Expert: Dr Don Howe - 6/30/2008

Question
Why do some pastors use this verse to mean that it pertains to tithing?

Answer
Barb, thank you so much for your question.  You asked “Why do some pastors use this verse (Matthew 13:12) to mean that it pertains to tithing?” One reason is that these dumb pastors do not how to read and exegete the Word of God. Matthew 13:12 has nothing to do with tithing and to really understand verse 12 you need to go back to verse 10 and read it in the context that is written. Matt. 13:10-13 states “And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.”
  In verse 10, the disciples asked Jesus why he spoke in parables. Parable is parabolç in Greek which means “generally used of a somewhat lengthy utterance or narrative drawn from nature or human circumstances, the object of which is to set forth a spiritual lesson.” It is a proverb with a spiritual meaning. Verse 10 says nothing about tithing. Barb, Jesus used parables for the following three reasons in these verses: (1) He was communicating through parables in order to continue to reveal truth to His disciples, (2) Jesus spoke in parables to hide the truth from unbelievers. The secrets of the kingdom would be given to the disciples, but would be hidden from the religious leaders who rejected Him, and (3) He spoke in parables in order to fulfill Isaiah 6:9-10. As Isaiah began his ministry, God told him that people would not comprehend his message.
   In verse 11 Jesus states “He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” Mysteries is mystçrion in the Greek which means a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding. Jesus is using the parable or narrative with a spiritual lesson because he was using this to give the disiciples  knowledge of  the hidden thing (mysteries)  of the kingdom of heaven but to the Jews it is not given. David Guzik states about this verse “He used parables so that the hearts of those rejecting would not be hardened further. The same sun that softens the wax hardens the clay; and so the very same gospel message which breaks down honest hearts and leads to repentance, hardens the hearts of the dishonest and confirms them in their path of disobedience.” The truth of the parables was just for the disciples to learn the mysteries of heaven, but those who rejected him would not understand the parables and harden their hearts further. Still nothing said in these two verses about tithing.
   In verse 12 Jesus went on to state “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.” Abundance here is perisseuô which means to increase or exceed. So the disciples that knew the truth would only increase or exceed in the mysteries of that truth about Jesus, and the ones that hath not means to possess not (echô) the truth and it will be taken away. Barb, this has to do with knowing the mysteries of God and possessing that truth which is why Jesus taught in parables. This has nothing to material possessions or tithing.
   In verse 13 Jesus wraps it up by stating “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” Jesus says he speaks in parables because the ones who not possess the truth will not see it, will not hear it, nor will they understand it. This is where Isaiah 6:9-10 is fulfilled. David Guzik further states on this verse “the parables of Jesus were not illustrations making difficult things clear to all who heard. They were a way of "encoding" God’s message so the spiritually sensitive could understand, but the hardened would merely hear a story without heaping up additional condemnation for rejecting God’s Word.”
   So Barb Matt. 13:10-13 has nothing to do with tithing. If a pastor uses these verses to prove tithing, he has taken these verses out of context and the “truth is not in him.”
   I hope this helps answer your question.

Blessing,

Dr. Don Howe, RN, PhD, ThD.