What is the meaning of Leviticus 27:31? If a man wishes Leviticus 27:31 opens with personal desire: “If a man wishes…”. The tithe system never erased individual choice. God welcomed a willing heart, not a coerced one (2 Corinthians 9:7; Exodus 35:5, 21). • Giving flows from gratitude for God’s provision (Deuteronomy 8:17-18). • Voluntary intent turns a financial act into worship (Psalm 54:6). to redeem part “Redeem” means buying something back for personal use. Just as an Israelite could redeem family land (Leviticus 25:25) or a firstborn animal (Numbers 18:16), he could also reclaim a portion of produce or livestock he had set aside for the LORD. Redemption admitted, “I still need this at home,” yet kept the gift sacred by setting a price. of his tithe The tithe—literally “a tenth”—belonged to God: “Every tithe of the land…is holy to the LORD” (Leviticus 27:30). Fields, orchards, herds—everything was taxed at 10 %. Other texts echo the same standard (Deuteronomy 14:22-23; 2 Chronicles 31:5-6; Malachi 3:10). • It recognized the LORD as owner of the whole harvest (Psalm 24:1). • It funded worship and cared for Levites, strangers, orphans, and widows (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). he must add a fifth If a man reclaimed any part, God required “a fifth”—20 % more. The same surcharge appears when someone misused holy things (Leviticus 5:16) or ate sacred food unintentionally (Leviticus 22:14). The added fifth • discouraged casual vows and cheap reversals, • protected the sanctuary’s income, • reminded the giver that convenience costs. to its value The extra amount was figured “to its value,” not to feelings. God uses honest scales (Proverbs 11:1). Whether grain, oil, or calves, the market price determined redemption plus 20 %. Anything blemished or second-rate would not do (Malachi 1:8). In the New Testament, Jesus points to a widow whose tiny coins carried full value because they represented true sacrifice (Mark 12:42-44). summary Leviticus 27:31 teaches that while the tithe was mandatory under the Law, God allowed practical flexibility—redeem if you must, but honor Him with an added fifth. Willing hearts, honest valuations, and costly worship remain timeless principles for believers who “honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest” (Proverbs 3:9). |
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