Sunday, September 6, 2026
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).
If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?
Under the Law of Moses, there were really three tithes. The first tithe was national, a gross federal income tax on Israel’s agricultural production—each tribe giving 10% to the tribe of Levi. Israel was a theocracy, God governing them by the Levites (the priestly tribe); these Levites served in the Tabernacle, and later, the Jerusalem Temple. See Leviticus 27:30-34 and Deuteronomy 14:27.
The second tithe, a net income tax (also 10%), was the “festival/vacation” tithe. All male Jews set aside resources to fund their personal trips to Jerusalem three times a year—Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles (Deuteronomy 16:16; cf. Exodus 23:14-17). “Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always” (Deuteronomy 14:22,23). You can keep reading into verses 24-26.
The third tithe—an additional net tax of 10%, given every three years—supported the welfare system: “At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest” (Deuteronomy 14:28,29). Also see Deuteronomy 26:12,13.
Annual tithing in Israel under the Law thus averaged 23.3% (two 10% tithes [Levitical and festival] every year, plus one 10% [welfare] tithe every three years). Those bragging about giving “biblical tithes” today are likely not giving this much! In addition, they seldom show interest in giving the amount that replaced the tithe in Matthew to John….
NOTE: In order to bring you a special study tomorrow, we will temporarily break away from this devotionals arc….
333 Words of Grace 