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 no longer remember their sins and iniquities."Now, when there is a remission of these things, there is no longer an oblation for sin.
Jesus spoke these words at the treasury, while teaching in the temple. And no one apprehended him, because his hour had not yet come.
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, and let there be food in my house. And test me about this, says the Lord, as to whether I will not open to you the floodgates of heaven, and pour out to you a blessing, all the way to abundance.
And Jesus said to him: "See to it that you tell no one. But go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses instructed, as a testimony for them."
And walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and delivered himself for us, as an oblation and a sacrifice to God, with a fragrance of sweetness.
His lord said to him: 'Well done, good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful over a few things, I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the gladness of your lord.'Then he who had received one talent, approaching, said: 'Lord, I know that you are a hard man. You reap where you have not sown, and gather where you have not scattered.
each one giving, just as he has determined in his heart, neither out of sadness, nor out of obligation. For God loves a cheerful giver.
And Jesus, sitting opposite the offertory box, considered the way in which the crowd cast coins into the offertory, and that many of the wealthy cast in a great deal.But when one poor widow had arrived, she put in two small coins, which is a quarter.And calling together his disciples, he said to them: "Amen I say to you, that this poor widow has put in more than all those who contributed to the offertory.For they all gave from their abundance, yet truly, she gave from her scarcity, even all that she had, her entire living."
All the tithes of the land, whether from the grain, or from the fruits of trees, are for the Lord and are sanctified to him.
He gave himself for our sake, so that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse for himself an acceptable people, pursuers of good works.
He who did not spare even his own Son, but handed him over for the sake of us all, how could he not also, with him, have given us all things?
But each one shall offer according to what he will have, according to the blessing of the Lord his God, which he will give to him.
Give, and it will be given to you: a good measure, pressed down and shaken together and overflowing, they will place upon your lap. Certainly, the same measure that you use to measure out, will be used to measure back to you again."
For when the will is prompted, it receives according to what that person has, not according to what that person does not have.
Separate from among you the first-fruits to the Lord. Let all who are willing and have a ready soul offer these to the Lord: gold, and silver, and brass,
Zion heard, and was glad. And the daughters of Judah exulted because of your judgments, O Lord.
Who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to promise all these things to you? All is yours. And so the things that we received from your hand, we have given to you.
And so, I beg you, brothers, by the mercy of God, that you offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, with the subservience of your mind.
But do not be willing to forget good works and fellowship. For God is deserving of such sacrifices.
Each year, you shall separate the tithes out of all your crops which spring forth from the earth.And you shall eat these in the sight of the Lord your God, in the place which he will choose, so that his name may be invoked there: the tenth part of your grain and wine and oil, and the firstborn from the herds and your sheep. So may you learn to fear the Lord your God at all times.
On the first day of the week, the Sabbath, let each one of you take from himself, setting aside what will be well-pleasing to him, so that when I arrive, the collections will not have to be made then.
he blessed him, and he said: "Blessed be Abram by the Most High God, who created heaven and earth.went to war against Bera, king of Sodom, and against Birsha, king of Gomorrah, and against Shinab, king of Admah, and against Shemeber, king of Zeboiim, and against the king of Bela, that is Zoar.And blessed be the Most High God, through whose protection the enemies are in your hands." And he gave him tithes from everything.
Some distribute their own goods, and they become wealthier. Others seize what is not their own, and they are always in need.The soul that blesses shall be made fat. And whoever inebriates will likewise be inebriated himself.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you collect tithes on mint and dill and cumin, but you have abandoned the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, while not omitting the others.
And looking around, he saw the wealthy putting their donations into the offertory.Then he said to them: "People will rise up against people, and kingdom against kingdom.And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and pestilences, and famines, and terrors from heaven; and there will be great signs.But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, handing you over to synagogues and into custody, dragging you before kings and governors, because of my name.And this will be an opportunity for you to give testimony.Therefore, set this in your hearts: that you should not consider in advance how you might respond.For I will give to you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries will not be able to resist or contradict.And you will be handed over by your parents, and brothers, and relatives, and friends. And they will bring about the death of some of you.And you will be hated by all because of my name.And yet, not a hair of your head will perish.By your patience, you shall possess your souls.Then he also saw a certain widow, a pauper, putting in two small brass coins.Then, when you will have seen Jerusalem encircled by an army, know then that its desolation has drawn near.Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and those who are in its midst withdraw, and those who are in the countryside not enter into it.For these are the days of retribution, so that all things may be fulfilled, which have been written.Then woe to those who are pregnant or nursing in those days. For there will be great distress upon the land and great wrath upon this people.And they will fall by the edge of the sword. And they will be led away as captives into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles, until the times of the nations are fulfilled.And there will be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars. And there will be, on earth, distress among the Gentiles, out of confusion at the roaring of the sea and of the waves:men withering away out of fear and out of apprehension over the things that will overwhelm the whole world. For the powers of the heavens will be moved.And then they will see the Son of man coming on a cloud, with great power and majesty.But when these things begin to happen, lift up your heads and look around you, because your redemption draws near."And he told them a comparison: "Take notice of the fig tree and of all the trees.And he said: "Truly, I say to you, that this poor widow has put in more than all the others.When presently they produce fruit from themselves, you know that summer is near.So you also, when you will have seen these things happen, know that the kingdom of God is near.Amen I say to you, this lineage shall not pass away, until all these things happen.Heaven and earth shall pass away. But my words shall not pass away.But be attentive to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts may be weighed down by self-indulgence and inebriation and the cares of this life. And then that day may overwhelm you suddenly.For like a snare it will overwhelm all those who sit upon the face of the entire earth.And so, be vigilant, praying at all times, so that you may be held worthy to escape from all these things, which are in the future, and to stand before the Son of man."Now in the daytime, he was teaching in the temple. But truly, departing in the evening, he lodged on the mount that is called Olivet.And all the people arrived in the morning to listen to him in the temple.For all these, out of their abundance, have added to the gifts for God. But she, out of what she needed, has put in all that she had to live on."
they faithfully brought in the first-fruits, as well as the tithes and all that they had vowed. Now the overseer of these things was Conaniah, a Levite; and his brother, Shimei, was second.
Be angry, and do not be willing to sin. The things that you say in your hearts: be sorry for them on your beds.
Whoever is inclined to mercy shall be blessed, for from his bread he has given to the poor. Whoever gives gifts will acquire victory and honor. But he carries away the soul of the receiver.
I have revealed all things to you, because by laboring in this way, it is necessary to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "
But I have everything in abundance. I have been filled up, having received from Epaphroditus the things that you sent; this is an odor of sweetness, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
Blessed is the man who has filled his desire from these things. He will not be confounded when he speaks to his enemies at the gate.
And whoever shall give, even to one of the least of these, a cup of cold water to drink, solely in the name of a disciple: Amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward."
Is not this, instead, the kind of fast that I have chosen? Release the constraints of impiety; relieve the burdens that oppress; freely forgive those who are broken; and break apart every burden.Break your bread with the hungry, and lead the destitute and the homeless into your house. When you see someone naked, cover him, and do not despise your own flesh.
Do not prevent him who is able from doing good. When you are able, do good yourself too.Do not say to your friend: "Go away, and then return. Tomorrow I will give to you." When you are able to do so, give in the present.
And let him who is being taught the Word discuss it with him who is teaching it to him, in every good way.
Instruct the wealthy of this age not to have a superior attitude, nor to hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God, who offers us everything in abundance to enjoy,and to do good, to become rich in good works, to donate readily, to share,to gather for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may obtain true life.
"Speak to the sons of Israel, so that they may take the first-fruits to me. You shall accept these from every man who offers of his own accord.
"And when you will have entered into the land which the Lord your God will give to you to possess, and when you will have obtained it and are living within it:And because of this, I now offer the first fruits of the land which the Lord has given to me.' And you shall leave them in the sight of the Lord your God, and you shall adore the Lord your God.And you shall feast on all the good things which the Lord your God will give to you and to your house: you, and the Levite, and the new arrival who is with you.When you will have completed the tithing of all your crops, in the third year of tithes, you shall give it to the Levite, and to the new arrival, and to the orphan, and to the widow, so that they may eat within your gates and be satisfied.And you shall say, in the sight of the Lord your God: 'I have taken what was sanctified from my house, and I have given it to the Levite, and to the new arrival, and to the orphan and the widow, just as you have commanded me. I have not transgressed your commandments, nor have I forgotten your precepts.I have not eaten from these things in my grief, nor have I separated them due to any kind of uncleanness, nor have I expended any of these things in funerals. I have obeyed the voice of the Lord my God, and I have done all things just as you have instructed me.Look with favor from your sanctuary and from your lofty habitation amid the heavens, and bless your people Israel and the land which you have given to us, just as you swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.'Today the Lord your God has instructed you to carry out these commandments and judgments, and to keep and fulfill them, with all your heart and with all your soul.Today, you have chosen the Lord to be your God, so that you may walk in his ways, and keep his ceremonies and commandments and judgments, and obey his command.Today, the Lord has chosen you, so that you may be his particular people, just as he has spoken to you, and so that you may keep all his precepts,and so that he may cause you to be more exalted than all the nations which he has created, for the sake of his own praise and name and glory, in order that you may be a holy people for the Lord your God, just as he has spoken."you shall take the first of all your crops, and place them in a basket, and you shall travel to the place which the Lord your God will choose, so that his name may be invoked there.
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham, as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him.For he was still in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.Therefore, if consummation had occurred through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), then what further need would there be for another Priest to rise up according to the order of Melchizedek, one who was not called according to the order of Aaron?For since the priesthood has been transferred, it is necessary that the law also be transferred.For he about whom these things have been spoken is from another tribe, in which no one attends before the altar.For it is evident that our Lord arose out of Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing concerning priests.And yet it is far more evident that, according to the likeness of Melchizedek, there rises up another priest,who was made, not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the virtue of an indissoluble life.For he testifies: "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."Certainly, there is a setting aside of the former commandment, because of its weakness and lack of usefulness.For the law led no one to perfection, yet truly it introduced a better hope, through which we draw near to God.And Abraham divided to him a tenth part of everything. And in translation his name is first, indeed, king of justice, and next also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.
He covets and desires all day long. But whoever is just shall distribute and shall not cease.
He established the earth above the waters, for his mercy is eternal.He made the great lights, for his mercy is eternal:
So then, let your light shine in the sight of men, so that they may see your good works, and may glorify your Father, who is in heaven.
And God is able to make every grace abound in you, so that, always having what you need in all things, you may abound unto every good work,
But remember the Lord your God, that he himself has provided you with strength, so that he may fulfill his covenant, about which he swore to your fathers, just as the present day reveals.
I know, my God, that you test hearts, and that you love simplicity. Therefore, in the simplicity of my heart, I also have offered all these things joyfully. And I have seen, with immense gladness, your people, who have been found here, offering their donations to you.
Sell what you possess, and give alms. Make for yourselves purses that will not wear out, a treasure that will not fall short, in heaven, where no thief approaches, and no moth corrupts.For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Therefore, when you give alms, do not choose to sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the towns, so that they may be honored by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.Instead, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither rust nor moth consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal.For where your treasure is, there also is your heart.The lamp of your body is your eye. If your eye is wholesome, your entire body will be filled with light.But if your eye has been corrupted, your entire body will be darkened. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great will that darkness be!No one is able to serve two masters. For either he will have hatred for the one, and love the other, or he will persevere with the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.And so I say to you, do not be anxious about your life, as to what you will eat, nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?Consider the birds of the air, how they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of much greater value than they are?And which of you, by thinking, is able to add one cubit to his stature?And as for clothing, why are you anxious? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither work nor weave.But I say to you, that not even Solomon, in all his glory, was arrayed like one of these.But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,So if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and cast into the oven tomorrow, how much more will he care for you, O little in faith?Therefore, do not choose to be anxious, saying: 'What shall we eat, and what shall we drink, and with what shall we be clothed?'For the Gentiles seek all these things. Yet your Father knows that you need all these things.Therefore, seek first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added to you as well.Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow; for the future day will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its evil."so that your almsgiving may be in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you.
and this stone, which I have set up as a monument, will be called 'the House of God.' And from all the things that you will give to me, I will offer tithes to you."
For those of Macedonia and Achaia have decided to make a collection for those of the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem.
Therefore, Moses ordered this to be recited, with a voice of proclamation: "Let neither man nor woman offer anything further for the work of the Sanctuary." And so they ceased from offering gifts,because what was offered was sufficient and was more than an abundance.
Yet truly, the prince will plan things that are worthy of a prince, and he will stand above the rulers.
Do you not know that those who work in the holy place eat the things that are for the holy place, and that those who serve at the altar also share with the altar?So, too, has the Lord ordained that those who announce the Gospel should live by the Gospel.
He has not done so much for every nation, and he has not made his judgments manifest to them. Alleluia.
Jesus said to him: "If you are willing to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow me."
Then it happened, after many days, that Cain offered gifts to the Lord, from the fruits of the earth.Abel likewise offered from the firstborn of his flock, and from their fat. And the Lord looked with favor on Abel and his gifts.Yet in truth, he did not look with favor on Cain and his gifts. And Cain was vehemently angry, and his countenance fell.
May all those who adore graven images be confounded, along with those who glory in their false images. All you his Angels: Adore him.Zion heard, and was glad. And the daughters of Judah exulted because of your judgments, O Lord.
I will extol you, Lord, for you have sustained me, and you have not allowed my enemies to delight over me.
Whoever pursues avarice disturbs his own house. But whoever hates bribes shall live. Through mercy and faith, sins are purged. But through the fear of the Lord, each one turns aside from evil.
Therefore, through him, let us offer the sacrifice of continual praise to God, which is the fruit of lips confessing his name.
The first of the fruits of your land you shall offer in the house of the Lord your God. You shall not boil a young goat in the milk of its mother."
Let priests who lead well be held worthy of twice the honor, especially those who labor in the Word and in doctrine.For Scripture says: "You shall not muzzle an ox as it is treading out the grain," and, "The worker is worthy of his pay."
Remove, far from me, vanity and lying words. Give me neither begging, nor wealth. Apportion to me only the necessities of my life,lest perhaps, being filled, I might be enticed into denial, and say: 'Who is the Lord?' Or, being compelled by destitution, I might steal, and then perjure myself in the name of my God.
And in response, the King shall say to them, 'Amen I say to you, whenever you did this for one of these, the least of my brothers, you did it for me.'
But you also know, O Philippians, that at the beginning of the Gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not a single church shared with me in the plan of giving and receiving, except you alone.For you even sent to Thessalonica, once, and then a second time, for what was useful to me.
For the First Sabbath. A Psalm of David. The earth and all its fullness belong to the Lord: the whole world and all that dwells in it.Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of virtue. He himself is the King of Glory.For he has founded it upon the seas, and he has prepared it upon the rivers.
Whoever gives to the poor shall not be in need. Whoever despises his petition will suffer scarcity.
And in addition to these things that I have offered into the house of my God, I give, from my own belongings, gold and silver for the temple of my God, aside from those things that I have prepared for the holy shrine:
When you pour out your life for the hungry, and you satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will rise up in darkness, and your darkness will be like the midday.
Unto the end. The understanding of the sons of Korah.I will say to God, "You are my supporter. Why have you forgotten me? And why do I walk in mourning, while my adversary afflicts me?"While my bones are being broken, my enemies, who trouble me, have reproached me. Meanwhile, they say to me every single day, "Where is your God?"My soul, why are you saddened? And why do you disquiet me? Hope in God, for I will still confess to him: the salvation of my countenance and my God.As the deer longs for fountains of water, so my soul longs for you, O God.
Do not choose to store up for yourselves treasures on earth: where rust and moth consume, and where thieves break in and steal.Therefore, when you give alms, do not choose to sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the towns, so that they may be honored by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.Instead, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither rust nor moth consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal.For where your treasure is, there also is your heart.
Instead, you shall give to him. Neither shall you do anything craftily while assisting him in his needs, so that the Lord your God may bless you, at all times and in all things to which you will put your hand.
And so we are making known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given in the churches of Macedonia.And about this, I give my counsel. For this is useful to those of you who, only a year earlier, had just begun to act, or even to be willing to act.So, truly now, accomplish this in deed, so that, in the same manner as your willing mind is prompted, you may also act, out of that which you have.For when the will is prompted, it receives according to what that person has, not according to what that person does not have.And it is not that others should be relieved, while you are troubled, but that there should be an equality.In this present time, let your abundance supply their need, so that their abundance may also supply your need, in order that there may be an equality, just as it was written:"He with more did not have too much; and he with less did not have too little."But thanks be to God, who has granted to the heart of Titus, this same solicitude for you.For certainly, he accepted the exhortation. But since he was more solicitous, he went to you of his own free will.And we have even sent with him a brother whose praise accompanies the Gospel throughout all the churches.And not only that, but he was also chosen by the churches to be a companion for our sojourn in this grace, which is ministered by us with our determined will, to the glory of the Lord.For within a great experience of tribulation, they have had an abundance of joy, and their profound poverty has only increased the richness of their simplicity.So let us avoid this, lest anyone disparage us over the abundance that is ministered by us.For we provide for what is good, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of men.And we have also sent with them our brother, whom we have proven to be frequently solicitous in many matters. But now there is a greater solicitousness, which is greatly entrusted to you;and whether it concerns Titus, who is a companion to me and a helper to you, or whether it concerns our brothers, the Apostles of the churches, it is to the glory of Christ.Therefore, in the sight of the churches, show them the proof of your charity and of our glorying about you.And I bear witness to them, that they were willing to accept what was in accord with their ability, and even what was beyond their ability.For they were begging us, with great exhortation, for the grace and the communication of the ministry that is with the saints.And this is beyond what we had hoped, since they gave themselves, first of all to the Lord, and then also to us, through the will of God,
And blessed be the Most High God, through whose protection the enemies are in your hands." And he gave him tithes from everything.
And the people rejoiced, since they were promising their votive offerings willingly. For they were offering these to the Lord with all their heart. And king David also rejoiced with great gladness.
There is no health in my flesh before the face of your wrath. There is no peace for my bones before the face of my sins.
he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, in simplicity; he who governs, in solicitude; he who shows mercy, in cheerfulness.
Whoever asks of you, give to him. And if anyone would borrow from you, do not turn away from him.
asking only that we should be mindful of the poor, which was the very thing that I also was solicitous to do.
And when I am present, whomever you shall approve through letters, these I shall send to bear your gifts to Jerusalem.And if it is fitting for me to go too, they shall go with me.
because of your communion in the Gospel of Christ, from the first day even until now.
Whoever is merciful to the poor lends to the Lord. And he will repay him for his efforts.
So then, having been enriched in all things, you may abound in all simplicity, which works thanksgiving to God through us.
And the work of justice will be peace. And the service of justice will be quiet and secure, forever.
Therefore, if you, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your sons, how much more will your Father, who is in heaven, give good things to those who ask him?
Before the face of the Lord, the earth was moved, before the face of the God of Jacob.He converted the rock into pools of water, and the cliff into fountains of waters.
Next, consider how great this man is, since the Patriarch Abraham even gave tithes to him from the principal things.