Aaron and His Sons Have No Inheiratance

So in my on going search for truth, I have been digging into tithing, it's roots, it's history, what the bible says about and how or if it applies today. So far I have been disappointed in what I have read and learned in contrast to what is being taught. Just this last Sunday, as clever as it was, a song was played called "Paying The Tithe" and was a remake to the BeeGee's hit of yesteryear "Staying Alive." After what I have read, it's difficult to sit through something like that -

So let's visit Numbers 18 and get to the bottom of this.

It was Aaron and his sons that were the primary recipients of ''tithes''. In addition, they were responsible for any offenses that would come to the temple. In other words, if someone defiled the temple, Aaron and his sons where held personally responsible. This is quite a charge. (Numbers 18:3) The Levites were given to Aaron and his sons to help with the duties and service to God and his temple. (verse 6)

Something interesting I noticed while reading this - is that verses 11 through 20 speak of "first fruits." There was a special offering that was the "first fruits." This was an offering of sacrifice. If you had a cow per se, and it was old enough to reproduce, you were required by Mosaic Law to give that to Aaron and his sons. But what is notable is that the first born of cows, sheep and goats were given as a sacrifice, NOT as a tithe. This is a major departure from the modern teaching of tithing in many churches today. From Numbers we learn that the sin offering was the first fruit, not the tithe. We are taught differently. We are taught that when you get your paycheck, you take the first 10 percent of that and pay it to the local church and anything beyond that is an "offering." However, that is not found in scripture.

So, finally in verse 21 it is written "And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation." So, who has the Lord given the tithe to? The Levites! So the argument is, that since modern day pastors and ministers are in service of the tabernacle of the congregation, they should receive a "tithe." However, we have a new covenant with better promises. Verse 24 reiterates this "But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance."

The "heave" offering is an interesting concept. There is no perfect translation for the Hebrew word "terumah‎" which could be best described as a "lifted" portion or a portion set apart for "higher" purpose. You may even stretch that and call it a portion lifted higher for holy purposes over the common portion for normal use.

Now before anyone gets worked up into a lather, I want to make it clear that I am in NO way saying that those who minister the gospel are not worthy or shouldn't receive monetary gifts. Just the opposite! But I do not believe the bible teaches that New Testament believers are not under the "tithe."

More to come...