Is the Whole Torah for Today?

Is The Whole Torah for Today?
By
James Scott Trimm

Sadly even with the Torah Observant movement, there are those teaching that while most of the Torah is for today, certain commandments have been abolished.

We read in the Torah:

You shall not add to the word which I command you,
neither shall you diminish a thing from it,
that you may keep the commandments of YHWH your Elohim which I command you.
(Deuteronomy 4:2)

Whatever thing I command you, observe to do it:
you shall not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
(Deuteronomy 13:1(12:32))

And the Psalms assure us:

Your word is truth from the beginning:
and every one of your righteous judgements endures forever.
(Psalm 119:160)

One commandment that has become a common casualty of this kind of teaching has been the commandment to tithe. Is tithing for today? Does YHWH have a definite system in place to finance His work? Or has He left His laborers to resort to funding His work through car washes, raffles and bingo games? Or did YHWH left His work to be financed simply as believers donate what they feel like, if they feel like donating anything at all? Did YHWH Himself ordain a system providing for His work, leaving His true called servants, like prophets of old, free to serve Him and Him alone?

An important PROPHECY for Today!

Let me repeat briefly a stern prophecy for our day- a warning from YHWH to believers in these last days!

1 Behold, I send My messenger, and he shall clear the way before Me: and the Adon
whom you seek, will suddenly come to His Temple. And the messenger of the covenant,
whom you delight in: behold, he comes says YHWH Tzva’ot.
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appears? For
he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap.
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi,
and purge them as gold and silver. And there shall be they, that shall offer unto YHWH,
offerings in righteousness.
4 Then shall the offering of Y’hudah and Yerushalayim be pleasant unto YHWH: as in
the days of old, and as in ancient years.
5 And I will come near to you to judgment: and I will be a swift witness against the
sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that
oppress the hireling in his wages; the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the
stranger from his right, and fear not Me, says YHWH Tzva’ot.
6 For I YHWH change not! And you, O sons of Ya’akov, are not consumed.
7 From the days of your fathers, you have turned aside from My ordinances, and have
not kept them. Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, says YHWH Tzva’ot. But you
say, Wherein shall we return?
8 Will a man rob Elohim? Yet you rob Me. But you say, Wherein have we robbed You?
In tithes and heave-offerings.
9 You are cursed with the curse: yet you rob Me, even this whole nation
(Malachi 3: 1-9 HRV).

This message was not just for ancient Israel, it is clearly a last days prophecy. The phrases "the Adon whom you seek, will suddenly come to His Temple" Malachi 3:1 and "who may abide the day of his coming?" (Mal. 3:2) clearly refer to the return of the Messiah to the earth. But look at his judgement when He returns; it is a prophetic warning to those who teach that the tithe is not for today. In verse 6 he tells us "I YHWH change not" then he says "Return onto Me" (verse 7) but they reply "wherin shall we return?" (verse 7). You see these people think they are already Torah Observant... they do not think that they have anything to which to return. And YHWH responds to them "Will a man rob Elohim? Yet you rob Me." (verse 8) Still confused they ask "Wherein have we robbed You?" (verse 8) and YHWH responds "In tithes and heave-offerings. You are cursed with the curse: yet you rob Me, even this whole nation." (verses 8-9)

This is an amazing prophetic warning. This prophecy reveals to us that there will be those in the last days who will believe they are Torah Observant but will not have returned to giving tithes and offerings. This prophecy predicts the last days theology that while most of the Torah if for today but that the Tithes and offerings are not. I have found many such theologies being taught. It is amazing the amount of theological gymnastics that people have gone through to supposedly prove that the tithe is not for today. Some teach that the tithe was only to be paid to Levites in the Temple (This is not true, Lev. 27:30 recognizes that the Tithe belongs to YHWH, while a separate commandment in Num. 18:21 tells us that the Levites were to be paid out of the tithe, for their service in the Tabernacle, and Paul tells us that those who labor in the word are equally entitled to receive the same support as those who labored in the Temple at the alter 1Cor. 9:6-14). Others teach that the tithe is only on agricultural produce or even only agricultural produce from the Land of Israel. But the Torah tells us that Abraham tithed on "all" (everything) (Gen. 14:20) and while some will try to argue that Abraham's tithe was not the same tithe as the tithe paid in the Mosaic Torah, in Heb. 7:4-10 the whole logic of Paul’s argument is based in the fact that the tithe that Avram paid to Melchizadek was EXACTLY the same tithe that the Levites were paid from.If the tithe is not to be paid in the last days, for whatever reason, why does YHWH speak such harsh judgement at the return of Messiah to those who were stealing the tithe?

These men have not only stolen the tithe, but they have diminished from the Torah by subtracting a commandment, and many have also taught others this diminished Torah. As our Messiah Yeshua says:

18 Truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one yud or one hook will
pass away from the Torah, until they all be fulfilled.
19 And whoever shall abolish one of these least commandments, and shall teach the sons
of men so: the same will be, called least, in the Kingdom of Heaven. And whoever shall
keep one of these least commandments, and shall teach the sons of men so: the same will
be, called greatest, in the Kingdom of Heaven.
20 And I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the P’rushim
and scribes, you will not come into the Kingdom of Heaven.
(Matthew 5:18-20 HRV)

Notice that YHWH says he has been robbed “In tithes and heave-offerings!” (Mal. 3:8) The Hebrew word for "heave-offering" is TERUMAH, this word comes from the root RUM meaning "to raise or lift up" and refers to a gift or offering to YHWH. There are those who maintain that YHWH's work today is to be supported by offerings or gifts only, but that the Tithe is not for today. But notice that YHWH makes it clear that these persons have robbed YHWH not only in offerings but in tithes as well. The tithe differs from offerings, in that the tithe is already YHWH's (Lev. 27:30) so the tithe is not given it is paid. Offerings on the other hand are given, they are gifts. But notice that YHWH says that he has been robbed in tithes and offerings? This means we are directed by YHWH not only to pay the tithe but we should be giving offerings beyond just the tithe as well. The usage of both words here disproves forever the false teaching that the work of YHWH in the last days should be funded only by freewill offerings and not by tithing.

And now here is the goodnews:

10 Bring you the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house,
and try Me now herewith, says YHWH Tzva’ot: if I will not open you the windows of
heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall be more than sufficiency.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your good, and he shall not destroy the fruits of
your land: neither shall your vine cast its fruit before the time in the field, says YHWH
Tzva’ot.
(Malachi 3:10-11 HRV)

In the Torah we are told that there are curses for us if we violate the Torah (Lev. 26; Deut. 28:15-68) but that He has blessings for us if we observe the Torah (Deut. 28:1-14). But here is the one commandment about which YHWH dares us to test Him. If we do not pay the tithe, then we are stealing from YHWH, and how can we expect to be blessed by YHWH when we are stealing from Him?

On the other hand if we pay our tithes and offerings joyfully YHWH has blessings for us, as we read in the Wisdom of Ben Sira:

In a generous spirit pay homage to YHWH,
Spare not freewill gifts.
With each contribution show a cheerful countenance,
and pay your tithes in a spirit of joy.
Give to Elyon as he has given you,
generously, according to your means.
For YHWH always repays,
and he will give back to you sevenfold.
(Sira 35:8-10 HRV)

Now notice Malachi 3:11 "And I will rebuke the devourer for your good." If you wish to deal a blow to the Devourer and and his intentions, one way to do this is to pay the tithe and give offerings.

It’s about time we as believers got back to the Faith once and for all delivered to the set apart ones! (Jude 1:3) Yes there is really a definite financing plan ordained for YHWH's work laid out in the Scriptures. The fact is that it costs money to carry on YHWH's work. And today's high-tech world is making it possible like never before for us to reach vast masses over great distances virtually instantaneously! The proclomation of the restoration truth of Torah and Messiah is a task of gigantic proportions, but it requires money. YHWH, in His infinite wisdom has provided for this financing, and in such manner that His true called laborers can be free to serve Him alone, carrying His Message boldly. Just as we would expect, this plan is plainly revealed in His Word.

HaSatan hates the tithe, he wants to steal the blessings that YHWH has in store for us, and he wants to destroy the work of YHWH. He is terrified at the thought of Nazarenes all over the world tithing. If we wish to stand against HaSatan we must start by getting serious about the Tithe. Go ahead... test YHWH and see if he does not repay you seven fold in His blessings!

HaSatan wishes "to steal and to kill and to destroy" (Jn. 10:10) and he knows the time is short and has stepped up his war with those who proclaim both Torah Observance and Faith in Messiah (the two pillars of Nazarene Judaism) (Rev. 12:12, 17; 13:7). But no weapon forged against us will prosper (Is. 54:17).

To pay a tithe or give a freewill offering, go to http://www.nazarenespace.com, click on the Pay Pal box and give as He has given you. (You can also donate directly thru PayPal by sending paypal donations to donations@wnae.org .
You can also mail tithes and freewill offerings to:

Nazarene Judaism
PO Box 471
Hurst, TX 76053

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Comment by Chandler Fulton on August 10, 2012 at 2:39pm: Why not entitle this blog "Is the Tithe for Today"? That is the subject, not the "Whole Torah". I read in the Torah that we are to give our tithes to the poor and the fatherless and widows and the Levite every three years, on the year of the tithe.

Deuteronomy 26:12
When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied.

Comment by Mikha El on August 10, 2012 at 3:00pm: Seems to me any author can give anything he writes any title he/she chooses. Since there's no torah observant "Levite's" around obviously the verse you lean on to not donate applies to those in ha eretz and not to you or I. Other verses obviously pertain to you and I. Rabbi Trimm has done an excellent teaching on the 3 tithes found in Torah. I highly recommend it.

Comment by Mikha El on August 10, 2012 at 3:03pm: You can start here...

http://nazarenespace.com/profiles/blogs/is-the-tithe-for-today

Comment by Chandler Fulton on August 10, 2012 at 3:50pm: U can start here: The Scriptures. The only authority and source of the truth about the tithe.

I know there are more than one tithe spoken of in the scriptures. I highly recommend not following any man to learn teachings of the Scriptures, but follow the leading of the Ruach Ha Qodesh and the Messiah.

There ARE Torah observant Levites around, and they take donations for the building of the Temple. Google the Temple Institute.

Comment by James Trimm on August 10, 2012 at 4:40pm: When Moshe went up on Mount Sinai to receive the Torah, he did NOT receive a commandment to tithe. Nowhere in the Mosaic Torah is there the Tithe instituted. Instead the very first mention of the tithe in the Mosaic Covenant is not until the end of Leviticus where we read:

30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree,
is YHWH’s: it is Set-Apart unto YHWH.
31 And if a man will redeem aught of his tithe, he shall add unto it, the fifth part thereof.
32 And all the tithe of the herd, or the flock, whatsoever passes under the rod, the tenth
shall be Set-Apart unto YHWH.
33 He shall not inquire whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it. And if he
change it at all, then both it, and that for which it is changed, shall be Set-Apart; it shall
not be redeemed.
34 These are the commandments, which YHWH commanded Moshe for the children of
Yisra’el in mount Sinai.
(Lev. 27:30-34)

Notice that this first mention of the “tithe” does not initiate the tithe, it simply recognizes the fact of the tithe saying “it is Set-Apart unto YHWH”. Notice also this first passage says nothing about Levites or Priests. It does not say that the tithe belongs to the Levites, but rather to YHWH.

When next we read on the Tithe in the Mosaic Torah is in the book of Numbers:

And unto the children of Levi, behold,
I have given all the tithe in Yirae’el for an inheritance,
in return for their service which they serve,
even the service of the tent of meeting.
(Num. 18:21)

Notice that these are two different precepts of Torah. Lev. 27:30 recognizes that the Tithe belongs to YHWH, while a separate commandment in Num. 18:21 tells us that the Levites were to be paid out of the tithe, for their service in the Tabernacle (later Temple). The tithe was not directly paid to the Levites, it was paid to YHWH and from that “fund” the Levites were paid. This was so that the Levites could devote themselves to full time Torah Study (2Chron. 31:4-5) so that they could in turn teach Torah to the people of Israel (Deut. 14:22-23; Ezek. 44:23-24).

Nowhere are we told to pay the Tithe to the Levitical priesthood. We are told only that the Tithe is paid to YHWH and YHWH gave the Levites payment from the Tithe “for their service.”

THE SECOND AND THIRD TITHES

Now before moving on from the Mosaic Torah we should also cover the second and third tithes. Some lump these together as “the second tithe” because they are never paid on the same year.

There are actually two tithes in the Mosaic Covenant which were tied to the seven year cycle of the Land. The first tithe (Masserot) is due every year.

The second tithe (Maaser Sheni) was converted to money and used to make a personal pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The "pilgrim" could spend this money however he liked on the pilgrimage but was expected to treat the Levites to a feast as well upon his arrival and any surplus was given to the Levites (Deut. 14:22-27). Every third year however the tither used this second tithe (some all this third year tithe as a "third tithe") to feed the needy and local Levites (Deut. 14:28-29). Thus the Mosaic tithing schedule goes like this:

Year

1. First Tithe: Levites; Second Tithe: Pilgrimage and Levites

2. First Tithe: Levites; Second Tithe: Pilgrimage and Levites

3. First Tithe: Levites; Third Tithe: Feeds the needy and Levites

4. First Tithe: Levites; Second Tithe: Pilgrimage and Levites

5. First Tithe: Levites; Second Tithe: Pilgrimage and Levites

6. First Tithe: Levites; Third Tithe: Feeds the needy and Levites

7. The Sabbath of the land, only the First Tithe was paid on any volunteer crop and on other non-planted produce.

(The first tithe could only be converted into money by paying a 20% penalty (Lev. 27:31) however the second tithe was generally converted to money as a matter of course (Deut. 14:25).)

The three Tithes are laid out in the book of Tobit as follows:

6 And I went to Yerushulayim at the appointed times as it is written in the Torah of YHWH concerning Yisrael in firstfruits and tithes and firstlings.
7 To the priests, sons of Aharon and new wine and fat and labors and pomegranates and from all fruits of the ground to the sons of Levi, ministers before, the presence of YHWH in Yerushalayim, and the second tithe. (8) And the third tithe to the stranger, to the orphan and to the widow. And I would go in every year with all these, to Yerushalayim by the commandments of YHWH and according to that duty upon me, Devorah mother of my Father.
(Tovi (Tobit) 1:6-7 HRV – From our ongoing work :-) )

So the first tithe (which is generally referred to when we say "the Tithe" with no modifier) is paid to YHWH, and was used to pay the Levites for their service in the Temple at the Alter.

Paul says that those who "Labor in the Word" are also equally entitled to the same support as those who labored at the alter and in the Temple:

Those elders who conduct themselves well
should be esteemed worthy of double honor,
especially those who labor in the word and
in teaching, For the Scripture says that
`you should not muzzle the ox, while threshing,' (Deut. 25:4)
and `the laborer is worthy of his wage." (Mt. 10:10)
(1Tim. 5:17-18)

Paul also expands on this thought in 1Cor. 9:6-14:

Also, I only, and Bar Nabba, have we not the power not to work?
Who is this who labors in the service (ministry) by the expanse of his nefesh?
Or who is he who plants a vineyard and from its fruit does not eat?
Or who is he who tends the flock and from the milk of his flock does not eat?
Do I say these [things] as a son of man?
Behold, the Torah also said these [things]. For it is written in the Torah of Moshe,
`You shall not muzzle the ox that threshes.' (Deut. 25:4)
It is a concern to Eloah about oxen? But, it is known that because of us he
said [it] and because of us it was written, because it is a need [that] the plowman plow unto hope and he who threshes, unto the hope of the harvest. If we have sown spiritual [things] among you, is it a great [thing] if we reap [things] of the flesh from you? … those who labor [in] the Beit Kodesh [the Temple] are sustained from the Beit Kodesh and those who labor for the alter have a portion with the alter?
So also, our Adon commanded that those who are proclaiming his goodnews should live from his goodnews."
(1Cor. 9:6-14)

But if it makes you feel better, I am both an orphan and poor....

Comment by Mikha El on August 11, 2012 at 1:22pm: Your "highly recommendation" is near sided IMO. Are you telling me you have never learned anything pertaining to scripture from another human, obviously aided by the ruach and Yeshua whom are the same ONE? If yes, I don't believe you...sorry.

Regarding the "torah observant Levites" you mention... My guess is you may be correct assuming there is a remnant within their group that through necessity secretly maintains a knowledge of the path to salvation...

Deu 18:18 ‘I shall raise up for them a Prophet like you out of the midst of their brothers. And I shall put My Words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.
Deu 18:19 ‘And it shall be, the man who does not listen to My Words which He speaks in My Name, I require it of him.

Comment by Chandler Fulton on August 11, 2012 at 2:09pm: Surely we have all learned from others in whom the Set-apart Spirit resides. That is not to say that the MAIN way we learn should be from other men.

David said in Psalm 119: "You Yourself have taught me."

In Jeremiah we are told by YHWH "Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you great and secret things that you do not know". Have you called on him lately for wisdom and understanding and Knowledge? As it is writen in the Proverbs: "YHWH gives wisdom; out of His mouth come knowledge and understanding". If we seek it from him like hidden treasure He will answer and teach us many things we do not know.

The problem with most believers like you is that you follow other MEN, and leave no room for the teaching, enlightening and instruction of the Set-apart Spirit. You learn exclusively from other men, and dishonor YHWH and Messiah by not learning from them. And as always, if one follows other men one will inevitively fall into the errors that other men teach. One cannot learn errors from YHWH, Messiah, or the Set-apart Spirit.

Comment by Mikha El on August 11, 2012 at 3:38pm: Now that you feel able to know me and my study habits so well, perhaps you can explain your apparent antagonistic lop-sided arrogance towards anyone that would attempt to teach correct doctrine? Also since you now capitulate and agree that you/I can learn from other men at times (I never said always) perhaps you could divulge whom it is you learn your manners from?

Comment by Chandler Fulton on August 12, 2012 at 12:04am: Wow. The true Mikha El is finally coming forward. I know what I see is a person terribly misguided by other men and the teachings of men, who does not have the Set-apart Spirit leading and guiding, as is evident by the words and teachings presented.

Comment by Mikha El on August 13, 2012 at 6:49pm: Wow, One again Chandler claims to have superior spirituality even to the point of knowing the infilling of the ruach in others. Pathetic, childlike and let's not forget..

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the favor which has been given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he should think, but to think soberly, as Elohim has given to each a measure of belief. (ISR)

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