was old testament tithe= 30%

[kokokolo]

I have now heard from 2 very good sources that the in the old testament tithing was closer to 30%. I do not understand this. As I have also heard that the word tithe actually mean "a tenth" so I am wondering how this makes sense, and how a tithe is 10% today. thx

[rickck48]

Hey Kokokolo, accorrding to Strongs Concordance this is the meaning of tithe (1) tithe, tenth part
1a) tenth part
1b) tithe, payment of a tenth part
<font color="Red">Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1995.
Levitucs 27:32, is a good cource for answering this.
Numbers 18:26, I also went back to the Apocraphya, and I found nothing to suggest 30% but I wil keep looking. I think that your thought of 10% is correct accorrding to scripture. Hope this helps. [img]/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[kokokolo]

hmm, the local pastor, and the way of the master radio guy both mentioned that in the old testament they tithed closer to 30%. I wonder if they were ading up how much it would cost for all the offerings and sacrifices and whatnot

[RuSerious]

Remember that giving up a tenth of your flock back then was much easier on the running of the household than it is in todays terms. I have not heard the figure 30% used. Can you provide a source so we can see where that is coming from, I'm not doubting you just curious about this.

[kprzCreation]

Post deleted by kprzCreation

[kokokolo]

I Know this post is really old but I just stumbled across this

[ QUOTE ]
Does God require me to give a tithe of all I earn?
John MacArthur
Grace to You

Two kinds of giving are taught consistently throughout Scripture: giving to the government (always compulsory), and giving to God (always voluntary).

The issue has been greatly confused, however, by some who misunderstand the nature of the Old Testament tithes. Tithes were not primarily gifts to God, but taxes for funding the national budget in Israel.

Because Israel was a theocracy, the Levitical priests acted as the civil government. So the Levite's tithe (Leviticus 27:30-33) was a precursor to today's income tax, as was a second annual tithe required by God to fund a national festival (Deuteronomy 14:22-29). Smaller taxes were also imposed on the people by the law (Leviticus 19:9-10; Exodus 23:10-11). So the total giving required of the Israelites was not 10 percent, but well over 20 percent. All that money was used to operate the nation.


All giving apart from that required to run the government was purely voluntary (cf. Exodus 25:2; 1 Chronicles 29:9). Each person gave whatever was in his heart to give; no percentage or amount was specified.

New Testament believers are never commanded to tithe. Matthew 22:15-22 and Romans 13:1-7 tell us about the only required giving in the church age, which is the paying of taxes to the government. Interestingly enough, we in America presently pay between 20 and 30 percent of our income to the government—a figure very similar to the requirement under the theocracy of Israel.

The guideline for our giving to God and His work is found in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7: "Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver."

By John MacArthur © 2007, Grace to You. All rights reserved. Used by permission. This article originally appeared here at Grace to You.

[/ QUOTE ]

interesting, at least now I know what people were talking about

[Ch0pPeR]

This is just another case that the so called clergy is trying to fleece the flock

(Mark 12:40) They are the ones devouring the houses of the widows and for a pretext making long prayers; these will receive a heavier judgmen.

[kokokolo]

well technically I think this article is right, so Im not sure what you are saying.

as far as I know the 10% rules isnt really biblical in the new testament.

Though there are a few verses in the new testament, that I am not sure how to interpret.

[Ch0pPeR]

That Law decreed that a tenth of the produce of the land and fruit trees and a tenth of the increase of the herds be given to the tribe of Levi in support of their services at the tabernacle. Leviticus 27:30, 32; Numbers 18:21, 24.

That makes 20% and as a protection, an additional yearly tithe, normally consumed when the nation met for its religious festivities, was regularly set aside. Thus the alien resident, the fatherless boy, and the widow could be satisfied. Deuteronomy 14:28, 29; 28:1, 2, 11-14.

That makes 30%

[Wizard24]

Originally Posted by Ch0pPeR

That Law decreed that a tenth of the produce of the land and fruit trees and a tenth of the increase of the herds be given to the tribe of Levi in support of their services at the tabernacle. Leviticus 27:30, 32; Numbers 18:21, 24.

That makes 20% and as a protection, an additional yearly tithe, normally consumed when the nation met for its religious festivities, was regularly set aside. Thus the alien resident, the fatherless boy, and the widow could be satisfied. Deuteronomy 14:28, 29; 28:1, 2, 11-14.

That makes 30%

Actually "a tenth of the produce of the land and fruit of the trees and a tenth of the increase in herds" is still just 10% of the total of the produce and herds put together. So basic math says 10% is required each year to give to God not 20% as you stated. A second 10% is to be saved throughout the year for the annual church festival. This money is not given to the church, but rather is to use for the family’s own expenses and spiritual enjoyment attending these biblical annual festivals. The third tithe is contributed twice every seven years (also according to Scripture), and it goes not into church operations, but for the support the church’s widows, orphans and poor, thus taking that burden off the public tax rolls. All in all, by following these tithing doctrines members give what amounts to about 13% of their yearly gross income (1st tithe = 10% to church, 2nd tithe = 0% to church, 3rd tithe = 20%/7 years or 2.85% yearly to church).

As an accountant I should also note that any tithing given to the church (as long as you have a receipt) can be claimed as charitable deductions on your 1040 tax return and will most likely reduce your taxes if you itemize your deductions.