Chapter 17: Myth—Giving 10% Is A Tithe

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Myth—Giving 10% Is A Tithe

There is certainly a firm statement from Jesus in John 14:12 that those

who “steadfastly believe” will be able to do the things he did, even greater things. When you reflect on this teaching of Jesus, do you think he obeyed God’s Ten Commandments, all of them? What about the Sabbath? What about the rest of the Law contained in the first five books of the Bible? Since

we are told that steadfast believers will “be able to do the things Jesus did” — we have another clue. I cannot believe that Jesus ignored God’s laws as he came to us representing God in voice and deed. Furthermore, Jesus said he came to fulfill the Law and not to do away with it. Yet Paul in Ephesians

2:15 indicates “decrees and ordinances” of the Law are annulled. Again the big question looms, which ones? And exactly what should we be concerned about to prevent Jesus from rejecting us because we “practice lawlessness?”

There are two places where the words “practice lawlessness” shows

up in the New King James Bible. The first is in Matthew 7:23 where Jesus rejects people because they “practiced” lawlessness. Note that this implies you don’t have to be perfect, which I already discussed in an earlier chapter. The second place is Matthew 13:41 where Jesus sends his angels to gather

out everything “that offends” and all of those who “practice lawlessness.”

In Matthew 5:19 (AMP), Jesus gave the following instruction.

“He who practices (the commandments*) and teaches others to do so shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.”

In Matthew 19:17-18 (AMP), Jesus gave the following instruction.

“If you would enter into the Life, you must continually keep the commandments. [Which ones?] You shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, and you shall

not bear false witness. [Others - v19] The Apostle Edward*

In Matthew 22:40 (AMP), Jesus gave the following instruction.

“These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.”