The tithing asked by the Lord is basically a test to show how much you love and trust in Him. The term "able", many people fall back on, actually refers back to "want to" or again how much I believe in scripture and His promises given to those who are obedient to Him. Yes, I understand that the Bible uses the term "able" too. But not in the context many people use it. (See 2 Corinthians 9:7)
Does the Lord need my tithe or offering? He owns the cattle over a thousand hills. It is not 10, but a tenth. The terminology isn't necessarily expect or requires, but He desires us to trust in Him. To hold back what scripturally is God's, in the first place, is to bind God's hand in blessing you. Read Malachi 3. He wants us to give joyfully and trusting in Him. Our choice.
All giving is not regulated to the church. However the tithe is. If one cannot give a tithe to your current church, of which you are a member for whatever reason, then you must find a local church body of believers that you can give your tithes regularly and cheerfully. Lastly, nothing God says or does is to harm, demean, or shackle us to a hard life, but He tells us things to help us to have an abundant, blessed life here on earth. Tithing may be just a part of what you may need to change with your relationship with God. There may be other things in our walk with Him that needs to be filtered thru the Bible. May we realize God's ultimate love and care for us.
Those are lovely truthful comments you have given, Adebayo. If only Christ's Church do as you do, by not only supporting the work of the ministry, but also looking out for those in need. Then the Gospel becomes more meaningful when the one being helped sees the Love of Christ in action, whether through monetary gift or other help. God bless you in your ministry to the saints: He sees your love in action.
It is a nice write up. I have come to understand that given is not only limited to church. Even the given of tithe to the Church is not compulsory. Tithe as it is referred to that it must be 10% is not so. If you have the capacity to give more than that why not and vice verse. God would never be on you that you must pay tithe. I don't argue this issue with any pastor again. Sometimes I decided to give my tithe to the poor in the church instead of given it to the church and eventually the tithe is taken to church headquarters leaving members of the local church in abject poverty.
The issue of tithe, we must understand that God does not spend money. We must understand that whatever we are giving to the church or to anyone is an act of worship to the Lord. So, God expect us to give willingly and not as compelled to do so. Some pastors even went to the extent of saying if you don't pay your tithe you would go to hell. So . Some people say if they see a sick member of their churches that need money to take care of himself they preferred to take the tithe to church than given the money to the sick man. I called this hypocrisy. When you Jesus has already told us that when you do this to the least in my house you have done it onto me. Where is the Christ like in that act if we claim to be following Jesus.
There"s something deep spiritually the Lord must have for the reader concering the feasts. Especially since it"s like Jesus was born in late September (Roman calender) this was time of Feast of Tabernacles.
The Jews had feasts 3 times a year. The feast of unleavened bread was done because that was the time that God brought them out of Egypt. They came out in such a hurry that their dough had no time to leaven. Also the first born of all Egypt was killed by God but not the first born of Israel.
3 times a year, every male Israelite was to appear before the Lord in a place of his choosing, the location being disclosed by a prophet most likely. These 3 times would be during the feast of unleavened bread, the feast of weeks, and the feast of tabernacles. During these appearances, they would bring something to offer the Lord as they were able.
Duet.16 is talking about the "passover feast" this was for the Israelite's to remember commemorate what God had done for them in leading them out of Egypt and freeing them from bondage slavery . We no longer need to keep the feast days since Jesus died on the cross with our sins. We are asked to partake of the Lord's supper 1 Cor 11:24 This do in remembrance of me.
If my sins were disobedience to God's Commandments, and He sent His Son to forgive me of my sins, I am wrestling with thought that someday, we we will be returning back to the tabernacle and all the attending all the feasts and other special events mentioned here in the 16 Chapter
"Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee.." The Bible isn't open for anyone to interpret it any way he wants; and the holy Glad Tidings of our Lord Jesus Christ is not open to be modernized by casual contemporary rock and roll rejects, for what they want to make of it. The Lord is holy, and He commands us to be holy and perfect with Him.
Adding to my comment when I said "following false teachers" The "following" would not go on for long, if at all. Jesus said "My sheep hear my voice and follow me, they do not hear the voice of strangers" The Holy Spirit teaches truth, The Holy Spirit guides and makes the path of the righteous straight.
God knows we cannot keep his commandments; we won't be perfect until glorified with Christ, the flesh is weak, Satan deceives the whole world; if we could keep them we would not need to be reminded to repent, a believer's heart desires to keep them. In His mercy He offers salvation by grace Eph.2:8-10. Many break this one; Lean not on your understanding,and following false teachers.
To Eric 2 mths ago;What are you arguing about? Irene is right; God gave Israel a Covenant for being His people, close to Him and above all people of the earth: but they refused and went instead after the gods of the heathen. And where is it said that God gives us His commandments with the thought that He already knows we can't keep them? And how do you think God feels about hostility to His Elect?
To Irene (cont.); Another thing I got out of reading some of Josephus about those times; is how that the Country was filled with violence and sedition, and there were Zealot Extremists inciting revolt against "the Powers that be;" like there is today! Meanwhile in Jerusalem, the Rulers could only obsess with persecuting everything around the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Sound familiar?
Hello Irene; Haven't heard from you for a while; how are you doing? I hope you're well and in good health. I just happened to be in this Chapter this morning, and just now saw that you wrote me back about two months ago. Sorry for the lapse. Yes, continuing about the destruction of the Temple; Josephus has quite a remarkable account of the events, as he was actually there! A recommended reading:)
".. that you remember the day when you came forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life." It is in order to humble us indeed and in truth, that we should never forget the day we were saved from our sins. It is NOT for us to become a celebrity on the Church circuits, "giving our testimony;" but so our heart doesn't get puffed up against our brethren. Our Testimony is JESUS our Saviour!
Disciple - you are right about the Temple being burned; both the Jews and Romans had part in that - Wikipedia. Titus wanted to conserve it for the Roman's use, so He destroyed it, using man to this end. You can see his use of men all thru the O.T. in accomplishing His ends. Also God wanted to draw the Jews to HIM, to Acts 2:38. They would not leave their Temple worship for His way so - ...........
Irene; The way I understand the Scriptures; when the Lord Jesus returns TO JERUSALEM, all the statutes and ordinances of the Law will be performed, AS THEY WERE FIRST INTENDED. These things are clearly pronounced in the Prophets. As regarding the Temple; it was burnt by the seditious Jews, after a long siege which they themselves provoked. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, but to complete it.
To Irene, your comment about v. 4 - Rather hypocritical, unless of course, you have never faltered and have always obeyed the Lord. Have you taken the time to remove the beam from your own eye so that you can see clearly?
JESUS - fulfilled the O.T. laws of ceremonies; the MORAL laws (10 commandments) PLUS others - are still in effect. The ceremonial laws are extinct - notice there is no Temple now since 70a.d. to sacrifice in. The Lord God did that. It was HIS temple and He fulfilled it's use in Jesus; the people would not quit sacrificing and turn to Him so - He destroyed it.
There are three Holy Holidays that GOD wants his people to acknowledge, the Passover, Feast of Weeks Pentecost and the Feast of Tabernacles which reflects on the harvest of souls. These three holidays are very important to GOD, holy and should be observed as GOD's statues.
My thoughts of Det.16:18 are that judging from the decisions made today 2000 -2015 on many of the cases that I hear about and read about, GOD HAS GOT TO BE disappointed, indignant, totally angry and displeased with many "judges ".
What I received from this lesson is basically if god blessed u to give then give accordingly to what god speaks to you to give and when u give gibe it from your heart and god will bless you .
I have always believed that one is only able to give as he is able. If a rich man gives 10 and a poor man gives 10 that would not be fair . As we cannot gauge our giving according to 10 . My 10 could mean that I am not able to feed or put a roof over my child 's head. So I know that God being a fair judge would not expect me to give 10 only what I am able. There is another scripture pertaining to that of which I have found but cannot. Should you have it I would appreciate that. I also believe that all your giving does not have to be to the church which spends and wastes money , such as trips , hugh pianos etc. I know the churches need some donation for cost of heat hydr etc but have gone away beyond what God wants them to do. I do not believe they need the quantity of paid staff and ministers such as they have. Years ago people donated their time and did not have for example paid youth leader. That was better in many ways such as the youth leader who donated his time would grow in the lord etc. etc. Also the money went for taxes years ago and the church has this given 10 worked to the limit of getting money from the people some I am sure do not even have it in their budget to give and makes people feel guilty if they do not. I believe that giving of ones self and even people that you know is including in the site of God to be one 's giving. There is greater reading pertaining to giving in the old testament which do not mean bring all your money to the church
Does the Lord need my tithe or offering? He owns the cattle over a thousand hills. It is not 10, but a tenth. The terminology isn't necessarily expect or requires, but He desires us to trust in Him. To hold back what scripturally is God's, in the first place, is to bind God's hand in blessing you. Read Malachi 3. He wants us to give joyfully and trusting in Him. Our choice.
All giving is not regulated to the church. However the tithe is. If one cannot give a tithe to your current church, of which you are a member for whatever reason, then you must find a local church body of believers that you can give your tithes regularly and cheerfully. Lastly, nothing God says or does is to harm, demean, or shackle us to a hard life, but He tells us things to help us to have an abundant, blessed life here on earth. Tithing may be just a part of what you may need to change with your relationship with God. There may be other things in our walk with Him that needs to be filtered thru the Bible. May we realize God's ultimate love and care for us.
The issue of tithe, we must understand that God does not spend money. We must understand that whatever we are giving to the church or to anyone is an act of worship to the Lord. So, God expect us to give willingly and not as compelled to do so. Some pastors even went to the extent of saying if you don't pay your tithe you would go to hell. So . Some people say if they see a sick member of their churches that need money to take care of himself they preferred to take the tithe to church than given the money to the sick man. I called this hypocrisy. When you Jesus has already told us that when you do this to the least in my house you have done it onto me. Where is the Christ like in that act if we claim to be following Jesus.