Bible Study On Tithing
For those interested in getting together a Bible study on tithing, this topic most likely will be met with somewhat of a stoic response from participants. Giving has never been a subject well received by many church goers, especially those who have had bad experiences in the past from churches that pound the subject into attendee's heads. Therefore when preparing to bring forth this subject, be sure to present it in as positive a way as possible, emphasizing that God is pleased with a cheerful giver, no matter how much the giver decides to give. Exploring the issues of why Christians should tithe, how much they should tithe, and blessings bestowed because of faithfulness to tithing are helpful to the new Christian as well as the old. Let's explore some instances of tithing in the New Testament to get a broad overview.
This subject of tithing in the New Testament is found in two books, primarily Mark chapter 12 and in Luke chapter 21. These passages describe the widow and her sacrificial giving of the last bit of money she had. Jesus contrasted her small gift against the sizeable gifts presented by the rich when they brought alms into the temple. Comparatively speaking, the gifts of the rich were a smaller percentage of what they had than that of the widow; for she gave everything she had left, financially speaking. Therefore, she is viewed as having the greater gift or sacrifice. While Jesus does not go on to elaborate further on the widow, one can read into the story that giving is to be sacrificial, and when it is, the gift is considered greater. When one gives all, there is not a greater sacrifice. Perhaps this even parallels Jesus' sacrificial gift of His life, and certainly paints a very positive picture for the Christian, because His gift was redemptive. Perhaps the widow was also redeemed in some way by her sacrificial gift, though not spiritually. Jesus was certainly pleased with the widow and her gift, and there sermons emphasize that in this way, God is pleased with a cheerful giver.
Leading a Bible study on tithing can be a great opportunity to examine as well, Old Testament and even Jewish beliefs about tithing which isn't often the focus in Christian circles. Some may ask how tithing got started at all. Looking back into the Old Testament, you can find a verse in Genesis, chapter 14 verse 20 where Abram blesses God and gives the high priest tithes of all he has. "And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all". Also, mentions of tithing are found in the book of Numbers chapter 18, as a part of the law given through Moses. It appears that the purpose of the tithes were to support the Levitical priests as they served in the temple. This explains why Abram contributed his tithes to Melchizedek in the temple.
Giving in the New Testament, as seen in the story of the widow, takes more of a voluntary bent than what we see in the Old Testament. One gives out of love in the case of the widow, and one gives out of command in the Old Testament. A careful study of these themes by contrasting stories in the Old and New Testaments will bear out legalistic emphases in the stories for Old Testament, forgiveness, and love in the New Testament. Since it seems giving was voluntary in Jesus' time, when did the 10% viewpoint come to bear? Upon a careful Bible study on tithing, paying attention to later church documents reveals that the Council of Trent made giving mandatory for Catholics. Since governments had a heavy influence from the church, it was in their interest to create revenue, and giving through the church was their avenue to do so. In Roman days, our Bible study on tithing reveals that Joseph even propounded that gifts should be as much as 30%! Surely the Romans exacted heavy burdens on everyone - perhaps this is why Josephus suggested this amount, to find favor with the Roman elites of which he mingled. After all, he was a major historian of the time.
Obviously tithing in the New Testament is important, or Jesus would not have told the story. The subject may get readers to examine the heart's intent when it comes to earthly and material possessions. Jesus' story of the rich man who couldn't part with his belongings and prayed that others in his family would not end up in Hell, illustrates that hoarding possessions does not produce sacrificial love, but rather a hardness of heart. Therefore the subject of tithing in the New Testament is mentioned in a gentle way, Jesus giving credence to the widow's actions as the better way to give of one's possessions. The rich demonstrate their opulence and make loud proclamations about how much they give. By contrast, the widow silently crept up and gave what she had. This most likely was not out of shame, but was an act of humility. This further cements the idea that riches will work to eradicate humility and sacrifice in the life of those who have much.
So, leading a study on giving does not necessarily have to be punitive, dry and boring. The group can discuss how the act can create in believers a genuine love of giving, as it creates in the Christian the fruits of humility and sacrifice. What better positive outcomes can emerge from the subject than these!
This subject of tithing in the New Testament is found in two books, primarily Mark chapter 12 and in Luke chapter 21. These passages describe the widow and her sacrificial giving of the last bit of money she had. Jesus contrasted her small gift against the sizeable gifts presented by the rich when they brought alms into the temple. Comparatively speaking, the gifts of the rich were a smaller percentage of what they had than that of the widow; for she gave everything she had left, financially speaking. Therefore, she is viewed as having the greater gift or sacrifice. While Jesus does not go on to elaborate further on the widow, one can read into the story that giving is to be sacrificial, and when it is, the gift is considered greater. When one gives all, there is not a greater sacrifice. Perhaps this even parallels Jesus' sacrificial gift of His life, and certainly paints a very positive picture for the Christian, because His gift was redemptive. Perhaps the widow was also redeemed in some way by her sacrificial gift, though not spiritually. Jesus was certainly pleased with the widow and her gift, and there sermons emphasize that in this way, God is pleased with a cheerful giver.
Leading a Bible study on tithing can be a great opportunity to examine as well, Old Testament and even Jewish beliefs about tithing which isn't often the focus in Christian circles. Some may ask how tithing got started at all. Looking back into the Old Testament, you can find a verse in Genesis, chapter 14 verse 20 where Abram blesses God and gives the high priest tithes of all he has. "And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all". Also, mentions of tithing are found in the book of Numbers chapter 18, as a part of the law given through Moses. It appears that the purpose of the tithes were to support the Levitical priests as they served in the temple. This explains why Abram contributed his tithes to Melchizedek in the temple.
Giving in the New Testament, as seen in the story of the widow, takes more of a voluntary bent than what we see in the Old Testament. One gives out of love in the case of the widow, and one gives out of command in the Old Testament. A careful study of these themes by contrasting stories in the Old and New Testaments will bear out legalistic emphases in the stories for Old Testament, forgiveness, and love in the New Testament. Since it seems giving was voluntary in Jesus' time, when did the 10% viewpoint come to bear? Upon a careful Bible study on tithing, paying attention to later church documents reveals that the Council of Trent made giving mandatory for Catholics. Since governments had a heavy influence from the church, it was in their interest to create revenue, and giving through the church was their avenue to do so. In Roman days, our Bible study on tithing reveals that Joseph even propounded that gifts should be as much as 30%! Surely the Romans exacted heavy burdens on everyone - perhaps this is why Josephus suggested this amount, to find favor with the Roman elites of which he mingled. After all, he was a major historian of the time.
Obviously tithing in the New Testament is important, or Jesus would not have told the story. The subject may get readers to examine the heart's intent when it comes to earthly and material possessions. Jesus' story of the rich man who couldn't part with his belongings and prayed that others in his family would not end up in Hell, illustrates that hoarding possessions does not produce sacrificial love, but rather a hardness of heart. Therefore the subject of tithing in the New Testament is mentioned in a gentle way, Jesus giving credence to the widow's actions as the better way to give of one's possessions. The rich demonstrate their opulence and make loud proclamations about how much they give. By contrast, the widow silently crept up and gave what she had. This most likely was not out of shame, but was an act of humility. This further cements the idea that riches will work to eradicate humility and sacrifice in the life of those who have much.
So, leading a study on giving does not necessarily have to be punitive, dry and boring. The group can discuss how the act can create in believers a genuine love of giving, as it creates in the Christian the fruits of humility and sacrifice. What better positive outcomes can emerge from the subject than these!
Bible Study On Tithing
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