I would like to first express that the content of this article doesn't represent a theological view of the Church under which I serve.
Secondly; this is an ongoing search for biblical truths from the Christian scriptures and therefore in my search for this truth I might error, therefore do not take my articles too personal.
Thirdly; I ask the tough and difficult questions when it comes to matters of faith convictions. I believe that truth is never afraid of scrutiny, probing and questioning. Truth is willing to be refined in the fire seven times and truth shall come out even stronger.
It is in appreciating God's gift of free will, that God expect of us to use the gift of thinking especially as we wrestle with contetious issues of doctrine.
"Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. And he gave him a tithe of all"
(Genesis 14: 18-20)
This text is part of a broader discussion on whether tithe is under law or under grace. I must admit that even the best of us approach scripture with biases.
These biases are informed from the books we have read on the subject, or preachings and teachings we have heard from the pulpit.
These biases therefore are the lenses through which we interpret and derive our perceived interpretations and applications.
The scope of our biases are limited to the interpretations we have heard on the subject matter.
A first time reader of the Biblical text is most likely to ask the right questions like an innocent child. I therefore invite you to block anything you have been taught on Melchizedek, Abram and tithe, and be open minded to learn and re-learn certain things.
CONTEXT
My lecturer in Biblical Theology emphasized on context. He would say, "context, context and context". Because if we ignore the context, the meaning will be lost in that confusion.
Do you know the following names?
1. Bera, king of Sodom
2. Birsha, king of Gomorrah
3. Shinab, king of Admah
4. Shemeber, king of Zeboiim
I know a lot of People who will preach on tithe under grace, but they don't know the above kings. I didn't search these names from exta-biblical writings. These names form part of the context to the passage above.
Let me introduce the other king;
5. Kedorlaomer, king of Elam.
DEFINING A VASSAL
Definition; a vassal is a people or nation in a subordinate position to another nation.
Having defined a vassal allow me to introduce the vassal kings/nations.
King Bera of Sodom, king Birsha of Gomorrah, king Shinab of Admah, and king Shemeber of Zeboiim were vassals/subject to king Kedorlaomer the king of Elam. Therefore the four vassal kings paid tributes or taxes to King Kedorlaomer under the vassal treaties.
"Twelve years they served kedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled" (Genesis 14:4)
These four king's rebellion angered king kedorlaomer in the fourteenth year he and a coalition of kings came and attacked the four vassals.
"Then they took all of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. They also took Lot, Abram's brother's son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed" (Genesis 14: 11-12)
If you ever asked what was Abram's business in this war? (Vs. 12) answers that question; Lot, Abram's nephew was taken captive.
ABRAM: A KINSMAN REDEEMER AND A BROTHER'S KEEPER
When news reached Abram concerning the capture of his nephew he didn't think twice about risking his life to rescue his nephew.
Perhaps we can learn a thing or two about Abram. Being an uncle Abram is all Lot has in Canaan. It's a duty of a kinsman redeemer to bail out his next of kin from debtors or in this case captors by paying a ransom or by military means.
He is indeed not only a kinsman redeemer but a brother's keeper. Many times as an uncle I would be offended by my nephews. But looking out, protecting and providing for them is a duty towards my brother/sister who has left them under my care either by death or distance. Abram and Lot had a quarrel, and Lot was in the wrong. Yet Abram forgiveness is demonstrated in his swift response to rescue him.
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born in adversity" (Proverbs 17:17)
Now follow this;
"Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew...." (Genesis 14: 13) OK let us focus on "Abram the Hebrew".
The 'Hebrew' is also derived from Habiru/Apiru which can be loosely translated people without riches/property, dependents, immigrants/foreigner or people of low class.
Now keep that thought!
Abram went to war and defeated Kedorlaomer and his coalition. He rescued his nephew Lot and other people and children. He returned as a conquering General with the spoils of war.
Now with that context in mind Abram met two key people; Melchizedek, king of Salem and Bera King of Sodom.
MELCHIZEDEK KING OF SALEM
Melchizedek king of Salem welcomed Abram and his men with generosity. He brought bread and wine and refreshed them.
After feeding Abram with bread and wine he blessed Abram by the name of God Most High, creator of heaven and earth.
Following this gesture Abram in turn gave a tenth from the spoils of war.
According to military terms of conditions in the Ancient Near East (ANE) the spoils from war belonged to the Army General who led the soldiers to victory.
According to these terms 10% of the spoils belonged to the King, the rest of the spoils the General shared with his foot soldiers. When Jesus Christ conquered death and victoriously ascended to heaven the Epistle puts it in ANE language;
"Therefore He says; when He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men" (Ephesians 4:8)
The finger that penned down these words was inspired by military triumphalism. Picturing Jesus as a conquering king going up sharing the spoils (he gave gifts unto men)
If you are on Netflix watch the Vikings, you might understand the terms of military action as it relates to spoils.
The spoils includes captured men, women, children, livestock, food, gold etc.
This was the very first military engagement by Abram, and as a Conquering General he never took the spoil that belonged to him legally by military treatìes.
Lets get this thing out of the way.
The tenth (10%) that Abram gave to Melchizedek was not a tithe.
I know the proponents of "tithe is under the grace" (myself included) base their argument on a numerical figure, a percentage, a tenth.
Now you might argue and say but the tenth and tithe mean the same in terms of mathematics.
I agree!
A 10% tip I received as a waiter from the tables I served is basically a tithe of all the money my guests have used on food and drinks.
At the end of the shift a cash up will be printed out. If my cash up show that I sold R10,000 food and drinks, I knew that I will walk home with R1000,00 in tips.
Will I be wrong in saying waiters therefore receive a tithe?
The answer is yes and no!
Yes because tithe is 10%, it's no because a tithe were received by a Priest.
In that sense Melkizedek as a Priest/King received the tenth as a tribute. My arguement is that this tenth doesn't meet the (Deuteronomy 14: 22-29)
1. The tenth that Abram gave to Melchizedek was not a tithe out of the increase of his grain for that year.
He gave spoils from war zone littered with blood of slain enemy soldiers.
Putting it more bluntly Abram gave a tenth out of blood Money.
2. You are required to eat your tithe before the LORD, in the place that He chooses to make his name known.
Abram never ate the tenth he gave to Melchizedek.
This evidence is enough to dispute that what Abram gave to Melchizedek was not a Deuteronomy 14 tithe but a tribute or tax to the King of Salem.
The students of Hebrew might argue that the word tenth is the same as tithe in Hebrew.
Again I agree!
Just like I also agree that a waiter receives a tithe too but s/he is not a Priest.
The point I am trying to make is that it is not about a percentage, but the homage paid to the one who was well established as a king to receive tributes, and a priest to command a blessing.
The second person Abram now encounter is a King of Sodom. The king of Sodom was afraid that this Hebrew might make them vassals and rule over them.
His request was; "Give me the persons, and take the goods (spoils) for yourself"
The king of Sodom is playing fear. The General keeps the spoils, but had no authority or claim over the city.
"I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the possesor of heaven and earth, that I will not take anything, from a thread to a sandle strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, I have made Abram rich" (Genesis 14: 21-23).
Abram was not blessed because of what he gave, Abram was already blessed with riches even before he met with Melchizedek the Priest of Salem.
Abram didn't take the 90% to himself. He gave the rest of the spoils after a tenth which is 90%. He gave it all to the King of Sodom.
By refusing to take the spoils Abram demonstrated his trust in God Almighty as the source of his riches, not man.
It is this act of faith that led him to give to Melchizedek who is the type of Jesus Christ.
In the Old Testament the priest received the tithes at the designated temple in Jerusalem.
Christ now is the High Priest After the manner of Melchizedek.
The recipient of the tithe is not your Pastor, Apostle, prophet, Evangelist or Teacher.
Because on this side of calvary we have the Priesthood of all Believers.
CONCLUSION
In my humble plea I ask that we put our differences aside and really interrogate what we believe.
In this article I have refuted that Abram gave a tithe in the sense of (Deuteronomy 14).
A counter arguement to persuade me in regard to the tenth Abram gave to Melchizedek linking it to the legal stipulations of a tithe is welcome.
I know this might fall on empty ears. If your Church requires a tithe as support to the Gospel ministry continue to give, you are not sinning against God.
However, questions around tithe doesn't mean local Church members should not financially support the work of God.
It removes the burden of law of tithe. It is now up to you to determine how much you have set apart in your heart to give.
Is it 10%, 15% or 50% that is all good as long as it is willingly given without grudging.
Christian orientation should encourage new members to support the Gospel ministry with their substance.
The Propagation of the Gospel relies on the generous giving of Christians.
Lawrence Musunte
+27845517018
lmusunte@gmail.com
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