What New Testament passages connect with the concept of tithing found in Numbers 18:21? Setting the Stage: Numbers 18:21 “Behold, I have given the Levites every tithe in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting.” • The tithe supported those whose full-time calling was ministry. • That pattern—God’s people providing materially for God’s workers—echoes throughout Scripture. Jesus Keeps the Principle Alive “You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.” – Jesus affirms tithing while insisting that justice, mercy, and faith remain central. – The Pharisee boasts, “I … pay tithes of all that I acquire.” Jesus exposes pride, yet the practice of tithing itself is assumed and recognized. From Levi to Melchizedek: Hebrews 7 Hebrews 7:5–10 links the Mosaic tithe with an even earlier precedent—Abraham’s tenth to Melchizedek. • vv. 5–6: “The sons of Levi … collect a tenth from the people … yet Melchizedek collected the tenth from Abraham.” • vv. 8–10: The writer uses tithing to argue for Christ’s superior priesthood, showing continuity of the giving principle while elevating its purpose. Paul Applies the Pattern to Gospel Ministry “Those who work in the temple eat of its food … In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” – Direct comparison: Levites lived off the tithe; gospel workers live off believers’ gifts. “The one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.” “Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor … ‘The worker is worthy of his wages.’” Grace-Filled Giving: Beyond a Legal Minimum “Each one should give what he has decided in his heart … for God loves a cheerful giver.” • While the New Testament stresses voluntary, generous giving rather than a fixed percentage, it never discards the underlying truth seen in Numbers 18:21: God funds His work through the faithful gifts of His people. Key Takeaways • The tithe in Numbers 18:21 finds explicit acknowledgment (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42) and theological expansion (Hebrews 7). • Paul draws a straight line from Levite support to New-Covenant ministry support (1 Corinthians 9:13-14). • New Testament teaching moves the discussion from obligation to overflow—cheerful, proportionate, sacrificial generosity that continues to sustain those who serve. |
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