Isn’t tithing under the Old Testament law, so we are exempt from it?
Actually, a biblical study of tithing shows that tithes came before the Old Testament law! Tithing is seen before the law, during the law and after the law. As one preacher put it: “When it comes to tithing, in Genesis 14:20 Abraham commenced it, in Genesis 28:22, Jacob continued it; in Leviticus 27:30, God commanded it, in Malachi 3:10 God confirmed it and in Matthew 23:23, Jesus commended it… who am I to cancel it?” Secondly, there is a popular but false dichotomy that is often set up between the OT and the NT that goes like this: OT is law, NT is grace. But what people ignore is that the law was given AFTER grace, not before. Reading the OT clearly shows that the law (Ex. 20) was given AFTER God graciously brought the Israelites out of Egypt (Ex. 12-19 or just see Ex 20:1 just before the 10 Commandments start in Ex. 20:2. Same thing in Deut. 5:6). In numerous passages, God made it clear that their deliverance was due to His love, grace and favor not due to their obedience or righteousness.
Actually, a biblical study of tithing shows that tithes came before the Old Testament law! Tithing is seen before the law, during the law and after the law. As one preacher put it: “When it comes to tithing, in Genesis 14:20 Abraham commenced it, in Genesis 28:22, Jacob continued it; in Leviticus 27:30, God commanded it, in Malachi 3:10 God confirmed it and in Matthew 23:23, Jesus commended it… who am I to cancel it?” Secondly, there is a popular but false dichotomy that is often set up between the OT and the NT that goes like this: OT is law, NT is grace. But what people ignore is that the law was given AFTER grace, not before. Reading the OT clearly shows that the law (Ex. 20) was given AFTER God graciously brought the Israelites out of Egypt (Ex. 12-19 or just see Ex 20:1 just before the 10 Commandments start in Ex. 20:2. Same thing in Deut. 5:6). In numerous passages, God made it clear that their deliverance was due to His love, grace and favor not due to their obedience or righteousness.
