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Did Jesus and the disciples tithe?

  Did Jesus pay a tithe of any kind? Did his disciples pay a tithe of any kind?

  Matthew 17:24-27 shows us that Jesus paid some tribute money that He was not really obligated to pay. "And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee."

Jesus is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Thus, He would not be obligated to pay any type of a tribute payment. People would be obligated to pay Him, not the other way around. Revelation 19:16 says, "And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

Despite any clear reference to Jesus or the disciples paying tithes, we would naturally assume that the disciples did, for sure.. Probably Jesus did, as well, as an example to others. Jesus is God, so He would not owe tithes to man, but man would owe tithes to Him.

Here are some references to show that Jesus may have tithed just for the sake of being a righteous example. First, because that is why He submitted to baptism. Matthew 3:13-15 says, "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him."

John the Baptist knew, that, as a man, he was not worthy of baptizing Jesus, nor did Jesus need to be baptized. Baptism pictures death to the old life of sin, and a new life serving the Lord. In the case of Jesus, He never once sinned. II Corinthians 5:21 says, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." But Jesus submitted to baptism to identify Himself with John’s message of righteousness from heaven.

I Peter 2:21,22 says, "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE, THAT YE SHOULD FOLLOW HIS STEPS: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth" If Jesus submitted Himself to baptism to fulfil all righteousness and to leave an example for us, then we would naturally assume that He would have paid tithes for the same reason.

The disciples obviously were concerned with obeying the Old Testament Law, so they no doubt paid tithes. Later, Peter made it clear that he very strictly observed the Law when it came to eating, so he no doubt took even more seriously the matter of tithing. Acts 10:10-16 says, "On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I HAVE NEVER EATEN ANY THING THAT IS COMMON OR UNCLEAN. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven."

Another reason that Jesus probably paid tithes, was that HE CAME TO LEAD PEOPLE — NOT TO DRIVE THEM TO DO THINGS WHICH HE WAS NOT WILLING TO DO HIMSELF. John 10:27 says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and THEY FOLLOW ME." He clearly criticized religious leaders who told the people to do things which they themselves were not will to do. Matthew 23:1-4 says, "Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for THEY SAY, AND DO NOT. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers."

Tithing could be looked at by some as a heavy burden, if the leader himself was not willing to tithe, too. Even the priests in the Old Testament, who lived off from the tithes of God’s people, also had to pay tithes themselves. Numbers 18:26 says, "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."

Based upon the previous Scriptures, I would say that Jesus and the disciples would have practiced tithing.

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