For as long as I can remember there has always been a debate about paying tithes today. Some say it is a practice of the past, a Jewish law found in the Old Testament. Others say, its an act of faith and obedience; honouring the Lord with the first part of all our income, according to Proverbs 3:9 and Malachi 3:10. Believe me the argument can go on and on. What do you say?
As I read Hebrews 7 this morning, the eyes of my understanding was open wide, and I choose to share the revelation I had.
Hebrews 7:3, 8 tell me that Melchizedek, the king and priest whom Abraham paid tithes to had no record of any ancestors and it is believed that he was never born and he never died and therefore his life is like that of Jesus the Son of God who is a Priest and still lives on.
Hebrews 7:5 tell me that later on after Abraham, the Jewish people were required by law to pay tithes to their priests, because they were their relatives. However, Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek who was not a relative.
Hebrews 7:9 tells me that it is believed that Levi, the Priest, the ancestor of all Jewish priests paid tithes to Melchizedek through Abraham although he wasn't born at that time.
Reflecting on all this I discern that paying tithes to the Church today (The Body of Christ) should be seen as paying tithes to Jesus Christ, who is our holy and blameless High Priest and not to the Pastor. We are indeed also seeds of Abraham.
We are assured that Jesus our High Priest is sitting in a place of honour in Heaven reminding God that He has paid for our sins with His blood whenever we come to Him with our tithes. Let's take our focus off man and focus on Jesus Christ who has built His Church.
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