"Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law; justice, mercy and faithfulness; but these are things you should have done without neglecting the others." Matthew 23:23

Tithe is an old English word meaning tenth. When a person pays his tithes he gives ten percent of the increase of his income. The earliest record of tithing is found in Genesis 14.

About four thousand years ago an ancient patriarch named Abram learned that his nephew had been captured by an invading army. Abram gathered his servants together to pursue them and rescue his nephew Lot. Abram overtook the army, defeated them and rescued Lot. Abram took back all that the invaders had stolen and also loaded the spoils the defeated army let behind which increased his wealth. Then he gratefully gave a tenth of all to Melchezedek, High Priest and King of Salem.

"For this Melchizedek, King of Salem, Priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, King of Righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is King of Peace. Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a Priest perpetually. Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils." (Heb.7)

Now notice Genesis 14, -"Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh. And Melchizedek, King of Salem brought out bread and wine; now He was the High Priest of God Most High. 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.’ He gave him a tenth of all."

 

Abram gave a tenth of all. No doubt there were spoils of clothing, gold, silver, precious stones and money. Abraham did not give those things which he did not want or highly value - but gave the "choicest spoils" to the Priest of the Most High God. Abraham put God first in everything. Abraham placed his trust in God and as a result is forever called "the father of the faithful."

 

In the Book of Malachi we find God finding fault with many in Israel because they were neglecting their tithes and offerings. The Bible says that the tithe already belongs to God - so it is not something that you can give to Him. The tithe is holy and when you pay it you are only returning to God what is already His.

 In Malachi God rebukes the people saying that they have been robbing Him. He then challenged them saying, -"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My House, and test Me now in this, . .if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows."