Your ShelfYour Projects

The Sabbath-School

3%

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Sep 2, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 34.

Read the full edition

The Sabbath-School.

Tithes and Offerings.

TITHING.

(Lesson 11, September 14, 1889.)
1. UNDER what circumstances was the first tithe paid, as recorded in the Scriptures? Gen. 14:16-20.
2. What was the office of Melchizedek?
"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine; and he was the priest of the most high God." Verse 18.
3. Who was the greater, Abraham or Melchizedek?
"And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better." Heb. 7:7.
4. Of how much did Abraham give the tithe?
"And he gave him tithes of all." Gen. 14:20, last clause.
"Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils." Heb 7:4.
5. What proposition did the king of Sodom make?
"And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself." Gen. 14:21.
6. What response did Abraham make?
"And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take anything that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich." Verses 22, 23.
7. Did Abraham make any exception, and for whom was the exception made?
"Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eschol, and Mamre; let them take their portion." Verse 24.
8. Was the tithe before or after the young men had eaten? See note.
9. By giving a tithe of all, whom did Abraham acknowledge as the only rightful owner of the tithe?
10. How many years was this before the law respecting the tithe was given to the Israelites? Compare margin of Gen. 14 and Ex. 20.
11. Then to what priesthood did the tithing system properly belong?
12. What solemn vow did Jacob make 150 years after Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek?
"And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God; and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house; and of all that thou shalt give me I will surley give the tenth unto thee." Gen. 28:20-22.
13. How can we account for the fact that Jacob knew God’s claim to the tenth?
"For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him." Gen. 18:19.
14. Who is our high priest?
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus." Heb. 3:1.
15. After what order is Christ a priest?
"So also Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." Heb. 5:5, 6.
16. Then as tithing originated under the Melchizedek priesthood, and as Christ is a priest after the order of Melchizedek, what would we conclude in relation to the payment of tithes in this dispensation?
17. Did Christ teach the paying of tithes?
"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." Matt. 23:23.