TITHES and OFFERINGS 

 I've been led to write about this subject for quite some time now but, it's not a fun or a popular subject hence my procrastination. The time is now so buckle up, put your helmet on, get your bible open, and be Bereans.

This is the subject that prosperity preachers love and the rest of us generally avoid like the plague. (full stop, I believe the prosperity people are snake oil salesmen)

Tithes and offerings thoughts:

In the beginning It was the subject of sibling rivalry. What was an acceptable sacrifice or the better question what is the condition of your heart in the giving?

Genesis 4:3-5 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.

Abraham recognized that GOD is worthy of our gifts, treasure, and offerings and there is a chosen intermediary accepting on behalf of the LORD. Do we know what Abraham gave? Yes, it has been recorded for posterity.

Genesis 14:18-  And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Encampment offerings

When Israel was in the wilderness living in tents, they would encamp around the tent of meeting by clan as per the order laid out by GOD and passed on to Moses. Families and individuals brought their offerings to the priests at the center of the camp to the tabernacle and anyone watching, standing outside thier own tent would be able see and in most cases hear it. The priests would definitely know what was being offered up to GOD.

The often quoted passage of Malachi 3:8 — Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 

Both sides use this passage in arguments for and against. I'm sure you've heard them before. This was old testament and directed specifically at Israel as a nation or the New testament believers are not bound by the old testament stuff. 

There is however two undeniably truths:

1) a person can choose to withhold something that belongs to GOD, why? He said so, it's recorded history.

2) Tithes and offerings were a thing before Israel existed, just ask Cain and Able and Adam and Eve who probably taught them and all thier children.

Later on in Jesus' time anyone could sit in the women's court of the temple complex and observe money (coins) being placed in the Treasury boxes. The boxes were marked, so you even had a good idea why it was being offered. A persons anonymity was scarce.

This very thing is covered in the historical recount of the poor Widow in Mark 12:41-44  And he (Jesus) sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

GOD is more concerned with our heart condition than the monetary amount. 

It's your heart you will take into eternity, not your wallet or purse.

Temple Mount: The Women's Court a closer examination.

The Women's Court was the most eastern court in the Mikdash. This court was erected during the time of King Yehoshafat and was also called the "outer court" or the "new court." It was called the "Women's Court" because it was generally used as a gathering place for women. During the Second Temple period, a balcony was built around the Women's Court to accommodate those women who wished to be present during the Simchat Beit HaShoeva - "Festival of the Water Libation" celebrations during Sukkot.

The dimensions of the Women's Court was one hundred and thirty five square cubits. In the four corners of the court, four chambers were located, of forty square cubits. (according to some opinions, forty cubits by thirty cubits). These chambers were: The Nazarite Chamber, The Chamber of Oils, The Chamber of Lepers and the Chamber of Wood. These chambers were open to the sky. (Source: Midot 2,5)

The Court of the Women: This outer courtyard, accessible to all Jews, contained thirteen trumpet-shaped receptacles (shofar-chests) where the public could deposit various monetary gifts and tithes.

These chests served specific religious and financial purposes:

Chests 1–2: Collected the mandated half-shekel temple tax for the current and previous years. 

Chests 3–4: Funded bird sacrifices (pigeons/doves) for sin offerings and burnt offerings. 

Chests 5–6: Financed altar wood and frankincense. 

Chests 7–13: Held surplus funds from various offerings (sin, guilt, nazirite, and leper sacrifices) and pledges, which were ultimately used to purchase animals for burnt offerings, with hides given to the priests.

The design facilitated public transparency; the metallic or hard funnel created a distinct clinking sound when coins were dropped, allowing onlookers to hear the magnitude of donations. This feature is historically linked to biblical accounts where Jesus criticized those who "blew trumpets" (a metaphor for the noisy chests) to advertise their charity. Similar chests were also maintained in provincial cities to support local temple obligations. 

This explanation brings into focus what Jesus was telling us in Matthew 6:2 — “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

The Temple Tax our present day Building Fund.

The Half-Shekel Chamber: A special room within the Temple where the annual half-shekel tax (paid by all Jewish men over twenty) was collected and stored by treasurers. 

Another incident which shows that people were aware of what was given, or not given as the case maybe, was concerning the temple tax. Some of the tax collectors in Capernaum questioned why Jesus or Peter hadn't paid their temple tax. They knew and they let Peter know they knew. They obviously kept records.

Matthew 17:24-27  When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?”And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel.Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

The other people who would know a person's offerings and business would be the money changers and the ones selling animals for sacrifices.

 Money Changers’ Tables: Located in the outer courts, these tables allowed pilgrims to exchange foreign currency into Tyrian shekels, the specific coinage accepted for Temple transactions, before depositing the funds. 

The historical account found in John 2:13-14 records this fact before Jesus tossed them out on thier ears.

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.

Some of Jesus' ministry was funded by those who believed and followed him, see Luke 8:2-3 — and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

The early Church and present day.

We have moved from a public knowledge and transparency of who is contributing to the family of GOD, with either a right or wrong heart motivation and a almost total anonymity of not knowing if people who claim to be part of the community are even contributing anything  (with the exception of the church treasurer or bookkeeper). A totally hidden problem of the heart.

An example of the dangers in the appearance of giving and the truth that the Holy Spirit sees the condition of our heart is shown in the example of Anninas and Sapphire in Acts 5:1-11 — But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

It has never been about the sacrifice, it was always about the condition of our hearts. Samuel when talking to King Saul said it plainly in 1 Samuel 15:22 — And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

Obedience and Listening to GOD

I've noticed some people love to quote Paul to justify giving little or nothing at all. 

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 

Here Paul is specifically speaking of an extra gift to the Saints in Jerusalem. This would be above what they were providing locally to either a house Church or synagogue and also as a Jew from giving to the Jerusalem temple, before 70 AD. 

Paying the elders

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.1 Timothy 5:17-18

Paul thought Timothy, the elders deserved a wage. So where does this wage come from? Where does extra expenses of the house Church come from? Well the obvious answer would be from those in the family of GOD with the blessings and abilities to contribute.

Taking care of Widows and Orphans 

The early church also took care of widows who didn't have any natural family members to provide for them, and orphans as well.

James 1:27 — Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

 Where does the food or the money to buy food come from? The church, the people.

The church must discern who is truly needy. 1 Timothy 5:3 — Honor widows who are truly widows.

If someone can work to support himself, he is not truly needy and must provide for his own needs. 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 — For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. And 1 Timothy 5:8 — But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Also 1 Thessalonians 4:11 — and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,

If a family can support a needy family member, the church should not be supporting them 1 Timothy 5:4 — But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

Those who are supported by the church must make some return to the church body. 1 Timothy 5:5 — She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 1 Timothy 5:10 — and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.

It is right for the church to examine moral conduct before giving support. See 1 Timothy 5:9-13

The early Church fathers view on tithes and offerings.

The Eastern Church began tithing out of obligation because they believed Jesus' conversation with the rich young man demanded sacrificial generosity. Clement of Alexandria and Irenaeus pleaded with the church to surpass even the Old Testament tithe since Christ had freed them from the Law.

John Chrysostom (c. 349–407 AD) vigorously exhorted his congregation to tithe, arguing that if Jews under the Old Covenant gave heavily (often half their income), Christians under the New Covenant should certainly not fall short, viewing the tithe as a minimum standard for charitable giving. 

Augustine (d. 430 AD) explicitly supported tithing as a mandatory debt, stating that those who refused to tithe were guilty of robbery, yet he framed this as a concession for Christians who were unwilling to follow Christ’s command to sell all possessions and give the proceeds to the poor. Despite these advocacy efforts by prominent Church Fathers, historical evidence indicates that tithing was not a widespread practice in the early church; it remained largely voluntary, and mandatory tithing did not become ecclesiastical or state law until much later, around the 8th century. 

I've mentioned these to show that even the early Church Fathers and elders struggled with the tithing issue. So do I gave a solution? Nope, better men than me have grappled with this and here we are present day. On one side we have people taking advantage of other people's generosity in the name of religion and on the other we have tight fisted people sitting on the sidelines watching widows and orphans go hungry and they also wonder why thier Church Elders had to lay off thier pastor and close the doors of thier place of assembly because the bills weren't being paid.

I think the answer to our dilemma lies in Jesus' example for us all. Even though he was rich, he made himself poor for our sakes. He stepped down from his throne and lived as poor among us. He gave everything to help us. I've heard the argument, yeah, but now he is back on his throne and was only poor for a short period of time. True, but he gave us his HOLY SPIRIT and now though we may appear to be poor for a short period of time we are rich far beyond our imagination, in this life and more so in the life to come because we will be Sons and Daughters of the KING. 

1 Corinthians 2:9 — But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”

Romans 8:32 — He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

To be Sons and Daughters of the KING we must have the heart of GOD that gives with a cheerful heart, with purpose and discernment and the HOLY SPIRIT who makes you rich in all things will help you with the purpose and discernment pieces.

My prayer, Heavenly Father I thank you that we are indeed rich beyond comprehensive because of your HOLY SPIRIT living in us and we now have everything we need in this life and the next. Help us to steward the temporary resources that you've also blessed us with that we may have wisdom and discernment to further your Kingdom here on Earth as it is in Heaven, in Jesus' precious name amen.