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
he then adds, “ ‘And their sins and their wickednesses I will remember no more.’ ”Now where there is forgiveness for these, an offering for sins is no longer needed.
He said these things when he was teaching in the Temple treasury room; yet no one arrested him, because his time had not yet come.
Bring the whole tenth into the storehouse, so that there will be food in my house, and put me to the test,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot. “See if I won’t open for you the floodgates of heaven and pour out for you a blessing far beyond your needs.
Then Yeshua said to him, “See that you tell no one; but as a testimony to the people, go and let the cohen examine you, and offer the sacrifice that Moshe commanded.”
and live a life of love, just as also the Messiah loved us, indeed, on our behalf gave himself up as an offering, as a slaughtered sacrifice to God with a pleasing fragrance.
His master said to him, ‘Excellent! you are a good and trustworthy servant. You have been faithful with a small amount, so I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and join in your master’s happiness!’“Now the one who had received one talent came forward and said, ‘I knew you were a hard man. You harvest where you didn’t plant and gather where you didn’t sow seed.
Each should give according to what he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Then Yeshua sat down opposite the Temple treasury and watched the crowd as they put money into the offering-boxes. Many rich people put in large sums,but a poor widow came and put in two small coins.He called his talmidim to him and said to them, “Yes! I tell you, this poor widow has put more in the offering-box than all the others making donations.For all of them, out of their wealth, have contributed money they can easily spare; but she, out of her poverty, has given everything she had to live on.”
“‘All the tenth given from the land, whether from planted seed or fruit from trees, belongs to Adonai; it is holy to Adonai.
He gave himself up on our behalf in order to free us from all violation of Torah and purify for himself a people who would be his own, eager to do good.
He who did not spare even his own Son, but gave him up on behalf of us all — is it possible that, having given us his Son, he would not give us everything else too?
but every man is to give what he can, in accordance with the blessing Adonai your God has given you. Haftarah Re’eh: Yesha‘yahu (Isaiah) 54:11–55:5 B’rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah Re’eh: 1 Corinthians 5:9–13; 1 Yochanan (1 John) 4:1–6
Give, and you will receive gifts — the full measure, compacted, shaken together and overflowing, will be put right in your lap. For the measure with which you measure out will be used to measure back to you!”
For if the eagerness to give is there, the acceptability of the gift will be measured by what you have, not by what you don’t have.
‘Take up a collection for Adonai from among yourselves — anyone whose heart makes him willing is to bring the offering for Adonai: gold, silver and bronze;
“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to give so willingly in this way? For all things come from you, so that we have given you what is already yours.
I exhort you, therefore, brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer yourselves as a sacrifice, living and set apart for God. This will please him; it is the logical “Temple worship” for you.
But don’t forget doing good and sharing with others, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
“Every year you must take one tenth of everything your seed produces in the field,and eat it in the presence of Adonai your God. In the place where he chooses to have his name live you will eat the tenth of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your cattle and sheep, so that you will learn to fear Adonai your God always.
Every week, on Motza’ei-Shabbat, each of you should set some money aside, according to his resources, and save it up; so that when I come I won’t have to do fundraising.
so he blessed him with these words: “Blessed be Avram by El ‘Elyon, maker of heaven of earth.they made war together against Bera king of S’dom and against Birsha king of ‘Amora, Shin’av king of Admah, Shem’ever king of Tzvoyim, and the king of Bela (which is the same as Tzo‘ar).and blessed be El ‘Elyon, who handed your enemies over to you.” Avram gave him a tenth of everything. (v)
Things go well with the person who is merciful and lends, who conducts his affairs with fairness;
Some give freely and still get richer, while others are stingy but grow still poorer.The person who blesses others will prosper; he who satisfies others will be satisfied himself.
“Woe to you hypocritical Torah-teachers and P’rushim! You pay your tithes of mint, dill and cumin; but you have neglected the weightier matters of the Torah — justice, mercy, trust. These are the things you should have attended to — without neglecting the others!
Then Yeshua looked up, and as he watched the rich placing their gifts into the Temple offering-boxes,Then he told them, “Peoples will fight each other, nations will fight each other,there will be great earthquakes, there will be epidemics and famines in various places, and there will be fearful sights and great signs from Heaven.But before all this, they will arrest you and persecute you, handing you over to the synagogues and prisons; and you will be brought before kings and governors. This will all be on account of me,but it will prove an opportunity for you to bear witness.So make up your minds not to worry, rehearsing your defense beforehand;for I myself will give you an eloquence and a wisdom that no adversary will be able to resist or refute.You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends; some of you they will have put to death;and everyone will hate you because of me.But not a hair of your head will be lost.By standing firm you will save your lives.he also saw a poor widow put in two small coins.“However, when you see Yerushalayim surrounded by armies, then you are to understand that she is about to be destroyed.Those in Y’hudah must escape to the hills, those inside the city must get out, and those in the country must not enter it.For these are the days of vengeance, when everything that has been written in the Tanakh will come true.What a terrible time it will be for pregnant women and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress in the Land and judgment on the people.Some will fall by the edge of the sword, others will be carried into all the countries of the Goyim, and Yerushalayim will be trampled down by the Goyim until the age of the Goyim has run its course.“There will appear signs in the sun, moon and stars; and on earth, nations will be in anxiety and bewilderment at the sound and surge of the sea,as people faint with fear at the prospect of what is overtaking the world; for the powers in heaven will be shaken.And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with tremendous power and glory.When these things start to happen, stand up and hold your heads high; because you are about to be liberated!”Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, Indeed, all the trees.He said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put in more than all the others.As soon as they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves that summer is near.In the same way, when you see these things taking place, you are to know that the Kingdom of God is near!Yes! I tell you that this people will certainly not pass away before it has all happened.Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away.“But keep watch on yourselves, or your hearts will become dulled by carousing, drunkenness and the worries of everyday living, and that Day will be sprung upon you suddenly like a trap!For it will close in on everyone, no matter where they live, throughout the whole world.Stay alert, always praying that you will have the strength to escape all the things that will happen and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.”Yeshua spent his days at the Temple, teaching; while at night he went out and stayed on the hill called the Mount of Olives.All the people would rise with the dawn to come and hear him at the Temple courts.For they, out of their wealth, have contributed money they could easily spare; but she, out of her poverty, has given all she had to live on.”
they faithfully brought in the offerings, the required tenths and the consecrated things. Konanyahu the Levi was put in charge of them, with Shim‘i his brother as his assistant.
You can be angry, but do not sin! Think about this as you lie in bed, and calm down. (Selah)
In everything I have given you an example of how, by working hard like this, you must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Yeshua himself, ‘There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.’”
I have been more than paid in full: I have been filled, since I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent — they are a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, one that pleases God well.
Indeed, if someone gives just a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my talmid — yes! — I tell you, he will certainly not lose his reward!”
“Here is the sort of fast I want — releasing those unjustly bound, untying the thongs of the yoke, letting the oppressed go free, breaking every yoke,sharing your food with the hungry, taking the homeless poor into your house, clothing the naked when you see them, fulfilling your duty to your kinsmen!”
Don’t withhold good from someone entitled to it when you have in hand the power to do it.Don’t tell your neighbor, “Go away! Come another time; I’ll give it to you tomorrow,” when you have it now.
But whoever is being instructed in the Word should share all the good things he has with his instructor.
As for those who do have riches in this present world, charge them not to be proud and not to let their hopes rest on the uncertainties of riches but to rest their hopes on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.Charge them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and ready to share.In this way they will treasure up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may lay hold of the real life.
“Tell the people of Isra’el to take up a collection for me — accept a contribution from anyone who wholeheartedly wants to give.
“When you have come to the land Adonai your God is giving you as your inheritance, taken possession of it and settled there;Therefore, as you see, I have now brought the firstfruits of the land which you, Adonai, have given me.’ You are then to put the basket down before Adonai your God, prostrate yourself before Adonai your God,and take joy in all the good that Adonai your God has given you, your household, the Levi and the foreigner living with you. (ii)“After you have separated a tenth of the crops yielded in the third year, the year of separating a tenth, and have given it to the Levi, the foreigner, the orphan and the widow, so that they can have enough food to satisfy them while staying with you;you are to say, in the presence of Adonai your God, ‘I have rid my house of the things set aside for God and given them to the Levi, the foreigner, the orphan and the widow, in keeping with every one of the mitzvot you gave me. I haven’t disobeyed any of your mitzvot or forgotten them.I haven’t eaten any of this food when mourning, I haven’t put any of it aside when unclean, nor have I given any of it for the dead. I have listened to what Adonai my God has said, and I have done everything you ordered me to do.Look out from your holy dwelling-place, from heaven; and bless your people Isra’el and the land you gave us, as you swore to our ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.’ (iii)“Today Adonai your God orders you to obey these laws and rulings. Therefore, you are to observe and obey them with all your heart and all your being.You are agreeing today that Adonai is your God and that you will follow his ways; observe his laws, mitzvot and rulings; and do what he says.In turn Adonai is agreeing today that you are his own unique treasure, as he promised you; that you are to observe all his mitzvot;and that he will raise you high above all the nations he has made, in praise, reputation and glory; and that, as he said, you will be a holy people for Adonai your God.”you are to take the firstfruits of all the crops the ground yields, which you will harvest from your land that Adonai your God is giving you, put them in a basket and go to the place where Adonai your God will choose to have his name live.
This Malki-Tzedek, king of Shalem, a cohen of God Ha‘Elyon, met Avraham on his way back from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him;inasmuch as he was still in his ancestor Avraham’s body when Malki-Tzedek met him.Therefore, if it had been possible to reach the goal through the system of cohanim derived from Levi (since in connection with it, the people were given the Torah), what need would there have been for another, different kind of cohen, the one spoken of as to be compared with Malki-Tzedek and not to be compared with Aharon?For if the system of cohanim is transformed, there must of necessity occur a transformation of Torah.The one about whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar;for everyone knows that our Lord arose out of Y’hudah, and that Moshe said nothing about this tribe when he spoke about cohanim.It becomes even clearer if a “different kind of cohen,” one like Malki-Tzedek, arises,one who became a cohen not by virtue of a rule in the Torah concerning physical descent, but by virtue of the power of an indestructible life.For it is stated, “You are a cohen FOREVER, to be compared with Malki-Tzedek.”Thus, on the one hand, the earlier rule is set aside because of its weakness and inefficacy(for the Torah did not bring anything to the goal); and, on the other hand, a hope of something better is introduced, through which we are drawing near to God.also Avraham gave him a tenth of everything. Now first of all, by translation of his name, he is “king of righteousness”; and then he is also king of Shalem, which means “king of peace.”
Adonai does whatever pleases him, in heaven, on earth, in the seas, in all the depths.He raises clouds from the ends of the earth, he makes the lightning flash in the rain and brings the wind out from his storehouses.
In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.
Moreover, God has the power to provide you with every gracious gift in abundance, so that always in every way you will have all you need yourselves and be able to provide abundantly for every good cause —
No, you are to remember Adonai your God, because it is he who is giving you the power to get wealth, in order to confirm his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as is happening even today.
I know also, my God, that you test the heart and take pleasure in integrity. As for myself, I have given all these things willingly, in the integrity of my heart; and now, with joy, I have seen your people who are present here give willingly to you.
Sell what you own and do tzedakah — make for yourselves purses that don’t wear out, riches in heaven that never fail, where no burglar comes near, where no moth destroys.For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also.
So, when you do tzedakah, don’t announce it with trumpets to win people’s praise, like the hypocrites in the synagogues and on the streets. Yes! I tell you, they have their reward already!Instead, store up for yourselves wealth in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and burglars do not break in or steal.For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also.‘The eye is the lamp of the body.’ So if you have a ‘good eye’ [that is, if you are generous] your whole body will be full of light;but if you have an ‘evil eye’ [if you are stingy] your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!No one can be slave to two masters; for he will either hate the first and love the second, or scorn the second and be loyal to the first. You can’t be a slave to both God and money.“Therefore, I tell you, don’t worry about your life — what you will eat or drink; or about your body — what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?Look at the birds flying about! They neither plant nor harvest, nor do they gather food into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they are?Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to his life?“And why be anxious about clothing? Think about the fields of wild irises, and how they grow. They neither work nor spin thread,yet I tell you that not even Shlomo in all his glory was clothed as beautifully as one of these.But you, when you do tzedakah, don’t even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.If this is how God clothes grass in the field — which is here today and gone tomorrow, thrown in an oven — won’t he much more clothe you? What little trust you have!“So don’t be anxious, asking, ‘What will we eat?,’ ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘How will we be clothed?’For it is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all.But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.Don’t worry about tomorrow — tomorrow will worry about itself! Today has enough tsuris already!Then your tzedakah will be in secret; and your Father, who sees what you do in secret, will reward you.
and this stone, which I have set up as a standing-stone, will be God’s house; and of everything you give me, I will faithfully return one-tenth to you.”
For Macedonia and Achaia thought it would be good to make some contribution to the poor among God’s people in Yerushalayim.
So Moshe gave an order which was proclaimed throughout the camp: “Neither men nor women are to make any further efforts for the sanctuary offering.” In this way, the people were restrained from making additional contributions.For what they had already was not only sufficient for doing all the work, but too much! (LY: iv)
But the generous person devises generous things, and his generosity will keep him standing.
Don’t you know that those who work in the Temple get their food from the Temple, and those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrifices offered there?In the same way, the Lord directed that those who proclaim the Good News should get their living from the Good News.
Yeshua said to him, “If you are serious about reaching the goal, go and sell your possessions, give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me!”
In the course of time Kayin brought an offering to Adonai from the produce of the soil;and Hevel too brought from the firstborn of his sheep, including their fat. Adonai accepted Hevel and his offeringbut did not accept Kayin and his offering. Kayin was very angry, and his face fell.
Give Adonai his due, you families from the peoples; give Adonai his due of glory and strength;give Adonai the glory due to his name; bring an offering, and enter his courtyards.
He who goes out weeping as he carries his sack of seed will come home with cries of joy as he carries his sheaves of grain.
Through him, therefore, let us offer God a sacrifice of praise continually. For this is the natural product of lips that acknowledge his name.
You are to bring the best firstfruits of your land into the house of Adonai your God. “You are not to boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.” (vii)
The leaders who lead well should be considered worthy of double honor, especially those working hard at communicating the Word and at teaching.For the Tanakh says, “You are not to muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain,” in other words, “The worker deserves his wages.”
keep falsehood and futility far from me, and give me neither poverty nor wealth. Yes, provide just the food I need today;for if I have too much, I might deny you and say, “Who is Adonai?” And if I am poor, I might steal and thus profane the name of my God.
The King will say to them, ‘Yes! I tell you that whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did them for me!’
And you Philippians yourselves know that in the early days of my work spreading the Good News, when I left Macedonia, not a single congregation shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving — only you.Indeed, in Thessalonica when I needed it, you sent me aid twice.
A psalm of David: Adonai is my shepherd; I lack nothing.He has me lie down in grassy pastures, he leads me by quiet water,
He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who hides his eyes will get curses in plenty.
In addition, because my desire is set on the house of my God, since I have my own supply of gold and silver, I herewith give it to the house of my God — over and above everything I have prepared for the holy house —
generously offer food to the hungry and meet the needs of the person in trouble; then your light will rise in the darkness, and your gloom become like noon.
For the leader. A psalm of David:Even my close friend, on whom I relied, who shared my table, has turned against me.But you, Adonai, have pity on me, put me on my feet, so I can pay them back.I will know you are pleased with me if my enemy doesn’t defeat me.You uphold me because of my innocence you establish me in your presence forever.Blessed be Adonai the God of Isra’el from eternity past to eternity future. Amen. Amen.How blessed are those who care for the poor! When calamity comes, Adonai will save them.
“Do not store up for yourselves wealth here on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and burglars break in and steal.So, when you do tzedakah, don’t announce it with trumpets to win people’s praise, like the hypocrites in the synagogues and on the streets. Yes! I tell you, they have their reward already!Instead, store up for yourselves wealth in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and burglars do not break in or steal.For where your wealth is, there your heart will be also.
Rather, you must give to him; and you are not to be grudging when you give to him. If you do this, Adonai your God will bless you in all your work, in everything you undertake —
He distributes freely, he gives to the poor; his righteousness stands forever. His power will be increased honorably.
Now, brothers, we must tell you about the grace God has given the congregations in Macedonia.As I say, in regard to this matter I am only giving an opinion. A year ago you were not only the first to take action but the first to want to do so. Now it would be to your advantageto finish what you started, so that your eagerness in wanting to commence the project may be matched by your eagerness to complete it, as you contribute from what you have.For if the eagerness to give is there, the acceptability of the gift will be measured by what you have, not by what you don’t have.It is not that relief for others should cause trouble for you, but that there should be a kind of reciprocity:at present your abundance can help those in need; so that when you are in need, their abundance can help you — thus there is reciprocity.It is as the Tanakh says, “He who gathered much had nothing extra, and he who gathered little had nothing lacking.”Now I thank God for making Titus as devoted to you as we are;for he not only responded to our urging, but, being so devoted, he is coming to you on his own initiative.And with him we are sending the brother whose work for the Good News is praised in all the congregations;not only that, he has also been appointed by the congregations to travel with us, so that the way we administer this charitable work will bring honor to the Lord and show our eagerness to help.Despite severe trials, and even though they are desperately poor, their joy has overflowed in a wealth of generosity.Our aim in this is to show that our conduct in dealing with these substantial sums is above reproach;for we take pains to do what is right not only in the sight of God but also in the sight of other people.With these two we are sending another brother of ours, one whose diligence we have tested many times in many ways, but who is now all the more diligent because of his great confidence in you.As for Titus, he is my partner who works with me on your behalf; and the other brothers with him are emissaries of the congregations and bring honor to the Messiah.So the love you show these men will justify our pride in you to them, and through them to the congregations that sent them.I tell you they have not merely given according to their means, but of their own free will they have given beyond their means.They begged and pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service for God’s people.Also, they didn’t do this in the way we had expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord, which means, by God’s will, to us.
and blessed be El ‘Elyon, who handed your enemies over to you.” Avram gave him a tenth of everything. (v)
The people were filled with joy, because they had given willingly — wholeheartedly they had given willingly to Adonai; and David the king too was completely filled with joy,
if you are a counselor, use your gift to comfort and exhort; if you are someone who gives, do it simply and generously; if you are in a position of leadership, lead with diligence and zeal; if you are one who does acts of mercy, do them cheerfully.
When someone asks you for something, give it to him; when someone wants to borrow something from you, lend it to him.
He secures justice for the oppressed, he gives food to the hungry. Adonai sets prisoners free,
Their only request was that we should remember the poor — which very thing I have spared no pains to do.
And when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the people you have approved, and I will send them to carry your gift to Yerushalayim.If it seems appropriate that I go too, they will go along with me.
because you have shared in proclaiming the Good News from the very first day until now.
He who is kind to the poor is lending to Adonai; and he will repay him for his good deed.
You will be enriched in every way, so that you can be generous in everything. And through us your generosity will cause people to thank God,
When you give it to them, they gather it; when you open your hand, they are well satisfied.
The effect of righteousness will be peace; the result of righteousness, quiet trust forever.
So if you, even though you are bad, know how to give your children gifts that are good, how much more will your Father in heaven keep giving good things to those who keep asking him!
Love each other devotedly and with brotherly love; and set examples for each other in showing respect.
What he said sounded smoother than butter, but his heart was at war. His words seemed more soothing than oil, but in fact they were sharp swords.
He raises the poor from the dust, lifts the needy from the rubbish heap,in order to give him a place among princes, among the princes of his people.
Just think how great he was! Even the Patriarch Avraham gave him a tenth of the choicest spoils.