Tithing - Part V - Ananias and Sapphira

Tithing is a purely OT statute to support the abolished Aaronic priesthood. God never commanded the Church after Calvary to tithe in terms of grace and faith. He commanded the church to give sacrificially.

Two believers, husband and wife, sold a parcel of land and gave a portion of the proceeds to the church. But they lied about how much of the proceeds they were giving. When confronted with their lies, on separate occasions, each of them fell to the ground dead.

People have used the story of Ananias and Sapphira to point out many things, but we are going to talk about what Peter said to this couple and what he DID NOT SAY.

Before we start let's take a moment and imagine what would be said to a husband and wife in most churches today if they sold some property and wanted to give some of the proceeds to their church. I have heard personally and would suggest that based on today's tithing laws in the church that most pastors would say something like this.

"Peter and Sue, the first thing that the Lord wants you to do with the money that you have received from the sale of your property is to pay your tithe. As you know God requires that you pay 10 percent of ALL your income as your tithe. Then after you have paid your tithe, you may want to give an OFFERING above that amount. Anything above 10 percent is a "freewill offering" to the Lord."

You can buy books in Bible stores that teach this as part of the concept of Tithing.

Let's see what Peter said to them about the money they received from the sale of their property. For the purposes of this illustration, we are not concerned about the fact that Ananias and Sapphira lied, but WHAT PETER SAID TO THEM.

Act 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
Act 5:2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Act 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Act 5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

What I am about to say is very, very important, relative to what is spoken to people today by so-called Pastors.

***** First, it is important to note that Peter did not mention tithing at all. In fact, he said that after the land was sold the money was still in their control, just as it was before they sold it. *****

That is quite different than telling them that they were required by the Lord to pay 10 percent but the 90 percent that remained was in their control. Now that their asset had been converted to cash, they were required to pay 10%.

If Peter had the concept of tithing, which most pastors have today (which is nothing similar to the Old Testament concept of Tithes and Offerings), Peter would have said something like this:

"Ananias, why have you lied about how much of the proceeds you are giving? After all, God only requires you to give ten percent. Anything above ten percent is a "freewill offering" to the Lord."

But again, any reference to tithing is obviously missing. Again, the NT is silent about tithing. This would have been a perfect spot to teach that Christians are under obligation to pay the tithe. But it isn't here. In fact, it isn't anywhere! Yes, this would have been a perfect spot to use this as an example for the whole church to teach tithing. It wasn't taught at the Council in Jerusalem and it wasn't taught here.

Don't you think that if the Law of Tithing under the Dispensation of Grace (now that's an oxymoron if I ever heard one), would be mentioned at least one time, one little time in the New Testament??? The fact is, that TITHING IS NEVER TAUGHT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.

We are not under a Payment System. The Dispensation of Grace has shed the love of God abroad in our hearts and we give because He has given so much to us. We are led by the Holy Spirit, not by doctrines of men or fleshly laws.

Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Yeah, Jimp, it is really a sad situation today and my heart goes out to the members of the church at large. As grieved as I am over the sheep being taken advantage of by self-serving teaching, think how grieved the Lord is. I have always been very keen to spiritual abuse, and want to see God's children flourish in their relationship with Him, free from men's doctrines and control.

Funny, how money today is the focal point of so much in the church.

Wonder what would happen if I brought a chicken and 2 apples and placed them in the offering basket. For some people this is all they have. But today, it has to be hard, cold cash. The law is a terrible taskmaster and never brings us one whit closer to God.

What a testament to the world it would be if the church never talked about money (just like the early church) but just took care of each other. Think of that! Just took care of each other.

Money is the main thing on the world's mind. Money!

And it is so tragic that the church looks no different. Everytime you turn around they want money from the sheep for this or that. It really does not make you feel too special. The term "nickels, noses and numbers" certainly is appropriate in the American church.

What does all this clamoring for money have to do with Jesus Christ and grace for giving.

Ezekiel 34 shows the heart of God in an incredible way. I won't post it, but it really is good to read.

Blessings to you

that churches ask and demand a tithe

Exactly right!

I am hoping that by showing Believers that this man-made system is based on man's wisdom and not the Word of God, that they will be able to make some decisions God-ward.

But yes, you are right. I tell people that if you are going to join a church (in the religious system), it is like you are joining a club. They all have different rules. If you voluntarily and by your own volition join a church, then you should abide by their laws/rules and don't complain about it. You are just bringing division and strife.

To join a church that employs things like the clergy an tithes with the premeditation that you are going to be a "crusader" and take out your sword and slay the wrong people is just plain satanic.

If you stay, be at peace (if you can do that and read the Bible at the same time) and if you can't stay, then leave quietly and don't cause strife and division.

Yes, there are some that don't.

But, have they ever taught that it plays no role in New Covenant Theology? Like circumcision. Or, do they just let people think what they want?

Just curious if there has ever been any teaching that you remember against tithing as a NT requirement.

Sincerely, not trying to start something.

If the offering plate is passed around, that is the teaching.

Before a collection is received, the minister always says, "Will the ushers come for to receive the tithes and the offerings."

Every week, the club fees are collected and thank God for that, I am not knocking that. The bills have to be paid, and the workings of a Church is not cheap. Just because it's a man's system doesn't mean it's all bad. There are good and fine men and women that preach behind the pulpit are God sent, but it still apart of the system of man and being apart of that, there is a fee that is collected to continually be apart of that. Again, I am not knocking that.

There are some precious people in the tithe based church. I meet with some of them in their own Bible study, once a week. That is why I never mention names. I may not agree with their view on tithing, but otherwise they are Godly people. But that does not mean that the Lord does not want the truth taught.

Just like people will teach against any law (sabbath keeping for instance), tithing is just another law that takes away from the grace of Jesus Christ. Tithing, I have noticed is a little more "sacred" than some other laws and people are willing to turn their head, because, afterall, like you say, "it pays the bills".

I know that many inherited this teaching from their ancestors and their seminary/bible school and really believe in it. Which tells me they have never given really serious study to it. Paradoxically, the Pastor that believes and teaches freedom in Christ and yet misses this, is a conundrum to me.

the Pastor that believes and teaches freedom in Christ and yet misses this, is a conundrum to me.

Fear is a monster that grips these guys. The tithe is their bread and butter. They have to keep people in their fear so that they don't lose out themselves.

That is an excellent point, SNUF. I need to incorporate that into my articles.

Law based = fear motivated = payment

Grace based = love motivated = giving

FEAR PREACHING:

The tithe is the Lord's. (So keep your hands off it)

If you don't tithe you are a God-robber. (Robbers are bad)

A curse will come on you if you don't tithe. (Pure fear)

Tithing rebukes the devourer. (Devil is gonna get you because you missed your payment. Forget about your landowner and paying your mortgage, the devil is worse).

The tithe is the connection to the covenant. (No tithe and you are not in covenant)

The tithe redeems the other 90-percent. (No tithe and you lose the other 90%)

Tithing qualifies you to receive more from God. (No tithe and you don't receive squat).

Tithing puts God first in your life. (No tithe and you are not a committed christian).

If you don't tithe, God will take that 10-percent from you. (Ouch! Take, take, take)

If everyone tithed, churches would have plenty of money.
(It's your fault that churches are impoverished. You are either part of the problem or part of the solution).

Heaven will be shut up against you if you don't tithe.
(Ouch again!! Please God, I have to pay my bills or else they will throw me out on the street).

Miracle testimonies prove that tithing is God's will.
(You have no miracles in your life because God is not getting your payment. No wonder TV preachers are nauseating).

That is an impressive Church you attend Ginny.

The facility that I attended years ago did somewhat that way. When our Pastor wasn't preaching legalism, his Church thrived and people gave abundantly, as soon as he started on the legalism which he confused with holiness, the church emptied and of course the funds dwindled. He never learned anything in his years of ministry that what he was teaching was damnable.

This church had all the misfits that the other Churches around us didn't want, and I was one of them (hehe). And these people came out of abusive churches to begin with and our Pastor had a big heart for these people, but he also had his fears. When he preached grace, love thrived, you could feel it. There was no loose living, or people barking like dogs, this was as genuine as genuine could be. But oh the garbage that man preached when it came to legalism, how he tried to incorporate that into holiness. What he seemed to fail seeing (he was naturally blind) that people were holy. I miss the love of God in that Church. We moved as one. But you'd think he'd learn. He's dead now and is quite aware that what he had done to people was not the will of God at all, probably lost a great deal of his reward, but saved just the same, thank God for that.

Don't want to end on a sour note, he was a good friend and Pastor and God did great things in that Church. I had a stomach condition to which he called out in a service and I went up for prayer and was instantly healed. I've seen many healings, miracles and received the foundational teachings of the word of God of justification and sanctification to which I was privileged to hear. He was a great teacher, but he had his faults. I miss my friend.

Amen Matthew!

Yeah, preachers tell these anecdotal stories to their people that communicate BAD things will happen if God does not get his "Cut". Very Mafioso, ain't it?

"Yo, where's my cut. I won't protect you from the other hood, if I don't get my cut. Not only that, but I will come down on you, too."

Sounds like the Godfather, rather than Father God.

When you are set free to live in God's grace you actually do give more and you find yourself giving personally and not into the black hole of an organization.

Also, you are responding to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and not the compelling of man.

Thanks. More good info to help God's children.

I don't know what happened to Pilgrim777... but let me say that this teaching he brought to us on Tithing is one of the VERY BEST postings I have ever seen or read here on Sermon Index... and I've been reading this forum for a long time.

He articulates exactly what I have been trying to formulate in my mind and heart for years about tithing.

Where ever your are Pilgrim777, thank you thank you thank you. May God get the glory.

Pilgrim777 was removed from the sermonindex forums. I have not even had time to review or read his teachings on tithing but he "anti-bill gothard" stance amongst other problems was the reason for him being asked to leave.

Thos who despise authority or do not respect rules are classified in a bad way in the New Testament. The way that piglrim was trying to get people to be free or not under the moderators and rules on sermonindex was not good. And his constant questioning of the rules.

May we be known and emphasis the work and life of our Lord Jesus Christ and not be caught in ism's.

I am locking this thread.