and desiring to heal their blindness, but a lack of faith, trust and willingness in receiving it, for God having shed light upon them, they turn from it, not willing that they should see. It is written,

For this people's heart is waxed gross, and [their] ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and should understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. - Matthew 13:15

For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with [their] eyes, and hear with [their] ears, and understand with [their] heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. - Acts 28:27

But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great [is] that darkness! - Matthew 6:23

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. - John 3:19

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. - Hosea 4:6

The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart: - Deuteronomy 28:28

And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. - 2 Kings 6:18

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: - Ephesians 4:18

And [some] of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? - John 9:40​

Thank you for saying that I would "deal wisely in answering this question", for I having done so before the question was asked in the provided material already presented, as I have stated unto you brother vooks. Instead of repeating that material, I will refer you back to reading that which has been given. If you cannot find it brother vooks, please ask God, in humility, to give you a willing heart, sight and understanding, and you shall see it very clearly.

"... wisdom is justified of all her children." - Luke 7:35​

Thank you for participating in this thread, and for keeping it current, for many need to see and hear the things which are written therein.

Brother, I tell you the Truth [and so all], if you do not Tithe after the manner of God's instruction, after knowing what is plainly given there in His word, you [nor any] cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. - 1 Corinthians 6:10​

Brother, do not allow yourself to be a thief, robbing God, and unlawfully take that which rightly belongs unto God, in His service, and use it for your own pleasure and rioting, and do not be covetous with that which is God's, hoarding to thyself, for it will be a witness against thee, and cling to your garments, as murderous blood, and it will become a burning unto you, and a misery, and it will eat your flesh as fire, and do not extort from Him, who gave you [and us all] everything in the gift, who is, Christ Jesus. And so having been given all Heaven in Christ Jesus, what is it to return unto God that which He asks as our Father?

I have told you the Truth brother, as it is in Christ Jesus. If you do not return the Holy Tithe unto God, brother, please - repent. For if not, it shall not go well with you and your house, for I speak from the perspective of the examples given in Scripture, and so I say unto you in the charity/love born from God, repent, there is still time, but not much. Redeem the time brother, lest the light completely leave you in darkness and blindness,

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. - Ephesians 5:16​

Those listening, and reading if they be of Christ Jesus, will know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself, for the Holy Spirit is not slack in reproving, in love, the whole world, of sin, righteousness and judgment.