As we continue our series ‘Tithing on Trial’, let’s evaluate another argument used to defend tithing.
ARGUMENT #2
Jesus Taught Tithing
In Matthew 23:23, Jesus is speaking to the pharisees and says this, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.”
Undoubtedly because these words come out of the mouth of Jesus, many believe this settles the tithing issue for them. But this assumption is made out of ignorance and the conclusion is not within scriptural context. If you read the whole chapter of Matthew 23 and research the other Old Testament commands that Jesus taught, we can reveal that the tithing issue is not settled by the words of Jesus.
If you were to understand what Jesus was talking about, who he was talking to, and under what circumstances in Matthew 23:23, then we need to start at the very begging on the passage and understand it’s context.
Matthew 23:1 begins by saying, “Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe,[a] that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.”
At the beginning of Matthew 23, Jesus confirms that the pharisees sit in Moses’ seat, and then commands the disciples to obey the pharisees (which is surprising). The introduction in Matthew 23 reveals that Jesus upheld the Mosaic law, and still commanded it. One of the keys to remember in this passage is that we can learn from the teachings of Jesus, but it doesn’t mean Jesus’ address to the disciples and the Israelites is a personal plea for the New Testament Church. If you believe Church leaders sit in Moses’ seat and that we are to observe the Mosaic laws, then i can see why you believe that everything Jesus’ commanded back then should be commanded now.
In another example of Jesus teaching the law, we read Matthew 5:23-24, “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Considering that this was near the end of Jesus’ life on earth and somewhat close to the birth of the Church, i am somewhat shocked that Jesus is still giving the Israelites instructions on how to worship on an altar.
Luke 5:14 is another passage of Jesus upholding the law when he commands a healed man to show himself to the priest. If you read more scripture, you will see that Jesus observed the Passover and attended the feasts prescribed in the Mosaic law. There was no question that Jesus obeyed the law, practiced the law, and taught the law. So, who is to say that Jesus was commanding the New Testament Church to tithe?
Let’s review Matthew 23:23 again where Jesus highlights how meticulous the Pharisees were tithing the small herbs in their crops, and then criticizes them for omitting justice, mercy, and faith. If you have an understanding of how tithing was practiced in the Mosaic law, you would know that the only items that could be tithed upon were crops and animals. This means that neither money, nor goods were accepted for the tithe. What’s important to remember here is that Jesus did not ridicule them for their obedience to the specifics of the Mosaic law; he approved their obedience to the Law. So, if you believe Jesus commendation to tithe is applicable to us, then you must also believe that only the tithes of animals or from crops is applicable.
If you need some sort of litmus test to determine what laws in the old testament are commanded today and what laws are not, you could likely use the actions of the Pharisees as your test. We know the Pharisees excelled at keeping the Mosaic law, but did not excel at obeying universal principles such as justice, mercy, and faith. So, you could abstain from any of the laws that the pharisees were religious about without worrying if you are doing the wrong thing. In regards to tithing, please take note that the Pharisees excelled in this area.
Now that the evidence has been given in this court of law, it is your turn to decide; Did Jesus Teach Tithing for us- Guilty or not guilty?
YOU BE THE JUDGE
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Outstanding article. I hear that verse in Matt 23 more and more lately as an argument that Jesus endorsed tithing. I hear it from the emergent churches, and I hear it in the more established SBC churches.
I am going to highlight your series on my blog. Keep up the good work.
Tom, where is your blog?
Some Christians claim that Jesus taught tithing therefore Christians should tithe. First, mentioning tithing and teaching tithing are not the same. Jesus is not speaking in terms of tithing as a commandment for Christians. The tithe commandment is part of the Mosaic Law/Old Testament. According to scripture the only people commanded to tithe were the ancient Israelites/Hebrews/Jews who farmed the land and raised livestock. As such Jesus, his disciples and Paul, for example, would not have tithed.
One important fact is that Jesus lived under the Moasaic Law – not the New Testament. The NT wasn’t established until after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. And this would also explain why Jesus mentions tithing and why he upheld the Mosaic Law.
You’re doing an excellent job of explaining tithe scriptures in context. Keep spreading the truth.
I live in a community of people who do not even want to discuss the tithing subject away from the church. they either shut down or tell me im teaching unacceptable doctrine. if the keeping of the law is tough enough for the jews who grew up on it, how much more us who just happened to come in this late. anyway i wonder about what it means to us if the word says a man is cursed for not keeping the whole law. are those who practice tithing are cause they do not keep the whole law? Gal 3:10.