“Tithe” is such an emotionally charged word, it’s hard to discuss it without stirring the pot (see Tithing is Still a Touchy Subject and Why is the Tithe a Tenth?).
So, I will do my best to avoid stepping on any land mines. I do, however, want to share a little of what I was asked to share yesterday during our church’s offering time.
First, the scripture to make it official:
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. (KJV)
Abraham and his crew, having just returned from battle, are met by Melchisedec (to use the King James spelling), King of Salem, who blesses Abraham. In response, Abraham gives Melchisedec a tenth of all.
It’s been a while, but many of you know that a primary focus of this blog is the ancient Hebrew alphabet and the stories told thereby within Biblical words. For example, see Hebrew-The Divine Language. The story told by the ancient Hebrew pictographs that make up the word “tithe” is equally remarkable.
A quick recap, the ancient Hebrew alphabet was made up of pictographs, each representing a letter, a number, and a symbolic meaning (I just recently heard that each represented a color as well, but it was news to me, and I can’t say much more about that).
The Hebrew word for “tithe” is ma’ asser, and please forgive my transliteration. In Hebrew, ma’ asser is spelled by the Hebrew letters MEM (the equivalent of our letter “M”), which is pictured as waves of water and symbolically means nations or waters; AYIN (perhaps our letter “O” or “E”), pictured as an eye and meaning to see; SHIN/SIN (“Sh” or “S”), pictured as two teeth, meaning to consume or destroy; and RESH (“R”), pictured as a man’s head, meaning the first or highest person.
God promised Abraham he would make of him a great nation. He then asks Abraham to sacrifice his son. Thus, “tithe” is the picture of Abraham, the great NATION, SEEing the DESTRUCTION of the FIRST son (Isaac was the son of promise as far as God was concerned). However, “tithe” also represents the act reciprocated by God, in part, because of Abraham’s obedience. We now know that the NATIONS have SEEN the DESTRUCTION of God’s FIRST SON.
Regardless of your theology regarding the tithe, Abraham tithed to Melchisedec after being blessed by him, and his great-grandson got credit for it; and his descendants received tithes from the rest of the nation. I can’t think of a better reason to tithe than simply because we have been blessed by God in his tithe to us: the sacrifice of His son. How better to leave a lasting legacy for your great-grandchildren’s descendants.
Here is the visual of “tithe” (recall, Hebrew is read right to left):
#1 by Larry Who on April 28, 2009 - 9:39 pm
So, where do we give the tithe? To the Temple or the Storehouse. How do we do that, seeing there is no temple?
Do you know the early church did not give tithes? It wasn’t until the 8th Century that tithes trotted back onto the church scene.
#2 by ainouno on May 23, 2009 - 1:47 am
http://rimmonperez.blogspot.com
#3 by petermlopez on April 29, 2009 - 2:01 pm
I think it is scriptural to tithe to the storehouse (or, your local church). I think the early church, as per Paul, gave to the poor in Jerusalem. And I don’t want to become legalistic about it, I think giving as the Holy Spirit directs is perfectly acceptable, if not preferred. I use “tithe” very loosely, but whether it’s a tithe, and offering, or alms to the poor, I think they are all scriptural, and I think the Holy Spirit will direct believers how and when to do each and/or all. THanks.
#4 by ainouno on May 23, 2009 - 1:46 am
Friends, both of you are wrong. According to the Bible, tithing is for shopping. I am serious. Check out http://rimmonperez.blogspot.com
#5 by petermlopez on May 26, 2009 - 8:56 am
Thanks for the link. Funny.
#6 by cornishevangelist on July 10, 2009 - 5:25 am
In the book of Deuteronomy Chapters 12 & 14 we read of the statutes and the judgements which the children of Israel shall observe. I would like to bring your attention to the Jewish way of giving.
The children of Israel were to take the burnt offerings and their sacrifices, tithes and heave offerings, and the things that they vowed, and were to bring them to places where God commanded them to worship Him.
They were also to bring with them their sons and daughters and servants, both men and women, and not forgetting the Levites, the priests of God. They were told to go to a place that the Lord had chosen for them to worship Him, with a big feast. They were all to eat the tithe and everything else including the unclean and the clean.
Forbidding them only, not to eat blood, for there is life in the blood. If the place was too far for them to travel, where God wanted them to have this feast, then they were to turn all their tithes and offerings into money, and were to spend it all on anything that they wanted, in the place that God had chosen for them and there, they shall rejoice before their God with their whole household, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Now this is what the tithes and offerings were for, so that they could have a good time worshipping the Lord.
The Lord said to them do not forsake the Levites, or the stranger, and the fatherless and the widows, which are within thy gates. At the end of three years, you are to bring the tithes of your increase for them, so that the Lord may bless you in all the works of thy hand. Now this is the teaching on how the children of Israel, yes, the Jews, were to give to God.
Now we come to the statutes and the judgements which speak of the way that Christians shall give to God. We have a simpler and much easier way of giving, for at the cross, Jesus fulfilled all the righteous demands of the Law, and a new and living way is now set out for us, as it is written in the letter of 2 Corinthians 9 v 7, which the Holy Ghost teaches us how we are to give,
“Every man according as he has purposed in his heart, so let him give, not grudgingly, as out of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver.” “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit,” {Romans 8 v 1}.
The Bible says that we are to be spiritually minded, yes, led by the Spirit in all aspects of our lives, for as it is written, “ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” So let the Holy Ghost show you how much you are to give, He will never put a burden on your giving instead, it will be the greatest blessing that you will ever get through this way of obedience, by being led by the Spirit.
This truly is being spiritually minded as it is written
“But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law,” {Galatians 5 v 18}.
#7 by petermlopez on July 10, 2009 - 9:39 am
Agreed.
#8 by all about the bible on October 29, 2011 - 2:52 am
There is very much a beauty in the use of pictographs, thanks for your work. You explained the tithing with great accuracy.