Tithing in the New Testament

We Christians are not obligated to tithe, but from the laws of tithing we can draw guiding principles for our offering today.
Should we Christians tithe? Some believe we are obliged to do so. They bear witness to blessings received by tithing. Some of them, based on Malachi 3:10 ("Bring all tithes to the storehouse and have food in my house"), teach that we should give our tithes specifically to our church. However, others say that the law of tithing has expired, and Christians are not obligated to tithe. Are we forced to tithe? Will God bless us if we tithe? Are we obliged to give our tithe to our church? Has the law of tithing expired? What should I and my family be doing about tithing? We will look for answers to these questions in the Bible.
HISTORY OF TITHE IN THE BIBLE
TEN BEFORE THE LAW OF MOSES.
Abram gave Mekisedec, priest of the Most High God, the tithe of all the spoils obtained by defeating the four invading kings (Gen. 14: 17-20). It seems to be a voluntary act. In Bet-Jacob he promised to tithe all that Jehovah gave him on his trip to Haran (Gen. 28: 20-22). It seems to be a voluntary act, to persuade Jehovah to take care of him and bless him.
TITHE ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF MOSES.
The Israelites were forced to tithe the land and livestock to Jehovah (Lv. 27: 30-33). This tithe was for the support of the Levites (Num. 18:21). A tithe should be spent on banquets at the central sanctuary each year (Deut. 14: 22-23, 26). A third tithe (or perhaps part of the second tithe) should be given every three years, stored in the cities and distributed to the poor (Deut. 14: 28-29). Tithing is mentioned a few more times in the Old Testament:
1. Amos criticized the Israelites because they decimated believing they were pleasing to God, while committing injustices against the poor and defenseless (Amos 4: 4).
2. In the reform of Hezekiah the Israelites brought tithe from the land of cattle to the temple and deposited it there (2 Chronicles 31: 5-6). It is the tithe for the Levites (v. 4).
3. In the reform of Ezra, the Jews promised to tithe the land to support the Levites (Ne. 10:37), which they did for a time (12:47, 13:10, 12).
4. Malachi accused the Jews of stealing from God in their tithes, urged them to bring full tithe to the temple of Jerusalem (the only temple of the Jews) and promised them great blessing (Malachi 3: 8-10). It's about tithing for the Levites.
5. In New Testament times rabbinic writings indicate that the Jews gave importance to at least the first two tithes (Luke 18:12, the Pharisee's prayer). Jesus recognized that at least some scribes and Pharisees decimated everything, and that they should do it, but criticized them for believing that it would please God even when they left justice, mercy and faith (Mt. 23:23; Lc. 11:42).
6. There is no New Testament passage that urges tithing after the death of Christ. The only references to tithing in Acts-Revelation are found in Hchs. 7: 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9; they do not urge to tithe, but argue that the Melchizedek priesthood was superior to the Levitical priesthood, since Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham and, therefore, also from Levi. V. 5 indicates that tithes were part of the Law for Israel.
7. Christians who tithe today usually do not think how to apply all aspects of the law. An exception is the Church of God Universal: they send a tithe to the central offices to be distributed from there between the churches and ministers, save a tithe for an annual church retreat in a luxury hotel and give the third tithe to the poor .
ARE CHRISTIANS OBLIGED TO TITHE TODAY?
For Christians, and especially Gentile Christians, the ritual aspects of the Law (for example, circumcision, holy days, diet, purity and impurity) have expired, but ethical dimensions and attitudes toward God (for example, fear of God , love of neighbor, 9 of the 10 Commandments) still apply to us.
We Christians are not obliged to keep the specific details of the law of tithing: the percentage, where to deliver it, etc. From the laws of tithing we can derive principles and advice that can guide us today, especially in light of New Testament teachings. Let's choose two of the following to put them into practice this week:
1. We offer generously, sacrificially and with faith (2 Cor. 8: 1-3).
2. We offer to support ministers (Phil. 4: 15-16; 1 Tim. 5: 17-18).
3. We offer to help the poor (1 Tim. 5: 3; Jn. 13: 17-19).
4. It is okay to spend on banquets and celebrations to praise, thank and honor the Lord.
5. It would be wise to teach our children to tithe so that, as adults, they will decide if they will continue with that custom or offer in another way.
6. God economically and spiritually blesses those who generously offer (Lk. 6:38; 2 Cor. 9: 6-11; Phil. 4:19). Those who tithe today receive a blessing from God not for the percentage they give, but because they give generously.
7. To those who do not tithe, I recommend you try it. To those who already tithe, I recommend trying more.
Talk to the Lord about the two principles or advice you chose, asking for power and wisdom to put them into practice in the coming weeks.
Let us be faithful offering generously,