Money & Tithe

Jesus talked more about money than about heaven and hell combined. But his message was not about material prosperity, but about the danger of wealth.

Tithing in the Old Testament

The word 'tithe' comes from the Hebrew ma'aser and the Greek apodekatoo, both meaning 'tenth'. In the OT, there were actually three types of tithing:

1. •Sacred Tithe/Leviticus (Genesis 14:18-20; Leviticus 27:30-32): Given to the Levites and priests for the service of the Temple.
2. •Festival Tithe (Deuteronomy 14:22-27): For religious celebrations and pilgrimages.
3. •Tithe of the Poor (Deuteronomy 14:28-29): Given every three years to Levites, foreigners, orphans and widows.

Tithing in the New Testament

Jesus mentions tithing only once (Matthew 23:23), and this is to criticize the Pharisees who tithed to cumin but neglected justice, mercy and faith.

"No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and Mammon." (Matthew 6:24)

The term Mamon (Aramaic mamon) means 'wealth' or 'property'. Jesus personifies Mammon as a force opposed to God that claims people's loyalty.

The Poor Widow

The widow's offering (Mark 12) is not a compliment to the institution that takes everything from the poor, but a denunciation of a rapacious religious system that devours widows' homes.

Prosperity Theology: An Academic Critique

Prosperity theology (also called 'prosperity gospel' or 'positive confession') emerged from the intersection of three ideologies: Pentecostalism, New Thought, and the American gospel of pragmatism and social mobility.

Academic criticisms include:

• •Faulty hermeneutics: Ken Sarles notes that prosperity teachers use biblical verses without attention to grammatical indicators, semantic nuances, or literary and historical context.
• •Theological distortion: Theology distorts the character of God, presenting him as someone who financially rewards faith.
• •Incorrect basis: The basis of prosperity theology is an erroneous view of the Abrahamic covenant.

Historical Context

Palestinian society exhibited extreme economic polarization. The ruling elite, comprising less than 2% of the population, controlled the majority of wealth and land. The vast majority lived in varying degrees of poverty.

Academic Sources

• •Sarles, Ken. 'A Theological Evaluation of the Prosperity Gospel.' Bibliotheca Sacra 143:329-350, 1986.
• •Britannica - Tithe
• •Lausanne - Prosperity Theology
• •Britannica - Mammon