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
“And I will not remember their sins or their wickedness anymore.”Now where forgiveness of sins has taken place, there is no longer [a need for an] offering for sin.
Jesus spoke these words in the treasury [area of the Temple]. And no one arrested Him because His time had not yet come [i.e., to be turned over to the authorities and killed].
Jesus said to him, “Be sure you do not tell anyone [about your healing yet]; but [first] go and show yourself to the priest and then offer the [sacrificial] gift required by the Law of Moses [See Lev. 13:49; 14:2ff], as evidence to them [that you have been healed].”
Live in a loving way, just like Christ loved us and gave Himself up [to die] for us as an offering and fragrant smelling sacrifice to God.
His master said to him, ‘Well done, you are a good and trustworthy servant. You have been trustworthy over a [relatively] few things, [so] I will place you over many things. Come and share in your master’s joy.’Then the one who was given [only] one talent came and reported, ‘Master, I knew you were a difficult man who reaped where you had not sown, and gathered a harvest where you had not scattered seed,
Each person should give what he has decided to in his heart, not grudgingly, nor out of a feeling that he has to, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Then Jesus sat down over near the [Temple] treasury and watched how the crowd was throwing money into the treasury [Note: This “treasury” was a large open-mouthed container used for receiving offerings for meeting expenses of Temple upkeep]. Many rich people were throwing in lots of money.A poor widow came and threw in two small copper coins [Note: These two coins each amounted to about ten minutes’ worth of a farm laborer’s pay, or about $1.50 in 2005]. The total she gave was equivalent to a larger coin [i.e., worth twice as much].Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has thrown in more than all the rest who are throwing [money] into the treasury.For all of them threw in from their abundance, but being very poor, she threw in everything she had, even all she had to live on.”
He gave Himself up for us, to buy us back from [enslavement to] all [kinds of] wickedness and to purify for Himself a group of people who belong to Him and who are eager to do good deeds.
God did not withhold His own Son [from dying], but offered Him up for all of us. [Since He did that], will He not, along with Jesus, freely give us everything [else] also?
for wherever [you store] your valuables, that is where your heart [i.e., your real concern] will be also.
Give [to others] and you will have [things] given to you. People will pour into your lap a full measure [of goods]; it will be pressed down, shaken together and running over [the edges]. Because the standard you use in giving [to others] will be the standard used [by them or God] in giving back to you.”
For if the eagerness is there, [then] whatever a person has [to give] is acceptable, and not what he does not have.
So, I urge you, brothers, because God is so merciful [to us], to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, [fully] dedicated and very pleasing to God. For this is a reasonable [or spiritual] way for you to worship [or serve] Him.
But do not forget to do good deeds and share [with others], for God is very pleased with such “sacrifices.”
On every first day of the week [i.e., at the regular Sunday assembly] each one of you should set aside and store up [money] in proportion to your income, so that no collections will have to be taken when I come.
'It is too bad for you hypocritical experts in the Law of Moses and [you] Pharisees! For you give a tenth of your mint, dill and cumin [i.e., small garden herbs used for seasoning or fragrance], and [yet] neglect the heavier responsibilities required by the law, [such as] justice, mercy and faith. You should have done these [“lighter”] things and not neglected to do the other [“heavier”] things [as well].
Then Jesus looked up [i.e., from his seated position at the entrance to the Temple], and saw people throwing their gifts [of money] into the treasury [Note: This was a large openmouthed container used for receiving offerings for meeting expenses of Temple upkeep].And He saw a certain poor widow throwing two small copper coins into it [Note: These two coins amounted to about ten minutes of a farm laborer’s pay, or about $1.50 in 2005].So, He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has thrown in more than all the rest [i.e., referring to the many rich people who were also throwing in money].For all of them threw in from their abundance, but she threw in from her poverty all she had to live on.”
I have demonstrated before you a [good] example in all [these] things, so that you [too] will work hard to help those who are [physically] weak. [Also] remember the words of the Lord Jesus who Himself said, ‘It is a greater blessing [for you] to give [to people's needs] than to receive [help yourselves].’”
But I have everything [I need], and in abundance; I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts that you sent, [which are like] a fragrant-smelling sacrifice, acceptable and very pleasing to God.
Truly I tell you, whoever gives a mere drink of cold water to one of these least significant [disciples of mine] because he is a disciple, will certainly not lose his [temporal or eternal] reward.”
But the person who is taught the word [of God] should provide his teacher with what he needs.
[Solemnly] urge those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant, nor to place their hope in the uncertainty of [their] wealth, but in God, who generously supplies us with everything to enjoy.[Urge them] to do what is good, to be rich in [the practice of] good deeds, to be generous and willing to share [with others].[In that way] they will store up for themselves a treasure [of never ending rewards] for providing a solid foundation for the future, so that they can take hold of the true life [i.e., in heaven].
For this Melchizedek was king of Salem [Note: This probably refers to Jerusalem], and a priest of the Most High God. He met Abraham returning [from battle] when he defeated the kings [See Gen. 14:1ff] and blessed him.Abraham measured out one tenth of everything he had [taken in battle] and gave it to Melchizedek. (Now “Melchizedek” means, first of all, “King of Righteousness,” and then [since he was] King of Salem, it also means “King of Peace”).
In that same way, you should allow your light [i.e., influence] to shine in front of people, so that they will see your good deeds and [be led to] honor your Father in heaven.
And God is able to provide you with abundant gifts, so that you will always have plenty of everything, and that you will also have plenty for doing every good deed.
Sell your possessions and give [the money] to poor people; provide yourselves with money belts that do not wear out [i.e., from the constant use of carrying much money all the time, instead of investing it in others’ needs]. [Then you will possess] an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief can approach, nor moth destroy.For wherever you store your valuables, that is where your heart [i.e., your real concern] will be also.
“Therefore, when you give money to help poor people, do not blow a trumpet in front of you [i.e., to call attention to it] as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and streets. They do this in order to win praise from people. It is true when I say to you; they have [already] received their reward.But when you give money to help poor people, do not allow your left hand to know what your right hand is doing [i.e., do it inconspicuously]so that your giving to poor people may be done secretly. Then your Father, who sees what is done secretly, will pay you back.
For [the Christians in] Macedonia and Achaia [Note: These were provinces in Greece] thought it was a good idea to take up an offering for the poor saints at Jerusalem.
Do you not know that those who perform service in the Temple [are permitted to] eat food from the Temple? And those who serve at the Altar receive a share of what is sacrificed on the Altar?Even so the Lord directed that those who proclaim the good news [about Christ] should get their living from [preaching] that good news.
Jesus replied, “If you want to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give [the money] to poor people; then become my follower and you will have treasure in heaven.”
[So], through Jesus then, we should continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the expression of our lips as we confess His name [to be our Lord].
The elders who lead [the church] well should be considered deserving of double honor [Note: This probably refers to financial support in addition to the honor of the office], especially those who work hard at [preaching] the word and at teaching it.For the Scripture says [Deut. 25:4], “You should not put a muzzle on the ox while it tramples over the grain.” And [Luke 10:7], “The worker deserves his wages.”
And the King will answer them and say, ‘Truly I tell you, since you did all this for one of my least [significant] brothers, you did it for me.’
And we should not become tired of doing good things, for eventually we will receive [never ending life] if we do not give up.So then, we should do the right thing toward every person whenever we have the opportunity, and especially toward people who are part of God’s family [i.e., those making up “the faith”].
As you Philippians also know, during the early days of [my] preaching the Gospel [in those regions], when I left Macedonia [Note: This was the northernmost province of Greece], no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving [i.e., financial help], except you only.For even [when I was] in Thessalonica, you sent [money] more than once to meet my needs.
“Do not store your valuables [here] on earth, where moths can eat them and where rust can corrode them, and where burglars can break in and steal [them].But [rather] store up your valuables in heaven [i.e., by investing your life in spiritual things], where neither moths can eat nor rust corrode, nor burglars break in and steal,for wherever [you store] your valuables, that is where your heart [i.e., your real concern] will be also.
Now, brothers, we want you to know about the favor God has given to the churches in Macedonia.[It is] how, in spite of their suffering severe trials, their overflowing joy and extreme poverty produced an overwhelming expression of generosity.For I testify that they gave [financial help] to the full limit of their ability, yes and even beyond it. [And they did this] entirely on their own,[even] pleading with us and requesting the privilege of taking part in this service to the saints [i.e., God’s holy people] in Jerusalem. [See also 9:1-15; I Cor. 16:1-2; Rom. 15:25-28].And they did not [just] do as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and [then] to us through the will of God.
Or, if our gift is encouraging others, we should devote ourselves to encouraging. Or, if our gift is sharing with others, we should do so generously. Or, if our gift is leading others, we should do so diligently. Or, if our gift is showing caring concern for others, we should do it cheerfully.
Give to the person who asks you [for something], and do not refuse to lend to the person who wants to borrow something from you.
The only thing that they encouraged us to do was to remember [the needs of] poor people, which I was very eager to do. [See Acts 24:17].
Then when I arrive, I will send letters with the men you appoint to take the gift to Jerusalem.And if it seems suitable for me to go also, they can go with me.
for your sharing [with me] in [carrying on] the work of the Gospel from the first day [I left there] until now. [See 4:14-16].
You will be made rich in everything so you can be generous in every way. This will result in people thanking God [for what you have done] through us.
If then you know how to give good gifts to your children, even though you are sinful [human beings], how much more [likely] is it that your Father in heaven will give good things to those who ask Him?
In your love for your brothers, show tender affection toward one another. Try to outdo one another in showing respect [for each other].
Do not be deceived; God will not be fooled. Whatever a person does with his life, he will reap [the results of it].
[Urge them] to do what is good, to be rich in [the practice of] good deeds, to be generous and willing to share [with others].
Now consider how great this man was, to whom the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of what he had taken [in battle].