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
LA'AVONAM U’LECHATTATAM LO EZKAR ("And their wickedness and their sin I will remember no more" Jer 31:34).Now where there is selicha (forgiveness) for these things, there is no longer a korban for chatta'im.
Honor Hashem with thy substance, and with the reshit (firstfruit) of all thine increase;
These dvarim, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach spoke in the Beis HaOtzar while saying shiurim in the Beis Hamikdash, and no one arrested him, because his sha'ah had not yet come.
Bring ye kol hama'aser (all the tithes) into the Beis HaOtzar (House of the Treasury), that there may be teref (food) in Mine Beis [Hamikdash], and prove Me now herewith, saith Hashem Tzva'os, if I will not open you the windows of Shomayim, and pour you out a berakhah, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him, See that you tell no one, but go and show yourself to the kohen and offer the korban about which Moshe gave mitzvah as an edut to them.
And fier zich (comport oneself) in your derech in ahavah, as also Moshiach had ahavah for us and gave Himself up on behalf of us as a korban and zevach to Hashem for a RE'ACH HANNICHOACH ("a pleasant aroma" BERESHIS 8:21).
His Adon said to him, Shkoyach (well done), eved tov vneeman! A few things you were faithful over, over many things I will ordain you. Enter into the simcha of your Adon.And also the one who had received one talent stepped forward. He said, Adoni, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering from that which you did not scatter seed.
Each of you should give as he has decided previously in his lev (heart), not giving bedieved (begrudgingly) nor out of necessity; for Hashem loves a cheerful giver. [SHEMOT 25:2; DEVARIM 15:10; MISHLE 22:8 TARGUM HASHIVIM]
And having sat [down] opposite the Beis Hamikdash Otzar (Treasury), Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was observing how the multitude throws copper [coins] into the Otzar. And many ashirim (rich people) were throwing [in] much. [MELACHIM BAIS 12:9]And a poor almanah (widow) came and threw [in] two leptas, which is a kodrantes.And having summoned his talmidim, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them: Omein, I say to you that this poor almanah has put in more tzedakah (charity contribution) than all those contributing to the Otzar,For everyone threw in from their abundance, but this almanah from her need has put in everything she had, all her michyah (subsistence).
Honor Hashem with thy substance, and with the reshit (firstfruit) of all thine increase;So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall burst out with tirosh.
And all the ma'aser HaAretz (tithe of the Land), whether of the zera HaAretz, or of the pri HaEtz, is Hashem's; it is kodesh unto Hashem.
(2:10) But I will sacrifice unto Thee with the voice of todah; I will pay that which I have vowed. Yeshuah (Salvation) is from Hashem.
Who gave his nefesh on behalf of us, that for us he might bring in the Geulah, redeeming us MI KOL AVONOTAV ("from all Israel’s sins” TEHILLIM 130:8; Isa 53:8), making tahor AM LI SEGULAH ("a people for My possession” SHEMOT 19:5), zealous for ma'asim tovim.
He who indeed did not spare His own Ben HaElohim but gave him up for us all, how shall He not also with him give us all things (see Ro 8:12-17; 4:13).
Every man shall give as he is able, according to the Birkat Hashem Eloheicha which He hath given thee.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, having been pressed down and having been shaken, overflowing, will be put into your kheyk (lap). For by what measure you measure it will be measured in return to you. [Ps 79:12; Isa 65:6,7]
For if the readiness is already present, it is acceptable according to whatever one may have --not according to what one does not have. [MISHLE 3:27-28; Mk 12:43]
Take ye from among you a terumah (offering) unto Hashem; all of nediv lev of him (i.e., urged by his heart), let him bring it, a terumat Hashem, zahav, and kesef, and nechoshet,
Render unto Hashem the kavod due unto Shmo; bring a minchah, and come into His khatzerot (courtyards).
But who am I, and what is my people, that we should have ko'ach to make this freewill offering? For all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee.
I appeal to you, therefore, Achim b'Moshiach, through the rachamei Hashem (mercies of G-d), to present your geviyah (BERESHIS 47:18), all of your being as a korban chai (living sacrifice), kadosh (holy) and acceptable to Hashem (BERESHIS 8:21), which is your spiritual avodas kodesh service.
But do not drift away from ma'asim tovim and sharing; for with such zevakhim Hashem is well pleased.
Thou shalt truly give ma'aser (tithe) of all the increase of thy zera, that the sadeh bringeth forth year by year.And thou shalt eat before Hashem Eloheicha, in the place which He shall choose to place Shmo there, the ma'aser (tithe) of thy dagan (grain), of thy tirosh (new wine), and of thine yitzhar (fresh oil), and the bekhorot (firstlings) of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to stand in awe of Hashem Eloheicha always.
Every Yom Rishon (T.N. which begins Motzoei Shabbos by Biblical reckoning, each day being an evening and a morning) of each week, each of you by himself make something farnumen (set aside), storing up according to his hakhnasah (income), so that collections need not be made when I come.
And he blessed him, and said, Baruch Avram by El Elyon, Creator of Shomayim v'Aretz;And baruch El Elyon, Who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him ma'aser (tithe) of all.
There is that which scattereth, and yet increaseth more; and there is that which withholdeth more than is yosher, but it leadeth to machsor (want, need, poverty).The nefesh berakhah (generous person) shall be made to prosper, and he that watereth shall be refreshed also himself.
Oy to you, Sofrim and Perushim, tzevuim, for you give maasros (tithe) of mint and dill and cumin, and you have neglected the matters of the Torah of greater consequence: mishpat, chesed, and emunah. These things it was necessary to do and those [others] not to neglect.
And having looked up, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach saw the ashirim (rich people) putting into the Beis Hamikdash Otzar (Treasury) their matanot (gifts).And he saw a certain poor almanah (widow) putting in there two leptas.And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, Omein, I say to you that this poor almanah (widow) put in more tzedakah than everyone.For all these put in matanot (gifts) out of their abundance, but this almanah (widow), out of her need, put in her michyah (subsistence).
And brought in the terumah and the ma'aser and the kadashim be'emunah (faithfully), over which Conanyah the Levi was Nagid, and Shimei his brother was mishneh (second).
He that hath a tov ayin (generous eye) shall have a bracha; for he giveth of his lechem to the dal (poor).
"In all this I was showing you a mofet (example) that thus working hard it is necessary to help the weak and to have zikaron of the dvarim of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu Yehoshua, that he himself said, `Beser (better) to geben (give) than to nemen (take).’"
But I have all things and I abound; I have been filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things from you, a RE'ACH HANNICHOACH ("a pleasant aroma" BERESHIS 8:21), an acceptable, sacrifice wellpleasing to Hashem [SHEMOT 29:18; YECHEZKEL 20:41].
And whoever in the name of a talmid [of Moshiach] gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones [the least of the talmidim of Moshiach], omein, I say to you, he will by no means lose his sachar.
Is not this the tzom that I have chosen? To loose the chartzubbot resha (chains of wickedness, injustice), to undo the aguddot motah (bindings of the yoke bar), and to let the retzutzim (oppressed ones) go as chafeshim (free ones), and that ye break kol motah (every yoke of oppression)?Is it not paras lechem (breaking bread of thine, i.e., serving food) to the hungry, and that thou bring the homeless aniyyim (poor) to thy bais? When thou seest the arom (naked), that thou cover him with clothing; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own basar (flesh and blood, kinspeople)?
Withhold not tov from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine yad to do it.Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and makhar (tomorrow) I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
And let the one being taught limudei kodesh (sacred studies) in the Kitvei HaKodesh share in all good things with his rabbinic moreh (2Ti3:14-15).
Charge the oishirim in the Olam Hazeh not to walk in gaa'vah (pride) and highmindedness, neither to put their tikvah (hope) in the uncertainty of their osher but in Hashem who richly grants us all things for enjoyment.Charge the oishirim to do HaTov, to be rich in ma'asim tovim, to demonstrate rochav lev (generosity) and willingness to do gemilus chesed,Treasuring up for themselves a yesod tov (good foundation) for Olam Habah that they may lay hold of HaChayyim HaAmittiyim.
Speak unto the Bnei Yisroel, that they bring Me a terumah (offering); of every man that giveth it willingly with his lev ye shall receive My terumah (offering).
KI TAVO And it shall be, when thou art come in unto ha'aretz which Hashem Eloheicha giveth thee for a nachalah, and possessest it, and dwellest therein,That thou shalt take of the reshit kol pri ha'adamah which thou shalt bring of thy land that Hashem Eloheicha giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which Hashem Eloheicha shall choose to place Shmo there.
For this MALKITZEDEK MELECH SHALEM KOHEN L'EL ELYON, the one "having met Avraham Avinu ACHAREI SHUVO ("after returning") from the slaughter of "the kings and having blessed him", BERESHIS 14:17-20)With whom also "AVRAHAM avinu apportioned MA'ASER MIKOL (a tithe of everything.” As for his Name, it is rendered "King of Tzedek (Righteousness)" and then also "Melech of SHALOM."
Whatsoever Hashem pleases, that He does in Shomayim, and in HaAretz, in HaYam, and kol tehomot.He causeth the clouds to ascend at the end of HaAretz; He maketh lightning for the matar (rain); He bringeth the ruach out of His otzarot.
In like manner, let your light so shine before Bnei Adam, that they may see your maasim tovim (good works) and give kavod (glory) to your Av shbaShomayim (Father in Heaven).
And Hashem is able to cause to abound to you all Chen v'Chesed Hashem that in everything, always, having all sufficiency, you may abound to every mitzvah.
But thou shalt remember Hashem Eloheicha; for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth, that He may establish His Brit which He swore unto Avoteicha, as it is yom hazeh.
I know also, Elohai, that Thou doth test the levav, and hast pleasure in meisharim (integrities, uprightness, equity). As for me, in the yosher levavi I have made freewill offerings of all these things, and now have I seen with simchah Thy people, which are present here, willingly offer freewill offerings unto Thee.
The rasha borroweth, and repayeth not; but the tzaddik showeth chonen (generosity), and giveth.
Sell your possesions and give tzedakah. Make for yourselves the baitel (wallet) that doesn't wear out, an inexhaustlble otzar (treasure) in Shomayim, where no ganav (thief) comes near nor moth destroys.For where your otzar (treasure) is, there also will be your lev (heart).
Therefore, whenever you contribute tzedakah, don’t blow the shofar before you, as the tzevuim (hypocrites) do in the shuls and in the streets, in order that they may receive kavod (glory) from Bnei Adam. Omein, truly I say to you, they have their sachar (reward).But when you contribute tzedakah, do not let your left hand have da’as (knowledge) of what your right hand is doing,so that your tzedakah may be nistar (hidden, in secret), and your Av HaRoeh b’seter (Father, the One seeing in secret) [His] sachar (reward) will give you.
And this even (stone), which I have set for a matzevah (pillar), shall be Beis Elohim: and of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the aser (tenth) unto Thee.
For the kehillot of Moshiach (Messianic congregations) in Macedonia and Achaia (Greece) chose to make some tzedakah (contribution) for the aniyim (poor) among the Kadoshim in Yerushalayim.
And Moshe gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the machaneh, saying, Let neither ish nor isha make any more work for the terumat HaKodesh. So HaAm were restrained from bringing.For the work had been sufficient for all the work to do it v'hoter.
(8) I will sacrifice a nedavah (freewill offering) unto Thee; I will praise Shimecha, Hashem; for it is tov (good).
Do you not have da'as that the kohanim serving in the Beis Hamikdash sherut (service in the Temple) eat the things of the Beis Hamikdash; the kohanim attending the Mizbe'ach (altar) have their share with the Mizbe'ach (altar)?So also Moshiach Adoneinu appointed the ones proclaiming the Besuras HaGeulah to get their parnasah from the Besuras HaGeulah.
He giveth to the behemah her lechem, and to the bnei orev (young ravens) when they cry out.
Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to him, If you wish to be tamim (perfect), if you wish to have shelemut (perfection, completeness), then go and sell your possessions and give to the aniyim (poor) and you will have otzar (treasure) in Shomayim. Then come and follow me [Moshiach].
And in ketz yamim it came to pass, that Kayin brought of the p'ri haadamah a minchah unto Hashem.And Hevel, he also brought of the bechorot of his tzon and of the chelev thereof. And Hashem regarded [with favor, respect] unto Hevel and to his minchah:But unto Kayin and to his minchah He had not regard . And Kayin was very angry, and his countenance fell.
Render unto Hashem, O ye mishpekhot of the nations, render unto Hashem kavod and oz.Render unto Hashem the kavod due unto Shmo; bring a minchah, and come into His khatzerot (courtyards).
Ascribe unto Hashem the Kavod Shmo; worship Hashem in the Hadrat Kodesh (beauty of holiness).
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing meshek hazara (seed to be sown) shall doubtless come again with rinnah, bearing his alummot (sheaves [of harvest]).
He that is greedy of unjust gain troubleth his own bais, but he that hateth mattanot (bribes) shall live.
By him, therefore, let us offer up a zevach todah to Hashem continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving hodayah (thanksgiving) to SHMO (“HIS NAME” ZECHARIAH 6:11-12; 3:8).
The reshit bikkurim of thy land thou shalt bring unto the Beis Hashem Eloheicha. Thou shalt not cook a kid in cholov immo.
Let the Zekenim (elders, see SHEMOT 12:21) who have ruled well be considered worthy of double kavod, especially the Zekenim laboring in Messianic hatafah (preaching) and Messianic hora'ah (teaching).For the Kitvei HaKodesh says, LO TACHSOM SHOR BEDISHO ("You shall not muzzle the ox while he is treading out the grain" DEVARIM 25:4), and "Worthy is the workman of his wages."
Remove far from me shav (vanity, falsehood) and davar kazav (word of a liar); give me neither poverty nor osher; feed me lechem chukki (my daily bread);Lest I be full, and deny Thee, and say, Who is Hashem? Or lest I be poor, and become a ganav, and profane the Shem of Elohai.
He is ever chonen (generous, merciful; see verse 21), and lendeth; and his zera is blessed.
And in reply, HaMelech [HaMoshiach] will say to them, Omein, I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these achim of mine, you did it to me.
Now let us not lose chozek in doing Gemilut Chasadim, for BE'ITO ("in its season" TEHILLIM 1:3) we will reap, if we faint not.Therefore, then, as we have opportunity, we should do ma'asim tovim towards all, and especially towards the Bnei Beis HaEmunah.
And also you Philippians have da'as, that in the beginning of the Besuras HaGeulah, when I went out from Macedonia, not one kehillah shared with me in an accounting of expenditures and receipts except you only.Indeed in Thessalonica both once and again you sent to my machsor (shortage).
Mizmor of Dovid Hashem is my Ro'eh (Shepherd); I shall not lack.He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the mei menuchot (tranquil waters).
He that giveth unto the rahsh (poor) shall not lack, but he that hideth his eynayim meeteth many curses.
Moreover, because I have set my affection on the Bais Elohai, I have of mine own segullah (treasure) zahav and kesef, which I have given to the Bais Elohai, over and above all that I have prepared for the Beis HaKodesh.
With a spirit of koinonia, keep the pushke full for the needs of the Kadoshim. Aspire to hachnosas orchim.
And if thou draw out thy nefesh to the hungry, and satisfy the nefesh of the afflicted, then shall thy ohr rise in choshech, and thy darkness shall be as the noon;
(2) For the one directing Mizmor of Dovid Blessed is he that considereth the helpless; Hashem will deliver him in time of ra'ah (evil, trouble).(3) Hashem will be shomer over him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed in ha'aretz; and Thou wilt not surrender him unto the desire of his enemies.
Do not store up for yourselves otzarot (treasures) on haaretz, where moth and rust destroy and where ganavim (thieves) break in and steal.But zamlet (collect) for yourselves otzarot (treasures) in Shomayim, where neither moth nor rust destroys, neither do ganavim break in and steal.For where your otzar (treasure) is, there also will be your lev (heart).
Thou shalt surely give him, and thine lev shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him; because that for this thing Hashem Eloheicha shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.
He hath contributed freely, he hath given to the evyonim (needy); his tzedakah endureth forever; his keren shall be lifted up in kavod.
Now we make known to you, Achim b'Moshiach, the Chen v'Chesed Hashem that was granted to Moshiach's Kehillot of Macedonia,That during a great ordeal of tzoros, their abundant simcha and the extreme depth of their oni (poverty) abounded to the osher (riches) of their generosity [SHEMOT 36:5; Pp 1:29-30; 1Th 1:6; 2:14; 3:3 4];That according to their ability, I give solemn edut, and ad kdei kach (so much) even beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily and of their own accord,Begging us, requesting from us the privilege of participating in giving tzedakah to the Messianic Jewish ministry of the Kadoshim [Ro 15:26; Ac 11:29; 2C 9:1]And this not merely according to tikvateinu. They gave themselves first to Adoneinu and to us [Moshiach's Shlichim] birtzon Hashem (in the will of G-d),
And baruch El Elyon, Who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him ma'aser (tithe) of all.
Then the people rejoiced, for theirs were freewill offerings, because with lev shalem they offered willingly to Hashem; and Dovid HaMelech also rejoiced with simchah gedolah.
One who imparts chizzuk (strengthening, encouragement) should be active in that avodas kodesh ministry. One who makes tzedakah (contributions) should do so with nedivut (generosity). The one in manhigut (leadership), with diligence. The one in bikkur cholim (visiting the sick) and gemilut chasadim (benevolence), with simcha.
And the one asking you to give and the one wishing to borrow from you, from these do not turn away.
Oseh mishpat for the oppressed; Who giveth lechem to the hungry. Hashem mattir asurim (sets free the prisoners):
Only that we should remember the Aniyim (the Poor), the very thing which I was also eager to do.
And when I arrive, whomever you approve, these I will send with iggrot to carry your matanah to Yerushalayim.And if it is fitting for me also to go, they will go with me.
In view of your deveykus Hashem, your chavrusa partnership in the Besuras HaGeulah from day one until now.
He that hath compassion on the dal (poor) lendeth unto Hashem; and for his benefits He will repay him.
You will be enriched in every ma’aseh chesed to all generosity, which produces through us hodayah (thanksgiving) to Hashem; [2C 1:11; 4:15]
And the ma'aseh (work) of tzedakah (righteousness) shall be shalom; and the effect of tzedakah quietness and assurance ad olam (forever).
Therefore, if you, being ra’im (evil ones), know to give matanot tovot (good gifts) to your yeladim, how much more does your Av shbaShomayim give hatov (the good) to the ones asking Him.
Show mishpochah (family) affection to one another in ahavah shel achvah (brotherly love). Be first in esteeming one another, in showing mutual respect.
(23) Cast thy burden upon Hashem, and He shall sustain thee; He shall never suffer the tzaddik to be moved.
Do not be led astray. Hashem is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, this also he will reap.
Charge the oishirim to do HaTov, to be rich in ma'asim tovim, to demonstrate rochav lev (generosity) and willingness to do gemilus chesed,
He raiseth up the poor out of the aphar (dust), and lifteth the needy out of the ash heap;That he may seat him with princes, even with the princes of amo (His people).
Now consider how great among the Gedolim this one was to whom also Avraham Avinu gave from his booty a ma'aser (tithe).