This post is going to appear very long; however, be of good cheer... it's not quite as long as it seems :). About half of it is all Scripture (some bolding added for emphasis). Rather than just reference it, I am going to post it here in full to read (NKJV).
The "First Mention Principle" is a principle of Bible interpretation in "hermeneutics". Hermeneutics (a fancy word) basically means the art of interpreting texts; in this case, the Bible. When is the first time the word or event appears in the Bible? Go there, and see what the context is. What is it telling you about it. Find the place that this particular thing is spoken of for the very first time. Finding this can often be a gateway to understanding the topic at hand when it appears later. There, don't you feel scholarly now? I believe this principle is important in understanding the tithe. That's what I'm going to do now, as I seek to convince. Let's go to the first place the tithe is mentioned.
Genesis 14:14-24
Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.
And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him. Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said:
“Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
And he gave him a tithe of all.
Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.”
But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’—except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.”
So Abram (before he was called Abraham) comes back from winning a battle, with goods from the victory. It is important to note that Abraham's tithing was in no response to any command from the law, as the law was not yet given. Abraham wasn't acting out of obligation (1 Cor 9:17) or being legalistic. On the contrary, it was in faith! Again, this was
before the law, and that's one of my main points. Also, along with a tenth of all the plunder given to Melchizedek, Abraham received bread and wine from Melchizedek in return. Where else does bread and wine come into play in the Christian life? Does it remind you of anything? Sure it does--communion! It is in communion, brought to us by Jesus, where we receive bread and wine/juice in remembering Him. Here the king of Salem (Salem means peace, by the way... he was the king of peace) shows up a bit mysteriously (as Hebrews will go into later), providing bread, wine, and collecting a tenth of Abraham's profit (in faith). Interesting.
Psalm 110:4
The Lord has sworn
And will not relent,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.
The Lord has sworn, and will not relent. You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek. Interesting enough, I thought it worthy of repeating. This is the second time Melchizedek is mentioned in the Bible. Who is he? He is not mentioned again until the NT, in Hebrews chapters 5-7. In Hebrews Melchizedek is called a forerunner of Jesus (as you will see) saying that Jesus is a priest
after the order of Melchizedek like in the Psalm above. Jesus is a priest from the same order of Melchizedek who shared wine with bread, and collected a tithe (specifically)
out of faith, not according to the law.
Now to the New Testament passages speaking of Melchizedek, and the tithe that predated the law.
Pay attention to where Melchizedek is mentioned here--it is several times.
Hebrews 5:6-11
As He also says in another place: You are a priest forever. According to the order of Melchizedek”; who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
I find it interesting that God tells us in Hebrews that there is much to say about Melchizedek, but it is hard to explain. Why?
Since you have become dull of hearing. Let's not be dull of hearing. If you do feel you are finding this character and topic to be dull, pray about it. Ask God why this might be. If you are finding the topic uninteresting or dull, God's Word tells us it's a personal problem. We're the ones that are dull--it's certainly not His Word that is dull. If you don't consider this to be dull, then you're ready for what is otherwise hard to explain. Let's go on!
Hebrews 6:19-20
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek
The forerunner has entered for us, Jesus... our High Priest FOREVER, according to... the order of Melchizedek. Very interesting. This same Melchizedek who brought bread and wine, and whom received a tithe from Abram well before the law was given.
Now, the "big" one... this one may take some digesting. Pray that we would not be dull of hearing.
Hebrews 7
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.
For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifies:
"You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:
The Lord has sworn and will not relent,‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’”), by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.
Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
Speaking of Melchizedek ("first being translated, 'king of righteousness'"), "without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually." Who was this Melchizedek, really? Some say he was Jesus, before the time He came fulfilling prophecy, to die for the sins of the world. I don't know what to believe, regarding who he was really. No matter your belief on who he was, suffice it to say he was "different", and there are some interesting things here to discuss.
Speaking of the tithe, consider where we're told "but he whose genealogy is not derived from them" (the Levites) "received tithes from Abraham and blessed
him who had the promises". Melchizedek was not from the genealogy of the Levites who received the tithe according to the law. He was apart from any genealogy that handled the law. We see then in turn that Melchizedek "blessed him" (blessed Abraham, who was operating on faith) "who had the promises." Abraham had the promises of God. You know who else does? The born again believer does.
This passage in Scripture form the NT comes to mind from 2 Cor 1:20, which says, "For
all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." Did you know that because you have been born again, and all of your sins dealt with, all the promises of God for you are who are in Him and He in you, are YES and AMEN. Here we're told that Abraham, who had the promises of God, was blessed upon giving the tithe to Melchizedek. We have access to any and all the promises Abraham would have had.
We have the promises of God.
Furthermore we're told, "Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he
receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives." Mortal men receive tithes, this is true. BUT, we are more than mortal men and women if we've been born again. We are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) with
eternal--not mortal--life. Melchizedek received tithes of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Well, have we been born again and not witness that He lives? Sure we have, otherwise we would not be born again. We have become
witnesses for Christ that He lives! He is Our Witness to the truth (John 18:37). How should we not tithe in faith as Abraham did?
Just consider these things. If you haven't tithed (given a tenth, specifically) back to God, consider God's Word and really consider doing so. As I've pointed out, the tithe predates the law and the Levites. It was first given to a priest who was not after the order of the Levites, but before the Levites and of a different order entirely. This tithe that many brush off (as I have in times past), is far more than just a ritualistic or legalistic act to give a specific 10%. There is a Biblical reason for it, and a promise (which we will discuss next time). We should not be dull of hearing regarding the mysteries of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:11). He was of a priestly order, of whom Jesus Himself is also a part!
Point number one done--the tithe predates the law. A tenth of all of Abraham's spoil was given to this king of righteousness! This king of peace, a forerunner of the priesthood of Jesus, our High Priest; before and apart from the law. It was done in faith!
Next week: The special blessing that goes along with the tithe, and a unique challenge from God to do it. We'll discuss how releasing a tithe (again, a tenth, specifically) from all our profit carries a weighty challenge and promise from God.