Check out the course in the Classroom. THE BIBLICAL CASE FOR THE SELF-TITHE PART 1: WHAT THE TITHE ACTUALLY WAS The tithe was agricultural, not monetary. "Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD's; it is holy to the LORD." - Leviticus 27:30 "And every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal that passes under the herdsman's rod, shall be holy to the LORD." - Leviticus 27:32 Notice what's missing: money, wages, income. A shepherd didn't calculate 10% of his net worth. he literally passed his flock under a rod and every tenth animal was set apart. Fishermen didn't tithe their catch. Carpenters didn't tithe their labor. Merchants didn't tithe their profits. "Give 10% of your paycheck" is not in the text. THERE WERE THREE TITHES (Not One) The modern church teaches one tithe of 10%. The Old Testament actually prescribed three: 1. The Levitical Tithe (Numbers 18:21-24) Given to the Levites who served in the temple. Why? Because they received no land inheritance: "To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting... they shall have no inheritance among the people of Israel." The Levites had no farm, no vineyard, no way to feed themselves. The tithe was their compensation for full-time religious service. Your pastor has a mortgage and a 401k. The Levites had nothing. 2. The Festival Tithe (Deuteronomy 14:22-27) Here's where it gets interesting: "You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. And before the LORD your God... you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil..." Wait — the giver ATE their own tithe? Yes. This was essentially a funded vacation to Jerusalem for the national feasts. If you lived too far away: "Then you shall turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses: and you shall spend that money for whatever your soul desires, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul desires: and you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household."

The true message has been hijacked, but it is right there. You are looking at it right now.