Here Men That Die Receive Tithes

Here Men That Die Receive Tithes
by Ronald W Robey

Historical context for the Book of Hebrews: The year was AD 66. The author was writing from the Holy Land to scattered Jews. The Temple in Jerusalem was still standing., and would be standing for another four years.

Scriptural context of Hebrews 7:8: The “men that die” in Hebrews 7:8 were the Levites.

Hebrews 7:9 “And Levi, who receiveth tithes…”

The Levites were the ones receiveing tithes becuase they had a command to take tithes.

Hebrews 7:5 “And verily, they that are of the sons of Levi who receive the Office of the Priesthood have a command to take tithes…”

Hebrews 7:8 is not speaking of Gentile Churches receiving tithes… it is speaking of Levites receiving tithes

… of the people “according to the Law…”

The Levites were receiving tithes “according to the Law. What did the Law say concerning tithes?

a) that they were agricultural. (Leviticus 27:30-33)
b) that they were to be given to Levites. (Numbers 18:21-26)
c) that an Aaronic Priest had to be preasent at the time the tithe was given. (Numbers 18:27-28)
d) that they were also to be given to widows, orphans and foreigners. (Deuteronomy 14:28-29)
e) that the congregation could not take their tithe to the Tabernacle (Numbers 18:22) When the Temple was built, the congregation was forbidden to take their tithe to the Temple (Nehemiah 10:37-38)
f) that God’s holy tithe was only to be observed by the citizens of the land of Canaan.

The Levites would continue receiving the tithe in this manner until General Titus invaded Jerusalem with his armies and destroyed the city. When the Levites that worked the Temple fled, tithes were no longer collected by them.

Conclusion: Hebrews 7 does not advocate the New Covenant Church Leaders taking tithes of their members. Nor does Hebrews 7 speak of a tithe of one’s monetary income. It is speakking of two tithes only…

a) Abram’s tithe of war spoils to Melchizeedek
b) The children of Israel’s tithe of agricultural increase to the Levites.

The reason the Levites were receiving tithes was because they were operating under the Law. If they would come to faith in Jesus Christ, they would no longer be bound by the Mosaic Law.

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Galatians 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

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Calling the Holy Spirit a Liar

Calling the Holy Spirit a Liar

by Ronald W Robey .

 

For one to say tithing is necessary is to call the Holy Ghost a liar.

 

For He, and the Apostles determined that only four things were necessary of Gentile Believers in Christ Jesus.

 

Acts 15:28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;

Acts 15:29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.

 

Tithing, according to the above verses, is not a “necessary thing”.

 

Now, one may say that, “The Book of the Acts of the Apostles” is a transitional book. Tithes weren’t necessary at the time the Church first formed, but were later determined to be necessary.”

 

OK… let’s go with that…

 

Where in the post-Acts Epistles did any of the Apostles write that “Tithes are necessary”?

 

The fact is, none of the Apostles determined that, “Tithes are necessary” for the New Covenant Church. It was not until centuries after the last Apostle died that it was determined that “Tithes are necessary”.

 

According to the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, those who teach for doctrine the commandments of men worship Him in vain. Since the command for Christians to tithe cannot be found anywhere in the word of God, those who teach the doctrine worship Christ in vain.

 

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 

Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

 

 

God’s Word… the Final Authority

God’s Word… the Final Authority

by Ronald W Robey

 

“God’s word is the final authority!”

 

Do the advocates of tithing truly believe that God’s word is their final authority?

 

Are you aware that God’s word says that His holy tithe is agricultural, not monetary? Are you sure God’s word is your final authority?

 

Are you aware that God’s word says that His holy tithe is only to be observed once you are living in the land of Canaan? Are you sure God’s word is your final authority?

 

Are you aware that God’s word said that the if your are not a bloodline descendant of Levi, you are not to tithe to the House of God? Are you sure God’s word is your final authority?

 

Are you aware that God’s word says that a bloodline descendant of the Levite Aaron MUST be present when you give your tithe?

Are you sure God’s word is your final authority?

 

Something tells me that God’s word is not your final authority… your Pastor’s word is.

 

What Was Stolen, and Who Stole It?

What Was Stolen, and Who Stole It?

by Ronald W Robey

 

A little lesson from the Old Testament Book of Malachi…

 

Malachi 1:1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

 

Malachi tells the reader whom it is that he is addressing… Israel.

 

As we continue to read this Book comprised of only four chapters, we find that Malachi is addressing specifically the Levitic Priests of Israel. He is not speaking to the congregation (the other eleven tribes) Notice:

 

Malachi 1:6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?

Malachi 1:7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

 

In Malachi 1:6-7 we see why Malachi said what he did in Malachi 3:8-9. The Priests had shown contempt for God. They had removed the acceptable animals from the Temple Storehouse and replaced them with animals that were unacceptable.

 

God was using Malachi to tell the corrupt Priests that God, who sees all, was angry with the Priests. Their sin had brought famin to the land.

 

Malachi 2:1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.

 

In Malachi 2:1, we learn that subsequent to the exposure of the Levitic Priest’s sinful actions, God has a command for them.

 

But, what is that command that Malachi says is specifically for the Levitic Priests? If we read the entire second chapter of Malachi, we will discover that not one command is given. It is not until we arrive in Malachi 3 that we see the command.

 

Malachi 3:7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?

 

In Malachi 3:7, we see the command that Malachi was to deliver to the Levitic Priests… “Return unto Me” It is only upon returning to God that God will return unto Israel.

 

Return? Return what? The stolen animals from the Temple Storehouse!

 

Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

 

God is STILL speaking to the Levitic Priests. God said the Priests had robbed Him. The Priests ask how they have robbed God.

 

What tithes was Malachi speaking of? Since Luke 16:16 says that the Law was until John (speaking of John the Baptist) we must look to the Law to see what God said His holy tithe was.

 

Leviticus 27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’S: it is holy unto the LORD.

Leviticus 27:31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.

Leviticus 27:32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.

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.

 

According to Leviticus, God’s holy tithe was the seed of the land, the fruit of the tree, and every tenth animal to pass under the rod. They were agricultural,… not money. And the text of Matthew 23:23 reveals that tithes were still agricultural more than five hundred years after Malachi had addressed the corrupt Priests.

 

Therefore, the only tithes Malachi could have been speaking of… were agricultural tithes.

 

Malachi 3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

 

God tells the Priests that their act of thievery had brought a curse upon the entire nation. What was that curse? Famine. God had shut the windows so that rain would not fall upon the land. Thus bringing a time when crops would not grow as they should. And God allowed locusts to invade the gardens to eat away at what little food could grow.

 

The Priests thievery had not only be an act against God, but it robbed the nation as well. Food that had been in the Temple Storehouse for provision of the Poor was no longer available. Food that grew throughout the land had dwindled. The entire nation had been robbed of God’s blessings… because of the dishonest Levitic Priests.

 

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

 

The only thing that would cause God to open the windows of Heaven so that rain would fall upon the land again would be the Priests returning the stolen tithes. and offerings. The return of the stolen tithes would appease God’s wrath and cause Him to lift the curse that had plagued the land.

 

Conclusion: Malachi 3:8-10 is not speaking of a monetary tithe requirement for the saved in Christ Jesus today. It was about agricultural tithes and offerings that were stolen by the Levitic Priests who worked in the Temple..

 

God and the Spirit Agree

God and the Spirit Agree

by Ronald W Robey

 

No matter how many times a person may pray, the Holy Spirit will NEVER tell them something that contradicts God’s word.

 

God said His holy tithe is agricultural. (Leviticus 27:30-33)

The Holy Spirit will NEVER say God’s holy tithe is monetary.

 

God said His holy tithe is not to be observed until crossing the river Jordan, entering into the land of Canaan to dwell there, and finding rest from enemies. (Deuteronomy 12:1-11)

The Holy Spirit will NEVER say God’s tithe is to be observed in any geographical location but the land of Canaan.

 

God said His tithe is not to be taken directly to the House of God by the congregation. It is to be given to Levites, and the Levites are to take a tithe of the tithe to the House of God. (Numbers 18:21-26; Nehemiah 10:37-38)

The Holy Spirit will NEVER tell the congregation to tithe to the House of God. (the Holy Spirit would remind the Believer that he/she is the House of God… not a brick-and-mortar edifice)

 

Mark 3:25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

 

For anyone to infer that the Holy Spirit would speak contrary to what is written in the word of God, is for them to pit the Holy Spirit AGAINST God.

 

To even think that the Holy Spirit would oppose God’s tithe ordinance in any way is utter foolishness.

 

The Deceptive Drink

The Deceptive Drink
by Ronald W Robey

I wonder how many people in this world got “drunk” to a certain degree when they drank their first can of beer/glass of wine/shot of bourbon?

The fact is, probably 100% did.

Many who drank the next day, and then the next, and the next, and so on, began to show less and less signs of the alcohol affecting them as the days went on.

Why? Because brain cells that had immediately been affected by the first drink of beverage alcohol, had died. They no longer functioned as they had before. And so, the one drinking the beverage alcohol was deceived into believing that it was not affecting him; that he could handle his alcohol..

The sad truth is, the alcohol had already affected him… and the alcohol was controlling him, not the other way around.

The wise king Solomon wrote, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Alcohol deceives the one imbibing it…from the very first drink. And it continues to deceive the one that drinks it on a regular basis.

The only preventative to drunkenness is abstinence.

 

What They Don’t Tell You (is what you need to know)

What They Don’t Tell You
(is what you need to know)
by Ronald W Robey

Teachers of the monetary tithe requirement doctrine NEVER give you the whole truth when preaching on tithing from the Bible.  Instead, they rip verses (or parts of verses) out of context in order to deceive you.

 

They will say “God requires tithes be given to the House of God.”
Yet. they fail to tell you that none but the Levitic were required to tithe to the House of God in the Old Testament texts.

They will tell you that “God said to prove Him in the tithe.”
Yet, they fail to tell you that God was speaking to the Priests of the Temple who had removed the tithe from the Temple storehouse.

They will tell you “The tithe is the Lords.”
Yet, they fail to tell you that the tithe that God said is His is to come from agricultural crops, flocks and herds.

They tell you “The tithe of the land belongs to God”
Yet, they fail to tell you that the only land God said His tithe was to be taken from was the land of Canaan… it was not worldwide.

They will tell you that “God said in Deuteronomy 14:24-25 that the crop tithe could be exchanged for money and the money was to be taken to the place where the tithe was to be observed.
Yet, they fail to tell you that Deuteronomy 14:26 says that the money is to be spent on food for the tither and his household.

They will tell you that “Abraham tithed before the Law”
Yet, they fail to tell you that what Abram tithed was not his own property. Abram promised God that he would not take ANY of the spoils as his own property.  They also fail to tell you that Abarham’s tithe was descriptive, not prescriptive.

They will tell you that “Jacob vowed to tithe everything to God.”
Yet, thy fail to tell you that Jacob’s vow was in response to God promising land to he and his descendants.  Again, they fail to tell you that Jacob’s vow was descriptive, not prescriptive.

They will tell you that “Jesus said tithing ought to be done” in Matthew 23:23
Yet, they fail to tell you that the tithe Jesus was speaking of was garden produces, i.e.; Mint, Anise, and Cummin.  They also fail to tell you that Jesus was speaking to a people under the Law, while we are not under the Law. (see Romans 6:14 & Galatians 3:24-25)

Beware of Pastors who teach monetary tithing. Their doctrine is built on Scriptural statements ripped out of context.  What they don’t tell you is what you need to know.