11 Post-Calvary Texts Which Abolish Tithing

11 Post-Calvary Texts Which Abolish HOLY Tithing by Russell Earl Kelly, PHD, June 8, 2016 1. Hebrews 7:18 very clearly abolished HOLY tithing after Calvary in context. Heb 7:18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. This verse must, in context, include tithing. Tithing is the only “commandment” mentioned in Hebrews before 7:18. The priests have a “commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law” (7:5) and it was “necessary” “to change” that law (7:12). Next, the “change” was NOT to support gospel workers; rather the “change” was its “annulment” in 7:18. 2. Hebrews 8:13 abolished HOLY tithing. Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. Tithing, as the word is used by Moses, Nehemiah, Malachi and Jesus, was an essential part of the Old Covenant to supports its Levite temple workers and Aaronic priests. The old covenant, the temple, the Levitical workers and the Aaronic priesthood ended at Calvary – including tithing. Also Galatians 4:21-26; 2 Corinthians 3:6-10. 3. 1 Peer 2:5 (2:9; Rev 5:10) abolished tithing. 1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. In the New Covenant all believers are priests who do not tithe to each other. During the Old Covenant priests received one tenth of the tithe (1% of 10% or 1%) per Numbers 18:25-28 and Nehemiah 10:38. Old Covenant priests did not tithe but gave freewill offerings per Malachi 1:6-14. If tithing were post-Calvary for gospel workers, they would only be due 1% of the first Levitical tithe. 4. Acts 6:2-4 abolished tithing. Acts 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables . Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. According to Numbers 18:21-24 and Nehemiah 10:37b, the Levites who received the whole (10%) Levitical tithe were only servants to the priests. Those Levites have been replaced by Christian deacons, ushers, singers, musicians, treasurers, builders, maintenance men and cooks who do not receive the tithes. If tithing were for post-Calvary Christians their Levite-equivalents would receive the first 10%. 5. 1 Corinthians 3:16 and 6:19 abolish tithing. 1 Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? O. T. tithes were for the purpose of supporting the Levites and priests for their ministry in the physical Temple in Jerusalem and for their prohibition to inherit land and amass wealth in Israel. That temple no longer exists and has been replaced by the temple of the believer’s body where the Holy Spirit dwells. The fact that gospel workers own and inherit land and amass much wealth contrary to the tithing law of Numbers 18:20-21 proves by actions that O. T. tithing laws no longer apply. 6. 2 Corinthians 11:8 abolished tithing. 2 Cor 11:8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. In the O. T. HOLY tithes were always only FOOD from inside God’s HOLY land of Israel. In the N. T. gospel workers received wages which were NOT food. In order for tithing to be a post-Calvary doctrine, the very definition and description of tithes would have to be changed (and it was never changed). There are 16 pre-Calvary texts describing the contents of the HOLY tithes as the word is used by Moses, Nehemiah, Malachi and Jesus and none of them contain money – including Matthew 23:23. 7. Ephesians 2:13 abolished tithing. Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace. Since tithing was required by Hebrews and not by Gentiles, it was one of those walls which separated the two. As a ceremonial worship “ordinance-statute,” tithing was clearly abolished by Calvary. It was certainly neither one of the Ten Commandments nor one of the civil legislative judgments handled by judges. See Numbers 18. 8. Colossians 2:14 abolished tithing. Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. Again, since tithing was clearly a ceremonial worship “ordinance-statute,” it was clearly abolished by Calvary. It was definitely neither one of the Ten Commandments nor one of the civil legislative judgments handled by judges. See Numbers 18. 9. Romans 7:4 abolished tithing. Rom 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For Hebrews the whole Law ended at Calvary. For both Hebrews and Jews, law as a principle one might use to incorrectly please God ends the moment one dies in Christ’s death and is born again. No law can condemn or control a dead person (Gal 2:20). The new “law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” controls the believer (Rom 8:2-3). Only that part of the Old Covenant Law which has been repeated after Calvary in terms of grace and faith applies to Christians. Tithing was never commanded to believers after Calvary. 10. Galatians 3:10-13 abolished tithing. Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. The whole law ended at Calvary – good and bad. Being under one part of that law means being under ALL of that law – period. The post-Calvary New Covenant “law” principle replaces the “Thou shalt nots” of the Law with obedience from a new nature in Christ (Rom 8:1-2; Gal. 2:20). Tithing is not commanded to the Church in terms of the New Covenant’s grace and faith. 11. Galatians 3:13 abolished tithing. Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. While the blessings were for obedience to the law (Deut 28:1-14; 29:1-16), the curses were for disobedience (Deut 28:15-68; 29:17-19). The blessings were the rewards; the curses were the penalties. Since a law cannot exist without having a penalty for violation, removing the curse removed the old law – including tthing. OTHER PROOFS THAT TITHING ENDED 12. According to the Bible, there were actually three tithes totaling approximately 20 - 23 1/3% A. 1st: Levitical tithe; yearly; for Levites and priests; Num 19:20-21; Lev 27:30-34 B. 2nd: Festival tithe; yearly; for festivals; Deut 12:6-7; 14:23 C. 3rd: Poor Tithe; every three years; Deut 14:28-29; 26:12-13 If one insists on teaching biblical tithing, one should teach all of it – 20-23%. 13. Matthew 23:23 is not a valid text. Matt 23:23 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. A. It is before Calvary while the Law was in full force. B. In order to remain sinless Jesus taught tithing  as a “matter of the law” to support the Levitical priesthood C. The HOLY tithe of the Law was still limited to FOOD from inside Israel. D. It was addressed to the “scribes and Pharisees” and not to the church 14. 1 Corinthians 9:13 is not a valid text. 1 Cor 9:13 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? 1 Cor 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. A. “Things of the temple” include far more than tithes – and the church does not teach that aspect. B. “Even so” of 9:14 includes 9:7-13 which is a list of how each vocation is supported by its own principle. C. 9:14 teaches that gospel workers are supported by gospel principles (of grace and faith – not law) 15. Genesis 14:18-20 and 28:20-22 are not valid texts. A. Those tithes were from unclean pagan sources which were not considered HOLY by Moses, Nehemiah, Malachi or Jesus. B. Those tithes were never used as a reason for tithing under the Law. C. There is no evidence that those tithes were given more than once in a lifetime. …………………………………………………………………………………. SUMMARY: 1. Hebrews 7:18, in context of 7:5, 12, clearly abolished tithing. 2. Hebrews 8:13 teaches that the Old Covenant which taught HOLY tithing ended. 3. 1 Peter 2:5 teaches that all believers are priests and priests did not tithe. 4. Acts 6:2-4 teaches that the duties of O.T. tithe-receiving Levites have been replaced by mostly-unpaid gospel workers. 5. 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19 teaches that the O.T. temple in which tithe-receiving Levites and priests ministered has been replaced by the believer’s body. 6. 2 Corinthians 11:8 teaches that some gospel workers receive wages which are not FOOD from inside God’s HOLY land. Yet the biblical definition and description of the HOLY tithe never changed. 7.  Ephesians 2:13 abolished tithing which was a ceremonial worship-ordinance-statute which separated Hebrews from Gentiles. 8. Colossians 2:14 abolished tithing by “blotting out the handwriting of ordinances which were against us” because tithing was an ordinance of the law. 9. Romans 7:4 abolished tithing because believers are dead to old law ordinances. No law can tell a dead man what to do. 10. Galatians 3:10 abolished tithing because placing oneself under one part of that Law places oneself under all of that Law. 11. Galatians 3:13 abolished tithing because a law cannot exist without a penalty for disobedience. Tithing was not repeated after Calvary in terms of the New Covenant. Russell Earl Kelly, PHD www.tithing-russkelly.com