Tithe literally means 'a tenth'. This leaves us with two questions, a tenth of what and a tenth for what? These questions is answered in the culture, tradition, and law of different people at different times. People have cultures and traditions of offering a tenth to gods, kings, lords, and acquaintance. All over history, there are laws that require people, nations, and kingdoms to give a tenth. However, let start with the bible. The first time tithe was mentioned in the bible was when Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek (Gen 14:20). Abraham heard that his nephew, Lot had been captured and all his possession including spoils from Sodom and Gomorrah were taken by some kings. Abraham took 318 men, attacked these kings and came back with his nephew, other prisoners, and the properties. He was victorious although he had fewer men. Melchizedek, a priest of God approached Abraham and blessed him for helping to return that which was stolen, then Abraham gave him a tenth of the properties recovered. Abraham also went further to give a certain proportion (or certain percentage) to Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre who were his allies and who probably joined him in the battle. Yes, just as Abraham gave a proportion to Melchizedek, he also gave a proportion to each of his allies and then he returned the rest to the king of Sodom. Another question is that, why is the proportion given to Melchizedek mentioned and the proportion given to the rest not mentioned?
The concept of 'a tenth' had existed among the ancient Semitic people before the time of Abraham, and it is attached with some kind of traditional and spiritual significance. The tenth is used to represent the whole; when you give a tenth of what you have to a person, god, government or institution, you are saying, "all I have is yours". It is a way of honouring the lord and expressing loyalty. When a person gives a tenth of his harvest he is saying, "all my harvest belongs to you". If it is a tenth of his cloth he is saying, "all my cloth belongs to you". Or if is a tenth his livestock he is saying, "all my livestock belongs to you". This is because the tenth is a representation of the whole. This is a traditional way ancient people show honor to another. Therefore, the Bible specifically mentioned that Abraham gave a tenth to the priest of God because it was simply trying to tell us that 'Abraham honored God'. Abraham took a very few number of men and won a victory over several powerful kings who just defeated five kings. Four kings against five and they won the battle and took with them spoil. Abraham was just with 318 men and he brought these kings to their knees. The Bible tried to narrate to us how Abraham didn't take the glory, rather he honored God for the victory. Apart from this moment, it was never stated in the bible that Abraham gave any priest (or God) a tenth. There are many ways to honor God and Abraham being a humble servant will always seek to honor God whenever he has the opportunity and in whatever ever way he deemed wise. Therefore the lesson in Genesis chapter fourteen verse twenty was not that we should always give God a tenth (Abraham did not always give God a tenth), but rather the Bible was trying to tell us that we should always honor God.
"And Jacob vowed this vow to God: "If God will help and protect me on this journey and give me food and clothes, and will bring me back safely to my father, then I will choose Jehovah as my God! And this memorial pillar shall become a place for worship; and I will give you back a tenth of everything you give me!"" (Gen 28:20-22).
This is the second time a tenth is mentioned in the bible. Jacob encountered God and there he struck a deal with God. If God will do certain things for him then we would do certain things in return. One of the things he promised to give God in return is a tenth of everything he has. This was a thing between him and God, it was his personal relationship with God, a deal he has decided to make with God. He would personally give to God a tenth, how he would do so was not stated. Probably he kept to his promise and did this throughout his life. After this we see the word tithe appearing next in the law of Moses.
"And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD." (Lev 27:30).
Here we see God specifically instructed them to tithe from the fruit of the land. There were other trade in Israel, for example there was tent-making (Paul was a tentmaker), there was carpentry (Jesus' earthly father was a carpenter), there was metalworking, pottery, blacksmiths, coppersmiths and so on. The people of Israel were not commanded to tithe from just any occupation, but from the fruit of the land. So what happened to people who do not farm? Simple, they do not tithe. However, during that time almost everyone engaged in some kind of agricultural activity. Let quickly look at how they tithe before we move on to the new testament. The tithe in the law of Moses was based on a seven years circle. The seventh-year is the Sabbath year and during this year there is no tithe because there is no harvest. The people allowed the land to rest and they engage in other activities. Those who make pot continue to make pot, the carpenters, the blacksmith, the traders etc all continue their work and earn profits. However, none of them gave tithe from their incomes.
They had six years of tithing, the seventh is a tithe free year. These six years is further divided into three years. The tithe of every three years was different. The way they tithe on the third and sixth year was different from how they tithe on the first, second, fourth and fifth year.
“At the end of every three years bring the tithe of all your crops and store it in your towns. This food is for the Levites, since they own no property, and for the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live in your towns.” (Deu 14:28).
During the third and sixth year they bring a tenth of their harvest and put it in a store of their town (probably each town has their own store). This is then distributed to the Levites, the foreigners, the orphans, and the widows in that particular town. The tithe would take care of the need of these less privileged people. They were to provide for those that could not take care of themselves. The tithe of the first, second, fourth and fifth year were taken to the temple for a feast.
“You must not eat in your own towns the tithe of your grain and new wine and olive oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. Instead, you are to eat them in the presence of the Lord your God at the place the Lord your God will choose [this was before the temple in Jerusalem was built ], your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns—and you are to rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you put your hand to.” (Deu 12:17-18).
Every first, second, fourth and fifth year they would take a tenth of their harvest to the Lord's presence and they will feast on it. Let me paint a picture of how this is done. On this special day, you will find in the temple food of all sorts, well prepared. You will also find drinks of all kinds; wine, beer (Deu 14:24-26), any drink at all, alcoholic or non-alcoholic. You will also find families gathering around each other, eating, drinking and rejoicing before the Lord. This is not a wild party, it is a worship onto God, and this was how they tithe. Now we must go to the age of the new testament. Looking at the books of the gospel, tithe was only mentioned twice;
“How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You give to God one-tenth even of the seasoning herbs, such as mint, dill, and cumin," (Matt 23:23).
"I go without food twice a week, and I give to God a tenth of everything I earn.'" (Luk 18:12).
These were the only time the whole of the new testament mentioned tithe apart from the book of Hebrews. The mentioned of "seasoning herbs" indicates that they were agricultural products. This means that even during the time of Jesus they still continued to give only agricultural products as tithe. Probably Paul never tithe and he did not see it fit to preach tithe. Even the Jewish Christians that love to impose the law of Moses on the gentiles didn't demand that the gentile Christians should tithe. In fact, the Jews themselves do not tithe if they find themselves living far away from the promised land and having no agricultural produces within the promised land. Tithing was never a thing in early Christianity. The early Christians do contribute money but they do it out of free will. They gave as much as they can give, some even gave everything they had. This kind of free-will giving was encouraged through out the early age of Christianity even down to the rise of the Catholic church. The Church fathers were very careful to emphasize that giving must be done voluntarily. They were careful to prevent the sin of simony among God's people, they urge every Christian leader not to impose any form of giving on the people, but rather let them give freely. Any form of impose giving was attacked and shunned. However, there were systems put in place for the provision of finances for the Clergy, the church, and missionaries.
Tithe became a compulsory requirement for Christians only in the mid and late 19th century. In 1868 the payment of tithes was declared to be binding on the faithful of the Canadian Province of Quebec by the Fourth Provincial Council. During this time the protestant church (churches that are not supported by the state) were becoming more concerned about how they can convince people to give and support the work of the ministry. Although each church had there own methods of supporting for church expenses, some of these methods were nothing but extortion of the people, and were considered to be unbiblical. The spirit of Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) — the tendency of the protestant churches to dive into scripture, searching for the biblical way to do things — has now resulted into argument among the Christian leaders. The argument was based on this; which of the methods (of supporting church ministry) is more biblical. In 1873, two southern Presbyterians, Alexander L. Hogshead of Abingdon, Virginia, and John W. Pratt of Lexington, Virginia, produced a set of scholastic treatises on tithing, which bound into one volume was called, The Gospel Self-Supporting. Hogshead argued that God claimed the worship of His people, he then went ahead to rank prayer, praise, and material offerings as chief among the creature's acts of prescribed worship. Concerning offerings, he put forward that they are of two types. The first is sin offering, or sacrifice which had been obviated by Christ's atonement, but the second type continues to this day. According to him, the second type involves "the acknowledgment of God's ownership in us and our property, and hence of the dependence and obligation, and the expression of faith, love and gratitude for material as well as spiritual blessings."
Hogshead argued that the voluntary attribute towards the giving of offering is unscriptural, but that offering should be "Christian obligation." He stated that the Presbyterians should be given the tenth, that “A tithe of ten per cent is God’s everlasting minimum expectation." He pointed to the Old Testament, stating that Christ and Paul endorsed Moses insofar as Moses represented the moral law that was not abrogated when Christ replaced the ceremonial rites and observances of the law. According to Hogshead Christ plan for supporting the ministry is embedded in 1 Corinthians 9:7-19, as the apostle wrote, "Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?" (1Cor 9:7). Hence, the Presbyterians are to receive the product of the worship of the people (offerings) as the reward for serving.
Concerning the question on what to do with the tenth collected he wrote that God "finds a place in the practice work of the church, in the consumption of the substance His worship produces... after paying honour to Him and securing blessings to the worshipers, the product of His worship supplies the need for material means in the work of the church." Through this writings sparked the teaching that tithe is an obligation and that all Christian must pay tithe as a worship to God, and that God in return will bless them. Till today this teaching is embrace by several churches in Christianity.
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