Sermon video here
Do We Need To Pay The Tithe Like Abraham?
(Sermon 13 Of My Hebrews Series)
Introduction
So, a couple
of weeks ago we looked at how Melchizedek, this random figure in the Old
Testament mentioned only a couple of times, points to Jesus. The efforts to
identify exactly who Melchizedek was, were pointless. That is not the reason he
is in scripture, he is there to point to Jesus. The application we drew from
this was very simple, just as Melchizedek existed exclusively to point to
Jesus, so do we. That is our purpose, that is our calling. Too often we
Christians can forget that calling, we can forget our purpose in this life is
very simple, to be the lights of the gospel. We do this best by understanding
how God wants us to live.
Today we are
going to look at what Hebrews 7 says about the tithe and about the law. A lot of
Christians get confused about the relationship of the law to Christianity. Some
say it is gone completely, just forget the Old Testament, focus on the New.
Some go to a whole other extreme and say that Christians should follow the law,
the Bible calls these people Judaizers (Gal. 2:14, Greek) and they still exist.
Others say we need only follow some laws, moral laws, but not ritual laws, that
is things relating to the temple. I once probably sat to the first extreme, and
now I am closer to the third position. I think Hebrews 7 helps us understand
how this all works.
So, today we are going to look at what Hebrews 7 has to say
about the law, and our relationship to it as Christians. Different Christians
have different views on this, but what does the Bible say about following the
Old Testament Law, and specifically the tithe? Let’s have a look at Hebrews 7
and see.
1. Melchizedek
is Superior To Abraham (vv.4-10) – Let’s
begin with what our Hebrews writer says about the superiority of Melchizedek to
Abraham. “4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave
a tenth of the spoils! 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly
office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is,
from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this
man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and
blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is
blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men,
but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One
might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through
Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met
him.”
1.1 The
emphasis of our writer here is that the priesthood of Melchizedek is far
superior to the priesthood of the Levites. He is picking up this argument from
way back at the end of chapter 4 and beginning of chapter 5. Remember he said
at the end of chapter 4, Hebrews 4:14-15 - “14 Since then we have a great
high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us
hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted
as we are, yet without sin.”
1.1.1
He then went on
to challenge them about how dedicated they are to studying God’s word. He does
this, because he is about to get into some complicated teaching about the
priests, Melchizedek and the law, and he wants to make sure that they can
follow him. Now he is going to get into that complicated argument, and we are going
to follow him. This will be fun.
1.2 His
argument is based on the superiority of Melchizedek to all mortals in
Abraham’s line.
1.1.1
Melchizedek is
superior to Abraham, “4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the
patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!..7 It is beyond
dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.”
1.1.2
Which means that Melchizedek
is superior to Levi who is descended from Abraham, “9 One might even say
that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he
was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.”
1.1.3
Therefore, all
that are descended from Abraham are inferior to Melchizedek, “5 And those
descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the
law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these
also are descended from Abraham.”
1.1.4
This is a simple
argument: Abraham was not the top of the food chain, therefore, the priests of
his line are not the greatest priests.
1.2 Hebrews’
emphasis here is simple, even though Abraham had the promises, and is the
patriarch, Melchizedek blessed him, therefore all mortals who are descended
from Abraham are inferior to the order of Melchizedek.
2. Abraham
Gave Melchizedek The Tenth (vv.6-10) – Because
of this superiority Abraham and in him Levi, Moses and Aaron, the priests of
Israel and the writer of the law, gave the tithe to Melchizedek – “6 But
this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham
and blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior
is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal
men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.
9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes,
paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor
when Melchizedek met him.” This is an
intriguing passage, because isn’t Abraham the patriarch of the whole Church? The
man through whom God founded our faith? As Galatians says, “Know then
that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham” (3:7). But here
he is giving the tithe to this mysterious priest. I have heard some use this as
justification to say that Christians should continue to give the tithe.
After all, they say, this shows that the tithe predates the law, Melchizedek is
like Jesus and accepts the tithe, therefore Christians should do as Abraham
does and give the tithe. I find this argument really strange, for several
reasons:
2.1 Firstly, Abraham
is just following an ancient custom here. Many people think of the tithe as an
Old Testament practice, they debate over whether we should follow it still, but
they think of it as an Israelite law thing. But that is not the full picture.
2.1.1
Giving a tithe,
or a tenth, or a cut of the booty to the leader was an ancient custom practiced
by many peoples. It was not always the same amount, but the general practice
was there. You would give a significant portion of your takings in loot, or
crops, or other takings to your superior, or to your God, or both.
2.1.2
We read in
Genesis 47:24, “And at the harvests you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh,
and four fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for
yourselves and your households, and as food for your little ones.” Even
though this was for a specific time, both this passage, and the Melchizedek
passage show this principle was widely known in this region at this time.
2.1.2.1 Some
cultures did it differently of course, the Viking leaders would pay off their
men with their loot. Like a modern criminal gang. But similar tithes like the
one Abraham is giving have been noted in other ancient societies.
2.1.3
Melchizedek is
effectively acting as arbitrator between Abraham and the king of Sodom, as the
superior he was due a portion of the loot. A tenth may have been customary, or
Abraham may have been generous, he was determined not to look like he was
profiting off of the goods of Sodom remember.
2.1.4
So, drawing a
permanent law out of Abraham following a custom of his day is a bad way to
apply scripture.
2.2 Secondly, this
approach misinterprets the place of tithing in God’s faith. The tithe in Israel
was part of a larger system of taxes. There were two tithes, and other taxes
which brought their tax to between 20% and 30% depending on the year. The first
tithe was for the Levites, Numbers 18:21, “I give to the Levites all the
tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while
serving at the tent of meeting…” The second tithe was for a big party,
Deuteronomy 14:22-23 - “22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your
fields produce each year. 23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive
oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord
your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you
may learn to revere the Lord your God always.” These tithes and other
taxes paid for the running of the nation of Israel, supported the Levites who
were effectively the government workers, and provided welfare for the poor and destitute.
2.2.1 These Levitical taxes
do not apply to Christians, because we do not live in national Israel. We are
to pay the taxes to Caesar that the New Testament commands us to. The average
tax rate in Australia is 24.1%, making it very similar to the rate in ancient
Israel. Modern Israel pays about 20.7%.
2.2.2
To apply the Old
Testament idea of the tithe to the Church is just wrong. If you wanted to
really copy what Abram is doing here, you would have to give 10% of your local
Viking raiding party’s next haul to your local warlord, or council member, or
the reigning king.
2.2.2.1 This
might be how things work in a few years after our governments are finished
suppressing our economy into oblivion, but not quite yet.
2.3 But the third
reason is the most important reason, because if we were supposed to pay the
tenth still today because Abraham paid the tenth, why doesn’t the writer of
Hebrews say that? In fact, the writer goes in a completely different direction.
3. A Change
In The Law (11-14) – The writer goes on to tell us that
things are very different now, the obligations of the law are finished, “11
Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for
under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been
for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one
named after the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the
priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of
whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has
ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from
Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.”
3.1 God’s
goal with humanity is to perfect himself a people. This has been the goal since
the beginning, Genesis 1:26 – “26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our
image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea
and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth
and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” We see the
thread of how he is going to do this through the seed of the woman, then
through Seth and then again through the line of Noah, then through his son
Shem, of whom Abraham was eventually descended, and in Abraham all the whole
world is to be blessed. The promise was given to Abraham and he believed and
was declared righteous on the basis of his faith.
3.2 This
shows us that God always intended faith to be the marker of his people, not the
law. The law was not a way for Israelites to be saved, different to Jesus. The
law was a schoolmaster to protect God’s people until the coming of Jesus. Galatians
3:23-24 – “23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up
unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was
our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”
3.2.1
Israelites were
trained by the law to look forward to Jesus in faith, and the Exodus was their
picture of what he was like.
3.2.2
Christians are
trained by the law of Christ to look back to Jesus in faith, and forward to his
return.
3.3 The law
was a temporary steward. It was not capable of perfecting God’s people. “11
Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for
under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been
for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one
named after the order of Aaron?”
3.3.1
This does not
mean the law was bad, God’s law is incredible and in its own right it is
perfect. But just because something is perfect, does not mean it can do what it
is not designed to do. If someone were to make the perfect car, it would
still make a terrible airplane. If you have a perfect sword, like Excalibur, it
does not make you a better fighter. The sword will fulfil its purpose, if you
use it correctly.
3.3.2
The law was not
intended to make Israelites right before God, faith did that, it was meant to
help the righteous be protected from evil.
3.3.3
The law fulfilled
its ultimate purpose, to preserve a blameless remnant from which the Messiah
came. If Aaron, or Eli, or Zadok had been capable of this perfection, then it
would have come through them, but they weren’t and so it didn’t.
3.4 So, we
got a better priest, “12 For when there is a change in the priesthood,
there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these
things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served
at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and
in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.”
3.4.1
So, we see that the
Hebrews writer’s point is not that we should continue to pay the tithe, because
Abram paid it to Melchizedek. His point is that the way of faith in Jesus is
better than the Old Law.
3.4.1.1 It is
rather strange to want to sneak in paying tithes through a backdoor loophole,
off such an obscure passage.
3.4.2
Jesus is not of
the tribe of Levi. His priesthood does not come from his genealogy, like Aarons
did, or Eli’s did. His priesthood comes from being indestructible, “15
This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of
Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal
requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible
life. 17 For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order
of Melchizedek.”
3.4.3
Now that we have
this new, indestructible priest, we are no longer under the Old way of laws.
And, if you want to make the case that well the tenth was part of Melchizedek’s
order, therefore we have to pay that still now, then if you want to be truly
faithful to the context, you would have to say this means every time you raid
some people to rescue your nephew, you need to give a king 10% of your loot to
the king.
3.4.3.1 Because Abram
is not tithing income here, he is not tithing his crops, he is not tithing his
herds, he is honouring the king who oversaw his peace treaty with the king of
Sodom.
3.5 The Hebrews’
writer’s point is not that we have to return to some obscure law of an order
called Melchizedek in the ancient world. His point is Jesus is superior to
Aaron, and Levi and Moses, therefore follow the way of Jesus now. Hebrews
7:18-19 – “18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside
because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect);
but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near
to God.”
3.5.1
A better hope is
introduced, the fullness of the faith of Abraham is finally here. Now Trust
Jesus, and live as he wants you to live, and neither he, nor any of his
apostles ever told Christians to pay the tithe. They all taught, give
generously. Depending on your circumstances that could be less or more than
10%. Work it out yourself before God, as Paul says, “Each one must give
as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God
loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
3.5.2
So, according to
this passage, which parts of the law are done away with? All? Some? What
exactly is done away with?
4. Ceremonial
Law Is Abolished – According to Hebrews 7, it is the ceremonial law
that is done away with. Hebrews 7:22-28 – “22 This makes Jesus the
guarantor of a better covenant. 23 The former priests were many in number,
because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds
his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he
is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since
he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was indeed fitting
that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated
from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high
priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those
of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28
For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the
oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect
forever.”
4.1 So, we
come now to answering my question at the start of this sermon, what does the
book of Hebrews say about following the Old Testament law? Well, in reading
chapters 7, 8 and 9, which we will cover more over the next few weeks, it
becomes clear that at the very least that the ceremonial law is abolished.
4.1.1
The ceremonial
law is all that is connected with the priests and their ritual sacrifices. This
is done away with. Why? Because they point to Jesus who is the ultimate
sacrifice. “27 He has no
need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own
sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he
offered up himself.”
4.1.2
The sacrifices
pointed to the final and complete sacrifice. Nothing in this world lasts
forever, therefore for an eternal forgiveness a sacrifice of eternal quality needed
to be made. Now that it is made, our salvation is secure.
4.2 Because
the ceremonial law is abolished, everything that applies to it is now
abolished, which includes the tithe, the second tithe, the other small taxes
and everything else. These existed to maintain the old priesthood, there is no
priesthood to maintain, therefore we do not need the taxes that were designed
for that purpose.
4.3 This
means we live in a better age. With a better priest, an age where this should
be our focus: 1
Peter 4:8-9 – “8 And above all
things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the
multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging” (KJV).
4.3.1
It’s not that we
have no law in the New Testament age, it is that it has changed, it has
focused, as Paul puts it, fulfil the law of love.
4.3.2
The Old Testament
law still has a lot to teach us, but our relationship to it is different to
ancient Israel’s relationship. I want to examine this as we go forward in the
next few weeks.
4.3.3
But for today our
focus should be this: when it comes to our money, our time, our heart or our
focus, charity should be the goal.
5. Conclusion
– There is still a lot that we need to look at over the next
few weeks. I want to explain a couple of the different views on how the law
interacts with Christians, and explain why my view has changed slightly over
the years. I want to show that there are still uses of the law, taught by Paul
and others.
5.1 As
Christians we do not live under the Mosaic covenant. But just because we are
not bound by it, does not mean we cannot learn from it, and learn some
incredible things. We’ll look at this more over the next couple of weeks.
5.2 But Praise
God, we have a better priest, a better law, the law of Christ, and a better way
of living. We do not have to pay the tithes, but we are commanded to be
generous, so let’s be generous.
5.2.1
Because we have a
superior priest, we have a superior way of reaching people, and therefore we
should proclaim it boldly wherever we are.
