Matthew 13:24-25 (KJV)
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
This parable involves tares and wheat which Jesus uses to teach us a deeper meaning.
Matthew 13:36-38 (KJV)
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed (wheat) are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
Jesus goes on to explain that the wheat are believers and the tares are unbelievers. As the multitude walked away from Jesus’ parable they were probably asking themselves what wheat had to do with the kingdom of heaven. Often times when God is trying to teach us about HIMSELF he will use things that we can understand, but many times we will walk away like the multitude missing the point.
John 6:63 (KJV) It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
The words that Jesus spoke are spiritual words that can only be understood spiritually. How is it that we can understand Jesus’ teaching had a far deeper meaning when he is talking about tares and wheat, and miss it when it comes to money?
Tithe in the New Testament is only mentioned six times in the New Testament.
Luke 18:11-12 (KJV)
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luke 11:42 (KJV) But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Only twice does Jesus use the word tithe and it is when he is rebuking the Pharisees calling them hypocrites. The leadership in the church has been teaching tithing for a purpose of bringing in money. Money is truly needed for a multitude of reasons, one of which is to pay the light bill, and it is our DUTY TO GIVE to further the true gospel of Jesus Christ and him crucified. We should have a heart to see the kingdom of God advanced throughout an evil world which requires finances. The doctrine that is being taught is wrong. Fear and blessings should not be used to manipulate the people for the purpose of bring money into the church. To be clear, I am not saying that all have malicious intentions and a greedy heart, because many do not know the full doctrine of the cross.
Tithe is used twelve times in the Old Testament.
Deuteronomy 14:22 (KJV) Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
The law states that a tithe must be given, but the law is spiritual and must be spiritually understood.
Romans 7:14 (KJV) For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Whether Christ or Paul was talking about the use of money it was for the purpose of teaching us a deeper meaning. Scripture points out that Jesus Christ is our firstfruits, Passover, Sabbath, feast days and all the other types and shadows in scripture.
1 Corinthians 15:23 (KJV) … Christ the firstfruits; …
1 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV) … For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Colossians 2:16-17 (KJV)
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat (meat offering), or in drink (drink offering), or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
If we can understand that Christ is our first fruits and our Sabbath, then he must be our tithe as well. The blessing of God is not dependent upon our actions but rather on everything Christ has done. There is no so called “action” that will bring the blessings of God. God is only moved by faith. This faith is not random faith, but a specific faith. The cross of Christ allowed salvation to be brought to those that trust it, and the cross is the only means by which all blessings can be given to a believer.
For those that do not have a malicious heart, a “y” in the road is loaming, to continue onward with the teachings that you have always known or to change course to a path never walked before.
Joshua 3:3-4 (KJV)
3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant (body of Christ) of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it (Priest/preachers that preaches nothing else but the cross of Christ), then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it (up until this time they walked in a circle, but now they are shown the cross of Christ).
4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore (only by continuing to follow the cross of Christ can we find the way to the promise land).