Topical Bible: Tithe: Punishment for Changing

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The concept of the tithe, a tenth of one's income or produce given to God, is deeply rooted in biblical tradition. It is first mentioned in Genesis 14:20, where Abram gives a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of God Most High. The tithe is further codified in the Mosaic Law, where it is presented as an essential aspect of Israelite worship and community life.

In the Old Testament, the tithe is primarily intended to support the Levitical priesthood, as the Levites had no inheritance of land among the Israelites (Numbers 18:21-24). Additionally, the tithe served to provide for the needs of the poor, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow (Deuteronomy 14:28-29).

The importance of adhering to the tithe is underscored by the severe warnings against altering or neglecting this commandment. In Malachi 3:8-10, the prophet Malachi delivers a stern rebuke to the Israelites for robbing God by withholding tithes and offerings. The passage reads: "Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you ask, ‘How do we rob You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing Me. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this," says the LORD of Hosts. "See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure."

The New Testament does not explicitly reiterate the command to tithe, but it does emphasize the principles of generosity and stewardship. Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their meticulous tithing while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). This indicates that while the act of tithing is important, it should not overshadow the weightier matters of the law.

The punishment for changing or neglecting the tithe is not always immediate or physical but can manifest as spiritual and communal consequences. The withholding of tithes is seen as a breach of covenant faithfulness, resulting in a loss of divine favor and blessing. The community suffers as the resources meant to sustain religious and social structures are diminished.

In a broader theological context, altering the tithe can be viewed as an act of disobedience and a failure to acknowledge God's sovereignty and provision. The tithe is a tangible expression of trust in God's ability to provide and a recognition of His ownership over all creation. Changing this practice undermines the covenant relationship between God and His people, inviting divine displeasure and the withholding of blessings.

Thus, the biblical narrative presents the tithe as a sacred obligation, integral to the worship and communal life of God's people. Any attempt to change or neglect this practice is met with divine censure, emphasizing the seriousness with which God regards the faithful stewardship of His provisions.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Leviticus 27:33
He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Matt. vii. 1
... with your finger," [982] and, "ye pay tithe of mint ... that the sin is great, and the
punishment and wrath in ... then after they have learnt, quite changing from one ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xxiii matt vii 1.htm

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs.
... of the Church, and afterwards changing his sword ... him much lore concerning sacrifice,
tithe, first-fruits ... last seventy weeks, and their punishment shall continue ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the testaments of the twelve.htm

Chapter xiv
... noun sidh, "chalk," and so no reason exists for changing Siddim to ... rebels and first
proceeded to deal out punishment to the ... Thereupon he gave him a tithe of all ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xiv.htm

Exposition of the Doctrines of Grace
... of man, and implies a deliverance from that state and from the punishment to which
man ... But we believe that we have not the tithe of the difficulties to contend ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 7 1861/exposition of the doctrines of.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... a foremost part in the rising were ruthlessly raided, the priests heavily fined,
and the oracle of Buto deprived of its possessions as a punishment for the ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... death of Hezekiah, his successor, Manasseh, had, as we know, been tempted to intervene
in the revolutions of the hour, but the prompt punishment which followed ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to ...
... sin, not of abhorrence of the sin, but for fear of the punishment that attends ... much
by small things, and neglecting the weightier matters, paying tithe of mint ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a holy life the beauty.htm

The Temples and the Gods of Chaldaea
... solemnly bound to observe, really represented to the Chaldaeans but a tithe of their ...
He was endowed with the capricious and changing disposition of the element ...
/.../chapter iithe temples and the.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... The face of the eventful times in which he lived was rapidly changing; the trammels ...
after him, to leave him with them, to take the just punishment his sins had ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm