Category
108 Offering and Tithes
Think about this: Christ loved us so much that he gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering to God.1 He made the ultimate sacrifice for you on the cross, loving you to death and beyond. Even as time marches on, His love stays constant.
It's so important for you to grasp that the biggest sacrifice has already been made. But now, you get to be a pleasing offering to God, too. Let your service, your honor, and your giving be a delight to your Heavenly Father. Know that Jesus has given you everything, and anything you offer pales in comparison to His love.
Giving to God, supporting His work, it's an expression of love. Don't see it as a burden or an obligation, but as a response to God's love and Jesus' sacrifice. It's a way of saying "thank you" for everything Heaven has poured into your life.
1Ephesians 5:2
then He adds, “Their sins and lawless deeds will I remember no more.”
Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
Jesus spoke these words in the treasury, as He taught in the temple. No one arrested Him, for His hour had not yet come.
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing, that there will not be room enough to receive it.
Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one. But go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded as a testimony to them.”
Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God.
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, you good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter the joy of your master.’
“Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow.
Let every man give according to the purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. Many who were rich put in much.
But a certain poor widow came and put in two mites, which make a farthing.
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 treasury.
They all contributed out of their abundance. But she, out of her poverty, put in all that she had, her entire livelihood.”
Any tithe of the land, whether seed of the land or fruit of the trees, belongs to the Lord. It is holy to the Lord.
But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord!”
who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all lawlessness and purify for Himself a special people, zealous of good works.
He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Every man must give as he is able, in proportion to the blessing of the Lord your God, which He has given you.
Give, and it will be given to you: Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will men give unto you. For with the measure you use, it will be measured unto you.”
For if there is a willing mind first, the gift is accepted according to what a man possesses and not according to what he does not possess.
Take from among you an offering to the Lord. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the Lord: gold, silver, and bronze,
“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so freely as this? For everything comes from You, even from Your own hand we have given to You.
I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship.
But do not forget to do good and to share. For with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
You must be certain to tithe all the produce of your seed, so that the field produces year by year.
You must eat before the Lord your God, in the place in which He shall choose to place His name, the tithe of your grain, of your wine, of your oil, and of the firstborn of your herds and of your flocks so that you may learn to always fear the Lord your God.
On the first day of the week let every one of you lay in store, as God has prospered him, so that no collections be made when I come.
And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth;
they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar).
and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him one-tenth of everything.
It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; he will guide his affairs with justice.
One gives freely, and yet increases; another withholds what is due, but only suffers want.
The generous soul will prosper, and he who waters will himself be watered.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You tithe mint and dill and cumin, but have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done without leaving the others undone.
He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts in the treasury.
Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
Great earthquakes will occur in various places, and there will be famines and pestilence. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
“But before all these things, they will seize you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.
It will turn out as a testimony for you.
Therefore resolve in your hearts beforehand not to practice your defense.
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your opponents will be able to neither refute nor resist.
You will be betrayed by parents and brothers and relatives and friends. And they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all men for My name’s sake,
but not a hair of your head shall perish.
In your endurance you will gain your souls.
He also saw a poor widow putting in two mites,
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you know that its desolation has drawn near.
Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are in the city depart, and let not those who are in the country enter it.
For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.
They will fall by the edge of the sword and will be led away captive to all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
“There will be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;
men fainting from fear and expectation of what is coming on the inhabited earth. For the powers of heaven will be shaken.
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption is drawing near.”
He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.
and He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.
When they are sprouting leaves already, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.
So in like manner, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
“Truly, I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things are fulfilled.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
“Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts become burdened by excessiveness and drunkenness and anxieties of life, and that Day comes on you unexpectedly.
For as a snare it will come on all those who dwell on the surface of the whole earth.
Therefore watch always and pray that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Each day He was teaching in the temple, and each night He went out and stayed on the mountain called the Mount of Olives.
And all the people came early in the morning to hear Him in the temple.
For all these out of their abundance have put in their gifts for God. But she out of her poverty has put in all the living she had.”
They reliably brought in the contributions, tenth portions, and consecrated items. The leader over them was Konaniah the Levite, and Shimei his brother was second to him.
In all things I have shown you how, working like this, you must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
But I have everything and abound. I have been filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, like a sweet fragrance, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.
And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, truly I tell you, he shall in no way lose his reward.”
Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke?
Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the poor who are outcasts into your house? When you see the naked, to cover him and not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
Do not say to your neighbor, “Go and come again; tomorrow I will give it,” when you have it with you.
Command those who are rich in this world that they not be conceited, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who richly gives us all things to enjoy.
Command that they do good, that they be rich in good works, generous, willing to share,
and laying up in store for themselves a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of eternal life.
Tell the Israelites to bring Me an offering. From every man who gives willingly with his heart you shall receive My offering.
And it must be, when you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, and you possess it, and dwell in it,
And behold, now I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which You, O Lord, have given me.” Then you shall set it before the Lord your God and worship before the Lord your God.
You shall rejoice in every good thing which the Lord your God has given to you and your house, you, and the Levite, as well as the foreigner who is among you.
When you have finished tithing all the tithes of your income the third year, which is the year of tithing, and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow, that they may eat within your towns and be satisfied,
then you shall say before the Lord your God, “I have removed the sacred things out of my house and also have given them to the Levite, and to the foreigner, to the orphan, and to the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me. I have not transgressed Your commandments or forgotten them.
I have not eaten anything when in mourning, nor have I removed anything while unclean, nor offered anything to the dead. I have listened to the voice of the Lord my God and have done according to all that You have commanded me.
Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land which You have given us, as You swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
Today the Lord your God has commanded you to do these statutes and judgments. You must therefore keep and do them with all your heart and with all your soul.
You have affirmed today that the Lord is your God and vowed to walk in His ways, and to keep His statutes, and His commandments, and His judgments, and to listen to His voice.
And the Lord has affirmed today that you are His special people, just as He has promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments.
He will exalt you above all nations which He has made, in praise, and in name, and in honor; and that you may be a holy people to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken.
that you shall take from the first of all the produce of the ground which you shall bring from your land that the Lord your God is giving you, and put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide.
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him.
for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met Abraham.
If perfection were attained through the Levitical priesthood (for through it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise in the order of Melchizedek, rather than established in the order of Aaron?
For a change in the priesthood necessitates a change in the law.
For the One concerning whom these things are spoken pertains to another tribe, from which no man served at the altar.
For it is evident that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe concerning which Moses said nothing about priests.
This is far more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,
who becomes a priest not by a law pertaining to ancestry, but by the power of an endless life.
For He testifies: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
For there is then an annulling of the previous commandment due to its weakness and uselessness.
For the law made nothing perfect, but now a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
To him Abraham also gave one-tenth of everything. In the first place, his name is translated “king of righteousness,” and then also he is king of Salem, which means “king of peace.”
Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all deep places.
It is He who causes the mist to ascend from the ends of the earth, who makes lightning for the rain, and brings forth the wind from His treasuries.
Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
God is able to make all grace abound toward you, so that you, always having enough of everything, may abound to every good work.
But you must remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to get wealth, so that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is today.
I know, my God, that You test the heart, and with uprightness You are pleased, so in the uprightness of my heart I have offered freely all these things, and now I have seen Your people, those present here, offer freely and joyously to You.
Sell your possessions and give alms. Provide yourselves bags that do not grow old, an unfailing treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
“Therefore, when you do your charitable deeds, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in nor steal,
for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
“The light of the body is the eye. Therefore, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
But if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. Therefore, if the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
“Therefore, I say to you, take no thought about your life, what you will eat, or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air, for they do not sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?
Who among you by taking thought can add one cubit to his stature?
“Why take thought about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither spin nor weave.
Yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.
But when you do your charitable deeds, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
Therefore, if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is here and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore, take no thought, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be given to you.
Therefore, take no thought about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take thought about the things of itself. Sufficient to the day is the trouble thereof.
so that your righteous deeds may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
Then this stone, which I have set for a pillar, will be the house of God, and from all that You give me I will surely give one-tenth to You.”
For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.
So Moses issued a command, and they circulated a proclamation throughout the camp, saying, “Let no man or woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing any more.
For the material they had was sufficient for all the work and more than enough to do it.
I will sacrifice a freewill offering to You; I will give thanks to Your name, O Lord, for it is good.
Do you not know that those who minister unto holy things live from the things of the temple? And do you not know that those who wait at the altar partake of the altar?
In the same way, the Lord has ordained that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
Jesus said to him, “If you would be complete, go and sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow Me.”
In the course of time Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground.
Abel also brought the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had respect for Abel and for his offering,
but for Cain and for his offering, He did not have respect. And Cain was very angry and his countenance fell.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the people, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts.
He who goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall come home with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
He who is greedy of unjust gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live.
Through Him, then, let us continually offer to God the sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
The first of the firstfruits of your land you must bring to the house of the Lord your God. You must not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and teaching.
For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox that treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his reward.”
Remove far from me falsehood and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with my daily bread,
lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God.
“The King will answer, ‘Truly I say to you, as you have done it for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you have done it for Me.’
Now you Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone.
Even in Thessalonica, you sent aid once and again for my necessity,
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will receive many curses.
Moreover, in my devotion to the house of my God I have offered from my own property, gold and silver, which I give for the house of my God, over and above that which I prepared for the holy dwelling place:
and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall rise in obscurity, and your darkness shall become as the noonday.
Blessed is he who considers the poor; the Lord will deliver him in the day of trouble.
But You, O Lord, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them.
By this I know that You are well pleased with me: because my enemy does not triumph over me.
As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, and set me in Your presence forever.
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.
The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, and he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.
“Therefore, when you do your charitable deeds, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in nor steal,
for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
You must surely give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because in this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works, and in all that you put your hand to do.
He has given freely; he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted with honor.
Moreover, brothers, we want you to experience the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia,
And in this matter I give my advice. It is appropriate for you, who began last year not only to give, but also to willingly give.
Now therefore complete the task, so that, as there was a willingness to do so, there may be a performance of it according to your means.
For if there is a willing mind first, the gift is accepted according to what a man possesses and not according to what he does not possess.
I do not mean that other men have relief, and you be burdened,
but for equality, that your abundance now at this time may supply their need, and their abundance may supply your need —that there may be equality.
As it is written, “He who gathered much had no excess. And he who gathered little had no lack.”
But thanks be to God, who placed the same sincere care in the heart of Titus for you.
For indeed he accepted the exhortation. But being more zealous, he went to you of his own accord.
And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches.
And not only that, but he was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which we administer to the glory of the same Lord, and to declare your willing mind,
how in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty overflowed toward the riches of their generous giving.
to prevent any man from blaming us in administering this abundant gift,
providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men.
Furthermore, we have sent with them our brother whom we have frequently proved diligent in many things, but now is much more diligent, due to the great confidence which he has in you.
If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you. Or if our brothers are inquired about, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.
For I bear record that according to their means, and beyond their means, they freely gave,
begging us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of ministering to the saints.
This they did, not as we expected. First, they gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him one-tenth of everything.
Then the people rejoiced because they had offered willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord; and King David also rejoiced greatly.
he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with generosity; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets free the prisoners.
And when I come, I will send whomever you approve with your letters to take your generous gifts to Jerusalem.
If it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.
So you will be enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which makes us give thanks to God.
The work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Command that they do good, that they be rich in good works, generous, willing to share,
He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap,
to seat him with princes, with the princes of His people.
Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave one-tenth of the spoils.