And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
After rescuing Lot and the captives from the invading kings by strength from God, Abraham was met by Melchizedek, priest of the Most High God at Salem, who blessed him and gave thanks to God for delivering his enemies into his hand. In that meeting Melchizedek stood in person for Jesus Christ, bearing witness to heaven's truth. Abraham answered by giving him a tenth of all he possessed. That gift shows tithing was already practiced long before the Hebrew nation and the system given to Moses, reaching back to the earliest believers, and it remains an obligation ordained by God and binding in every age. The required portion is one-tenth of the increase, to be given voluntarily and not by compulsion, in grateful acknowledgment that God is the giver of all and for the support of His work.
Victory and Blessing
The verse belongs to Abraham's return after rescuing Lot and the captives from the invading kings. Jehovah was the source of his strength and the author of his victory. The Lord aided him against the enemy, so the triumph was achieved under divine aid. God delivered his enemies into his hand.
Melchizedek was priest of the Most High God at Salem, the later site of Jerusalem. On Abraham's return he blessed Abraham. In that blessing he gave thanks to God and credited God with delivering Abraham's enemies into his hand.
In this encounter Melchizedek represented Jesus Christ in person. As priest of God and representative of Christ he bore witness to heaven's truth. In that work he perpetuated God's law.
In the surrounding account Abraham refused the spoils and would take none of the king of Sodom's goods. He did so that no one could claim to have made him rich, giving God the glory for his prosperity. His integrity, unselfishness, courage, and benevolence made him a representative through whom the God of heaven was revealed to the surrounding peoples. That victory and conduct testified to the people of Sodom that divine power was at work and bore witness to the true faith.
Tithing Duty and Practice
After his victory Abraham gave Melchizedek, priest of the Most High God, tithes of all, a tenth of all, of everything he possessed and had received. His gift was made upon his return after the deliverance of his enemies into his hand, in response to God's blessing and mercy. It was an act of worship to God through His priest, who blessed him in the name of the God who had given the victory.
This shows the tithing system reaches back beyond the days of Moses and before the Hebrew nation was established, for men were required to offer gifts to God for religious purposes before the definite system was given to Moses. It reaches even as far back as the days of Adam, was continued through successive generations, was carried out by Abraham in giving tithes of all, the same principle existed in the days of Job, and was later vowed by Jacob. The practice was therefore not first established in the Mosaic system but was observed from the earliest times.
Tithing was thus recognized as an obligation ordained by God from ancient times and from the earliest believers, a duty for believers in every age and for those living under the Melchizedek priesthood. Christ recognized it as a duty, while teaching that careful tithing does not excuse neglecting justice, mercy and faith. The amount required is one-tenth of the increase, definite enough for all, yet left to conscience and benevolence with free play of judgment.
All giving must be voluntary and not by compulsion, for God will not have His treasury replenished with unwilling offerings. Abraham's gift was given in appreciation of God's mercies and blessings, to acknowledge God as the giver of all, and tithes and offerings support God's work. His example teaches people to faithfully return to God a tithe of all they possess and receive.
After rescuing Lot and the captives from the invading kings by strength from God, Abraham was met by Melchizedek, priest of the Most High God at Salem, who blessed him and gave thanks to God for delivering his enemies into his hand. In that meeting Melchizedek stood in person for Jesus Christ, bearing witness to heaven's truth. Abraham answered by giving him a tenth of all he possessed. That gift shows tithing was already practiced long before the Hebrew nation and the system given to Moses, reaching back to the earliest believers, and it remains an obligation ordained by God and binding in every age. The required portion is one-tenth of the increase, to be given voluntarily and not by compulsion, in grateful acknowledgment that God is the giver of all and for the support of His work.
Victory and Blessing
The verse belongs to Abraham's return after rescuing Lot and the captives from the invading kings. Jehovah was the source of his strength and the author of his victory. The Lord aided him against the enemy, so the triumph was achieved under divine aid. God delivered his enemies into his hand.
Melchizedek was priest of the Most High God at Salem, the later site of Jerusalem. On Abraham's return he blessed Abraham. In that blessing he gave thanks to God and credited God with delivering Abraham's enemies into his hand.
In this encounter Melchizedek represented Jesus Christ in person. As priest of God and representative of Christ he bore witness to heaven's truth. In that work he perpetuated God's law.
In the surrounding account Abraham refused the spoils and would take none of the king of Sodom's goods. He did so that no one could claim to have made him rich, giving God the glory for his prosperity. His integrity, unselfishness, courage, and benevolence made him a representative through whom the God of heaven was revealed to the surrounding peoples. That victory and conduct testified to the people of Sodom that divine power was at work and bore witness to the true faith.
Tithing Duty and Practice
After his victory Abraham gave Melchizedek, priest of the Most High God, tithes of all, a tenth of all, of everything he possessed and had received. His gift was made upon his return after the deliverance of his enemies into his hand, in response to God's blessing and mercy. It was an act of worship to God through His priest, who blessed him in the name of the God who had given the victory.
This shows the tithing system reaches back beyond the days of Moses and before the Hebrew nation was established, for men were required to offer gifts to God for religious purposes before the definite system was given to Moses. It reaches even as far back as the days of Adam, was continued through successive generations, was carried out by Abraham in giving tithes of all, the same principle existed in the days of Job, and was later vowed by Jacob. The practice was therefore not first established in the Mosaic system but was observed from the earliest times.
Tithing was thus recognized as an obligation ordained by God from ancient times and from the earliest believers, a duty for believers in every age and for those living under the Melchizedek priesthood. Christ recognized it as a duty, while teaching that careful tithing does not excuse neglecting justice, mercy and faith. The amount required is one-tenth of the increase, definite enough for all, yet left to conscience and benevolence with free play of judgment.
All giving must be voluntary and not by compulsion, for God will not have His treasury replenished with unwilling offerings. Abraham's gift was given in appreciation of God's mercies and blessings, to acknowledge God as the giver of all, and tithes and offerings support God's work. His example teaches people to faithfully return to God a tithe of all they possess and receive.