Jesus Christ is the Son of Man

Jesus Christ is the Son of Man

1 Timothy 2:5-6: For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.

Rosalind Goforth in The Christian Digest wrote about a story that came directly from Rev. Cunningham of South China: One day a well-dressed, intelligent looking man came to the Street Chapel. He sate and listened well for some time, then left. This was repeated three consecutive days. Then he rose and addressed the missionary, saying: “I have heard you speak three times and you always have the same text. Why don’t you change it?” Mr. Cunningham, somewhat surprised, asked, “What text?” “Jesus Chris,” was the reply. Aftera moment’s silence the missionary replied: “Sir, before answering your question, may I ask you: ‘What have you for dinner today?’”. “Rice”, replied the man. “What food had you yesterday?” Again came the reply---”Rice.” “And what do you expect to eat in the future?” “Rice, of course. Rice gives me strength. I could not do without it. Sir it is--” he hesitated as if for a strong word---”Sir, it is my very life!” The missionary raised his hand, and said: “That is just what I wanted from you. What you have just said  of rice, Jesus Christ is to our soul. Jesus Christ is the rice of life!”

Who called Jesus Christ as the Son of Man? Scriptures show that Jesus Christ referred to Himself as the Son of Man. While He walked on earth, no one else addressed Him by that title. He referred to Himself as the Son of Man when he announced that His hour to be glorified has come (John 12:23), introduced Himself as the Son of Man who has authority on earth to forgive sins (Matthew 3:6), taught about His sufferings, rejection, death, and resurrection (Matthew 8: 31), and proclaimed His position in the right hand of the Mighty Father (Mark 14:61-62).

The designation “Son of Man” occurs very often in the four Gospels, i.e, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. According to J. Rodman Williams, author of Renewal Theology, the phrase referring to Jesus Christ occurred 82 times and in in more than 40 occasions. Beyond the four Gospels, the expression referring to Jesus Christ is found only three times, when Stephen saw Jesus Christ before his death from stoning (Acts 7:56), when John saw the revelation of the end times (Revelation 1:13), and when John saw the coming judgment (Revelation 14:14).

When Jesus Christ referred to Himself as “the Son of Man”, He referred to Himself as a human. As all humans are children of humans (Mark 3:28 KJV), even so, Jesus Christ as “the Son of man” is a human. He is a member of the human race. Old Testament passages also provide evidence that the phrase “son of man” refers to a human (Psalm 8:4 KJV; Psalm 80:17 KJV; Isaiah 51:12 KJV; Ezekiel 2:1 KJV). These references simply reinforces that fact that Jesus Christ basically refer to His own reality as a human being.

We can see Jesus Christ as fully God and fully human. As fully human, Jesus Christ can be viewed in 5 perspectives.

Jesus Christ, the Representative Human

Jesus Christ first and foremost represents all mankind. He is not only the son of David, or the son of Abraham, He is also the son of Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45; 1 Corinthians 15:47). So, even as Adam represented the human race, so does Jesus Christ, the second Adam, represents all humanity.

As He was born of a human mother, grew up in Nazareth, ministered in Judea and Galilee, tried before the Sanhedrin, stood before Pilate, mocked and scourged, received the crown of thorns, and brought before the frenzied crowd, Jesus Christ is fully human. 

Being the last Adam, Jesus Christ is truly the first. For in Jesus Christ, God’s original pattern for human existence is represented. At every situation and every occasion, Jesus Christ demonstrated what it means to be a human. He demonstrated dignity (Colossians 1:15) and humility (Philippians 2:7), righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30) and compassion (Mark 6:34; Matthew 9:36; Luke 15:1-2), forthrightness (Matthew 23:33) and longsuffering (2 Peter 3:9), love for enemies (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27), and holiness in times of temptation (Matthew 4:10; Hebrews 4:15). In the humanhood of Jesus Christ is exemplified the manhood as God intended it to be. In Jesus Christ is the pattern or the model of genuine humanity. 

The New Testament did not actually describe the appearance of Jesus Christ. Is this strange? This is simply because Jesus Christ is a universal man, a representative of humankind. Often times, Jesus Christ is portrayed with slant eyes by the some people. Jesus Christ is portrayed as the black Nazarene. There are times, Jesus Christ is represented with blond hair. This a way the world perceived Jesus Christ as a universal man (Hebrews 2:17). Indeed, Jesus Christ took upon Himself the nature of humans, therefore He is the man for all men.

Jesus Christ, the Real Human

Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He is truly divine. Jesus Christ is also the Son of man and He is truly human (1 John 1:1). According to John the Beloved, this hearing, this seeing, and this touching of Jesus Christ in person is truly an evidence of Jesus’ human nature. Paul proclaimed Jesus Christ as a descendant of David (Romans 1:1-4). The author of Hebrews aptly described Jesus Christ’s humanity (Hebrews 5:7 (KJV). Paul shared with Timothy the manifestation of Godhead in Jesus Christ through the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16).

The biblical emphasis on Jesus Christ’s humanity is very important. First and foremost, we should understand the biblical truth that the Son of God had actually come in the flesh (2 John 7; Romans 8:3-4; Philippians 2:5-8:) In the book of Romans, Paul spoke about God sending His son Jesus Christ in the “likeness” of sinful nature (Romans 8:3). It is in this likeness to sinful nature that Jesus Christ identified Himself will all people that His flesh even seemed to be sinful. Yet it is in this human flesh that Jesus Christ was able to fulfil God’s role for Him. In His human flesh, he carried the sins of the world (1 Peter 2:24). As God does not identify with sin because He is God (James 1:13), a human flesh is needed to carry the sins of the world (2 Corinthians 5:19-21). Jesus Christ becoming fully human fulfills that requirement. If Jesus Christ were only fully God, then there would not sacrifice for sin, and no salvation from sin.

Measured by the humanity of Jesus Christ, all else will fall far short. There is no other who fulfil the plan of God for the salvation of mankind.

Jesus Christ, the Total Human

Jesus Christ is completely God, and he is also completely human. Every inch of Jesus is human (Hebrews 2:14). In every way, Jesus lived a fully human life. He was born of a woman (Galatians 4:4). He grew up from childhood to manhood, increasing in stature and wisdom and favor with God and man (Luke 2:52). He became hungry (Luke 4:2) and needed to eat (Luke 5:30). He became thirsty (John 19:28) and needed to drink (John 4:7). Jesus Christ became tired (John 4:6) and he also slept (Mark 4:38). Working first as carpenter (Mark 6:3), Jesus Christ claimed that He was constantly at work (John 9:4). Amazing as it is, He also paid taxes (Matthew 17:24-25)! Jesus Christ experienced joy (Luke 10:21) and sorrow (Matthew 26:37-38). He was also angry (Mark 3:5) and suffered grief (John 11:35). He experienced indignation (Mark 10:14), was astonished (Luke 7:9) and suffered from great pain and anguish (Matthew 27:46). As a human being, He cared so much for His mother (John 19:27).

The  most outstanding truth about the humanity of Jesus Christ though, is His experiencing temptation (Mark 1:13, Matthew 4:1, and Luke 4:1-2). He was not only tempted at the beginning of His ministry. He was also tempted in every way (Hebrews 4:15). These temptations of Jesus Christ are real. The fact that He is the Son of God does not change the other fact that He is also the Son of man. He was sorely tempted, He was tried and during His temptations, Jesus Christ also needed comfort and strength (Mark 1:13; Luke 22:42-43).

Jesus Christ, from birth to death, was a total man. In every dimension of His human nature: body, soul and spirit, He is human.

Jesus Christ, the Perfect Human

In Jesus Christ, the perfection of humanity was displayed (John 8:46-47; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5). These Scriptures, written plainly and without ambiguity, show us the fact that in a world of sin and evil, Jesus Christ lived a life of purity and righteousness. 

Most of the time, we fall short and we fail because we do not understand what it means to be sinless. John 8:29 and Mark 10:45 gives us the best picture of the perfect human. We know that love of God above all else, and love of neighbor as oneself are the two greatest commandments. These two greatest commandments were perfectly fulfilled in Jesus Christ alone. These are what God requires of us. These are the roadmaps to human perfection. If we can not do these, then we can never be like Jesus Christ.

How did Jesus attain this perfection? Is it something magical? Is it something divine and not human? we should remember that Jesus Christ is a real human being, a total human being (Philippians 2:6-8).  

Here is the secret to Jesus Christ’s perfection. Being humble to self is the expression of

the perfection of human. The perfection of Jesus Christ is a continuous experience, as He underwent many sufferings. He did not only suffer during His last days, He suffered from the very beginning of His ministry (Hebrews 5:7-10). Jesus Christ, being a perfect man has to learn obedience. With obedience, Jesus Christ remained faithful to the end.

The perfection of Jesus Christ pertain to His being sinless. There are important truths that we need to understand today about Jesus Christ sinlessness. First of all, Jesus Christ is fully human. He is sinless not because He is God, but because He chose not to (Hebrews 4:15). Notice that the Scripture says “yet He did not sin.” What if we change for a while that phrase. What if Paul wrote “yet He can not sin.” If Jesus Christ cannot sin, then we are convinced that He is fully God. If Jesus Christ did not sin, then we are convinced that His sinfulness is a matter of choice. And Jesus Christ chose not to sin. Secondly, the New Testament did not say anything about Jesus Christ being sinless because He was God and therefore can not sin. Mark 3:5 and Mark 11:15-16 described how Jesus Christ was angry. He was angry at various moments of His life. Why is anger dangerous? Jesus Christ knew that being angry does not produce the righteousness that God the Father desires (James 1:20). In fact, the Scripture speaks of anger as an evil worse than murder (Matthew 5:21-22). Anger is considered sin by the New Testament. Jesus Christ was angry. Yet He did not sin. He chose not to sin. Rather He choose to display the same anger that His Father displayed. Jesus Christ displayed the anger of righteousness of the righteous and holy One who can not tolerate sin.  It is not that Jesus Christ can not sin, but Jesus Christ, just like His God the Father, can not tolerate sin.

Here now is Jesus Christ who has the inability of perfect love to violate either God or humans. Jesus Christ is sinless because of His continuing victory over every kind of temptation. The fact that Jesus Christ never sinned is not portrayed as deriving from His divine nature, but as a continuing fact of His human life and action. In other words, sinlessness is Jesus Christ’s life, deeds, thoughts, and actions.

Jesus Christ, the Anointed Human

First, let us understand what the word “Christ” mean? The word comes the Greek ‘Christos’, which means anointed. It is equivalent to the Hebrew word ‘machiach’, which means the “anointed one of God”. Old Testament history  tells us that to be anointed, literally is to have sacred oil poured on one’s head, as a symbol of being chosen for a special task (1 Samuel 10:1). Priest (Exodus 40:15; Numbers 3:3) and kings (1 Samuel 9:16; 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Kings 1:34) are anointed, and occasionally, prophets (1 kings 19:16). This is most often used to refer to a king, who received sacred oil during their coronation rather than a crown.

Jesus Christ, as a pure human, is God’s anointed. Is it therefore assumed that God the Father appointed Him as king of the world while He walked on Earth (Matthew 2:1-2; John 12:12-19)? If Jesus Christ were anointed as king of the world just like Saul being anointed by Samuel to be king of Israel, then why did Jesus Christ receive a crown of thorns, instead (Matthew 27:29; John 19:2)?

We can look at Jesus Christ as an anointed human in two ways. Firstly, Jesus Christ was God’s anointed as the Word made flesh in order to bring the message of God’s plan to the world (Luke 4:14-21). The parable of the wicked husbandmen in Luke 20, Mark 21, and Mark 12 illustrates this. Jesus Christ, Himself the Son of God, is anointed by God the Father as a human, to be bring the gospel of salvation to the world. Secondly, Jesus Christ was anointed by God to display the power of the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21). As humans are anointed with oil at the start of their calling, Jesus Christ received the anointing of the Holy Spirit when His works began. Thus the very beginning of Jesus Christ’s ministry, He was anointed by the Spirit of God (Acts 10:34-38).

Jesus Christ was anointed by the Holy Spirit for power to minister. This is not an anointing as a Son of God. This is an anointing by the Holy Spirit as a Son of Man (Acts 2:22). Peter attested to the fact that Jesus Christ ministered for 3 years as a human being with the power of the Holy Spirit! It was Jesus Christ, the human, who was anointed with the Holy Spirit, and in the power resulting from this anointing He brought about manifold and marvelous works of God.

As God, Jesus Christ also performed the miracles as the Son of God (Matthew 14:22-23). But in many instances, Jesus Christ as an anointed human performed God’s miracles through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ moved constantly in the power of the Holy Spirit, and wherever Jesus Christ goes, He preaches the good news of salvation, brings healings, and deliverances.

What do you think of Jesus?

Jesus is a representative human who represented humanity to the throne of God. Jesus Christ is a real human so he can fulfil the plan of God for the salvation of mankind. In every dimension of Jesus Christ’s human nature: body, soul and spirit, He is totally human.

He is a perfect human as He chose not to sin. He is an anointed human because the power of the Holy Spirit was upon Him. 

Elim Evangel asked the questions to different people about Jesus Christ.

“Pharisees, with what would you reproach Jesus?” The Pharisee answered, “He eats with tax collectors and sinners.”

“And you, Caiaphas, what have you  to say of Jesus?” Caiaphas answered, “He is a blasphemer, because He said ‘Hereafter you shall see the Son of Man sitting in the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven.’”

“Pilate, what is you opinion?” Pilate answered, “I find no fault in this Man."

“And you, Judas, who have sold your Master for silver, do you have some fearful charge to hurl against Him?” Judas answered instead, “I have sinned, in that I have betrayed innocent Blood.”

“And you, centurion and soldiers, who led Him to the Cross, what have you to say against Him?” The centurion answered, “Truly, this is the Son of God.:

“And you, demons?”  The demons chorused, “He is the Son of God.”

“John the Baptist, what think you of Christ?” John the Baptist answered, “Behold the Lamb of God.”

“And you, John the apostle?” “He is the bright and morning Star.” 

“Peter, what say you of your Master?” Peter replied, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

“And you, Thomas, the doubter?” Thomas replied, “My Lord and My God!”

“Paul, you have persecuted Jesus Christ, what testify you against Him?” Paul answered, “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.”

“Angels of Heaven, what think you of Jesus?” Angels proclaim, “Unto you is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!”

“And Thou, Father in Heaven, who knowest all Things?” “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Jesus Christ is the Son of God

D. M. Stearns was preaching in Philadelphia. At the close of the service a stranger came up to him and said, "I don't like the way you spoke about the cross. I think that instead of emphasizing the death of Christ, it would be far better to preach Jesus, the teacher and example." Stearns replied, "If I presented Christ in that way, would you be willing to follow Him?" "I certainly would," said the stranger without hesitation. "All right then," said the preacher, "let's take the first step. He did no sin. Can you claim that for yourself?" The man looked confused and somewhat surprised. "Why, no," he said. "I acknowledge that I do sin." Stearns replied, "Then your greatest need is to have a Savior, not an example!

The basic truth of the Christian faith is the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Let us face the facts about this Christian claim.

First, there are supernatural declarations about the sonship of Jesus Christ. The angel proclaimed to Mary that the holy One who will be born from her will be called the Son of God (Luke 1:35). The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus Christ when he was baptized by John the baptist and God the Father spoke from heaven, and proclaimed that Jesus Christ is His Son, with whom He is well pleased (Luke 3:21-22). Even the devil himself challenged Jesus Christ as the Son of God during his attempts of temptations (Luke 4:3, 9). The demons that Jesus Christ rebuked are wailing in recognition that He is the Son of God (Luke 4:41). Even Jesus Christ Himself know Himself as the Son of God in His parables (Luke 20:9-19) and during His trial before the elders (Luke 22:70).

There are also personal revelations about the sonship of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures. John the Baptist testified that Jesus Christ is God’s Chosen One (John 1:34). His disciples worshipped Him, claiming that indeed, He is the Son of God (Matthew 14:33). Simon Peter called Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:15-17). Paul claimed that God has revealed His Son, Jesus Christ, to him so he may preach Jesus Christ among the Gentiles (Galatians 1:16). John the Beloved wrote the he indeed knows that Jesus Christ is both the true God and the Son of God (1 John 5:20).

The knowledge of the sonship of Jesus Christ is also made true through the perception of faith. For whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony, and whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son (1 John 5:10). The Scriptures were written so that people may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing people may have life in His name (John 20:31:). And anyone who refuses Jesus Christ actually refuses both the testimonies of Him and the gift of eternal life (John 5:39-40). Ultimately, the blessings come to those who have not seen Jesus Christ yet believed in Him (John 20:27-29).

Jesus Christ is God’s unique Son.

Jesus Christ is not only God’s Son, He is God’s unique son. John 3:16 proclaims that Jesus Christ is God’s only begotten Son. God did not create any other Son or send any Son other than Jesus Christ Himself. Although it is true that the believers are also called sons of God by divine adoption (Galatians 3:26-27; Galatians 4:4-5; John 1:12-13). Yet there is only One begotten Son of God, and that is Jesus Christ. He is God’s unique Son. According to J. Rodman Williams, author of Renewal Theology, there is therefore a transcendence about Jesus Christ that goes beyond the highest of earthly designation. That means to say that we can place Jesus only on a level beyond this world. Jesus Christ is no ordinary human because He is the Son of God.

John 3:16 describe the manner by which God designated Jesus’ role in the world. This Scripture proclaim this very truth, that “He gave” His only begotten Son. It is plain to see that God can not give what He did not have. Jesus Christ therefore is the only Son from the Father. Jesus Christ is specifically, the pre-existing Son of God (John 1:3) and His personal bearer of His character and will (Hebrews 1:1-2). Hence, the Son of God, Jesus, who is also the Word in the Scripture (John 1:1), existed before all creation. This pre-existence of Jesus Christ should also be understood as eternal Exodus 3;14; John 8:58). There was never a time that Jesus Christ was not.

Jesus Christ as the Son of God is equal to the Father. His sonship, hence, does not imply subordination. Jesus Christ Himself called God His Father, making Himself equal with God (John 5:18; Philippians 2:6). Throughout the ministry of Jesus, this equality of Jesus Christ with the Father is apparent (John 5:21; John 6:40; John 6:44; John 6:54). Even so, the equality of Jesus with God the Father is illustrated in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19).

Jesus Christ as the Son of God is distinct from God the Father. John 1:1 strongly suggests a separate entity. Even while Jesus Christ existed with the Father from the very beginning (John 17:5; Revelations 22:13), Jesus Christ was separate entity from the Father (Luke 23:46). Therefore, the Son was eternally with the Father in His own uniqueness, distinctness, and personhood.

A preacher once met a member of a cult who challenged his views about the deity of Christ. "You say that Jesus Christ is coequal with the eternal Father, but He cannot be, for no son is ever as old as the one who has begotten him." The minister thought for a moment and then replied, "You yourself have just called God the eternal Father. Have you ever thought that statement through? Don't you realize that God can only be the eternal Father if He has an eternal Son? If you would rethink your position in the light of the Scriptures, you would see that eternal Fatherhood demands eternal Sonship!"

Jesus Christ was Chosen to fulfill God’s plan.

God the Father personally spoke from Heaven and proclaimed that Jesus Christ is His chosen (Luke 9:35). He was God’s elect and chosen one. The Old Testament records that God also called the nation of Israel as His chosen one (Exodus 4:22-23; Deuteronomy 7:6). God has chosen Israel out of many nations.

As God called the nation of Israel as His son for a special purpose, He called Jesus Christ His chosen one to fulfill His wonderful plan. This wonderful plan is simply to fulfill His great love for Israel (Deuteronomy 7:7-8). God chose Israel because He loves Israel. God also expects Israel to love Him and be obedient to Him. Jesus Christ was chosen to stand between the people that He loves and the justice of the holiness that He possesses. Thus, Jesus Christ lives and dies as a lamb of sacrifice for the payment of sin of God’s people.

Consider that Jesus Christ will be born on Earth not to live as a frail human but to live a holy life as the Son of God (Luke 1:35). There is a special purpose, a divine plan for Jesus Christ’s life of holiness. A blameless, sinless, selfless sacrifice is needed to pay the penalty of sins (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:22). God the Father knows that only His Son Jesus, His beloved One, His chosen One can obey Him to the point of death (Philippians 2:8).

As Israel whom God the Father loves so much and chooses to be a holy nation failed Him, God knows that His Son Jesus Christ will not fail Him. God wants His plan for salvation to be fulfilled for all humanity. God chose His very own Son to fulfill that plan.

Jesus Christ is the personal embodiment of God.

John 1:1 did not only proclaim that the Word was with God, but it also emphasized that the Word was God Himself.

There are three biblical evidences that bear witness to the deity of Jesus Christ.

Firstly, Jesus Christ’s words and actions bear witness to His being God. Jesus Christ pronounced forgiveness of sins in many instances (Mark 2:5; John 8:10-11: 10; Mark 2:9): Jesus controlled the forces of nature (Matthew 14: 31, 33; Matthew 14: 18-21). Jesus Christ Himself declared that He is not only the Son of God, he is God Himself (John 10:30, 33).

Secondly, the titles given to Jesus Christ are evidences of His being divine. John the Baptist referred to Jesus Christ as Lord in Matthew 3:3 in reference to Isaiah 40:3. Simon Peter called Jesus Christ as Lord (Luke 5:8). Andrew called Jesus Christ as the Messiah (John 1:41). The Samaritan believers claimed that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world (John 4:42). Simon Peter called Jesus Christ the Holy One of God (John 6:69). Even the impure spirit recognized Jesus Christ as the Holy One of God (Mark 1:24). Billy Sunday, in a sermon, "Wonderful," quoted in The Real Billy Sunday the following reason why Jesus Christ has so many names: “There are two hundred and fifty-six (256) names given in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express”.

Thirdly, NT scriptures directly identify Jesus Christ as God Himself. Other than John 1:1, we can also find evidences that Jesus Christ is God (John 1:18; John 20:28; Romans 9:5; Philippians 2:5-7). Colossians 2:9 says in Christ the fullness of God is represented, thus he is fully divine. Jesus Christ is described in Titus 2:13 as our great God and Savior.

To believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God is the foundation of Christian faith. This belief is far more than a matter of affirmation of the mind. Duane Litfin, in "Serving a Glorified Christ," from Preaching Today, wrote about John MacArthur's encounter with a man who went around California talking about how Jesus regularly appeared to him. One time he was telling John that Jesus had appeared to him that morning while he was shaving. John MacArthur asked, "What did you do?" He said, "I just kept on shaving." And John said, "Then that wasn't Jesus."

Not all who affirm that Jesus Christ is God has faith. Even the Enemy and the demons affirm that Jesus Christ is God. Recognizing Jesus Christ as the Son of God is a matter of recognition and trust of the heart. In fact, believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God brings about a change in our lives.

Why do believers give their tithes?

Why do believers give their tithes?

“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’

“In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 3: 8-12)

Two men have ended up marooned on an island in the South Pacific. You can fill in the blanks as to how they got there. So they are on the clichéic deserted island, one palm tree, nothing to see but the ocean. One guy is in a complete panic, pacing back and forth, ranting about how they are going to die, hungry and alone, that nobody will stumble on them until they are nothing but bones. The other guy is sitting under the tree snoozing. Finally the first man can't stand it anymore and he demands "What's wrong with you, don't you understand the situation?" To which the reply came "Sure I do, we are stranded on this island hundreds of miles from anywhere" "Well aren't you worried?" "Nope" came the reply "I make $10,000.00 a week." The first guy was at a complete loss, "What does that have to do with anything, you have no access to the money and no place to spend it if you did."  To which the second guy replied "No you don't understand, I make $10,000.00 a week and I give my tithe every Sunday. Surely,  my pastor will find me."

What is tithe? Is there a difference between a tithe and an offering? Why should I tithe? How much should I tithe? What if I do not tithe?

Let us first take a look at the Genesis account of tithing in the Old Testament.

Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:1-7)

Here in the account of the beginning of humankind, the offering of one’s best produce or flock unto the Lord has long been established. There was no Law to govern this offering, wasn’t there?

After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.” But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Let them have their share.” (Genesis 14: 17-24)

Verse 20 of this Scripture particularly described what Abram did for Mechizedek, both king of Salem and a priest.Abram gave the priest a tenth of everything he has. Tithe is a giving that represents a tenth of Abram’s asset, not his income. He offered to Melchizedek, the priest, a tenth of everything he has, not just what he had for the moment.

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” Genesis 28: 20-22:

Jacob, after his visionary dream, promised God to give his tithe. Notice that it was not commanded of him to do so. So the giving of tithe was not a commandment in the days of Adam, and Cain and Abel, and Noah and Abraham and Jacob. So why did they tithe?

They tithed because they knew the Lord.

Some people argue that tithing was practiced in the Old Testament, but not required in the New Testament Church, and even the Bible is mostly silent about it.

But the Bible is not silent about tithe or tithing.

Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always. But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose. Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice. And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own. At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners,the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. (Deuteronomy 14:22-29)

Tithing is a part of the Mosaic Law that the chosen people of God should follow. Therefore, it is Biblical, it is scriptural and it is imperative in the eyes of God that His people give Him tithe.

“‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord. No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution.If anyone does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.’”These are the commands the Lord gave Moses at Mount Sinai for the Israelites. (Leviticus 27:30-34)

Tithe is a commandment of the Lord for His people. That is why God took it against His people for not giving their tithe. God has a biting accusation against His people for robbing Him through their tithes and offering (Malachi 3:8).

Even Jesus Christ Himself emphasized tithing as our obligation (Mark 12: 13-17; Matthew 22:15-22). Jesus Christ agrees that the believers should pay their imperial taxes to the government, but they should also pay their tithes to God. This is very interesting but we are excited about the tax season, simply because we can anticipate for our tax refund. There is a portion from the money that we paid the state and the country as our tax that goes back to us. If we give our tithe to God, faithfully, do we also expect something from God as well? The reason that we receive our tax refund is that we faithfully declare our taxable income. But do we receive God’s refund because we faithfully declare our tithe to Him?

Tithe is not merely money or collection (Leviticus 27:30). A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. God looks at our tithe as holy. It is consecrated unto Himself. It is never a trivial or a trifle thing to Him. That is why, this commandment brings along with it abundance as a promise.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones told a story about a farmer who went into the house one day to tell his wife and family some good news. "The cow just gave birth to twin calves, one red and one white," he said. He continued, "We must dedicate one of these calves to the Lord. We will bring them up together, and when the time comes, we will sell one and keep the proceeds and we will sell the other and give the proceeds to the Lord’s work." His wife asked him which calf would he dedicate to the Lord. "There's no need to bother about that now," he replied, "we'll treat them both in the same way and when the time comes, we'll do as I say." A few days later, he entered the kitchen looking unhappy. "What happened?" his wife asked. "I have bad news," he replied, "The Lord’s calf is dead." "Wait," said his wife, " you didn't decide which calf was the Lord’s, did you." "Yes" he said," I decided it was the white one, and the white one died. Then he sobbed like a child, and one more time informed his wife that the Lord’s calf is dead."

Do we treat our tithe as holy unto the Lord? Do we give our tithe in full reverence and obedience unto the Lord?

Tithes and offerings

A tithe is a specific tenth of one’s assets while an offering is any amount that one wants to share with the Lord’s work. Tithe can be your weekly income, your your yearly accumulated treasures or assets. It can be paid weekly, monthly, or yearly. Tithe is a representative amount.

Offering, on the other hand, is not a representative amount. And while tithe is the result of one’s obedience to God, offering is a result of one’s love to God. If the money belongs to you, then you can give a part of it as your offering. If the money does not belong to you, then you can give it as a tithe.

Do we ever try to look at our bank account? our paycheck? Have we ever considered looking at our income and ask ourselves which is ours and which is not ours (Leviticus 27:30)?  If we keep what is ours, then we deserve it. If we keep what is not ours, then we are robbers, we are thieves (Malachi 3:8).

Giving our tithes

We give our tithe because we trust in God. Trusting God means surrendering our live to Him, and that includes surrendering our treasures to Him. Do we surrender our treasures to God?

It was pentecost Sunday. As the congregation filed into church, the ushers handed each person a bright red carnation to symbolize the festive spirit of the day. The people listened attentively to the reading of the Pentecost story from the Book of Acts about how the disciples had heard “what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven”; about how the Holy Spirit had appeared “like tongues of fire.” Then came the sermon: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon us,” the preacher began. A woman sitting in the first per, shouted “Like the powerful wind from heaven!” Then she threw one of the red carnations toward the altar. It appears that this woman was indeed consumed by the powerful Spirit of God in her worship. The preacher began again: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon us.” The same woman’s voice rang out again, “Like the tongues of fire, the tongues of fire!” Again, she threw a red carnation toward the altar. The second time, she showed that the consuming fire of the Spirit of God had enveloped her worshiping being. Then preacher looked straight at her and said, “Now Sister, throw your pocketbook to the altar.” To which the woman replied, “Preacher, you have just calmed the wind and put out the fire.”

We may be like this woman who is on fire with our service and worship and adoration and praise to our God. But when it comes to tithing as obedience to God, we are cold, our spirit to worship is suddenly splashed with the cold water of despair, and our enthusiasm and our fervor to follow Him to the very end, suddenly dies down, like a limping kite that dives straight down to the ground. How are we in our tithes to the Lord? Do we obey God in our tithing?

Obeying God means that we follow what He wants us to do with our lives, including our treasures (Malachi 3:10). God requires us to give Him our tithe because He wants to bless us. But instead of being hopeful to the promise, we are in fact threatened.

How much to tithe?

W.A. Criswell tells of an ambitious young man who told his pastor he’d promised God a tithe of his income. They prayed for God to bless his career. At that time he was making $40.00 per week and tithing $4.00. In a few years his income increased and he was tithing $500.00 per week. He called on the pastor to see if he could be released from his tithing promise, it was too costly now. The pastor replied, "I don’t see how you can be released from your promise, but we can ask God to reduce your income back to $40.00 a week, then you’d have no problem tithing $4.00 at all."

Tithe is merely a tenth of your treasures. Once can do some simple Math here. If you earned $100 this week, then your tithe this Sunday is $10. If you earned $200 this week, then your tithe this Sunday is $20. If you earned $500 this week, then your tithe this Sunday is $50. If you earned $1000 this week, then your tithe this Sunday is $100. If you earned $2000 this week, then your tithe this Sunday is $200.

You can give your tithe either weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Some people give their tithe yearly. It depends on the nature of your job or your practice. What is important is that you give to the Lord what belongs to Him. It is important that give your tithe according to your conviction.

What if the Lord tells me to give 11% or 15% or 50%? Tithing is obedience. It is never a compromise. The church is an organization, and a lot of people believe that they should not give their tithe because it will go to the Pastor anyway! The tithe belongs to the Lord and to His work. It does not belong to the Pastor.

What if I do not tithe?

The apostle Paul teaches that God ordained the tithe system as the method of supporting the ministry (1 Corinthians 9:7-12). That is why it takes love, and obedience to give to the Lord. Unless we love the Lord we can never give to the Lord. Unless we obey the Lord, we can never give to the Lord. So if we do not tithe, then we do not love the Lord. So if we do not tithe, then we do not obey the Lord. This is plain and simple religion.

Richard Wurmbrand of Tortured for Christ said that when in prison they tithed! “When we were given one slice of bread a week and dirty soup every day, we decided we would faithfully “tithe” even that. Every tenth week we took the slice of bread and gave it to the weaker brethren as our “tithe” to the Master.”

Regardless of where we are, and where we can offer our tithe, we can faithfully give the portion that belongs to the Lord.

Tithing is a command with a promise (Malachi 3:10). What is the promise? It is a promise of God meeting all your needs. It is not a promise of prosperity. It is a challenge of trust in our God. For if we do not give our tithe, then we do not trust God. If we do not give our tithe, then we rob God of what belongs to Him.

The Lord loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Tithing or offering is never a burden to the believers who love the Lord.

In Bits & Pieces, February 4, 1993, a mother wanted to teach her daughter a moral lesson. She gave the little girl a quarter and a dollar for church. "Put whichever one you want in the collection plate and keep the other for yourself," she told the girl. When they were coming out of church, the mother asked her daughter which amount she had given. "Well," said the little girl, "I was going to give the dollar, but just before the collection the man in the pulpit said that we should all be cheerful givers. I knew I'd be a lot more cheerful if I gave the quarter, so I did."

Let us not be like the little girl whose joys was about keeping a bigger amount of money. Let us be cheerful givers of what really belongs to the Lord.

Are we ready to give our full tithe to Him today in full obedience to His command. Do we find His promise in Malachi 3:10? Or are we still Malachi threatened?