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Wasn't tithe paying in the Old Testament a taxation to pay the Levitical Priesthood?

Submitted: 2/27/2007
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Question: Wasn't tithe paying in the Old Testament a taxation to pay the Levitical Priesthood? I read how the land was divided among the 11 tribes, leaving out the Levites. The tenth was given to the Levites because they did not have any land to produce food or to raise cattle. This was a commandment by God and was required to be paid by the Jews until the New Testament came into effect. The New Testament came into effect when the testator died on the cross. I feel that many preachers today are requiring their congregations to pay that tenth to pad their pockets. Of course I feel that people should give to the church, but there is no limit to how much they should give. The Bible says that if you sow sparingly, then you will reap sparingly.

Answer: We cannot speak for other assemblies. At ours, we teach that tithes and offerings are a matter of faith, not law, and that this is God's plan for taking the gospel to the world. We agree that there should be no limit placed on how much people can give. This is why the Bible speaks of both tithes and offerings. The tithe is a set amount (the first tenth of your increase) and offerings can be any amount (as a man purposes in his heart). We believe that God's people should be both faithful and generous.