Tithing Perspectives in Heb. 7:8

When preachers want to say the Bible told believers to give tithes in church, they run to Hebrews 7:8.

Oh, that verse has ‘suffered’!

Smiles.

What the verse said:

‘And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.’

What preachers read:

‘And here (in the churches) men that die (ushers that pass around the offering baskets) receive tithes (from you during offering time); but there (in heaven) he receiveth them, (Jesus receives our tithes as believers) of whom it is witnessed that he liveth’

But what the verse really says in context:

‘And here (in this still-ongoing Levitical priesthood I’m refuting) men that die (Jewish Levitical priests) receive tithes; but there (in the case of Abraham and Melchizedek in Genesis) he receiveth them, (the tithe of the spoils of war) of whom it is witnessed that he liveth (as prophetically ‘witnessed’ in Psalm 110:4).

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Conclusion: let us always learn to read scriptures in context. Hebrews 7 was not talking of what goes on in a church setting. It was simply comparing between what happened in Genesis and what happened in Leviticus!

In case you are still not clear or the religious teachings you are used to is still interfering with your comprehension in a way, simply check out how other translations rendered that verse:

GOOD NEWS BIBLE:

‘In the case of the PRIESTS the tenth is collected by men who die; but as for Melchizedek the tenth WAS collected by one who lives, as the scripture says.’ (Hebrews 7:8 GNB)

THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE

‘Furthermore, here [in the LEVITICAL priesthood] tithes are received by men who are subject to death; but in that case [concerning Melchizedek], they are RECEIVED by one of whom it is testified that he lives on [perpetually].’ (Hebrews 7:8 AMP)

THE MESSAGE BIBLE

Or look at it this way: We pay our tithes to priests who die, but ABRAHAM paid tithes to a priest who, the Scripture says, “lives.” (Hebrews 7:8 MSG)

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I hope this is clear now.

The whole chapter 7 of the book of Hebrews was a comparison of Genesis vs Leviticus.

And hope you know why the comparison was being done in the first place?

TO PROVE THAT TITHING HAS ENDED!!!!!

The 5th verse introduced the commandment that sustained the levitical priesthood: TITHING!

‘And those indeed of THE SONS OF LEVI who receive the priest’s office HAVE A COMMANDMENT IN THE LAW TO COLLECT A TENTH from the people, that is, from their countrymen, although they are descended from Abraham.’ (Hebrews 7:5)

Make sure you don’t forget the commandment being discussed in Hebrews 7: TITHING!

The 12th verse said Jesus changed the priesthood as time went on, this will definitely affect the commandment they formerly received!

‘For when the PRIESTHOOD IS CHANGED, of necessity there takes place A CHANGE OF LAW ALSO.’ (Hebrews 7:12)

And by the time you get to the conclusion of the comparison, the commandment (of tithing) that sustained the Levitical priesthood was declared USELESS because the priesthood has been permanently changed!

‘For, on the one hand, there is THE NULLIFICATION OF A FORMER COMMANDMENT because of its weakness and USELESSNESS’ (Hebrews 7:18)

I love the New Living Translation (NLT):

‘Yes, THE OLD REQUIREMENT ABOUT THE PRIESTHOOD WAS SET ASIDE because it was weak and USELESS.’ (Heb 7:18 NLT).

Hmm.

It is not me that said so.

Open your Bible and find it there!

Please do not insert ushers and offering baskets into Hebrews 7.

It was referring to the history that took place between the book of Genesis and the record in Leviticus.

Thank you for complying.

Remain under Grace.

Amen.