Is It True That Abraham Did Not Tithe On His Possession?

By Ines Flores


Calculations from the Old Testaments reveal that Israelites were required to give as much as twenty percent of their earnings to the priests. It was the priests who gave ten percent of that as offering. Present day tithing is sacrifice that has been misunderstood. It is worth noting that there is no clear mention of tithing in the New Testament leave alone a specific percentage.

From the history of the bible, there are instances of sacrifices from the time of Cain and Abel to Isaac and Jacob. From the narrative in the Old Testament, is it true to say that Abraham did not tithe? The people who lived before Abraham, and whose life is thoroughly documented are said to have sacrificed but not tithed.

Evangelical churches are insisting on planting seeds in order to get blessings or be shielded from affliction. Job would have been the beneficiary of such schemes considering what he went through. It is Abram who made tithing to gain the prominence it has today.

The offering made by Abram in Genesis fourteen was based on what the armies had captured in battle. It also included what his brother Lot had as well as the people around him. This is an indication of sacrifice and not tithing. The tithe that Abram gave after rescuing Lot came from what the armies plundered.

Abraham is seen to make sacrifices as a matter of personal decision but not because of a law. An example is when he is told to keep what he captured during war. Genesis 20 says that he refused and preferred that it be shared among his army soldiers. When distributing the loot, he gave some of it to the high priests.

The regularity of tithing seen in present day church lacks backing in the bible. Despite being very wealthy, Abraham is only said to tithe whatever came from war. In fact, tithing was a way of honoring God by the Israelites. This meant that it was mandatory but the portion depended on individual preference. It also is during sacrifice that one was required to give the best.

The New Testament is said to have replaced laws that were considered obsolete. It is interesting to note that church ministers do not consider tithing among what was erased by the New Testament. Curiously, the pastors and church ministers own the best cars, houses and properties yet they do not offer them to the ministry. Their expectation that their followers should do that is therefore suspect.

Moses is considered to have introduced the ten percent rule. He wanted to provide Levites with something to eat when he said that the first proceed of every harvest must be offered to God. This rule did not spare the priests. That it does not apply to present day priesthood raises questions.

Malachi chapter three made it mandatory to tithe. Failure to obey this law meant that they would go for years without rain. It was therefore an appeasement. The New Testament, however, turns the tables and advocates for giving instead of tithing. In fact, the giving is supposed to come second after helping the poor according to Matthew 23.




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