Tithing

(Concluded.)

1.What portion of a man's time does the Lord claim as his? .
2.What portion of a man's substance has God reserved as his? . See note.
3.Can a man dispose of that which is the Lord's as he chooses? .
4.What class of offerings connected with the tithe went to the priest? .
5.What does God say of those who withhold tithes and offerings from his treasury? .
6.What promise does he make to his people if they bring their tithes and offerings into the storehouse? .
7.If, while passing the flock under the rod to be tithed, the owner, for any cause, sought to exchange the tenth for some other, what direction did God give? .
8.Could the tithe be given to the poor? Why not? . See note.
9.Could a covetous man sacredly regard God's claim in the tithe and offerings?
10.Would it not then be reasonable to conclude that God's reservation of the tenth was to guard the heart from covetousness?
11.To whom, and for what purpose, was all the tithe appropriated? .
12.What portion of the tithe were the Levites to give? .
13.What other offering went to the priest who served at the altar? .
14.Is it a duty of those who receive the blessing of the gospel to contribute for its support? .
15.How does the apostle enjoin this duty? .
16.How does the apostle show that the ministry should be supported? .
17.Does not the apostle show from this that it is just as important to support the worthy laborer in the gospel as it was formerly to support the priesthood?

Notes

In a certain sense, everything we have and are belongs to God; but there are some things that belong to him in a special sense. Those things which he has never given to man for his own use are God's and his alone. The Sabbath, the tithe, and the first-fruits in the former dispensation, illustrate this fact. God has also permitted men to make gifts to him, and to consecrate a portion of their substance, their talents, or their time, especially to his service. This the Lord also accepts, and it becomes consecrated and holy. In the former dispensation after men had consecrated a portion of their substance, if in any way they wished to change it the Lord would have them add one-fifth to it that they might realize the sacredness of his claims. When men realize and acknowledge the importance of God's claims, he has promised to let a special blessing rest upon them. The paying of the tithe also secured the heart from covetousness; for continual giving serves to cultivate the spirit of benevolence, which is a part of the grace of Christ.

The Levitical priesthood received the tithe from the people, and they gave a tithe of what they received to the ones who had special charge of the work of God. Another tithe was taken for the poor. Thus there were two tithes, one going to the priests and the other going to the poor. The apostle, in , teaches the duty of those who have received the gospel to support the same. He appeals to the law, and then applies it to the gospel. Men cannot give the tithe as a donation, because it never was theirs; but God has permitted them to handle the tithe, and then return it to God, that it may cultivate in them that spirit of liberality which was manifest in Christ's coming to this earth to die. The tithing system, therefore, is one of the greatest blessings to man.

Bible texts in this lesson

Exodus 31:15-17 · Leviticus 27:30 · Leviticus 27:26 · Nehemiah 10:37 · Malachi 3:8 · Malachi 3:9 · Malachi 3:10 · Malachi 3:11 · Leviticus 27:27 · Leviticus 27:32 · Leviticus 27:33 · Proverbs 19:17 · Numbers 18:21 · Numbers 18:24 · Numbers 18:26-28 · Numbers 18:7 · Numbers 18:11-13 · Galatians 6:6 · 1 Corinthians 9:6-11 · 1 Corinthians 9:13 · 1 Corinthians 9:14 · 1 Corinthians 9

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