Biblical Basis for Storehouse Tithing Versus Giving
The biblical basis for storehouse tithing versus giving is rooted in the Hebrew Bible's instructions on tithing and the interpretation of these instructions in Jewish and Christian traditions. The key text for storehouse tithing is Malachi 3:10, which says, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this,” says Yahweh of Armies [1].
In the Hebrew Bible, tithing was a practice where a tenth of one's produce or livestock was given to the Levites, who were responsible for serving in the Temple and providing for the needs of the poor [5, 6]. The tithe was considered a way to support the Levites and the poor, as well as to acknowledge God's provision.
The concept of storehouse tithing is closely tied to the Jewish tradition of bringing tithes to a central location, such as the Temple in Jerusalem. According to the Babylonian Talmud, the tithe was to be brought to the storehouse, where it would be distributed to the Levites and the poor [8]. The Mishnah also discusses the rules surrounding tithing and the distribution of tithes to the Levites and the poor [10].
In Christian tradition, the practice of tithing has been interpreted in various ways. Some Christian traditions have continued the practice of tithing, while others have understood it as a principle of giving rather than a specific requirement. The New Testament does not explicitly command tithing, but it does encourage giving to support the needs of others, as seen in Acts 20:35, where Paul quotes Jesus as saying, "It is more blessed to give than to receive" [2].
The Baptist/Reformed tradition, as represented by John Gill's commentary on Malachi 3:10, interprets the storehouse as a place where tithes were stored and distributed to the Levites and the poor [7]. In contrast, the Jewish (Rabbinic) tradition, as seen in the Babylonian Talmud, emphasizes the importance of distributing tithes to the poor and the Levites, with a focus on the discretion of the giver in determining who receives the tithe [8, 9].
The biblical basis for giving, as opposed to storehouse tithing, is found in various passages that encourage generosity and support for the poor. For example, Isaiah 23:18 speaks of merchandise and wages being used for the benefit of those who dwell before Yahweh, while Ecclesiastes 2:26 notes that God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him, and that the sinner gathers and heaps up wealth only to give it to those who please God [3, 4].
Sources
- Malachi “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this,” says Yahweh of Armies, “if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough for. -- Malachi 3:10”
- Acts “In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” -- Acts 20:35”
- Isaiah “Her merchandise and her wages will be holiness to Yahweh. It will not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise will be for those who dwell before Yahweh, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing. -- Isaiah 23:18”
- Ecclesiastes “For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind. -- Ecclesiastes 2:26”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Tithe — The tenth of anything -- 1Sa 8:15,17. Antiquity of the custom of giving to God's ministers -- Ge 14:20; Heb 7:6. Considered a just return to God for his blessings -- Ge 28:22. Under the law belonged to God -- Le 27:30. Consisted of a tenth Of all the produce of the land. -- Le 27:30. Of all cattle. -- Le 27:32. Of holy things dedicated. -- 2Ch 31:6. Given by God to the Levites for their services -- Nu 18:21,24; Ne 10:37. The tenth of, offered by the Levites as an heave offering to God -- Nu 18:26,27. The tenth of, given by the Levites to the priests as their ”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Tithe Or Tenth — the proportion of property devoted to religious uses from very early times. Instances of the use of tithes are found prior to the appointment of the Levitical tithes under the law. In biblical history the two prominent instances are-- + Abram presenting the tenth of all his property, or rather of the spoils of his victory, to Melchizedek. (Genesis 14:20; Hebrews 7:2,6) + Jacob, after his vision at Luz, devoting a tenth of all his property to God in case he should return home in safety (Genesis 28:22) The first enactment of the law in respect of tithe ”
- Malachi (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Malachi 3:10: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,.... Or "treasury" (e); for there were places in the temple where the tithe was put, and from thence distributed to the priests and Levites, for the support of their families, as they wanted. There were the tithe or tenth part of all eatable things paid to the Levites, and out of this another tithe was paid by the Levites to the priests; and there was another tithe, which some years the owners ate themselves at Jerusalem, and in others gave them to the poor; and these were called the first tithe, the tithe out of the tithe,”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Nedarim 84b.5: Rava says that it is possible to explain the apparent contradiction between the sources with regard to benefit from poor man’s tithe without recourse to a tannaitic dispute: Here, the mishna is referring to poor man’s tithe distributed in the owner’s house, i.e., poor man’s tithe that had not been distributed in the threshing floor but was brought home and must now be distributed to the poor who visit the house, as the term giving is written in the verse with regard to such a tithe: “And you shall give to the Levite, to the stranger, to the orphan, and to the ”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Chullin 131b.5: And the baraita teaches with regard to the poor man’s tithe that is distributed from within his house that the owner has the benefit of discretion. The Gemara asks: What is the reason for this halakha ? It is because the requirement of giving is written with regard to it, as the verse states: “When you have made an end of tithing all the tithe of your increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, and you shall give it to the Levite, to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within your gates, and be satisfied” (Deuter”
- Mishnah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Mishnah, Mishnah Terumot 4:2: If one had his produce in a storehouse, and he gave a seah to a Levite and a seah to a poor person, he may set aside another eight seahs and eat them, the words of Rabbi Meir. But the sages say: he may only set aside according to proportion.”