- 1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: (2 Corinthians 9:1)
- 2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.(2 Corinthians 9:2)
- 3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:(2 Corinthians 9:3)
- 4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. (2 Corinthians 9:4)
- 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. (2 Corinthians 9:5)
- 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9:6)
- 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
- 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (2 Corinthians 9:8)
- 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. (2 Corinthians 9:9)
- 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) (2 Corinthians 9:10)
- 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:11)
- 12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; (2 Corinthians 9:12)
- 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; (2 Corinthians 9:13)
- 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. (2 Corinthians 9:14)
- 1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. (1 Corinthians 16:1)
- 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. (1 Corinthians 16:2)
- 3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. (1 Corinthians 16:3)
- 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. (Luke 6:20)
- 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. (Luke 6:21)
- 24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. (Luke 6:24)
- 25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. (Luke 6:25)
- 29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. (Luke 6:29)
- 30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. (Luke 6:30)
- 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. (Luke 6:31)
- 37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: (Luke 6:37)
- 38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:38)
- 9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: (Luke 18:9)
- 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. (Luke 18:10)
- 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. (Luke 18:11)
- 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. (Luke 18:12)
- 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. (Luke 18:13)
- 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:14)
- 18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? (Luke 18:18)
- 19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. (Luke 18:19)
- 20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. (Luke 18:20)
- 21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. (Luke 18:21)
- 22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. (Luke 18:22)
- 23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. (Luke 18:23)
- 24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! (Luke 18:24)
- 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (Luke 18:25)
- 26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? (Luke 18:26)
- 27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. (Luke 18:27)
- 28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. (Luke 18:28)
- 29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, (Luke 18:29)
- 30 Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. (Luke 18:30)
- 1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. (James 5:1)
- 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. (James 5:2)
- 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. (James 5:3)
- 4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. (James 5:4)
- 5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. (James 5:5)
- 10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. (Galatians 2:10)
- 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. (Romans 15:26)
- 27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things. (Romans 15:27)
- 28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain. (Romans 15:28)
- 29 And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. (Romans 15:29)
- 9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: (James 1:9)
- 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. (James 1:10)
- 11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. (James 1:11)
- 14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; (Revelation 3:14)
- 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. (Revelation 3:15)
- 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. (Revelation 3:16)
- 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (Revelation 3:17)
- 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:18)
- 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. (Revelation 3:19)
- 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)
- 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Revelation 3:21)
- 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:22)
- 3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; (1 Timothy 6:3)
- 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, (1 Timothy 6:4)
- 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. (1 Timothy 6:5)
- 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6)
- 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (1 Timothy 6:7)
- 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (1 Timothy 6:8)
- 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. (1 Timothy 6:9)
- 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10)
- 1 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. (Luke 16:1)
- 2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. (Luke 16:2)
- 3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. (Luke 16:3)
- 4 I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. (Luke 16:4)
- 5 So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? (Luke 16:5)
- 6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. (Luke 16:6)
- 7 Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. (Luke 16:7)
- 8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. (Luke 16:8)
- 9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. (Luke 16:9)
- 10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. (Luke 16:10)
- 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? (Luke 16:11)
- 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? (Luke 16:12)
- 13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Luke 16:13)
- 14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. (Luke 16:14)
- 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. (Luke 16:15)
- 19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: (Luke 16:19)
- 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, (Luke 16:20)
- 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. (Luke 16:21)
- 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; (Luke 16:22)
- 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:23)
- 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. (Luke 16:24)
- 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. (Luke 16:25)
- 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. (Luke 16:26)
- 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: (Luke 16:27)
- 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. (Luke 16:28)
- 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. (Luke 16:29)
- 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. (Luke 16:30)
- 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:31)
- 1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. (Luke 21:1)
- 2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. (Luke 21:2)
- 3 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: (Luke 21:3)
- 4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. (Luke 21:4)
- 1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. (James 2:1)
- 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; (James 2:2)
- 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: (James 2:3)
- 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? (James 2:4)
- 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? (James 2:5)
- 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? (James 2:6)
- 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? (James 2:7)
- 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: (James 2:8)
- 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. (James 2:9)
- 6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. (1 Corinthians 4:6)
- 7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? (1 Corinthians 4:7)
- 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; (1 Corinthians 4:11)
- 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: (1 Corinthians 4:12)
- 13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. (1 Corinthians 4:13)
- 14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. (1 Corinthians 4:14)
- 46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord (Luke 1:46)
- 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. (Luke 1:53)
- 57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: (Matthew 27:57)
- 58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. (Matthew 27:58)
- 59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, (Matthew 27:59)
- 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. (Matthew 27:60)
- 7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them. (Luke 14:7)
- 8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; (Luke 14:8)
- 9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. (Luke 14:9)
- 10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. (Luke 14:10)
- 11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 14:11)
- 12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. (Luke 14:12)
- 13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: (Luke 14:13)
- 14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just. (Luke 14:14)
- 13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. (Luke 12:13)
- 14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? (Luke 12:14)
- 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (Luke 12:15)
- 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: (Luke 12:16)
- 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? (Luke 12:17)
- 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. (Luke 12:18)
- 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. (Luke 12:19)
- 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (Luke 12:20)
- 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (Luke 12:21)
- 22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. (Luke 12:22)
- 23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. (Luke 12:23)
- 24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? (Luke 12:24)
- 25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? (Luke 12:25)
- 26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? (Luke 12:26)
- 27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (Luke 12:27)
- 28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? (Luke 12:28)
- 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. (Luke 12:29)
- 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. (Luke 12:30)
- 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Luke 12:31)
- 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)
- 33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. (Luke 12:33)
- 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:34)
- 35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; (Luke 12:35)
- 36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. (Luke 12:36)
- 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. (Luke 12:37)
- 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. (Luke 12:38)
- 39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. (Luke 12:39)
- 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. (Luke 12:40)
- 41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? (Luke 12:41)
- 42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? (Luke 12:42)
- 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. (Luke 12:43)
- 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. (Luke 12:44)
- 45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; (Luke 12:45)
- 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. (Luke 12:46)
- 47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. (Luke 12:47)
- 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. (Luke 12:48)
- 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)
- 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (Hebrews 13:6)
- 7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. (Hebrews 13:7)
- 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8)
- 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. (Hebrews 13:9)
- 1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1)
- 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (2 Peter 2:2)
- 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. (2 Peter 2:3)
- 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; (2 Peter 2:4)
- 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; (2 Peter 2:5)
- 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; (2 Peter 2:6)
- 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (2 Peter 2:7)
- 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) (2 Peter 2:8)
- 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: (2 Peter 2:9)
- 10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. (2 Peter:10)
- 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. (2 Peter 2:11)
- 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; (2 Peter 2:12)
- 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; (2 Peter 2:13)
- 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: (2 Peter 2:14)
- 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; (2 Peter 2:15)
- 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. (2 Peter 2:16)
- 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. (2 Peter 2:17)
- 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. (2 Peter 2:18)
- 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. (2 Peter 2:19)
- 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and (are)overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. (2 Peter 2:20)
- 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. (2 Peter 2:21)
- 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (2 Peter 2:22)
- 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? (Mark 7:5)
- 6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. (Mark 7:6)
- 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Mark 7:7)
- 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. (Mark 7:8)
- 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. (Mark 7:9)
- 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: (Mark 7:10)
- 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. (Mark 7:11)
- 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; (Mark 7:12)
- 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. (Mark 7:13)
- 14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: (Mark 7:14)
- 15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. (Mark 7:15)
- 16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. (Mark 7:16)
- 17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. (Mark 7:17)
- 18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; (Mark 7:18)
- 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? (Mark 7:19)
- 20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. (Mark 7:20)
- 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, (Mark 7:21)
- 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: (Mark 7:22)
- 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. (Mark 7:23)
- 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. (Matthew 23:11)
- 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. (Matthew 23:12)
- 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. (Matthew 23:13)
- 14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. (Matthew 23:14)
- 15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. (Matthew 23:15)
- 16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! (Matthew 23:16)
- 17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? (Matthew 23:17)
- 18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. (Matthew 23:18)
- 19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? (Matthew 23:19)
- 20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. (Matthew 23:20)
- 21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. (Matthew 23:21)
- 22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. (Matthew 23:22)
- 23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. (Matthew 23:23)
- 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. (Matthew 23:24)
- 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. (Matthew 23:25)
- 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (Romans 1:28)
- 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (Romans 1:29)
- 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (Romans 1:30)
- 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: (Romans 1:31)
- 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:32)
- 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (Colossians 3:5)
- 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: (Colossians 3:6)
- 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. (Colossians 3:7)
- 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; (Ephesians 5:3)
- 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. (Ephesians 5:4)
- 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Ephesians 5:5)
- 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (Ephesians 5:6)
- 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. (Ephesians 5:7)
- 1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? (1 Corinthians 6:1)
- 2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (1 Corinthians 6:2)
- 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? (1 Corinthians 6:3)
- 4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. (1 Corinthians 6:4)
- 5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? (1 Corinthians 6:5)
- 6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. (1 Corinthians 6:6)
- 7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? (1 Corinthians 6:7)
- 8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren. (1 Corinthians 6:8)
- 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (1 Corinthians 6:9)
- 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:10)
- 9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: (1 Corinthians 5:9)
- 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. (1 Corinthians 5:10)
- 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. (1 Corinthians 5:11)
- 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? (1 Corinthians 5:12)
- 13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:13)
- 5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: (1 Thessalonians 2:5)
- 1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: (1 Peter 5:1)
- 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind (1 Peter 5:2)
- 1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. (1 Timothy 3:1)
- 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; (1 Timothy 3:2)
- 3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous (1 Timothy 3:3)
- 8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; (1 Timothy 3:8)
- 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; (Titus 1:7)
- 1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2 Timothy 3:1)
- 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (2 Timothy 3:2)
- 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, (2 Timothy 3:3)
- 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (2 Timothy 3:4)
- 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:5)
- 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, (2 Timothy 3:6)
- 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:7)
- 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. (2 Timothy 3:8)
- 9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their’s also was. (2 Timothy 3:9)
- 11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. (Revelation 13:11)
- 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. (Revelation 13:12)
- 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, (Revelation 13:13)
- 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (Revelation 13:14)
- 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. (Revelation 13:15)
- 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: (Revelation 13:16)
- 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:17)
- 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (Revelation 13:18)
- 1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. (Revelation 18:1)
- 2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. (Revelation 18:2)
- 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. (Revelation 18:3)
- 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (Revelation 18:4)
- 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. (Revelation 18:5)
- 6 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. (Revelation 18:6)
- 7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. (Revelation 18:7)
- 8 Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. (Revelation 18:8)
- 9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, (Revelation 18:9)
- 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. (Revelation 18:10)
- 11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: (Revelation 18:11)
- 12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, (Revelation 18:12)
- 13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. (Revelation 18:13)
- 14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. (Revelation 18:14)
- 15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, (Revelation 18:15)
- 16 And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! (Revelation 18:16)
- 17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, (Revelation 18:17)
- 18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! (Revelation 18:18)
- 19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. (Revelation 18:19)
- 20 Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. (Revelation 18:20)
- 21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. (Revelation 18:21)
- 22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; (Revelation 18:22)
- 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. (Revelation 18:23)
- 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. (Revelation 18:24)
Greed and the Tithe
(From Hidden Manna by David Eells)
Paul gave Timothy a revelation of the false prophets and those who follow them in the “last days.” (2Tim.3:1) But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. (2) For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, (4) traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; (5) holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these also turn away. These men, who are identified by their egotistical appetite for money, prestige, pleasure, and position, love their religious “form of godliness.” Among these are the false prophets who lead captive the like-minded apostate religious sects. (6) For of these are they that creep into houses (of worship), and take captive silly women (sects of God’s people – Isa.4:1, 32:9) laden with sins, led away by divers lusts, (7) ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Those who love to justify their own sinful ways respect these “impostors” and their “form of godliness.” (13) But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
These false prophets are identified as “lovers of money.” These are the merchants of religious Babylon (Rev.18). They make “Father’s house a house of merchandise” (Jn.2:16). Since God will not support their personal kingdom-building, they peddle books, tapes, trinkets, chicken dinners, tours, etc. This is the way of the world and for those who have an impoverished God. Why would anyone who was sent by God and believed the promises of our provision through Christ do this? Our examples in the early leadership of the Church certainly did not. (Jn.2:13)…Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (14) And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: (15) and he made a scourge of cords, and cast all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew their tables; (16) and to them that sold the doves he said, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise. They peddle the promises of God’s provision to those who give to their ministry. They make “merchandise of the word of God” (2Cor.2:17 [in Greek]). They peddle the Word for salaries like hirelings. When a person is not sent by God he does not have faith that “God shall supply every need” (Php.4:19). Where God sends, He supplies. Without God’s supernatural supply, people have to resort to other tactics to support “their” ministry. The Lord has not changed His mind, “the righteous shall live by faith,” not salaries. He commanded His ministers, “[F]reely ye received, [F]reely give. Get you no gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses.” A man who lives by faith has to walk with God because “if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight” (1Jn.3:21,22). God’s command that His leaders walk by faith ensures righteous leadership.
The early Church leadership was not in the habit of taking up collections, but when they did it was not for themselves but the saints in persecution and need as it was with Jerusalem. (1Cor.16:1) Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. (2) Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. (3) And when I arrive, whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem. Notice that Paul didn’t handle the money but approved brethren did. He preferred to not even be present when the collection for the saints was received so that there would be no extortion involved as it was with the Macedonian collection. He also didn’t use the Macedonians’ presence to shame and extort the Corinthians. (2Cor.9:3) But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared: (4) lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence. (5) I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion.
Ministers received free will offerings and did not demand their rights through condemnation or legalism. (1Cor.9:11) If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things? (12) If others partake of [this] right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ. (13) Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat [of] the things of the temple, [and] they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar? (14) Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel. (15) But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case; for [it were] good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorifying void. Paul said, “we did not use this right…that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel.” Even the world sees through the “gimmee gospel” and its con men and they disrespect the true Gospel because of it. In obeying the command “freely ye received, freely give” we leave no room for suspicion.
(2Pet.2:1) But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies…. (3) And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you. One way they “make merchandise of you” is to put God’s people under the Law to support them when the Scripture clearly states that our giving is “not of necessity” (2Cor.9:7). “[Let] each man [do] according as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly, or of necessity (this is not according to the law of tithing): for God loveth a cheerful giver.” In the New Covenant, God wants an offering from the heart from those born of His Spirit. God made the Old Covenant with natural Israel and refused the Gentiles. (Ps.147:19) He showeth his word unto Jacob, His statutes and his ordinances unto Israel. (20) He hath not dealt so with any nation; And as for his ordinances, they have not known them. Now the New Covenant is made only with the Church and refused to those under the Law. If a doctrine like tithing is not in the New Covenant then it was never made with you! It will only separate you from Christ and grace. (Gal.5:4) Ye are severed from Christ, ye who would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace. Jesus rebuked the false prophets of His day saying, “Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin (even their seasoning), and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these you ought to have done (this is past tense in all ancient manuscripts, Numerics, and the Received Text), and not to have left the other undone” (Mt 23:23). Jesus clearly said here that tithing was both in the past and under the Law. Some say tithing was before the Law. Yes, circumcision and animal sacrifice were before the Law, too, but they were included in the law and we are not under Law to do them anymore either. Paul also said tithing was of the Law in Hebrews 7:5-11. There is no New Covenant command or request to tithe because we are no longer stewards of ten percent. Jesus taught that we have to renounce ownership of the other ninety percent or we cannot be His disciple. (Lk.14:33) So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. “All” here means all possessions, rights and will. Those who claim possession of the other ninety percent are thieves. The Holy Spirit and the New Covenant commands were given to establish where, how much, and to whom we give. We are merely stewards of what He has put in our hands.
The church’s system of tithing is extortion and graft. It is not even righteous when compared to the Old Covenant tithe. Under the type and shadow of the tithe, ten percent was taken from eleven tribes and given to one tribe, the Levites ([ministers] Num.18:24). Then the Levites gave one ten percent (tithe) to the high priest (25-28). This left the Levites with ten percent from ten tribes. That is an average of what the other eleven tribes had to live on. Even when Israel’s economy grew, they still lived on an average income. Today with a larger percent of the people doing the supporting, coupled with the fact that the pastors have usurped the authority of the rest of the five-fold ministry (Eph.4:11), ministers have become fat and filthy rich. This is a great stumbling block to both the world who sees through this and to the ministers. This also makes the people of God bad stewards. We have made God’s house a “den of robbers” (Mt.21:13). (Ezk.34:2) Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, even to the shepherds, Thus saith the Lord: Woe unto the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the sheep? (3) Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill the fatlings; but ye feed not the sheep.
These men make it plain that we are not under the Law except when there is a profit involved and then we are told to “bring ye the whole tithe into the storehouse,” which is a command of the Old Covenant. Of course, they falsely claim to be the storehouse. In Old Covenant type and shadow, tithes were cast into the treasury, which was in the midst of the temple (1Ki.7:51; Mk.12:41). In the New Covenant the temple is God’s people, and Jesus said that we would be judged by whether we meet the needs of His people (Mt.25:31-46; 1Jn.3:16,17). This is how we store up treasure in heaven (Lk.12:33,34). We are taught to not store up our treasures on earth (Mt.6:19-21) but to meet the needs of the brethren so “that there may be equality” (2Cor.8:14). Those who will not renounce ownership and become stewards of one hundred percent are not being disciples for “we were bought with a price.” We are now bondservants of Christ. The Holy Spirit now tells the disciples of Christ how much, to whom, where, and when to give.
see also http://anyonecare.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/the-ttihe/
https://postedat.wordpress.com/2009/05/28/is-it-true-or-false/
You must be logged in to post a comment.