How great if you can answer the following questions first before you look up the answers following, it will help you retain the answers.
1. Is tithe of the Law ?
Tithe was enacted in Abraham while the Law was enacted in Moses (Gen 14:17-20; Exo 20:1-18). Tithe was given in the covenant of God with Abraham called the covenant of circumcision ( Acts 7:8) while the Law was given to Moses on Sinai. The two covenants were 430 years apart and Paul said the Law which came 430 years after the Abrahamic covenant can never render it null.
[ And I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the Law which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot disannul, that it should render it of none effect ( Gal 3:17 ]
Please for Christ sake don’t let this slip you.
2. Is tithe now superior to the law ?
Yes , tithe is superior to the Law. This is because the covenant of God with Abraham is the covenant of Christ, the Seed and is therefore superior to the Law. Christ is the seed promised to Abraham ( Gal 3:16). It is through the Abrahamic covenant that Christ came ( Luke 1:70-73; Rom 15:8).
It is through the Abrahamic covenant that Christ came and in this same covenant tithe was enacted not through the Law.
Please again dont allow this to slip your hand.
3. How far is tithe from the Law ?
How far tithe is superior to the law is how far the east is to the west – diametrically opposite one to another. The new testament is the “fulfillment” of the Abrahamic covenant while the Old testament of Moses is the “transgression” of the Abrahamic covenant ( Luke 1:68-76; Gal 3:19).One a “fulfillment” the other a “transgression”.
4. But if tithe is enacted under the covenant of circumcision why is circumcision no longer practiced in the New Testament ?
Circumcision is yet practiced in the new testament but now not with hands.
[ In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ ( Col 2:11].
At the new birth, the believer in Christ is circumcised in his heart by the Holy Ghost
□5. But if tithe was enacted under the covenant of circumcision, why was tithing practiced under the Law ?
Circumcision was practiced under the Law just as tithe was practiced under the Law and in this the Jews were confused because like many Christians they believe since the Jews practiced circumcision it is of the Law. Jesus clarifies it succintly :
[ Moses therefore gave you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses but of the fathers (John 7:22 ]
Whenever you hear the word fathers, it refers to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob)
Jesus was saying though the Jews practiced circumcision under the Law it is however not of the Law. Though tithe was practiced under the Law, it was not of the Law for it was Abraham that paid tithe to Melchizedek as a token of the covenant of God with him.
□6. Why is tithing this important ?
Tithe is so important because
1. Tithe is a substance
In medieval times as it is today, something becomes substantial or significant if it is at least a tenth of the whole. You won’t want to give a leftover to God as the Jews would give the lame and the blind to Jehovah. See how the prophet puts it :
[ But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten, as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose “substance” is in them, when they cast their young, so the holy seed shall be the “substance” thereof ( Isaiah 6:13].
Of repeated mention Isaiah called a “tenth” a “substance” and you won’t as a believer give a leftover to your God. After Abraham gave his tithe, Abraham attested that by so doing he has lifted up his hand to God in reverence and worship (Gen 14:22).
2. Tithe is a Stump
Isaiah not only called it a substance, he called it a “stump”. That when the tree is cut down, used and eaten, it can sprout again. Daniel said when the stump is wetted though the tree is cut, it shall spring up again ( Daniel 4:15,26). So long your tithe is sown, though your business collapse and suffer a shipwreck, through the instrumentality of your tithe you will recover your business back in multiple folds.
3. Tithe is a Gateway
Isaiah called the tenth a substance, he called it a stump and now he called it a “holyseed”, a gateway to perfection. God’s ultimate goal is for you to give your all and if you cannot give a tenth you cannot give your all. Abraham gave his tenth and now was able to lay his Isaac on the altar of sacrifice. He was able to give his all. Hypocritical teachers will tell you God desires your all but they will disdain the tenth. How can you give your all when you have not leant to give your tenth ?
[ He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust in much.
If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches (Luke 16:10-11 ].