By: Bro. Sunday Eyanrin (Evangelist)
Download Lesson
INTRODUCTION
The aim of this discussion is mainly to help our Brethren meet with the challenges of our Denominational friends on the payment of Tithe, and to also correct the misconception some of our Brethren have on Tithe payment.
Brethren, in other to make justice to this important discussion, I urge you to please, give me your un-divided attention as we seek God’s word, the Bible to expose the truth about this matter on who did God command to give or pay Tithe. To achieve this purpose, it is important to note that, the Bible, God’s word is divided into two Testaments.
- THE OLD TESTAMENT AND
- THE NEW TESTAMENT
This two Testaments have three periods also known as Dispensation, or age. A careful study of the Bible revealed that there are three Dispensations.
- The Patriarchal Dispensation
- The Mosaic Dispensation
- The Christian Dispensation
For a proper understanding of this discussion, we will spread this topic: WHO DID GOD COMMAND TO GIVE OR PAY TITHE, into the three Dispensations, to know what God says in each of the three Dispensations.
WHAT IS TITHE?
TITHE – can be defined as a tenth (1/10) part of once produce from the land. Be it crops or animals. For example. A man has harvested ten baskets of apples from his farm, one basket from the ten baskets is call a tenth, and that is Tithe.
WHAT IS A DISPENSATION?
DISPENSATION – Is simply God’s method or arrangement of Administration with man, beginning from creation to the second coming of Christ.
A CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF TITHE IN THE PATRIARCHAL DISPENSATION
The Patriarchal Dispensation, is also known as the Dispensation of the Fathers. In this Dispensation, God speaks to man through the head of the family. There is no written laws from God to man in this Dispensation. The first mention of Tithe in the Bible was in the Patriarchal Dispensation. Gen. 14:14-20
Gen. 14:14-20 – Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16 So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people. 17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him. Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all. NKJV
TITHE IN THE MOSAIC DISPENSATION
A careful study of the Bible revealed that the Mosaic Dispensation, is the period God gave written laws to the Children Israel. The establishment of the Jewish nation, mark the inception of the Mosaic Dispensation. Exo.19:1 – 8, & Exo.20:1 – 17.
Ex 19:1-8 – In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. 2 For they had departed from Rephidim, had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Israel camped there before the mountain. 3 And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” 7 So Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before them all these words which the Lord commanded him. 8 Then all the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord. NKJV
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
EXO.20:1 – 17 – And God spoke all these words, saying: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 “You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image — any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. – “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” NKJV
THE ORDINANCES
Lev.23:1 – 44, Exo.25.1 – 40, Thus Israel became a special Nation unto God. GOD’S INSTRUCTION TO MESES ON THE PROMISE LAND. Num. 33: 50 – 56. GOD SHOWED MOSES THE BOUNDARIES OF THE LAND OF CANAAN. Num. 34:1 – 34.
THE LORD COMMAND MOSES OF THE DWELLING PLACE OF THE LEVITES: Num. 35:1 – 8
THE DEATH OF MOSES, THE SERVANT OF THE LORD – Num. 34: 1- 8
Deut 34:1-8 – 4 Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is across from Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead as far as Dan, 2 all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, 3 the South, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the Lord said to him,”This is the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there.” 5 So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. 6 And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day. 7 Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished. 8 And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. So the days of weeping and mourning for Moses ended. NKJV
GOD CHOOSED JOSHUA AS THE SUCCESSOR TO MOSES
Now as it was getting close to the end of Moses assignment to deliver the Children of Israel from the Egyptian bondage to the promise land of Canaan, in Num.27.18-23, The Lord God called to Moses. And the Lord said to Moses: “Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight. 20 And you shall give some of your authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 21 He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the Lord for him by the judgment of the Urim. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him — all the congregation.” 22 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. 23 And he laid his hands on him and inaugurated him, just as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses. NKJV
GOD COMMAND JOSHUA TO TAKE OVER THE PLACE OF MOSES
Joshua.1:1-6 – 1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them — the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. NKJV.
THE INHERITANCE OF THE PROMISE LAND
Brethren, it will interest you to note that the Children of Israel turn aside from the commandments of God thereby sinned. Out of the six hundred thousand men of the Children of Israel, and the mixed multitude of the people that left the land of Egypt, only two (2) Adults entered the land of Canaan (JOSHUA AND CALEB) others were Children. Num. 14.28-30.
Brethren, this is the introductory part of this message. “Who Did God Command To Give Or Pay Tithe?” The full historical background comes your way next Lord’s Day by the special grace of God.
MAY GOD BLESS HIS WORD IN JESUS NAME AMEN
Download Lesson
