Daily Scripture Reading Exodus 25:1-22
There is a strong tradition in Christianity of teaching that Christians should give a tenth (tithe) of their income to the church. This practice draws from Israel’s instruction under the Mosaic Law to give a ten-percent tithe. However, that specific tithe does not apply to the church.
When Israel came out of Egypt, Yahweh asked them to build a tabernacle for Himself. The method of gathering the resources necessary for the tabernacle is a more accurate picture of how Christians are to decide how much to give to the church.
When Yahweh appeared to Moses in the burning bush and commissioned him to lead Israel out of Egypt, Yahweh promised that Israel would plunder the Egyptians when they left (see Exodus 3:21–22). Later, as Yahweh instructed Israel in preparation for the tenth plague, the people were told to ask their Egyptian neighbors for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. Yahweh gave the Israelites favor in the Egyptians’ sight, so they granted the requests. Thus, when the Israelites left Egypt, they carried away much Egyptian wealth (see Exodus 11:2; 12:35–36). When Israel arrived at Mount Sinai, they were not paupers. They were wealthy.
After announcing the ten commandments and other rules regarding how to live their lives, Yahweh began a long series of instructions about how they were supposed to use some of their wealth.
Ex. 25:1 ¶ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Ex. 25:2 “Speak with the sons of Israel so that they take a contribution for Me; from every man whose heart is willing you shall take My contribution.
Notice the word “willing”. We often associate the Mosaic Law with strict tithes such as the requirement to give a tenth of everything to Yahweh. The tithe was not a suggestion or a request, it was a requirement. However, in this case, the contribution was not mandatory, it was voluntary.
This echoes the giving requirements in the church age. There is a strong tradition within Christianity of telling people to give a tenth of their income to the church. However, the New Testament does not specify an amount that Christians should donate. Instead, all giving is voluntary.
Ex. 25:3 And this is the contribution which you shall take from them: gold, silver, and bronze,
Ex. 25:4 blue, purple, and scarlet material, fine linen, goat hair,
Ex. 25:5 rams’ skins dyed red, porpoise skins, acacia wood,
Ex. 25:6 oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense,
Ex. 25:7 onyx stones, and setting stones for the ephod and for the breastpiece.
Verses 3-7 give an idea of the breadth of wealth that Israel took out of Egypt. It was not just gold, silver, and material. They also took wood, oil, spices, incense, and gemstones.
Ex. 25:8 And let them make a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.
Take note of the word “sanctuary”. The Hebrew word that is translated sanctuary is a variation of the Hebrew word that means holy. Israel was supposed to make a holy place.
Look also at the word “dwell”. The purpose of the holy place was so that Yahweh could dwell among Israel.
Ex. 25:9 According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall make it.
In this verse we see the word tabernacle. The Hebrew word that is translated tabernacle is a word that was often used to denote a dwelling place. Israel was instructed to build a holy dwelling place to that Yahweh could dwell among Israel.
Ex. 25:10 ¶ “And they shall make an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high.
The Hebrew word for ‘ark’ (ʾārôn) can also mean ‘chest’ or ‘coffin’ in other contexts. Here, it refers to a sacred box designed to hold the items Yahweh would specify.
Ex. 25:11 You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it.
Ex. 25:12 You shall cast four gold rings for it and fasten them on its four feet, and two rings shall be on one side of it and two rings on the other side of it.
Ex. 25:13 You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.
Ex. 25:14 You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark with them.
Ex. 25:15 The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be removed from it.
Ex. 25:16 You shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.
Yahweh told them to create an ark/box so that they had a place to put the written law Yahweh was giving Israel.
Ex. 25:17 ¶ “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide.
Ex. 25:18 You shall make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.
Ex. 25:19 Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; from one piece you shall make the mercy seat with the cherubim at its two ends.
Ex. 25:20 The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be toward the mercy seat.
Ex. 25:21 You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I will give to you.
Ex. 25:22 There I will meet with you; and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all which I will command you for the sons of Israel.
Many Christians teach and believe that church members should give a tenth of their income to the church. However, that is not a requirement in the New Testament. That was a tithe spelled out in the Mosaic Law that applied to Israel.
Instead, a better illustration of how churches should raise money is the method used to fund the tabernacle. Israel was given an opportunity to contribute material possessions to build the tabernacle, and it was a voluntary opportunity. Likewise, in the church age, financial giving is voluntary, not required.
How accurately does your church teach what the New Testament does and doesn’t say about making contributions to the church?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”