Tithe Sermon pt. 8

D. Any discussion of the tithe raises a number of questions; I'd like to address four of them.

1. Does the tithe command in the Old Testament really carry over to the New Testament?
2. How is the tithe computed?
3. To whom should the tithe be given?
4. What kind of blessing or curse is involved in obedience or disobedience to God's tithe command?

E. Does the tithe command continue under the New Testament?

1. Our general principle is that God does not change, that His Old Testament commands continue to apply unless abroagated in the New Testament. e.g. circumcision and dietary laws were done away with in Christ.

a. The fact is that there is no New Testament abrogation of the tithe.

b. A priori reasoning also suggests that responsibility should increase as benefits increase. We enjoy much greater benefits and promises under the New Testament. Luke 12:4 says, "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more."

[I'll comment here that I heard the statistic that the average American gives 2% to any charity. The average Christian gives 4% to any charity including the church. I heard this on the Family Life Today radio broadcast with Jerry Bridges as the guest on Oct. 29.]