Tithes Under Two Priesthoods
By WM. COVERT
When Abraham met Melchisedec, priest of the most high God, “he gave him tithes of all.” Gen. 14:20. The Aaronic priesthood, with its theocracy and its Levitical services diverting a large share of the tithe from the direct evangelistic work, had not then been inaugurated; therefore Melchisedec, the priest, received it all. Under the Aaronic priesthood the Levites received the tithe, and then carried a tenth part of that which they received up to the storehouse. The following scripture tells how this matter was managed under the instruction of Nehemiah: “And the priest the son of Aaron shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure-house.” Neh. 10:38. There was much work done by the Levites under the theocratic government and in the temple service from Moses to Christ, which did not have a parallel in the Lord’s work in the days of Melchisedec; nor does it have a counterpart in the Christian age. The distinction between the two priesthoods relative to the gathering and handling of the tithe is noted in the Hebrew letter, especially in chapter seven. There attention is called to the fact that “Abraham gave a tenth part of all” to Melchisedec, who was the Lord’s priest at that time. It is also shown that the Levites, through the transaction of an ancestor, paid tithes to Melchisedec, and yet under the terms of the Aaronic priesthood the Levites received the tithe from their brethren. These statements are made to show a contrast between the two priesthoods regarding the payee of the tithe. “And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham.” Heb. 7:9. The prophet Malachai, who wrote prophetically with reference to the financial obligations which would rest upon Christians at this time, gave definite advice relative to tithe gathering and storage. As it applies to conditions that prevail under the priesthood of Christ, it eliminates a Levitical feature of appropriations which was advised both by Moses and by Nehemiah. The advice and promises now are, “Bring ye all the tithes [the whole tithe, R. V.] into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” All can see there is a difference between bringing a tenth part of the tithe into the treasure-house, as advised by Nehemiah, and bringing all the tithes, or the whole tithe, into the storehouse, as required now by the Lord’s prophet. The missionary spirit under the Aaronic priesthood was generally allowed to run very low. During that period the priests and Levites gave much attention to building up their “state and nation,” but usually excluded the Gentiles from their religious services. About a tenth part of their tithe was expended in their evangelistic work, but the other part of mankind was for the most part excluded from a share in that. Following what they evidently supposed was proper, they appropriated almost the entire tithe of the nation upon themselves. Is there not danger of Seventh-day Adventists in some measure doing the same thing now? We must guard against this by going right out among the people with the message for this time. We should seek God unceasingly until we are unified with the love of Christ in hunting for the lost. The church of Christ should bear within its bosom a mighty burden for the unsaved. Those whose minds enter within the veil to counsel with our High Priest will become imbued with the spirit of holy zeal, and will proceed to do something definite and decisive in the way of saving souls. Our Priest and Captain commands, saying, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” His priesthood, work, and method is “after the order of Melchisedec, and not . . . after the order of Aaron.” The tithe which Abraham brought to Melchisedec, besides that which was from his personal account, was practically the tithe of property by right belonging to various Gentile tribes of Palestine. The recital of the account indicates that the king of Sodom joined with Melchisedec and Abraham in a divine service wherein “bread and wine” brought by Melchisedec was used in the ceremonies of the occasion. Since it is clear that the whole tithe of God’s people should be brought into the Lord’s storehouse, or treasury, it follows that no individual or church has any right to appropriate the tithe for any purpose. It must pass through the regular channels which the Lord has prescribed for it. If churches or individuals are using their tithes in paying church expenses or in paying the salary of teachers, they are out of harmony with the Lord’s plan, and should correct their course without delay. It is dangerous to be found robbing God. Whoever is withholding his tithe from the treasury of the Lord is doing that which is displeasing to God, and that person will some time wish that he had been a faithful steward of the Lord’s means.