The Temple and its Workers

The Temple and its Workers
by Ronald W Robey
(written June 18, 2019)

The Bible reveals that there were thirty-eight thousand Levites that worked at the Temple in Jerusalem. But they worked in courses. For instance, there were four thousand Levites assigned to be musicians and four thousand Levites that were assigned to be porters. (door keepers)

1 Chronicles 23:3-5 Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand. Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the LORD; and six thousand were officers and judges: Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.

Thirty-eight thousand men working at the Temple at the same time would be impossible, as the dimensions of the Temple (90’x30’x45′; see 1 Kings 6:2) were not big enough to house that great number. Even 200 at one time would have been too much. There were many more Levites (thirty thousand) that had other jobs on the Temple grounds beside musician and porter.

The fact that they worked in courses (shifts) and there was such a vast number of Levites, reveals that the Levite, when not on duty, stayed at home in the forty-eight cities assigned to them by the remaining eleven tribes.

Some scholars agree that the non Aaronic Levite spent, at the most, two weeks a year at the Temple.

If they were to be paid for their work at the Temple, what of the eleven and a half months that they were at home? No food?

The answer is revealed in Nehemiah 10:37-38. Tithes were not taken to the Temple by the eleven tribes…they were given to the Levites. The Levites would then take enough to the Temple for their sustenance while performing their duties at the Temple…a tithe of the tithe. (the full tithe could not have been stored at the House of God, as the dimensions of the storehouse were far smaller than the dimensions of the House of God itself. 7.5′ broad/9′ broad/10.5 foot broad from bottom to top; see 1 Kings 6:6)

The remaining ninety percent of the tithe they received, they obviously took home to their families. The Levites had fields (see Nehemiah 13:10) in their cities where they could plant seed that they received as tithe and harvest food to sustain their families.

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The Victor Never Claimed Ownership

The Victor Never Claimed Ownership
by Ronald W Robey
(written June 15, 2019)

Genesis 14:16-23 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

Genesis 14:16-23 appears to be more about a meeting between Abram and Bera in which Melchizedek interjected himself, than a meeting between Abram and Melchizedek.

The text begins with Bera going out to meet with Abram. Then, we see Melchizedek serving refreshments; blessing Abram; being blessed by Abram; and receiving the tenth of the goods that Abram had recovered…all this happening in the presence of Bera, the owner of the goods.

From the biblical text, it appears that Melchizedek, though said to have been the Priest of the Most High God, humbled himself before Abram and Bera. He served bread and wine during Abram’s meeting with Bera.

When Abram gave ten percent of the goods he recovered in battle to Melchizedek, Bera did not tell Abram that he had no right to give away ten percent of the goods to Melchizedek. He simply told Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.”

It is as if Bera was acknowledging that Abram had the right as the victor in battle to give a tenth of the spoils of war to whichever king or deity Abram chose to give the tenth to, and Bera had the say-so of what was to be done with the remaining ninety percent of the goods. If the goods were the property of Abram, as many people purport them to be, then Bera’s statement, “Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself” would have been an unjust demand.

Notice in the biblical text, Abram did not reply, “This is my property now. I won it in battle.” No, Abram answered, “I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:”

The fact that Bera said, “Give me the persons, and keep the goods to thyself” proves that Bera was not being demanding. Rather, it shows his authority as owner of the goods to give a portion, (or all) of the goods away at his discretion.

Abram laid no claim to the goods he had recovered. He knew that they belonged to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. So, why did Abram tithe from property that did not belong to him? Ancient history answers that question…

Giving a tenth of the spoils of war recovered in battle to kings and deities had been practiced for centuries prior to Abram giving tithes of war spoils to Melchizedek. The ancient Babylonians would often give tithes of war spoils to their kings and gods as early as 2200 BC. (see “The Struggle of the Nations” by Professor Gaston Maspero, ©1896, Oxford) That’s 285 years prior to Abram tithing to Melchizedek.

Since the giving of a tenth of war spoils had been a custom of the land, Abram would have been familiar with it.

 

Hard Truth

Hard Truth
by Ronald W Robey
(written June 14, 2019)

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

What most people don’t know about Matthew 7:15 is, Jesus was warning of people who seem to be legit men of God but are actually extortioners

The word “ravening” is translated from the Greek word “harpax.” It means, “preying with rapacity” Rapacity is the act of extortion.

What is extortion, you may ask? Black’s Law Dictionary defines extortion as “The obtaining of property from another, with his consent, induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear, or under color of official right.”

So, how is a pastor an extortioner? The truth is, not all are. It is only those who teach their congregations that “God requires you to give Him a tenth of your monetary income.” God never said such in the Bible, and He never gave pastors “official right” (see the last part of Black’s definition above)

These monetary tithe requirement pastors fit the very definition of the word “extortion”…they take property (money) from another (members of the congregation, with their consent, using Malachi 3:8-10 out of context, telling the congregation that if they don’t tithe, they are guilty of thievery and cursed by God (induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear,) and through deceitful handling of the word of God they bewitch members of their congregation to believe that they are God’s Official Tithe Collection Representatives. (under color of official right)

If only the members of the congregation would study every passage in the Bible where God’s commanded tithe is mentioned they would discover that God’s commanded tithe was to come from agricultural increase…not from man’s money.

God’s commanded tithe is

a) seed of the land. (Le. 27:30)
b) fruit of the tree. (Le. 27:30)
c) every tenth animal to pass under the rod. (Le 27:32)
d) corn. (De. 12:17)
e) wine. (De. 12:17)
f) oil. (De. 12:17)
g) seed. (De. 14:22)
h) corn. (De. 14:23)
i) wine. (De.14:23)
j) oil. (De.14:23)
k) oxen. (De. 14:26)
l) sheep. (De. 14:26)
m) wine. (De. 14:26)
n) strong drink. (De. 14:26)
o) oxen. (2 Ch. 31:6)
p) sheep. (2 Ch. 31:6)
q) tithes of our ground. (Ne. 10:37)
r) tithes out of the fields. (Ne. 12:44)
s) corn. (Ne. 13:5)
t) wine. (Ne. 13:5)
u) oil. (Ne. 13:5)
v) corn. (Ne. 13:12)
w) wine. (Ne. 13:12)
x) oil. (Ne. 13:12)
y) food. (Mal. 3:10)
z) mint. (Matt. 23:23)
aa) anise. (Matt. 23:23)
ab) cummin. (Matt. 23:23)
ac) mint. (Lu. 11:42)
ad) rue. (Lu. 11:42)
ae) herbs. (Lu. 11:42)

The doctrine of a monetary tithe requirement is totally foreign to the word of God. It cannot be found anywhere in the pages of God’s holy word. This means that pastors who convince their congregations that they are required by God to tithe their monetary income and that the pastor has the right to collect that tithe on behalf of God is not a legit man of God…

…He is an extortioner.

So, what does the Bible say about such pastors?

Matthew 7:21-23 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. 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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Extortioners will not find eternal life in Christ. Christ doesn’t even know them as joint-heirs with Him. If you don’t want to see your pastor rejected by God when he stands in judgment before God, you need to stop yielding to the lie of the monetary tithe requirement and tell him to stop lying about an alleged monetary tithe requirement. If he continues to preach the lie, then it is time to remove him from the pastorate and replace him with a minister of truth.

God’s church is not built on lies…it is built on truth. If you love to hear lies preached, then you don’t love God or his church. Hard truth, but needed to be said.

 

Blatantly Obvious (or, “Take the Religious Blinders Off”)

Blatantly Obvious
(or “Take the Religious Blinders Off”)
by Ronald W Robey
(written June 11, 2019)

Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

When one removes the blinders of religious tradition to study what is written in Matthew 23:23, his eyes will be able to see a few facts that are blatantly obvious…

1. Matthew 23:23 says Jesus was speaking to scribes and Pharisees.

2. Matthew 23:23 does not say Jesus was speaking to the New Covenant church.

3. Matthew 23:23 says the scribes and Pharisees were tithing agricultural herbs and spices. (mint, anise, cummin)

4. Matthew 23:23 does not say the scribes and Pharisees were tithing money.

5.. Matthew 23:23 says that the scribes and Pharisees were neglecting weightier matters of the Law. (Judgment, Mercy, Faith)

6. Matthew 23:23 says that the scribes and Pharisees should have been tithing their agricultural herbs and spices.

7. Matthew 23:23 does not say the scribes and Pharisees should have been tithing money.

8. Matthew 23:23 says the scribes and Pharisees should not have neglected Judgment, Mercy, and Faith.

9. Matthew 23:23 is instruction for a people under the Mosaic Law.

10. Matthew 23:23 says the scribes and Pharisees should be tithing their agricultural herbs and spices because the Mosaic Law required agricultural tithes. (see Leviticus:27:30; Deuteronomy 12:17; 14:22,23,26; Nehemiah 10:37; 12:44; 13:5; Malachi 3:10)

12. Had Matthew 23:23 said the scribes and Pharisees were supposed to tithe money, it would have been telling them to transgress the Mosaic Law, thereby sinning against God. (see 1 John 3:4)

12. Matthew 23:23 is not instruction for the New Covenant Body of Believers in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion: It is wrong for pastors to tell their congregations that Matthew 23:23 says money is to be tithed to the House of God. In order to make Matthew 23:23 to say money is to be tithed to the House of God, one has to insert money into the verse.

Proverbs 30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

2 Corinthians 4:1-2 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. Proverbs 30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

 

Mission Impossible!!

Mission Impossible!!
by Ronald W Robey
(written June 10, 2019)

The first step to obeying Malachi 3:10 is to move to Israel.

Deuteronomy 12:10-11 But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the LORD your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety; Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD:

You MUST be living in Israel, or obeying Malachi 3:10 is impossible. Actually, since the “House of God” in Malachi 3:10 was the Temple in Jerusalem and not a church building in North America…you cannot obey Malachi 3:10 no matter how much you think you can.

The Temple was destroyed in AD 70.

 

Selfish Representatives

Selfish Representatives
by Ronald W Robey
(written May 30, 2019)

In the Bible, one hundred percent of God’s commanded tithe was meant to be natural food to sustain

a) bloodline descendants of Levi
b) widows
c) orphans
d) foreigners.

What percentage of the tithes that are being collected in religious institutions around the world today are actually going to feed bloodline descendants of Levi, widows, orphans, and foreigners?

Most pastors will admit that they use the tithes they collect for purposes other than what God’s word says it is to be used for. To clarify, they may tell you what the tithes they collect are used for, but they will not tell you that the Bible never authorized them to use tithes for the purpose that they use them. They will tell you that the majority of the tithes they collect

a) pay church staff salaries
b) pay church utility bills
c) pay for teaching materials
d) pay for equipment
e) maintenance of church grounds and property

A very small percentage of tithes (if any at all) pastors collect from their congregations actually reach the tables of bloodline descendants of Levi, widows, orphans, or foreigners.

Churches claim to be representing God when collecting tithes, yet don’t represent God at all in the collection of tithes. (else they would be collecting agricultural tithes and not money) Nor are they representing God in the distribution of tithes collected. Their idea of “distribution” is “keeping church doors open and salaries. In other words, tithes collected in these religious institutions are dedicated to self-interest, when God’s idea of distribution of tithes was to feed bloodline descendants of Levi, to feed widows, to feed orphans, and to feed foreigners. God’s purpose of tithing was to teach selflessness, not selfishness.

Pastors like to think they are “representatives of God’s tithe,” but they clearly are not representatives at all.

 

Give Alms…Not Tithes

Give Alms…Not Tithes
by Ronald W Robey
(written May 30, 2019)

Not only did Jesus not tithe His monetary gain…

Matthew 17:24-27 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

…He also taught His apostles not to tithe their monetary gain. Instead, He told them to give the monetary gain away in the form of alms for the poor…

Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

Apparently, giving monetary gain away in the form of alms to the poor was more preferable to Jesus than giving a tenth of said monetary gain to a religious institution.

Perhaps we should follow His example and give alms with our monetary gain.

Matthew 25:34-40 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Proverbs 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Proverbs 29:7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.