Could you explain fully the subject of tithing? I am a member of a church of Christ. Our minister says that tithing was 400 yrs. before the law and hence it never left; would that be binding today? … He also gives the verse, Matt.23:23,24. Money is not the issue here for me, it’s understanding.
Matthew 23:23-24 reads, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel” (Matthew 23:23-24). This passage has nothing to do with whether one tithes in the Christian Age. I can only surmise based on the question and the reference to Matthew 23:23-24 that (1) Jesus mentioning tithing is imagined to be sufficient justification for tithing to continue in Christianity, and (2) verse 24 is cited in an attempt to disarm critics and that anyone who disagrees with the proponent of tithing in Christianity is nit-picking or fault-finding.
Jesus Christ lived and died under Judaism. Since he died under Judaism and tithing was not one of the teachings that he applied to the Christianity or the church, one cannot appeal correctly to Jesus for justification of tithing under Christianity or in the church.
Tithing was practiced under Patriarchy before the institution of Judaism. Abraham tithed of the spoils of war to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:20; Hebrews 7:4, 6). However, Patriarchy as a law system was replaced for the Israelites with Judaism at Mount Sinai, and Patriarchy as a law system was replaced for Gentiles with the Gospel of Christ. Of course, Judaism was also replaced with the Gospel of Christ (Ephesians 2:15; Colossians 2:14; Romans 7:6-7). Everyone now living is amenable only to the Gospel of Christ, and tithing has not been re-instituted in the Gospel of Christ.
Therefore, tithing is not authorized by the Gospel of Christ to be required of anyone today. Rather, under Christianity, Christians are to give according as they purpose or choose for themselves (2 Corinthians 9:7) with respect to their prosperity (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Consequently, that amount may be less than, equal to or greater than ten percent (the tithe).
Appealing to Patriarchy for authorization for acts under Christianity, one might as well imagine that he is to build an ark like Noah or offer his son on an altar like Abraham. It has always been the case that whoever proves too much (by bringing one’s argument to its logical conclusion) fails to prove anything at all.
