OTHER NAMES FOR TITHES
Religionists usually overlook the fact that the first Biblical reference to giving something to God appears in Genesis 14:1-7 where the items given are called offerings, not tithes, but they convey the the idea of paying/giving something to God.
When we investigate tithes and offerings further, we find that the distinctions between tithes and offerings are blurred to the point of confusion about what a tithe is, who receives it, and what is done with it after it is received. Consider the following ambiguous scripture as an example:
Verse 8 NASB: Then the LORD spoke to Aaron, “Now behold, I Myself have given you charge of My offerings, even all the holy gifts of the sons of Israel I have given them to you as a portion and to your sons as a perpetual allotment.
Verse 8 KJV: And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of mine heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Israel; unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.
COMMENTARY: The first thing we notice here is the differences in the NASB and KJV translations. This fact proves God’s point about the lying pens of the scribes and what happens when someone uses worldly wisdom to interpret scripture instead of listening to God’s voice. The differences between the NASB and KJV versions exist because the editors (i.e. scribes/writers) of the original Hebrew text used their personal, worldly wisdom to make translation decisions. These scribes/bible editors began with the following Hebrew text:
Yehovah Dabar ‘Aharown‘ aniy Nathan Mishmereth T@ruwmah Kol Qodesh Ben Yisra’el Nathan Mishchah Choq `owlam
Then the NASB editors translated these Hebrew words into the following in English words:
LORD spoke Aaron behold Myself given charge offerings all holy sons Israel given portion sons perpetual allotment
And the KJV editors translated the Hebrew words with these English words:
LORD spake Aaron given charge offerings things children Israel given anointing sons ordinance ever
These words are more-or-less literal translations of Hebrew to English. Clearly the NASB editors/authors chose to translate the Hebrew words differently. Clearly, these words alone are not enough for English speakers to make sense of what God meant. Bible editors/authors were compelled, therefore, to add filler words that would complete the thought so that it would make sense to English readers.
STUDY TIP: See Bible History for discussion of the ways that Bible editors added to God”s word to make it understandable.
When we look at the English interpretations of the Hebrew words (i.e. Yehovah Dabar ‘Aharown‘ aniy Nathan Mishmereth T@ruwmah Kol Qodesh Ben Yisra’el Nathan Mishchah Choq `owlam) of Numbers 18:8, we see that these interpretations also vary widely to the degree that a Hebrew word is not always translated the same way from one verse to another. That means that editors made choices every time they encountered one of these words in the original Hebrew text. Sometimes they translated with one English word, and other times they translated it with a different English word. And sometimes the English words they chose do not have identical or even similar meanings in English.
The next thing we notice here is that God is talking to Aaron who is an example of a high priest. This means that all New Covenant disciples should consider that God is giving this message to them.
When we understand that Aaron is only a symbolic representation of a New Covenant disciple, and not a unique, historical character, we see that the offering God gives is nothing more or less than his spiritual law, his name (i.e. character) written on clean, pure hearts. This is accomplished when people hear his spoken voice.
STUDY TIP: See this link, and this link for understanding of God’s gifts.
We also find here that offerings are also called by several other terms: holy gifts; portion; perpetual allotment. These terms are among the many words that God uses to represent his spoken word. None of these words can be logically interpreted to include offerings or tithes of money.
This verse does not directly equate offerings with tithes, but it does say that offerings are “holy gifts.” Because God’s word is holy, and because God’s gifts are holy, it must be said that both tithes and offerings are holy (i.e. invisible and intangible) just like God.
STUDY TIP: See this link for understanding of holiness.
We conclude from these truths that tithes and offerings cannot be money. God’s gifts are holy — not physical. God’s gifts cannot be seen or touched. Money cannot be holy. Tithes, offerings and sacrifices of money, therefore, are not acceptable to God.
STUDY TIP: Here are a few examples of God’s invisible, holy gifts:
It is instructive to notice that the Hebrew word “kol” which is translated as “perpetual” in verse 8 is the same word which is translated as “whole” in Malachi 3:9-10. These verses are among the scriptures that are often quoted by religious leaders who are trying to motivate their followers to pay some kind of tithe or offering to support their ministries. The inference is that if God gave to Aaron the responsibility (i.e. charge) for his (i.e. God’s) offerings, then all priests (i.e. sons of Aaron) have perpetual authority to receive and spend tithes and offerings that people give to God. This argument is very believable for people who believe that tithes and offerings are money. They can’t give money directly to God so this scripture seems to say that God wants the money to go directly to his priests.
It is also instructive to notice that the Hebrew word “Mishchah” which is translated as ” portion” in the NASB, and as “anointing” in KJV, is actually an anointing oil. Since oil is always used to symbolically represent God’s spoken word, offerings and holy gifts must be interpreted as God’s spoken word — not as money.
STUDY TIP: See this link for the story of Simon who tried to obtain a spiritual gift by purchasing it with money.
One surprising aspect of this scripture is that God is the one giving the holy gifts to Aaron, the high priest. From that point on, Aaron has charge of the offerings/tithes. This exchange is confusing because we typically think of people giving offerings and tithes to God. It makes sense, however, when we acknowledge that God gives spiritual gifts/rewards. His rewards are all spiritual. Contrary to popular religious teaching, God does not reward people who follow him with money or any other material thing.
Here we see that God gives Aaron “charge” of (i.e. God’s offerings). The Bible says “my offerings” even though the original Hebrew does not include the word “my.” When authors of the Bible included the word “my” in the text, they did so because this interpretation affirms the belief that priests (i.e. clergy) had charge of God’s offerings (i.e. his money).
Since offerings have always been interpreted to be tangible things like money, having “charge” of God’s money legitimizes the role and authority of the priests, while affirming the belief that the money really belonged to God. When coupled with the wrong interpretation that the religious organization (e.g. church, synagogue, mission, etc.) is the storehouse to which tithes of money are to be brought, this interpretation elevates priests to the status of God’s bankers, or managers of his money, and appears to affirm that God wants his people to bring their tithes of money to the priests who will be sure to spend God’s money wisely. This is all wrong thinking, of course, because it only makes sense in the physical realm that includes money. It does not make sense in the spirit realm. God does not need money to do the work of changing hearts.
If tithes were money, and if God’s gifts were money, we could easily understand why God would give tithes of money to priests. Someone needs to manage God’s money, and priests would seem to the logical choice. But, tithes are not money, and God’s gifts are spiritual — not physical.
Since God’s gifts are his spoken words, we are prompted to ask these questions about his gifts:
|
God does need people who hear and understand his spiritual word to take charge (i.e. responsibility, control) for distribution of his word to people who do not have ears to hear God’s spoken word directly because they have hard hearts.
9. “This shall be yours from the most holy gifts reserved from the fire; every offering of theirs, even every grain offering and every sin offering and every guilt offering, which they shall render to Me, shall be most holy for you and for your sons.
COMMENTARY: The most holy gifts are God’s words. Grain offerings are God’s words.
10 “As the most holy gifts you shall eat it; every male shall eat it. It shall be holy to you. 11 “This also is yours, the offering of their gift, even all the wave offerings of the sons of Israel; I have given them to you and to your sons and daughters with you as a perpetual allotment. Everyone of your household who is clean may eat it. 12 “All the best of the fresh oil and all the best of the fresh wine and of the grain, the first fruits of those which they give to the LORD, I give them to you. 13 “The first ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to the LORD, shall be yours; everyone of your household who is clean may eat it. 14 “Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours.
COMMENTARY: The issue becomes even more confusing here where we find that all of several kinds of offerings (e.g. gifts, wine, first fruits, sin, guilt, etc.) rendered to God belong to the high priest and his sons and that they are to eat those offerings. We can visualize eating wine, fruit, grain and oil, because these are natural products associated with food. But we are greatly challenged to visualize eating invisible, intangible, spiritual things like sin and guilt. We might also rightly wonder how these things can be called holy. It all adds to the confusion about the nature of tithes and offerings that can only be understood after we first understand Bread, Food and Wine as spiritual gifts.
Despite the mystery of tithes and offerings, religious leaders have glossed over all of the confusing scriptures and effectively and selectively used other scriptures to convince and deceive followers into believing that it is reasonable to convert grain and animal offerings to money. They imply that the gift/offering/tithe is for God, but the truth is that money is needed to support religious organizations and pay their salaries. They conveniently skip over the sin and guilt offerings because neither they nor their followers understand Biblical symbolism. If they did understand and apply symbolism, the entire religious system would fall apart for lack of financial support. And that is exactly what God had in mind when he gave us the story of Jesus and the money-changers.
15 “Every first issue of the womb of all flesh, whether man or animal, which they offer to the LORD, shall be yours; nevertheless the firstborn of man you shall surely redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem.
COMMENTARY: The mystery deepens here where we see that God gives the firstborn of both men and unclean animals to the high priest. Using our natural minds, we might assume that God gives these for Aaron’s personal use. That is wrong thinking. The explanation comes in the command to redeem that which God has given. But, the command that these should be redeemed strongly suggests that they are not to be kept and eaten by the high priest. Needless to say, this scripture is hard to understand and impossible to obey when interpreted literally. Understanding comes, however, when we look at the many ways that God symbolically represents his spoken word.
16 “As to their redemption price, from a month old you shall redeem them, by your valuation, five shekels in silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs. 17 “But the firstborn of an ox or the firstborn of a sheep or the firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem; they are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar and shall offer up their fat in smoke as an offering by fire, for a soothing aroma to the LORD. 18 “Their meat shall be yours; it shall be yours like the breast of a wave offering and like the right thigh. 19 “All the offerings of the holy gifts, which the sons of Israel offer to the LORD, I have given to you and your sons and your daughters with you, as a perpetual allotment. It is an everlasting covenant of salt before the LORD to you and your descendants with you.” 20 Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel.
21 “To the sons of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they perform, the service of the tent of meeting.
COMMENTARY: ***
22 “The sons of Israel shall not come near the tent of meeting again, or they will bear sin and die. 23 “Only the Levites shall perform the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity; it shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations, and among the sons of Israel they shall have no inheritance. 24 “For the tithe of the sons of Israel, which they offer as an offering to the LORD, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance; therefore * I have said concerning them, ‘They shall have no inheritance among the sons of Israel.’ ” 25 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
26 “Moreover, you shall speak to the Levites and say to them, ‘When you take from the sons of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall present an offering from it to the LORD, a tithe of the tithe. 27 ‘Your offering shall be reckoned to you as the grain from the threshing floor or the full produce from the wine vat. 28 ‘So you shall also present an offering to the LORD from your tithes, which you receive from the sons of Israel; and from it you shall give the LORD’S offering to Aaron the priest. 29 ‘Out of all your gifts you shall present every offering due to the LORD, from all the best of them, the sacred part from them.’ 30 “You shall say to them, ‘When you have offered from it the best of it, then the rest shall be reckoned to the Levites as the product of the threshing floor, and as the product of the wine vat. 31 ‘You may eat it anywhere *, you and your households, for it is your compensation in return for your service in the tent of meeting.
32 ‘You will bear no sin by reason of it when you have offered the best of it. But you shall not profane the sacred gifts of the sons of Israel, or you will die.’ “
COMMENTARY: Serving God is symbolically equated with war. That is why God’s servants are called warriors. We first saw this with Abraham, then with Moses and now with Aaron who was a high priest.
When Abraham was successful in war, the spoils of war were people and his kinsmen. Immediately after the war, Abraham gave the tithe to Melchizadek, king of Salem. Melchizadek is a type of God. Thus, in giving the tithe to Melchizadek, Abraham gave the people and the kinsmen he had rescued to God. He did not consider that the people were his to keep even though he had won them in battle. He refused to give up the people to the King of Sodom because keeping the people was the fulfillment of God’s promise to Adam that he would be the father of many nations.
Genesis 14:17-20 is the story where Abraham gives a tithe to Melchizadek. But the tithe here is not of agricultural produce but of the spoils of war (i.e. plunder) captured from pagan kings. This is of no help, however, unless we understand what God means by the spoils of war.
The spoils of war is one of the most tricky and nuanced symbolic topics in the Bible. In fact the concept of spoils of war cannot be understood without first understanding the concepts discussed in the following pages:
What we learn in these pages is that God is at war with religion. But, he does not engage in this war on a global basis that can be observed and reported about physical wars between nations. Rather, the battleground for wars that God fights is the hearts and minds of religious people where he wants to establish his kingdom. He wages his war one person at a time when he sends his warriors/servants/prophets to speak his words to people who are held captive in strongholds of religious controlled by religious leaders (i.e. kings).
Religion rules evil, impure hearts. God rules clean, pure hearts. When God wins the battle for the heart and mind of someone who was formerly religious, God says he/she is born again. The character of their hearts are transformed (i.e. recreated) into God’s image.
In the natural world, the spoils of war are profits acquired as the result of winning a war. In the spiritual world, the spoils of war that accrue to God as the victor, are the hearts of people who cease being Old/First Covenant religionists. When God wins the following things happen:
|
STUDY TIP: The above is only an abbreviated list of all the good things that happen when God rules in the hearts of people. See this link, this link, and this link for the rewards of listening to God’s voice.
With the understanding that all God is really interested in is the hearts of people, we conclude that the spoils of war that God acquires from successful warfare are clean, pure hearts. Abraham was a warrior/messiah sent by God to speak for God to redeem the hearts of people held captive by religious kings. Hearts are where God makes his home. Hearts are where his kingdom is located. Spoils of war (i.e.hearts and minds), therefore, expand his kingdom and reduce the kingdoms of his religious enemies. The enemy is overcome one heart at a time.
Since presence of God’s word is the quality which makes hearts clean and pure, it can be said that Abraham gave God’s word back to God in the gift of a clean pure heart. This interpretation explains how tithes can be given by God and given back to God.***
The point of this review of tithes is that mere intellectual understanding of Biblical commands regarding tithing is impossible to grasp. Understanding of the symbolic meaning of tithes only happens for when God opens the eyes and ears of the heart to understanding. Lacking such understanding, religious people always believe that money satisfies the literal interpretations of literal Biblical commands about tithes. Because their hearts are hard, they do not have ears to hear God’s spoken voice. Moreover, if it is intellectually impossible to understand those commands, it is also impossible to obey them according to the full letter of the law. This is a prime example of the law being a stumbling block.
For Jews and Christians, however, lack of clear understanding is not an obstacle to creation of doctrines that religious leaders offer as suitable, acceptable substitutes for obedience. Instead of seeking spiritual understanding, they cherry-pick the scriptures that seem doable and tweak them a bit to make them fit with contemporary culture and economics. Then they package their ideas in clever language that seems to reasonably satisfy what the Bible says. And they do this by using deceptive, intellectual reasoning that convinces religious people that all of God’s commands regarding tithes and offerings are satisfied by giving money to religious organizations, religious leaders, and/or poor people. They add and subtract from the law as necessary to create doctrines that trick religious followers into believing that paying for religious teaching and religious services is the righteous thing to do. The Bible uses many unflattering words to describe religious leaders who use scripture to extort money from people for personal gain.
And if that is not bad enough, religious followers willingly participate in this system of commercial religion. Doing so is another religious thing that they can do that makes them feel good about being religious. They are so convinced that this system is what God wants that they willingly pay for something that should be free: God’s voice.