Tithing

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Was William Branham's teaching on tithing correct? Is tithing a requirement for Christians? Do you have to tithe ten percent of your gross income? Does the tithe belong to the ministry? What does the Bible have to say about tithing?

William Branham's teaching on tithing was in error

There are a number of things which William Branham taught with respect to tithing that are simply wrong. These include:

1. The tithe in the Old Testament was ten percent;
2. The New Testament requires tithing so Christians are required to tithe; and
3. The tithe should go to the ministry as they are the equivalent of the Levitical priesthood.

Was the tithe ten percent?

William Branham taught that the Old Testament tithe was ten percent. But that is simply not the truth. The Old Testament was over double that.

The first tithe

Ten percent of the gross income of God’s people funded the Levites (Num. 18:20–32). The Levites were scattered all over the country and were not just in Jerusalem at the temple. The Levites also included everyone in the tribe of Levi that worked in the temple - the priest, the song leaders and musicians, even the doormen and the janitors. In Nu 13:21–32 it is laid down that the tithe must be paid to the Levites, not just to the priests.

The priests only got ten percent of the tithe

According to Numbers 18:26-28, the Levites paid ten percent of the first tithe to the priests (who were also part of the tribe of Levi). It should be noted that according to Heb 7:5, ‘they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood.… take tithes of the people.’ The explanation for this is that the priests, who received from the Levites a tithe of the tithe, thus symbolically received the whole tithe.

The party tithe (or the second tithe)

A distinct second tithe is found in Deuteronomy 12:5-7 & 14:22-27, and happened every first, second, fourth and fifth year of a seven-year cycle. This tithe is different because the person tithing gets to eat it, and not just the Levites or the Priests. The point was to bring the resources to the temple for a party (the festivals). Just in case you couldn't make it to the temple with your harvest, you were supposed to redeem the tithes for money and then go.

Yes, that is right, it was spent on parties and it was mandatory. Can you even imagine if we all kicked in ten percent of our gross aggregate income for parties?

"And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household," (Deuteronomy 14:26)

So why do Christian ministers teach about the first tithe only, and forget about the party tithe? You could say it is because Jesus cast out the money-changers, and those that sold animals in the temple. But what Jesus was doing was cleansing the temple from those who were in it for the money.

The party tithe was shared with the following classes of people:

1) Levites, 2) Strangers, 3) Orphans, and 4) Widows.

If your pastor preaches that tithing is mandatory for New Testament Christians, does this include tithing to strangers, or only to preachers?

James 1:27 says, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

What James experienced in the New Testament is believers who gave everything, and shared it with those in need. It was a religion of love for others from the heart. The law, after all, was just a schoolmaster leading to true faith.

The poor tithe (or third tithe)

Ten percent every third year went to help the poor (Deut. 14:28, 26:12-15). That’s 3.33 percent. In addition, there were gleanings for the poor and the alien. In addition, there were occasional tithes and offerings as a specific need would come up, i.e., the rebuilding of the wall in Ezra, Nehemiah, or with the creation of the tabernacle in Exodus. If you add that up, the total mandatory tithe was about twenty-five percent of your gross income.

On top of that, there were specific sacrifices and gifts that you were expected to give just out of joy, as particular needs arose. What that means is, no matter how you look at it, the tithe was well above twenty percent, depending upon the year, of your gross income going to your tithe. And then, your taxes, and then you live on whatever is left.

What is also clear is that the priests only got a small portion of the total tithe (ten percent of ten percent = one percent of income).

What was subject to the tithe?

Was the Old Testament tithe calculated on all income or only certain types of income?

Tithe paid only on the fruit of the land

According to Lev 27:30–33, a tithe had to be given of the seed of the land, i.e. of the crops, of the fruit of the tree, e.g. oil and wine, and of the herd or the flock (see Deut 14:22, 23; 2 Chron 31:5, 6). As the herds and flocks passed out to pasture they were counted (see Jer 33:13), and every 10th animal that came out was reckoned holy to the Lord. The owner was not allowed to search among them to find whether they were bad or good, nor could he change any of them; if he did, both the one chosen and the one for which it was changed were holy. Tithes of the herds and flocks could not be redeemed for money, but tithes of the seed of the land and of fruit could be, but a 5th part of the value of the tithe had to be added.

There is no indication in the Old Testament that any tithing was required on wages or profits.

The no-tithe year

Every seventh or sabbatical year the land lay fallow, and was then tithe-free (Deut 15:1).

Does the New Testament require tithing?

The apostles set down very little in the way of requirements with respect to the Gentiles in the church. Specifically, Paul stated:

My judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.

The apostles agree with this:

Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas... with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, it has seemed good to us, having come bto one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth.  For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”

A requirement to tithe cannot be found in the New Testament.

Paul does lay down rules with respect to giving and they are not tithing. Here is his requirement:

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

But didn't Abraham pay tithes before the law was given?

Many message ministers (as well as denominational pastors) use the argument that, because Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, we are obligated under covenant to pay tithes to the church.

This is wrong for a number of reasons:

1. Abraham was not under obligation to pay tithes, he paid them freely;
2. Abraham only paid tithes once in his life, not every year;
3. Abraham didn't tithe on his income but just on his plunder from war; and
4. Abraham also was required to be circumcised as part of the covenant, does that mean that circumcision is also required today?

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, t“Cursed is everyone who is hanged uon a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

How do you pay tithes to Melchizedec?

A significant portion of the Old Testament tithes were paid to the Levites and then the priests. Hebrews 7:12 says,

“For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law”.

Jesus is then identified as a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Hebrews 7:23-24 says,

“And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.”

And Jesus Christ is alive today, our priest forever.

This means that your pastor is not a symbol of a priest who should receive tithes. No, Jesus is our high priest, and he is sitting on His throne in heaven (Hebrews 8:1). So how do we give to Jesus? Do you believe that your pastor fits into the role of vicarious fillii dei? Can he receive tithes as a representative of the Son of God, or as a representative of Melchisedec?

Maybe we should look at what Jesus said.

“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.” (Matthew 25:40)

Jesus was not talking about the least being a pastor in a luxury car, with luxury clothes and a luxury home. He was talking about people who were hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, in prison, and strangers. These are the words of the King.

And Melchisedec, after all, is the King of righteousness and peace.

If you truly want to give your tithes to Melchisedec, give to those in need.

Didn't Jesus teach us to tithe?

Jesus said:

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.

While message ministers would love to say that this passage proves that Jesus commands Christians to tithe, on close examination it actually states the opposite:

1. The tithe here is a tenth of their spice crop, not ten percent of their monetary earnings (Leviticus 27:30 "A tithe of everything from the land...").
2. Jesus is correcting the Pharisees. He is speaking directly to them. This is before the cross and therefore the Pharisees are clearly under the law. What was happening was that the Pharisees were getting a lesson in the law from the one that wrote the law. W@hat Jesus is saying is not aimed at Christians who are under grace and not under the law.
3. Jesus wasn't endorsing Abraham's tithe. Jesus is simply confirming that tithing is part of the law, not something that was before the law. Remember Jesus fulfilled the law so that we don't have to.

But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

But doesn't the Book of Hebrews require us to tithe?

The author of the Book of Hebrews states:

See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!  And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham.

This passage tells us a number of things:

1. It confirms that all that Abraham paid tithes on was his plunder from the war;
2. This verse states that the tithe is collected by the priests. Doesn't 1 Peter 2:9 state that we are part of a "royal priesthood"? Weren't the priests the only ones that didn't have to tithe?
3. Hebrews goes on to state that:

For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, fa better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

So just tell your pastor that you're going to go out and fight some people and he can have ten percent of anything that you take from the people that you beat up. NOT!

Should the tithe go to the ministry?

We have already proved that there is no requirement for tithing in the New Testament. And we have shown that the priests only received a tithe of the tithe (i.e. one percent).

But if for some reason, you want to ignore scripture and tithe, then you have to ask the question: Who gets the tithe?

In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul states:

We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.

Paul was given a large gift from the church to take to Jerusalem, which of necessity had to be physically taken from places so far away to Jerusalem that it would inevitably raise questions as to its vulnerability to misuse. Paul was deeply sensitive to any negative inferences in relationship to himself in this matter, as is clear from this verse. He held himself accountable to God and to man. His decision was that local church delegates would accompany the monies, thereby ensuring an independent accountability for the money.

Paul didn't want the money and neither should message pastors. A minister should get paid a reasonable wage - not the highest and not the lowest in the congregation. We believe that the Bible teaches that.

But what is not acceptable is also one of the most telling features in most message churches - a complete lack of accountability with respect to the tithes of the church. Ministers for the most part have total control and the trustees who are legally charged by the law to ensure that there is accountability for the funds turn tail and run.

As a result, monetary misuse and abuse of tithes in message churches is the norm. Trustees and boards refuse to hold the ministry accountable and so the ministry simply walks away with the money. While this is not the case in all message churches, it is the case in most.

So what does the New Testament require?

It's actually quite simple.

 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Quotes

Now watch this if you want to see something.

But he whose descent is not continued for... from them receiveth tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promise.

Abraham had the promise, and this Man blessed Abraham who had the promise. Who was this? The sons of Levi paid tithes to their brethren or... Their brethren paid tithes to them. They had a commandment of the Lord to take a tenth of what their brothers made, for their living, because they were the priesthood. Now, that lets out the Melchisedec priesthood, as you talk about, right there. That's right. But this Man... Even the one who had the promise, the greatest man on earth, Abraham, met this Man and paid tithes to Him. [Blank.spot.on.tape--Ed.] :He had to be greater.

Listen. And without any contradiction the less is blessed of the better. Certainly. Watch Who He is. And here men that die receive tithes;...

That's the priesthood of the order of priests and preachers, and so forth. Men that receive tithe, die. See? ... but here he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

What would a man take tithings for, if he had any... If he never was born, and never will die, and was from beginning to end, and--and never had no father or mother or descent, and owned the whole Heavens and earth and all in it, why would he take tithe? Why would he ask Abraham to pay tithes? You see what a strict thing it is to pay tithes? Tithing is right. Every Christian is duty bound to pay tithe. That's right. Never has been changed.

He can do nothing till first you confess that He's did it, and accept it as your own personal property. You can't get saved by beating on the altar, or can't get saved by paying your tithe, or keeping some days, or abs--abstain from meats. You don't get saved by that. It's by faith are you saved, and that through the grace of God. You have to accept it first, and believe it as your own personal property, then you are saved. Same way by healing.

God will provide the works. If you'll just walk in grace, you'll be more at work than you are right now with the Ladies Aid Society and all this other nonsense that's been added into the church. Soup suppers to pay the preacher, where'd you ever get such a thing as that Scripture? Tithes pays the preacher. He's to live by the tithes of the people. But we had to get something else to do. We have to have our part into it. And then if the--they can't make it up, there's another society will do it, another society. God's way is right. Tithes and offerings goes to Levi, which was the minister. If everybody would pay their tithes you wouldn't have to have any soup suppers. See, you adopted something else and leave the tithings off. Say it's an Old Testament ar--argument. I'd like for you to prove it to me. That's right. You can't do it by God's Word; it's a New Testament order too. God makes one order, it can never be changed. It has to remain that way.THE.CHURCH.CHOOSING.

Can a Christian go to heaven if he or she does not pay tithe?

Now, that's one that I could not answer Scripturally.

Now, this "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit," if the minister is sincere, just let--let us know (You see?), we'd be glad... Brother Neville, myself, or Brother Beeler, or Brother Collins, or any of these ministers here who are ordained to this ministry, and so forth, can--can do so.

Now, but now: Does a Christian not get to heaven because they do not pay tithe?

I--I could not say yes or no to that. But I do believe that every Christian is obligated to pay tithings because it is a commandment of the Lord. "And blessed is--are they that do all His commandments, that they might have a right to enter into the Life, the Tree of Life." :Now, I do believe that tithe-paying is essential to a Christian experience. For I'll get to that in another question in a few moments; I know there's another one in here pertaining to that.

Brother Branham, don't you feel that everyone who claims to be a Christian should pay tithes, pay their tithes into the storehouse of the Lord? Please give Scripture to this question.

All right, if you will... That is right, that the Bible said in Malachi the 4th chapter, "Will a man rob God? And you say, 'Where have we robbed Thee?' In tithe and offerings. Bring all your tithe and offerings into My storehouse and prove Me," saith the Lord, "if I will not open up the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that there'll not be room enough to receive."

That's a challenge to any individual. And if I only had the time, and would not get to this little Scripture that I wish to get to in about the next ten minutes, I would like to give you a personal testimony of how that I was even hungry, and my mother and them hungry, and my daddy sick, but I took my tithes out first and give it to God, and you ought to see what happened. I have never seen in my life, that any man or a woman, that if you only make one dollar a week, will bring the ten cents of that money and put it into your storehouse, your church where you come, if God don't bless that, call me a hypocrite. Yes, sir. That's a challenge to anybody. And every Christian... That goes to this other question. Every Christian should pay tithes. That's right. It should be done.

Would it be wrong to use tithes on church building funds?

Well now, here--here's a touchy little thing for the church now. No, correctly, tithes is to go to the minister. That's right. In the Bible they had a box they'd set at the door in the Old Testament when the--building. This box was a fund where the people put in there for the repairing... You've read it many times in the Old Testament. They kept up the buildings and things like that... All the repairs on the buildings was taken care out of that fund. But a tenth of that went--a tenth of the tithings--all the tithings went to their priests, their pastors. Yes, tithings are to go for nothing else.

I know people take their tithes and give them to a widow woman. That's wrong. If you've got anything to give the widow woman, give her, but don't give her God's money. That's not yours in the first place. That's God's.

If you sent me downtown to get a loaf of bread, and you give me twenty-five cents to get the loaf of bread, and I met somebody on the street wanted something else, and I'd give him the twenty-five cents (See?), I give them your money. If they asked me for something, let them get it over here in this pocket and give them my money; but this is your money. And a tenth of it is the Lord's. And Levi the priest could live by the tenth.

The tenth is to be a tithing that's to be brought into the storehouse with a promise of God to bless it and a proof. He said, "If you don't believe it, come and prove Me and see if I won't do it." See? That's right.

The tithings goes into the church for the pastor and so forth like that to live on. And then the--the--the building funds and things like that is a separate fund altogether. Now, that--that is Scriptural.

One time when we get started, I want to take a night... I've went here some time ago before I left the tabernacle and taken about two or three weeks and just on subjects like that and went plumb through it and showed what tithings was in the church.

Should a person pay tithes to an individual, or should a Christian work?

Sure he should. He's the one man that will work, is a Christian.

"Pay tithes to an individual?" It depends on who the individual is. See? That's right. In Hebrews 7, the first time tithings was talked about in--in a stand that we... Wait a minute, I believe, number two question. No. Uh, uh. No. For Brother... Said, "Two questions for Brother Branham."

When... In Hebrews the 7th chapter, when Abraham, returning from the slaughter of the kings met Melchisedec, he paid Him a tithe. That was Melchisedec, the King of Salem, which is King of Peace, and King of Righteousness, which was nobody but God Himself. See?

But when you pay tithings... Really, where you owe tithings is where you get your food. "Bring ye all your tithings into My storehouse, saith the Lord. (That right?) And prove Me wherein saith God, that if I'll not open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that you would not have room enough to receive it." I challenge any man or woman that's not a tithe payer to accept that.

I could stand here till in the morning, telling you just what happened when I seen that, and what condition I was in. But just as loyal as I ever could, I paid tithes. And when I took my own money from the church here or from my campaigns, I'd take more... I'd give a tenth. Then I'd give it out to the ministers, and give the rest of it to ministers. Then when I couldn't do that, then the thing I did, I kept ten percent and give God ninety. And then, when the law told me I couldn't do that, I'd have to take... And if I did, it was going to be charged to it, then I had to take and bypass it into foreign missions and so forth, and then just take a wage out of that of a hundred dollars a week; and I pay my tithes from that.

Yes, sir. I believe in paying tithes. It's one of God's blessings that's proven to be a blessing. You say, "That's of the Old Testament." It is of the New Testament too. Yes, sir.

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