Present day definition:
Tithe, Formerly, payment exacted from the inhabitants of a parish
for the maintenance of the church and its incumbent; some religious
groups continue the practice by giving 10% of members' incomes
to charity. In the 19th century a rent charge was substituted.
By the Tithe Commutation Act 1836, tithes were abolished and replaced
by 'redemption annuities' payable to the crown, government stock
being issued to tithe­owners.
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Biblical definition (Old Testament):
(1) And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Thou
shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have
any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among
the children of Israel. And, behold, I have given the children
of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their
service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of
the congregation, Num1820-21.
(2) Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that
the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before
the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place
his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine
oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou
mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always, Deu1422,23.
(3) At the end of three years thou shalt
bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and
shalt lay it up within thy gates: And the Levite, (because he
hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and
the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall
come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord thy God may
bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest, Deu1428,29.
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Biblical definition (New Testament):
Therefore said he (the Lord) unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest...
And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you, Luk1002-09.
Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the alter are partakers with the alter? (according to the Old Testament) Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. (Howbeit; for the workman is worthy of his meat, Mat1010.)
(No mention of tithing, here, only "things that are set before you")
But I (Paul) have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel, 1Co0913-18.
Verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham, Heb0705.
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made... Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized (with the Holy Ghost, Mat0311) into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise, Gal0319-29.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth, Rom1004. We are not under the law, but under grace, Rom0615.
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Rom0320-24.
It is written, The just shall live by faith, Rom0117
A new commandment I (Jesus) give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another, Jhn1334,35.
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hat this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God, 1Jn0316-21.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed, Jas0122-25.
Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not (But rather give alms of such things as ye have, Luk1141). For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack, 2Co0811-15.
Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith, Gak0609,10.
The concept of giving tithes, as such, seems not to be relevant to Christ's teaching, but rather the giving of alms, as we are able.
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