140 QUESTIONS TITHE-TEACHERS SHOULD HONESTLY ANSWER
by Russell Earl Kelly, PHD
http://www.tithing-russkelly.com/id149.html
1.According to Genesis 14:11-16 were the spoils of war Abraham received holy tithes from God's holy land? Would they have been "holy" tithes in the Law?
2.According to Genesis 14:18-20 and Hebrews 7:4 does the Bible say that Abraham "freely" gave tithes of spoils of war to the priest-king Melchizedek?
3.According to Numbers 31:21-30 what percentage did the statute of the Law for Israel later require as a tithe from spoils of war?
4.Why did Abraham tithe 10% of spoils when the Law later required far less? What controlled his actions?
5.From Genesis 14:20-21 could there be another law or Arab tradition involved? Yes, No, Perhaps. Do some deep research on this.
6.Would Abraham's tithe have been accepted as a holy tithe to enter the Temple?
7.How often did Abraham tithe?
8.Is Abraham an example of tithing personal property and tithing regularly?
9.Is Abraham's example of giving 90% to the king of Sodom an example for Christians to follow?
10.From Genesis 20 and 21 is it possible that Abraham also paid tithes to the Philistine priest-king Abimelech whom he served?
11.Referring to Genesis 28:20-22 would Jacob's tithe from Haran have been accepted as a holy tithe to enter the Temple system?
12.Referring to Genesis 28:20-22 should we follow Jacob's example and only tithe after God has met our conditions?
13.According to Genesis 28:20 was Jacob's tithe a freewill "vow" or a commandment of God?
14.Is Jacob an example of tithing for Christians to follow?
15.How common was money, gold, silver, precious stones and shekels in Genesis?
16.According to Genesis 13:2 and 20:16 did Abraham have a lot of money?
17.Was money essential for routine worship in the sanctuary? Answer: "money" and "shekel" occur 32 times in Exodus and Leviticus for worship.
18.Is it honest to teach that tithes were only food because money was not common?
19.According to Exodus 19:5-6 was tithing part of God's "original plan" before the incident of the golden calf?
20.According to Leviticus 25:3-7 no food tithe could be taken every seventh year. Why is this ignored by churches today?
21.According to Leviticus 25:12-13 no food tithe could be taken every fiftieth year. Why is this ignored by churches today?
22.According to Leviticus 27:30, 32 (and 16 other texts) tithes were only food from the land of Israel and herds inside God's holy land of Israel. Where in the Bible --over 1400 years from Leviticus to Malachi-- are tithes defined as income or money?
23.According to Leviticus 27:30, 32 the tithe was the tenth of the total crop and the tenth animal. Since the word "tithe" means "tenth" when did it change to become the "first" in the Bible?
24.According to Leviticus 27:34 the first tithe was not the "best." Where in the Bible does the first whole tithe become the "best"?
25.According to Leviticus 27:34 tithing was part of the Law given only to national Israel as a unique covenant. When were the Gentiles, (pagans) or Church commanded to tithe in the Bible?
26.Since only farmers and herdsmen living inside Israel produced tithes, where is the principle found that says everybody was required to begin their level of giving at 10%?
27.Where does the Bible say that non-food income was tithed and that carpenters (Jesus), fishermen (Peter), tentmakers (Paul) and tradesmen tithed?
28.Did God command the pagans to tithe?
29.Would Israel have accepted tithes from the pagans or pagan lands?
30.Although Psalm 24:1 says "The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein" this was not given as a reason to collect tithes from pagans and from lands outside of Israel. Why is that true?
31.Why don't Christians observe all of the other things called "holy" and "most holy" in Leviticus?
32.Where in the Bible is the exact wording of the ordinance or statute of tithing? Answer: Numbers 18.
33.What is the difference between tithes and first-fruits? Compare Lev 27:30-35; Num 18:13-18, 20-24; Deut 26:1-4; Neh 10:35-37; Prov 3:9.
34.Where are tithes equated with first-fruits in the Bible?
35.Weren't first-fruits very small token offerings from the first of the harvest?
36.OT Levites who received the first whole tithe were merely servants to the priests and later political workers. How is this principle applied in churches today?
37.OT Levites gave the best tenth of their tithe to the priests --only one per cent of the total. How is this principle observed today?
38.OT priests and Levites who received the tithes were not allowed to own or inherit property. Why isn't this principle observed today (Num 18:20, 23)?
39.TheOT tithe was never used for mission work to evangelize the pagans. What biblical principle authorizes it for missions today?
40.According to Deuteronomy 12 and 14:23-26 a festival tithe was to be eaten in the streets. Why is this tithe principle ignored by churches today?
41.According to Deuteronomy 14:26 some festival tithes could be turned into alcoholic strong drinks. Why is this principle ignored by churches today?
42.According to Deuteronomy 26:12-13 every third year a tithe was kept in the homes for the poor. Why is this principle ignored by churches today?
43.According to Deuteronomy 26:12-13 the Levites were included among the poor, strangers, fatherless and widows. Does this mean that the Levites and priests were to be counted among the poor?
44.Where does the Bible say that the poor were required to tithe?
45.Many OT Levites who received the first whole tithe were political servants of the king (1 Chronicles 23 to 26). Why is that principle ignored today?
46.In the OT the first and best tithe went to the king. Why is that principle ignored today (1 Sam 8:14-17)?
47.Where did the Levites and priests live most of the time? See Joshua 20-21, Numbers 35 and First Chronicles 6.
48.How often did the Levites and priests serve in the Temple? See 1 Chron 28:13, 21; 2 Chron 8:14; 23:8; 31:2, 15-19 35: 4, 5, 10; Neh 11:30: 12:24; Luke 1:5-9.
49.***Since 98% of the Levites and priests were not working in the temple most of the time, why would God tell the people in Malachi 3:10 to bring all of the tithe to the Temple when 98% of it was needed for food elsewhere?
50.What covenant was the curse of tithing part of? See Neh 10:29; Deu 28:12, 21-22; Gal 3:10-13.
51.According to Nehemiah 13:5-10 who was guilty of stealing the Levites' portion of the tithe?
52.***According to Nehemiah 10:37b where were the people commanded to take the tithes? Why? Why is this text ignored today?
53.According to Nehemiah 10:38 where were the priests located when they received the tithes? Why is this text ignored today?
54.According to Malachi 1:6-14 who was guilty of stealing vows of tithes?
55.Who was cursed in Malachi 1:14?
56.Who was cursed 3 times in Malachi 2:2?
57.Who is questioning God in Malachi 2:17?
58.To whom is God replying in Malachi 3:1-5?
59.Are the priests also "sons of Jacob" in Malachi 3:6-7?
60.Cannot Malachi 3:8 be referring to the priests stealing a third time?
61."Curse" refers to the priests four times in 1:14 and 2:2. Is it possible that God is still cursing the priests in 3:9 instead of suddenly having pity on them?
62.Does the pronoun "you" refer to the priests from Malachi 1:6 to 3:5?
63.Is there concrete evidence that God has changed his address from the priests to the people in Malachi 3:6-7?
64.Has God changed from cursing the priests to having pity on them in Malachi 3:8-10?
65.Since "you" has thus far referred to the priests and since Nehemiah 10:37 proves that the people brought their tithes to the Levitical cities, then is it reasonable to conclude that "you" in Malachi 3:10 also refers to the priests of Nehemiah 10:38?
66.Again according to Nehemiah 10:37 where was most of the tithe needed and stored?
67.According to Nehemiah 13:5-10 how large was the storeroom in the Temple?
68.Could the Temple have physically held all of the tithe of the nation in Solomon's time or Nehemiah's time?
69.Is it possible that the Temple "storehouse" idea has been misunderstood?
70.Second Chronicles 31:15-19 describes Hezekiah relocating the tithes from rotting heaps in the streets to the Levitical cities. Is it possible that he had erred in telling the people to bring all tithes to the temple?
71.The "outlaw" early church met in secret in catacombs and graveyards for over 200 years after Calvary. They had no building to call "storehouses." Why does the modern church use the term "storehouse tithing"?
72.The OT Temple has been replaced, not by a building, but the body of individual believers. Why does the modern church ignore this and teach that tithes should be brought to the church building as a replacement of the Temple?
73.Matthew 5:19-48 refers to all 600+ commandments of the Law. Why is 5:17-18 used only to argue that tithing is still valid? The text is self-destructive for that argument.
74.Did Jesus (a carpenter), Peter (a fisherman) and Paul (a tentmaker) qualify as tithe-payers under the Law?
75.How do you explain Matthew 5:19 "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."?
76.Does not Matthew 5:19 obligate one to keep all 600+ commandments of the Law?
77.According to Matthew 12:1-2 Jesus and his disciples gleaned food on the Sabbath Day. Were they accused of not tithing? Why?
78.According to Matthew 12:42-44 a widow gave at the Temple. Was she tithing or giving a freewill offering?
79.Since Paul's tents came from pagan lands, did his income from selling tents qualify as tithe-able income under the Law?
80.According to Matthew 23:2 who were the recognized interpreters of the Law?
81.According to Matthew 23:2-3 why did Jesus tell his Jewish disciples to obey the scribes and Pharisees?
82.According to Matthew 23:3-4 did the addition of herbs and spices change the tithing law into a burden?
83.Did the Law command tithes from garden spices and herbs?
84.Why did Jesus tell His Jewish disciples to tithe garden spices and herbs?
85.In Matthew 8:4 why did Jesus command the Jews he healed to show themselves to the priests?
86.Why did Jesus NOT command the Gentiles he healed to show themselves to the priests?
87.Did Jesus tell his Gentile disciples to tithe to the Temple system?
88.To whomdoes the word "you" refer in Matthew 23:23?
89.What three words in Matthew 23:23 describe its context? Answer: "of the law"
90.Is Matthew 23:23 an Old Covenant command or a New Covenant command?
91.Why did Jesus tell the rich young ruler and Zaccheus to give their money to the poor instead of the Temple as tithes?
92. Dopastors today allow visiting evangelists to tell their congregation to "sell all that you have and give it to the poor"?
93.Why do not pastors today command their church members to tithe garden spices as Jesus commanded?
94.According to Luke 22:20 when did the Old Covenant end and the New Covenant begin?
95.According to Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-35 did God command the disciples to share communally or did they make a freewill choice?
96.According to Acts 2:42-47 and 4:32-35 were the disciples tithing to church leaders or sharing everything equally?
97.According to Acts 2:46 did the early church withdraw itself from worship in the Temple?
98.According to Acts 15:10 did Peter argue against putting the yoke of the law on Gentile Christians?
99.According to Acts 15:19-20 did James agree with Peter?
100.According to Acts 20:29-35 was Paul self supporting most of the time?
101.According to Acts 20:35 did Paul expect church elders to follow his example?
102.According to Acts 20:35 whom did Jesus tell to work and give to the weak?
103.According to Acts 21:20 were the Christian Jews in Jerusalem still "zealous of the law"?
104.According to Acts 21:20 can one conclude that the Christian Jews in Jerusalem were still paying tithes to the Temple system?
105.According to 1 Corinthians 9:7-14 did the vocations of soldier, herdsman, farmer, mill-grinder, temple worker and gospel worker each operate under different principles of support?
106.Comparing 1 Cor 9:13 with Numbers 18 and Leviticus, were temple workers supported from tithes, offerings, vows, freewill gifts, portions of sacrifices and many other sources?
107.Comparing 1 Cor 9:13 with Numbers 18 and Leviticus, was tithing the only "thing of the temple"?
108.Referring to 1 Cor 9:14 does "even so" ("in the same way") command gospel workers to be supported by every means of support used for temple workers?
109.Referring to 1 Cor 9:14 does "even so" command gospel workers to be supported by 'gospel principles' of grace and faith "in the same manner" as the previous six vocations had been supports by their own principles?
110.Referring to 1 Cor 9:14 is it dishonest to teach that 9:13 only referred to tithing? Does not the text teach too much and destroy the tithing argument?
111.According to 1 Cor 9:12, 15-19 did Paul accept tithes as a salary?
112.Comparing 1 Cor 9:14 with 9:12, 15-19 if Jesus commanded tithing to support gospel workers, was not Paul disobeying that command?
113.According to 2 Cor 3:10, how much glory does the OT have in comparison to the New Covenant?
114.Where is tithing repeated to the Church in New Covenant terms of grace and faith?
115.According to 1 Peter 2:9-10 has the OT priesthood been replaced by church leaders or by every believer?
116.Referring to 1 Peter 2:9-10, how does the "priesthood of believers" affect tithing?
117.Were non-Levite OT prophets supported by tithes?
118.Were OT and NT Jewish synagogue rabbis supported by tithes?
119.Are NT pastors and elders supported similar to OT priests or prophets and rabbis?
120.Is First Timothy 5:1-20 a discussion of discipline or pastoral salary?
121.According to First Timothy 5:8 are family essential needs more important than church support?
122.How can First Timothy 5:8 be true if the first 10% of income must be given to the church?
123.Does "double honor" in First Timothy 5:17 refer to "double caution in discipline" or "double salary"?
124.According to First Timothy 6:6-11 should gospel workers expect to be better off financially than most?
125.According to Hebrews 7:5 did the Law give the priests authority to receive tithes?
126.Were the OT priests also kings?
127.According to Hebrews 7:11 and Psalm 110:4 was the Messiah to be a priest-king?
128.According to Hebrews 7:11-12 did the prophecy that the Messiah would be a priest-king necessitate a change in the law?
129.According to Hebrews, chapters 5 to 7, was OT Melchizedek qualified to be a priest under the Law?
130.According to Hebrews 7:13-17 was Jesus qualified to be a priest under the Law?
131.According to Hebrews 7:18 how was the Law which also commanded tithing in 7:5 "changed" in 7:12?
132.According to Hebrews 7:12, 18, why was the Law which also commanded tithing to support the Levitical priesthood "annulled" or "set aside"?
133.According to Hebrews 7:16-28 was the king-priesthood of Messiah to be based on eternal moral principles?
134.Tithing existed in most nations long before Abraham's time and those nations also practiced idolatry, child sacrifices and temple prostitution. Does the fact that tithing existed before the Law make it an eternal moral principle?
135.According to the entire book of Leviticus, how can tithing be retained as a "holy" principle and almost everything else called "holy" and "most holy" in Leviticus be discarded?
136.According to Hebrews 8:6-13 Christ's "more excellent ministry" replaced the Old Covenant on stones and paper with the New Covenant in the heart. Does a new-creation Christian know in the heart that he/she must give a ten per cent tithe to support the church?
137.According to Second Corinthians 8 and 9, does a new-creation Christian know instinctively to give: freely, sacrificially, generously, joyfully, not of commandment, regularly and motivated love for God and love for lost souls?
138.According to Second Corinthians 8:12-15, what is the "equality" principle of giving?
139.According to Second Corinthians 3:10-18 which principle of giving has the blessing of the Holy Spirit?
140.Should most affluent Christians lower their standard of living in order to give more to promote the gospel?
