From: theadvancedmarketinggroup@gmail.com   
      
   Question:  Does Hebrews 7:8 defend a monetary tithe requirement in the church   
   today?   
      
   Answer:  Hebrews 7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he   
   receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.   
      
   Two things must be considered when reading Hebrews 7:8…   
      
   >> 1. The time that the Epistle to the Hebrews was written   
      
   >> 2. The context (surrounding verses) of Hebrews 7:8   
      
   The time that the Epistle to the Hebrews was written…   
   The Epistle to the Hebrews was written in AD 66. The Temple was still   
   standing, and Christ-rejecting Jews were still governed by and operating under   
   the jurisdiction of the Mosaic Law.   
      
   The Mosaic Law dictated that the Levitic tribe was to take tithes from the   
   other eleven tribes of Israel.  The Aaronic line of Levites were the Priests   
   of Israel.  They were to take a tithe of the tithes from the Mosaic line of   
   Levites.   
      
   Numbers 18:26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of   
   the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your   
   inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, even   
   a tenth part of the    
   tithe.   
      
   Numbers 18:27 And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as   
   though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness of the   
   winepress.   
      
   Numbers 18:28 Thus ye also shall offer an heave offering unto the LORD of all   
   your tithes, which ye receive of the children of Israel; and ye shall give   
   thereof the LORD'S heave offering to Aaron the priest.   
      
   The context of Hebrews 7:8…   
      
   Whenever reading a verse in the Bible, it should be kept in context of the   
   surrounding verses in order to get a proper understanding of the intent that   
   the author of that particular verse is trying to convey to his readers.   
      
   That said, let us now examine the context of Hebrews 7:8, shall we?   
   Hebrews 7:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the   
   office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people   
   according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the   
   loins of Abraham:   
      
   Hebrews 7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of   
   Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.   
      
   Hebrews 7:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.   
   Hebrews 7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them,   
   of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.   
      
   Hebrews 7:9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes   
   in Abraham.   
      
   The first thing we should notice when studying the context of Hebrews 7:8 is   
   the fact that Hebrews 7:5 coincides with the instruction given in Numbers   
   18:26-28.   
      
   In Numbers 18:26-28, we discovered that the Levitic tribe is to TAKE tithes of   
   the children of Israel. (the other eleven tribes) Hebrews 7:5 reveals that the   
   Aaronic line of Levites have a command to take tithes of their brethren, i.e,   
   the Mosaic line of    
   Levites.   
      
   Hebrews 7:5 also tells the reader that the tithes that the Aaronic line of   
   Levites are to take tithes “according to the Law”. The Law decreed that   
   the elements of God’s holy tithe were to be agricultural. Leviticus 27:30,32   
   reveals that the tithes    
   were to be “the seed of the land; the fruit of the tree; every tenth animal   
   from flocks and herds to pass under the rod”.   
      
   Since Hebrews 7:5 tells us that the tithes the Levitic tribe was to take from   
   their brethren was to be according to the Law, and the Law said the tithe was   
   to be agricultural in content, the author must of Hebrews must have been   
   speaking of an    
   agricultural tithe.   
      
   Hebrews 7:9 tells us that Levi, (the tribe) is receiving tithes. When we   
   consider the text of Hebrews 7:5 and Hebrews 7:9, we can get a clearer   
   understanding of the intent of the text of Hebrews 7:8. The author is not   
   saying the church is to tithe. Nor    
   is it saying that church leaders are to receive tithes…   
      
   …Hebrews 7:8 is speaking of the Aaronic line of Levites that are receiving   
   tithes from the Mosaic line of Levites.  And here men that die (sons of Levi)   
   receive tithes; (agricultural, as the Law decreed) but there he receiveth   
   them, of whom it is    
   witnessed that he liveth.   
      
   The Aaronic line of Levites have a command to take tithes of their brethren.    
   So, naturally, they are the ones receiving tithes…   
      
   …and context shows that they are.   
      
   Conclusion: In order to make Hebrews 7:8 say that church leaders are to   
   receive tithes from members of the congregation, one has to eisegete his own   
   opinion, i.e insert the church into the text. In order to make Hebrews 7:8 say   
   that money is to be tithed,   
    one has to eisegete his own opinion, i.e insert money into the text.   
      
   2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that all Scripture is profitable for doctrine, for   
   reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness. A monetary   
   tithe requirement is totally foreign to the pages of God’s word and   
   therefore should not be imposed    
   upon church members.   
      
   2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received   
   mercy, we faint not;   
      
   2 Corinthians 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not   
   walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by   
   manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in   
   the sight of God.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)