有些弟兄姊妹对于奉献有些不理解，今天我们一起来看6个重要的问题。
「又有撒冷王麦基洗德带着饼和酒出来迎接，他是至高神的祭司。他为亚伯兰祝福，说：『愿天地的主、至高的神赐福于亚伯兰！至高的神把敌人交在你手裡，是应当称颂的！』亚伯兰就把所得的拿出十分之一来，给麦基洗德。」—创世记14:20
1. 十一奉献是否仅适用于旧约？新约中还需要遵守吗？
对于这个问题，我们要先明确十一奉献的起源。圣经首次提到“十分之一”的奉献是在创世记14:20，描述亚伯兰将所得的十分之一献给祭司麦基洗德。这一奉献行为发生在律法颁布之前，可以看出，十一奉献可能早在律法成文前便已存在。利未记27:30进一步确立了十一奉献的律法地位：“地上的种子，树上的果子，十分之一是耶和华的，是归给耶和华为圣的。”在旧约时期，十一奉献被确立为敬拜神的方式。
然而，新约并非要废除旧约的律法，基督来是“成全”了旧约的律法（马太福音5:17）。新约时期的信徒仍然遵守了十一奉献（路加福音11:42, 18:12）。使徒们并没有用律法来约束奉献，因为他们认为这已被公认和接受。所以，十一奉献在旧约和新约中都是基督徒需要明白并遵守的。
2. 十一奉献应献给谁？
以色列民的十分之一原本是“归给耶和华为圣的”（利未记27:30）。随着历史发展，神将这十分之一赐给利未人作为他们的生活报酬，因为利未人被分别出来，全职服侍神（民数记18:21）。在现代的教会中，十一奉献的对象依然是神，但通过教会管理和分配也是符合圣经原则的（玛拉基书3:10）。而在十一之外，信徒愿意捐赠给其他慈善机构或福音团体，则是额外的爱心表达。然而，有些人因个人不满而将十一奉献转至其他地方，这种动机显然不符合圣经，用奉献来表达不满是不被神悦纳的。
3. 孩子、学生或退休人员需要守十一奉献吗？
我们鼓励孩子和学生，从小就将零用钱的十分之一拿出来，建立好的习惯，从小操练在钱财上的信心。至于退休者，由于收入来源不同，有些人按月领取退休金，有些则一次性领取，他可以自由决定按月或一次性奉献。重要的是认定一切所得来自神，而不是理所当然，十一奉献就是对神赐予的一种回应。
4. 感恩奉献或其他指定奉献，是否能代替十一奉献？
要回答这个问题，需厘清圣经中的十一奉献原则，即凡有所得的皆应将十分之一分别归耶和华为圣。换句话说，无论是工资、奖金、利息、股利、退休金、保险赔偿，甚至抽奖所得，这一切都是我们从神领受的。我们生活中的所得没有一项在神的掌管之外，因此十一奉献的原则在现代生活中同样适用。
当然，感恩奉献和指定奉献也是对神的回应，只是严格来说，它们无法替代十一奉献。感恩奉献表达的是对生活中感恩之事的回应，与收入无关；而指定奉献则是为特定事工或需求而奉献，与所得亦无直接关系。因此用它们代替十一奉献的说法并不完全合乎圣经原则。
5. 如果因为生活困难无法遵守十一奉献，会被视为得罪神吗？
不会，因为耶稣已经为我们成全了律法，所以我们现在不是看着律法而活，而是看着耶稣的恩典而活。但建议大家省察自己的心，是否是因为不舍得而产生的无法奉献的想法。在信心中祷告，神打开我们经济丰盛的渠道。
Some brothers and sisters in Christ may feel uncertain about tithing and offerings. Let’s explore six key questions on this topic.
"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praised be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.' Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything." — Genesis 14:20
1. Is Tithing Only for the Old Testament? Is It Still Required in the New Testament?
To answer this, we should first understand the origin of tithing. The first mention of giving a “tenth” appears in Genesis 14:20, where Abram offers a tenth of what he has to Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God. This event occurred before the Law was given, indicating that tithing existed even before it was codified. In Leviticus 27:30, tithing becomes formalized: “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.” Thus, in the Old Testament, tithing was established as a form of worship.
However, the New Testament doesn’t abolish the law; instead, Christ fulfills it (Matthew 5:17). Believers in the New Testament still observed tithing (Luke 11:42; 18:12), and the apostles did not strictly mandate it because it was already understood and accepted. Therefore, tithing is a consistent biblical principle that Christians should be aware of and uphold in both the Old and New Testaments.
2. To Whom Should Tithing Be Given?
Originally, the Israelites’ tithe was “holy to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:30). Over time, God designated this tithe as support for the Levites, who were set apart for full-time service to God (Numbers 18:21). In today’s church, the object of tithing remains God, and church-managed distribution also aligns with biblical principles (Malachi 3:10). While Christians may also choose to give to charitable or gospel organizations beyond the tithe, this would be an additional act of love. Some people, however, divert their tithe elsewhere out of dissatisfaction with the church—yet this approach does not align with God’s design. Using the tithe as a means of expressing discontent does not honor God.
3. Do Children, Students, or Retirees Need to Tithe?
We encourage children and students to practice setting aside a tenth of their allowance as a way to develop good habits and strengthen their trust in God’s provision. For retirees, depending on income—whether it’s a monthly pension or a lump sum payment—the choice is theirs to give monthly or as a one-time tithe. What’s most important is acknowledging that everything we receive is from God, and tithing is simply a response of gratitude to God’s provision.
4. Can Thanksgiving Offerings or Other Designated Gifts Replace Tithing?
To address this, we should clarify the principle behind tithing in Scripture. The Bible’s guideline is that a tenth of all income should be set aside as holy to the Lord. In other words, whether it’s a salary, a bonus, interest, dividends, retirement income, insurance payments, or even cash prizes, these are all part of what God has given us. None of our earnings are outside God’s control; thus, the principle of tithing still applies today.
Thanksgiving and designated offerings are also responses to God, yet they are not meant to replace the tithe. Thanksgiving offerings reflect gratitude for specific blessings and are unrelated to income; designated offerings are given for specific church ministries or needs and likewise have no direct connection to one’s overall income. Strictly speaking, they cannot replace tithing, according to biblical teaching.
5. If Financial Hardship Prevents Tithing, Is It Considered Sinful or Offending God?
No, it is not. Jesus has fulfilled the Law on our behalf, so we now live by His grace rather than by the Law. However, it is wise to examine one’s heart: is reluctance to tithe due to financial difficulty, or is it driven by a lack of generosity? Through prayer and faith, God can open up abundant provision for us, meeting both our needs and enabling us to give with a joyful heart.
Comments