Expert: Joe Norman - 11/13/2007

Question
Hi,

I used to think that there was a third tithe for the poor mentioned in Deuteronomy, which was collected every three years. I looked up the statements on tithing this weekend in Numbers and Deuteronomy and it appears from the quotes that there was no third tithe, but instead that the regular tithe which was given to the Levites was also supposed to be distributed to the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. And that the regular tithe was only collected once every 3 years, and not on an annual basis. Here is the quote from Deuteronomy 26: 12-15, and another one from Deuteronomy 14: 27-29. (The quote from Deut. 14:27-29 is written after the tithe for festivals is described, and so it is a separate tithe, since the tithe for festivals is every year Deut. 14:22-23. And in fact it is the same as the tithe described in Deut. 26:12-15, which is the tithe to Levites, since it is every three years and goes to both Levites and the poor. It must be the same as the tithe for Levites, since why would they be getting another tithe if they already have one? Therefore the tithe to Levites was once every 3 years and the Levites and priests were expected to share it with the poor.) In Deuteronomy 26:12 it says that the third year is "the year of tithing."  

In Numbers there are passages about tithing to Levites and priests, but it doesn’t say how often that tithe is supposed to be, only in Deuteronomy does it specify that it’s once every 3 years. This tithe once every 3 years cannot be another third tithe, because it says that it is for Levites also, and if they already have one tithe for them in Numbers then why a second tithe. Deuteronomy was a retelling of the Law, and the only references to tithing for Levites in Deuteronomy are these which say that it is only once every 3 years. It makes most sense that the tithes described in Numbers were given once every three years and the Levites and priests were expected to distribute some of that to the poor, since they were the tribe sacred to God.

Deuteronomy 14:22-23 (The tithe for festivals)
22 “You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year. 23 And you shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place where He chooses to make His name abide…

Deuteronomy 14: 27-29 (Tithe for Levites)
27 You shall not forsake the Levite who is within your gates, for he has no part nor inheritance with you. 28 “At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. 29 And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

Deuteronomy 26: 12-15 (Tithe for Levites)
12 “When you have finished laying aside all the tithe of your increase in the third year—the year of tithing—and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be filled, 13 then you shall say before the LORD your God: ‘I have removed the holy tithe from my house, and also have given them to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed Your commandments, nor have I forgotten them. 14 I have not eaten any of it when in mourning, nor have I removed any of it for an unclean use, nor given any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that You have commanded me. 15 Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land which You have given us, just as You swore to our fathers, “a land flowing with milk and honey.”’

10% once every three years is 3.33% annually. That’s pretty much what most evangelicals give annually according to statistics.  


Do you agree with me?

-Josh


Answer
I do agree with your study and the math. You are correct about what the Israelites were instructed regarding tithes. The only thing that concerns me at all is your statement that 3.33% annually is what most "evangelicals" give according to statistics.

 I just want to make sure you are aware that tithing is not really a part of Christianity. All instructions regarding how one becomes a Christian, how the local church is organized, worships, and works are found in the New Testament. The New Testament does address giving to the work of the local churches, but never uses the term "tithe" and never speaks of a percentage. Why is that do you think?

 Let's first look at what the New Testament actually says about giving to the local church work.

1 Cor.16:1,2
1  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye.2  Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.

2 Cor.9:7  Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

These are the two passages that I found specifically giving instructions to Christians regarding giving to the local church work. We see in the first passage that the instruction was to take the collection on the first day of the week as he has prospered.  The second passage has more to do with our attitude. We must not give grudgingly. The main instruction seem to be that we should give what we have purposed in our heart. We should not give solely because we feel obligated. ALL a Christian does MUST be done with LOVE. If we do not have love, it is worthless.

1 Cor.13:3
3  And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing.

I hope and pray that my response has been helpful to you and that God is glorified. I also am praying that you continue to love God's Word and continue to be a careful student of it. Please remember that much error comes when a person fails to separate the Old Covenant from the New Covenant. The Old Testament is important for us to study and know, but it is not our guide regarding Christianity. It is our tutor (Gal.3:24,25). You did well in your study of tithing in the Old Covenant system and I commend you. Always seek to understand God's Word more accurately. It is able to save our souls (I Cor.1:18).

  Immersed Into Christ, Joe Norman