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QUESTION 22:
If tithing is not for today, why did Jesus teach in Matthew 23:23 that it was all right to tithe?

ANSWER:
The verse you are referring to as follows: "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." Matthew 23:23.

In reading the Bible one must not forget that there are three classes of people in it. "Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God." 1 Corinthians 10:32. The Jews or Israelites are those people who originated from Abraham, through Isaac and Jacob. The Gentiles are all of the people who, before Pentecost (Acts 2), were unsaved. The Church of God is a group of people who have been called out of this world and are new creatures in Christ. It is neither Jew nor Gentile. If you take what is written to the Jews and apply it to the Church of God, you are going to have Christians observing Passover, keeping certain holy days, eating certain meats, making certain sacrifices, and a whole lot of other things. If you apply the message to the Church to the Gentiles, you will have them being baptized and observing the Lord's Supper. It is clear in Matthew 23, that He is speaking to the religious Jews. He is telling them it is all right for them to tithe, but they must not leave the weightier thing out. This was not written to the Christian.

Dear Reader, "Are you a Christian?" Have you been born again? Only by coming to Christ as a sinner in true repentance, having faith in Him, can you be saved? Trust Him and you WILL be saved, today!

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

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Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen