When Solomon completed the temple that his father David wanted to build for God, God accepted it as a place where his Name would reside if the people kept his name holy.
After the temple was built the Levitical priests and Levites were given the full-time responsibility to maintain and care for God’s temple. So, to care for them God commanded the other Israelites to give a 10% of their grain and fruit that belonged to him to the priests and the Levites.
Leviticus 27: 30" 'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.
Numbers 18: 23It is the Levites who are to do the work at the Tent of Meeting and bear the responsibility for offenses against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. 24 Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: 'They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.' "
Later the temple was destroyed by the Babylonians because of the Israelites continued disobedience to God. After 70 years God allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild his temple. After it was rebuilt the Levitical priests and Levites were reinstituted to care for the new temple and the other Israelites were still commanded to provide a tithe to care for the temple’s upkeep. But the Jews began to neglect giving their tithes to the priest and Levites who in turn neglected to care for the temple.
Because of this in Malachi God tells the Jews to give the whole tithe to his house and he would bless them by opening the floodgates of heaven.
Malachi 3: 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
Does God still want his chosen people to give their tithe to care for his temple and to those who are responsible to care for it?
Jesus said this prophecy about God’s temple that was made of stone.
Matthew 24: 1 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 "Do you see all these things?" he asked. "I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down."
Jesus said not one stone of the temple will be on another, meaning the temple would be destroyed and not rebuilt.
If the temple has been destroyed and there is no Levitical priests and Levites to care for it do we still need to tithe?
In Hebrews it teaches that Jesus has become the priest of his temple.
Hebrews 6: 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
And not being from the tribe of Levi but from Judah there has been a change of the priesthood which also changes God’s law.
Hebrews 7: 12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.
Because of Jesus we no longer follow the law of the Sabath day but now follow Jesus who has become our Sabath rest for our soul. We no longer need to tithe to care for the Levitical priesthood and Levites to care for God’s temple of stone.
God no longer gives name to reside in a manmade temple. Believers of Jesus become the temple where God himself will make his home in all who love him and his Son.
1 Corinthians 6: 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.
Our body become the temple of the Holy Spirit so do we still need to provide a tithe to care for our temple?
The tithe we give our body is not 10% of our wealth or 10% of other believer’s wealth. The 10% we provide daily for our temple is spiritual food which is every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Matthew 4: 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "
So, the tithe you give to God is spending 10% daily to feed upon God’s word which is about 1.5 hours. Your tithing is to learn how to honor God with your body by feeding yourself spiritual food by reading God’s word being taught to you by the Holy Spirit.
When you tithe to God’s temple God will open the floodgates of heaven and bless you with spiritual blessings.
Malachi 3: 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
Be safe in Jesus. Ps. Glenn