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 their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor.
His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed:
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:for all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord.
But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.
who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.
give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass,
Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always.
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:that these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of Gomor´rah, Shinab king of Admah, and Sheme´ber king of Zeboi´im, and the king of Bela, which is Zo´ar.and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:and great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.And it shall turn to you for a testimony.Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.But there shall not a hair of your head perish.In your patience possess ye your souls.And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away.And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.And in the daytime he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.for all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
and brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: over which Conani´ah the Levite was ruler, and Shim´e-i his brother was the next.
I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought 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 all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphrodi´tus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.
And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.
And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein;And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O Lord, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the Lord thy God, and worship before the Lord thy God:and thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you.When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;then thou shalt say before the Lord thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of mine house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them:I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away aught thereof for any unclean use, nor given aught thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the Lord my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me.Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these statutes and judgments: thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:and the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;and to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honor; and that thou mayest be a holy people unto the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken.that thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place his name there.
For this Melchiz´edek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchiz´edek met him.If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchiz´edek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchiz´edek there ariseth another priest,who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchiz´edek.For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!No man 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. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
For it hath pleased them of Macedo´nia and Achai´a to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing.For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much.
Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength.Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.
The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring unto the house of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labor in the word and doctrine.For the Scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The laborer is worthy of his reward.
remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedo´nia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.For even in Thessaloni´ca ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,
and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.But thou, O Lord, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.By this I know that thou favorest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honor.
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedo´nia;And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want; that there may be equality:as it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;and not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:how that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisoners:
Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever.
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;
Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.