Weekly Torah Lesson
Parasha: va Yeitzei – and he went out
Torah: Bereishit 28:10 – 32:3
20 Then Ya’akov made a vow, saying, “If Elohim will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21 so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then Avinu shall be my Elohim, 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be Elohim’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” (Bereishit 28:20-22)
Most people don’t think of “tithing” as “an act of worship”. One reason might be that they are “giving” their “tithe” to either a person or an organization instead of giving it to Avinu.
This week’s Torah portion took place about four hundred years before the command to give multiple tithes was officially codified.
It’s interesting to note that our fathers, beginning with Avraham tithing to Malchisedek, were using tithing as a form of worship probably based on an “oral law” passed down from Adam.
Here is what it says:
For the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer up as a t’ruma offering to Avinu, I have given to the Levites as an inheritance; therefore I have said to them, ‘Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.’ (Nu 18:24 )
** Notice that it was an offering “to Avinu” that is to be given to “the Levim”. The “tithe” is given to Avinu when we give it to whom He tells us to give it.
Here is what Shaul teaches:
1 ¶ For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High Avinu, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of Avinu, remains a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. 11 ¶ Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17 For He testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” 18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to Avinu. 20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “Avinu has sworn And will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’”), 22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. 23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to Avinu through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever. (Heb 7:1-28 )
** Shaul teaches that the Levitical Priesthood is currently being replaced by the Malchisedekian Priesthood with Yeshua being the “High Priest”. Shaul teaches us who should be receiving the tithes:
1 ¶ Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Yeshua HaMeshiach our Master? Are you not my work in Avinu? 2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in Avinu. 3 ¶ My defense to those who examine me is this: 4 Do we have no right to eat and drink? 5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of Avinu, and Cephas? 6 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? 7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? 8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen Avinu is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. 13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14 Even so Avinu has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. (1Co 9:1-14 )
Do you believe that your tithing is an act of worship?
Are you tithing to whom Avinu is directing you?
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