Bible Questions and Answers

Does Numbers 18:21 mean that a Pastor should receive 10% of a churches tithes?

Numbers 18:21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

The Levitical priesthood was established by God and part of the Old Covenant made with Israel at Sinai. When the tribes received their inheritance in the land of Canaan, the tribe of Levi was not given a portion of land. Instead they were allocated cities within the inheritance of the other tribes.

The tithes of the increase from the land, both crops and animals was thus allocated for their upkeep.

Israel failed to keep the Covenant that God made with them at Sinai and God promised a New Covenant which would replace the Old.

Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."

The writer to the Hebrews explains:

Hebrews 8:8-12 Because finding fault with them, He says: "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."

The New Covenant replaces the Old:

Hebrews 8:13 In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Jesus Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant:

Hebrews 12:24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

Those who believe the gospel and are baptised into Jesus Christ come under the New Covenant and are required to live by the commandments of Christ, not those of the Law given through Moses in the Old Covenant.

There is no commandment concerning tithing given by Jesus or his apostles. The apostle Paul, to set an example, refused payment from those to whom he was preaching.

2 Corinthians 11:9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

2 Corinthians 12:17,18 Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you? 18 I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?

1 Thessalonians 2:9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

2 Thessalonians 3:8 Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

Under the New Covenant where financial contributions are necessary, believers are to give what they can afford.

2 Corinthians 8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

There is therefore no biblical justification for Christian ‘pastors’ to request a ‘tithe’ from their ‘flock’.

I hope you find this helpful.

God bless,
Glenn