Looking For Truth

Where is the group of people described in the Bible? What do we look for in an organization? Let's cover another of the identifiers of true worship, tithing.

^{"For I, Yahweh, change not; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
Even from the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my ordinances, and
have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, says Yahweh of
hosts. But you say, In what way shall we return? Will a man rob Elohim? yet you
rob me. But you say, In what way have we robbed you?
In tithes and offerings. You are
cursed with the curse; for you rob me, even this whole nation. Bring the
whole tithe into the store-house, that there may be food in my house, and prove
me now with this, says Yahweh of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of
heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to
receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not
destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast its fruit before
the time in the field, says Yahweh of hosts. And all nations shall call you
happy; for you shall be a delightful land, says Yahweh of hosts."} ^{Malachi 3:6-12}

^{Tithing-A
Biblical Term:}

^{The word tithe
is a middle English word derived from the Old English word teothe,
meaning "a tenth." The English definition means
"one tenth of the annual produce of one's land or one's annual income, paid as a
tax or contribution to support a religious organization or its clergy."}^{In the Hebrew text the word is found as #4643 in Strong's Exhaustive
Concordance, ma'aser. This is taken from the Hebrew word for the number 10 (eser)
and means "a tithe or "ten percent."}

^{Tithe also
appears in the}^{Greek New
Testament. One word is used and this is #586 apodekatoo, from #575
and #1183,}^{"to tithe (as
debtor or creditor)."}^{#1183
dekatoo from #1181 dekate, "a tenth, i.e. a percentage or technically
tithe." Let's see tithing from Torah Law.}

^{"And all the
tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree,
is Yahweh’s: it is holy unto Yahweh. And if a man will redeem any of his tithe,
he shall add unto it the fifth part of it. And all the tithe of the herd or the
flock, what ever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto Yahweh. He
shall not search whether it is good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if
he change it at all, then both it and that for which it is changed shall be
holy; it shall not be redeemed. Leviticus 27:30-33}

^{Was tithing
taught in the New Testament era? Yes! Let's see that from the Bible.}

^{And he spoke
also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were
righteous, and despising all others: "Two men went up
into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, Elohim, I
thank you, that I am not as the rest of men,
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week; I give}^tithes ^{of all that I get.
But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so
much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, Elohim, be
merciful to me a sinner. I say unto you, This man
went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that
exalts himself shall be humbled; but he that humbles himself shall be exalted."}Luke 18:9-14

^{Here the Pharisee
claims that he gave tithes on all that he got. I must note a particular passage
of scripture at this point that places emphasis on surpassing the righteousness
of the Pharisees.}

^{"Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets:
I came not to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I
say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jothe or one tittle shall in
no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of
heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the
kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, that except
your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and
Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven."} ^{Matthew 5:17-20}

^{There is a lot to be
seen in this passage of scripture, first is the fact that the law is still in
effect! Which law you might ask? The moral laws defined in the Old Testament are
still in effect! The sacrificial laws and the temple laws have been set aside by
Yahshua the Messiah's sacrifice. There are still many laws that remain in
effect, and tithing is one of them! One of the other things of note in this
passage is the fact that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and
Pharisees. The following passage reveals another instance of tithing required.}

^{But woe unto you Pharisees! for you
tithe mint and rue and every
herb, and pass over justice and the love of Yahweh: but these ought you to have
done, and not to leave the other undone. Luke 11:42}

^{Here the Messiah
enforces the fact concerning tithing. However, they left some things undone i.e.
justice and the love of Yahweh!}

^{Another very
important passage that refers to tithing is found in Hebrews chapter seven. This
passage refers us back to Abraham then called Abram which means "Exalted
Father." Let's read this passage and see this for ourselves. (Hawke and friends
exclusively used the Bible for our major references, as this is the only source
of truth that is}^relevant^{for the sincere seeker of
truth!)}

^{For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of El Most High, who met
Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also
Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of
righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is King of peace; without
father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor
end of life, but made like unto the Son of Yahweh), remains a priest
continually.}

^{Now consider how great this man was, unto whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a
tenth out of the chief spoils. And they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive
the priest’s office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to
the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of
Abraham: but he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes of
Abraham, and has blessed him that has the promises. But without any dispute the
less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there
one, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. And, so to say, through Abraham even
Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes; for he was yet in the loins of his
father, when Melchizedek met him.}

^{Here Abraham paid
tithes to Melchizedek! Who was Melchizedek? We will save that for a later time!
The important thing to remember in this passage, is the stated fact that Abraham
paid a tenth of all that he had! Are you willing to give Almighty Yahweh a tenth
of what you receive each week, each month, each year? The organization that we
are seeking will be teaching correct tithe giving. This will end part 8 of the
series "Looking For Truth?}

^{Yours in Messiah,
Hawke}

Back to Looking For Truth Series Index