Sermon: The Third Tithe Blessing
#1839B
David C. Grabbe
Given 27-Sep-25; 35 minutes
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Deuteronomy 14:28-29 and 26:12-15 contain biblical instructions for the third tithe, a practice within the sabbatical cycle as a communal act of charity in ancient Israel. Collected every third year, the third tithe was designed for the Levites, strangers, orphans, and widows to protect them from financial loss or poverty, constituting part of God's safety net alongside the sabbatical year, symbolizing Israel's shared responsibility. God's people were obligated to declare before Almighty God that they had faithfully distributed the tithe, refusing to use it for personal, unclean, or improper purposes, but instead solely adhering to God's holy and spiritual commandments. The third tithe represents helping and supporting the helpless and vulnerable, reflecting loving God and neighbor (the two great commandments, Matthew 22:36-40). The blessing was applied nationally, supporting Israel's collective prosperity rather than individual gain. The spiritual nation, participating in the New Covenant, should seek higher blessings, such as repentance and unity, aligning with Our Lord and Savior's prayer for oneness in John 17, instead of selfishly focusing on physical or material provision.