Chapter 17: Myth—Giving 10% Is A Tithe

Page 12

Myth—Giving 10% Is A Tithe

The Amplified Bible’s expanded translation of Greek in Galatians 3:10 provides us with one answer to a fundamental Law question. Did Paul

negate the teachings of Jesus on the Law? The Amplified Bible explains that the Law controversy really pertains to, “[Those] who are seeking to be justified by obedience to the law of rituals.” These are the “ceremonial laws” and you will find them in Deuteronomy 12:1–16:17. What we need to

sort out here is exactly what Jesus is referring to when he rejects all those who were “lawless.” Obviously, Jesus claims they did not obey the Law. But, which law or laws? Remember that Jesus said there were “weightier” matters of the Law? Therefore, this is one clear distinction to be made for

all Christians who seek to summarily dismiss the first five books of the Bible including God’s Ten Commandments. Let’s go back to Galatians.

“Yet we know that a man is justified or reckoned righteous and in right standing with God not by works of the Law,

but [only] through faith and [absolute] reliance on and adherence to and trust in Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). [Therefore] even we [ourselves] have believed on Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in

Christ and not by works of the Law [for we cannot be justified by any observance of the ritual of the Law given by Moses], because by keeping legal rituals and by works no human can ever be justified (declared righteous and put in

right standing with God).” Galatians 2:16 AMP

Rituals In Moses’ Law Cannot Justify Us!

“And enter not into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no man living is [in himself] righteous or justified.” Psalm 143:2 AMP

Thus in and of ourselves we cannot obtain righteousness. However, Luke made it clear that “Zacharias and Elizabeth were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.” [See Luke 1:6]