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1. What did the text mean to the biblical audience?
Numbers 15 records the laws spoken by the LORD God to Moses concerning the offerings. Specifically, Numbers 15:17-21 gives the laws concerning the heave offering. The heave offering is a tithe that is waved above the altar, rather than waved around it, as was customary for other offerings. Heave offerings came from the "bread of the land," which denotes the food produced from the earthly natural life. A portion of food was returned to the Lord, and was used by the priests and their families for sustenance. These laws established the way for the biblical audience to support the priests and their families as they carried out their duties for the LORD God.
2. What are the differences between the biblical audience and us?
First with regard to literal interpretation, our currency has changed. Food is no longer a common medium of exchange, but rather money has replaced it in present-day times. While exchange of food was valued highly as currency in olden days, those living in present times value the freedom to choose their own food, and demand official currency in payment. Even in recent past, a doctor would accept a chicken as payment for service; however, today payment in kind would be rejected immediately.
Secondly with regard to spiritual concerns, the priests performed life-saving functions for the Hebrew Tribes. Once a year the sins of a family were sacrificed on the altar to receive the cleansing necessary to remain part of the Tribes of Israel. The duties of the priests were essential to them living a blessed life in the midst of their culture, as well as being declared acceptable by the LORD God and eligible to receiving blessings and avoid punishment. Today, those who serve in ministry capacity do not hold the same authority or responsibilities that the early Jewish Priests did in offering sacrifices to the LORD to atone for the sins of His People. We do not hold our ministers of His Word in the esteem given to Old Testament priests, and we their actions are not crucial to our relationship with Him.
3. What is the theological principle in this text?
A portion of the fruits of your labors upon this earth should be given to the LORD God's service. It should not be hidden, but waved openly before the LORD and used by those responsible for ministering to Him and His people.
4. Does the New Testament teaching modify or qualify this principle, and, if so, how?
Tithing is not directly addressed within the New Testament, however, an indirect reference in Jesus rebuke of the hypocritical Pharisees in Matthew 23:23 gives evidence that tithing was given to creditors in New Testament times (This does not suggest, however, that the LORD God's ministers received these tithes.) Also, 1 Corinthians 9:13 specifically refers to ministers of the LORD God, Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live [of the things] of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? , giving us notice that those of the ministry live from the offerings given to the ministry.
One thing is certain, however; the New Testament Christian should probably reconsider offering a portion of an animal to a minister of God for his service, and stick, rather, with offering the things of our present-day culture to uphold his ministry.
5. How should individual Christians today apply the theological principle in their lives?
Taken as a whole, the New Testament Christians should financially support the ministry of the LORD God by tithing a portion of their fruitful income from their earthly labors.
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