| The Pharisees and Tithing Jonathan Kithcart I AM REVEALED B. Childress May 25 2011 An even better example of this type of erroneous misinterpretation would be to say that when Jesus told the multitude and His disciples to observe and practice all that the Pharisees told them (Matthew 23:1-3) He meant that born again Christians of the new covenant are to do likewise. How absurd, for we can plainly see and understand what our Lord meant when He said that the Scribes and the Pharisees sat in Moses' seat (verse 2): that they interpreted the law in accordance with the Mosaic tradition. Our Lord's condemnation of them as hypocrites has to be interpreted in the light of the undoubted fact that they stood ethically higher than most of their contemporaries. For the Pharisee, full tithing was a mark of loyalty to God (New Bible Dictionary, second edition, p. 925). The special Pharisaic stress on tithing and their refusal to buy food from or to eat in the homes of non-Pharisees, lest the food should not have been tithed, as was created by tithes superimposed on Hasmonaean, Herodian or Roman taxation. The two occasions when our Lord chased out those who bought and sold in the temple and turned over the tables of the changers of money (Matthew 21:12; John 2:14-17). You know our Lord must have really been upset to even make a scourge of small cords to drive out the traders - and the animals as well - for making His Father's house a house of merchandise. Notice, if you will, the account in the book of Mark 11:15-18. The priests and teachers were angry with Jesus for cleaning out the temple, and sought out a way to destroy Him. One of the two groups were the chief priests, who were to receive the tithes. Now, I believe that the Jews who were selling animals in the temple thought they were doing what was right in the eyes of God; so do many who teach tithing to the church think they are helping God by adding a little deception to promote the spreading of the Good News. But the end does not justify the means. I just can't help but wonder what the Head of the church thinks about those who are saying what the Father has not said concerning the temple of God. If you are really in touch or familiar with the Word of God, let me take you back to Job 1:6. Now, there was a day when the sons of God (angels) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. And the Lord said unto Satan, "From where do you come?" Then Satan answered the Lord and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it" (paraphrase). You know the rest of the dialogue concerning the Lord's bragging on the righteousness of His servant Job and Satan's response in verses 9-11. Now, remember that Satan is before the Lord day and night accusing the brethren (Revelation 12:10). Let's just suppose a dialogue has gone on, something like this: It is true that Your Son defeated me that day that He was resurrected from the grave, for His victory is still fresh in my mind, and I know that You have given Him all power in heaven and earth, but I really like this system that you have to override your Son's authority and curse your children for not being obedient in this tithe thing." Imagine the Father saying, "I never said those things to the church; neither did they come into My mind for they are the body of My son the fullness of Him that fills all in all" (Ephesians 1:23). Satan replies "Well if you didn't say it and Jesus didn't say it, then that makes it a lie, which is good for me, because I am the father of lies just as your Son called me; and whosoever lies for whatever reason is all right with me." It's so plain to see and understand that Christ, being under the law Himself, was yet introducing and establishing a new covenant of grace and truth, which began the day of Pentecost after the first baptism in the Holy spirit as promised. Truly our Lord would not want us to be bound by the very law by which He was so blindly condemned (John 19:7). But why does man want to cling to the law and use the God of heaven to justify this error and untruth? Is it convenient? Surely the day is coming when they that teach such will be required to give an account. Source: DID THE APOSTLE PAUL TEACH TITHING TO THE CHURCH? by Jonathan Kithcart, Copyright 2001, WinePress Publishing. |
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