Yesterday we learned that in the Mosaic law, the Israelites were instructed to tithe 10% of their income for the purpose of having a family celebration. But does this mean then that there is no such thing a tithe to the Levitical priests, or to ministries in our own day? No. Yesterday I only told two-thirds of the story.
What about the Priests?
What about giving to the Levitical Priests? Well, they also were invited to join the party and eat and drink as much as they wanted (Deut 14:27). But the tithe was not for them, but for the families who brought them, to celebrate and enjoy life together with God.
Now, this is what they were supposed to do for two years. For two years, the entire tithe went for these family celebrations. On the third year, however, things changed. On the third year, the people of Israel were supposed to forego the celebration, and on this year, give the total tithe of crops and animals to the Levitical priests and to the poor, the orphans, and the widows in the community (Deut 14:28-29; 26:12-14).
So it is true that a tithe was paid to the Levitical priests. But this tithe was only once every three years, and it was also to be distributed to the poor and needy in the community. Since this tithe was 10% every three years, it amounts to about only 3% annually, and even this amount was not for the priests only.
Furthermore, this tithe paid to the Levitical priests and the community poor was not a tithe from the total number of the flock and herd, nor was it even ten percent of the total number of newborns. Instead, according to Deuteronomy 12:17, it was only a tenth of the firstborn from the flock. Every female animal only has one firstborn. After that, no other calf or lamb was a firstborn.
It was only ten percent of the firstborn animals that needed to be tithed. And more than this, it was not even the best ten percent of the firstborn, but according to Leviticus 27:32-33, the ten percent from the firstborn of the flock was to be randomly chosen. To randomly choose the tithe from the firstborn of the flock, they would line up all the firstborn animals, and drive them past a Levite who would select every tenth animal with a rod.
The Joyful Tithe
All of this paints a radically different picture about tithing than we are ever taught in church.
First of all, the tithe only goes to the priests every third year. During the first and second years, the tithe was still collected, but it was to be spent by the family itself for a family celebration. It was not given to the priests.
Secondly, in the third year, when the tithe was given to the Levites, the tithe from the animals was not 10% of their total possessions, nor even 10% of their total income (all newborn animals), but was 10% of the firstborn animals only.
Finally, this tithe from the third year did not go to the Levites only, or even for the needs of the tabernacle, but was to be shared with anyone in the community who had need.
Doesn’t this put tithing in a whole new light? Doesn’t this seem like tithing you could get excited about? Tomorrow, we will look at some practical suggestions on applying this sort of “tithing” today.
Equating modern churches, pastors and practices with ancient Jewish synagogues, temples and priests and practices (such as tithing to the Levites) seems to be done primarily for the purpose of raising money. What am I missing? Perhaps the churches I have seen are anomalies and not the norm.
We’re not Jews! We don’t follow that religion. We don’t go to synagogue. We don’t have priests. Jesus is our high priest. I see no evidence that Jesus came to give us a new twist on Judaism. Jesus came to usher in His Kingdom. It is a totally new thing, new wine skins if you will. If we try to put this new wine into old wine skins, they will burst.
Sam,
I agree. I hope you didn’t think I was trying to equate Levitical priests with modern pastors. As you say, the two are not the same.
Instead, I was just trying to draw some principles from the Mosaic Law for how it could be applied today, IF someone wanted to do so. Nobody has to do this, but if they really wanted to, here is how they could.
Jeremy, I didn’t think you were equating Levitical priests with modern pastors. We are in agreement on what you wrote here. I was thinking about various other comments I’ve heard about these things when I wrote the above comment. I was especially thinking about one fellow who is convinced that early believers “went to church” at the temple and synagogues, and that they understood their “pastors” to be the equivalent of priests.
I thought that is what you were referring to, but wanted to clarify my own position.
I once had an elder in a church I pastored tell me that since the Israelites had an expensive and ornate Temple, we should build an expensive and ornate church building.
He was ready to give tens of thousands of dollars to a church that would do it, if only they would also preach and teach his preferred theology (which happened to be Calvinism).
I was not a five-point Calvinist, and so he didn’t give… and needless to say, we didn’t build a huge, ornate building.
Great series, Jeremy.
Thanks, Jackie. I’m learning a lot along with you!
Hi Jeremy,
Great series.
Only Levites were authorized to receive tithes from other tribes.
The difference between Levites and Priests was, the Levites were washed only by water but the Priests were sanctified by the blood. The reason we are all Priests in the NT is, we have been sanctified by the Blood of Jesus. If a Pastor says that he is a New Covenant Levite and eligible to receive tithes, it it impossible. That is indirectly admitting that he has not been sanctified by the Blood of Jesus. There are no New Covenant Levites, hence on one has the authority to receive tithes in the New Testament.
Victor
Great distinction between the Levites and Priests. I may have muddled the two together a bit in my post. Thanks!
I am a new Pastor , who has been a deacon , youth Pastor , Church administrator. I have always felt People must know the truth about what scripture says for themselves to many people never bring a Bible to fellowship and believe everything spoken to them to be the truth. I have began our Bible study in the book of Acts(I feel is the workings of the Holy Spirit and Jesus;s promise and other great lesson for believers). I look foward to reading any old blogs you may have .Thank you all.
Jeremy, can you please cite references so that we may look up some of this historical information for ourselves?
Great series, but I have a question:
The firstborn of the flocks and herds are already given to God- Exodus 22:30. If they are all given to God already, how can you then go back and give only 10% of them?
I am seeking more truths about tithing.
Lev. 27:32 as cited did not specifically say it is firstborns that were to pass under the rod, but “Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord. “, but Deut 12:17 referenced tithing items.
Can I get a clarification? Was Deuteronomy as a book expounding on the details of Leviticus or could it have meant indeed the tenth of all animals (me trying to explain this new tithe theory to myself)?
I say this because I want to understand how the Levites survived the cycle of three (3) years living on a tithe (tenth of firstborns) when they were to be enjoyed with the families that brought them for 2yrs and with the “less privileged” for the 3rd yr.