Opinion : I would take a slightly different approach. I believe that if the structure of something is presented in the Old Testament, it does not need to be completely restated in the New Testament. If it is mentioned as continuing, then it continues, albeit with the "eyes" of redemption. Such it is with tithing. Let's remember that Abraham, the father of faith to both the Jews and the Church, tithed by the principle of honour, not law. Tithing was commanded in the law to those who were of the line of Abraham but did not have Abraham's faith; therefore their structure of living unto God had to be commanded on the basis of law. Then Jesus spoke of the present existence of tithing; it is again mentioned in Hebrews that the One who ministers after the order of Melchizidek receives tithes.
Reply : Greetings! You cannot say that we can adhere to New Covenant in what it says and also continue in the structure of Old Testament not expecting it to be restated. You should not follow something that is "Faulty" and "Obsolete" (Heb 8:7-8, 13). New Covenant does not adhere to the old anymore because it is a totally a better covenant with better promises (Heb 8:6). Jesus is the Mediator of it and so nothing that Jesus and His apostles have not commanded shall be ever made in to a rule. Abraham tithed out of His love for God and thankfulness for the victory that God gave him in defeating the enemies of his allies. Abraham tithed the booties that were recovered from the war and it was not from his purse, this shows that he dedicated this victory as something that has not come by his own strength but by the help of the Lord (Genesis 14:12-24). This does not seem to me as a principle of honor but thankfulness out of his heart.
Tithing was commanded in the Old Testament to support the priests and the Temple, and also in order to keep the nation of Israel's religious and political structure intact. But in the New Testament we are not commanded but told by Apostle Paul to support financially the teacher's of the Word out of the blessing that we receive out of the WORD OF GOD taught by them (Gal 6:6-10; 1 Cor 9:9-18). Then clearing the point "the one who received tithes from Abraham" is God who is Melchizedek who had no genealogy (Heb 7:1-6), this was not based on law but on the basis of promises He has already given to Abraham as a sign of friendship with him. For a complete details on Melchizedek pls read the following post : http://apostolicrevelation.blogspot.com/2008/07/who-is-melchizedek.html. The bottom line is, Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek not because of compulsion, or else Melchizedek would not have blessed Abraham before he had given his tithe. But we see in Gen 14:18-20, Melchizedek having communion with Abraham and blessing him even before Abraham took the booty of the war to give tithes to Melchizedek. This shows that it was not out of compulsion but it was based on gratefulness, thankfulness and cheerfulness on the part of Abraham for having been blessed by God Almighty. This is the way all New Covenant believers can tithe if they really are thankful for God's blessing. Abraham is indeed an example of all New Testament Believers.
We cannot follow some commands from the Old and some from the New Covenant because Jesus said, "...No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. 39 And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’”" (Luke 5:36-39). Christians who have not tasted the New Covenant will always feel according to the preceding verses 'The Old Covenant is better and easy to keep'. The New Covenant should be walked completely by the commandment of the New and if we try to add the Old to the New, we will have a completely choatic life of wearing the rags inspite of having a new cloth which Jesus has already given to us unconditional of our behaviour. May God help us all to realise the spirit of the New Testament and walk in liberty, and not in fear or with any other motive other than our love for God to propel us to live as a living sacrifice to God. Blessings......
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