These are the statutes and judgments which you shall be careful to observe in the land which the LORD God of your fathers is giving you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth. And continuing in verses 17-18: You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain or your new wine or your oil, of the firstlings of your herd or your flock, or any of your offerings which you vow, or your freewill offerings, or of the heave offerings of your hand. But you must eat them before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD your God chooses, you and your son and your daughter, your manservant and your maidservant, and the Levite who is within your gates; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all to which you put your hands. The Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testa - ment rendered into English) sheds a great deal of light on these verses. The Septuagint reads as follows: “Thou shalt not eat in thy cities the additional tithe of thy corn…but before the Lord thy God thou shall eat it, in the place where the Lord thy God shall choose…” The word rendered “tithe” used in Deuteronomy 12:17 is epidekaton translated an “additional tithe” or “a tithe besides.” The only stipulation God puts on this tithe is the place, time, and pur- pose for which we use it. This has nothing to do with the first tithe. This is a separate or different tithe from the one to be used to carry out the work of the ministry. The first tithe was originally given to God which He in turn gave to the Levite. But since the crucifixion of Christ, it is to be given to the Melchizedek our High Priest which He has designated for the carrying out of the Work of God. It was absolutely forbidden for people to take of the first tithe for their own personal use. So these verses obviously refer to different tithe than the first tithe. Clearly, here another tithe is being described. FOR US The second tithe is for our use – so that we might learn to properly stand in awe of, revere, respect and worship our Creator at His festivals. God has commanded that we keep this tithe because He loves us!
What is the Second Tithe? Sheldon Monson What is the second tithe according to Scripture? What is it for? When should it be used? And how should it be used? T he subject of tithing can be very con - fusing and controversial. Many Churches and affiliations practice a form of “tithing.” Some have a collection plate at every ser - vice, others require regular donations while some say “give when you can.” Very few people know what the Bible ac- tually teaches regarding tithing. They are shocked to discover that the Bible mentions not only one tithe, but a second and a third tithe, twice every seven year cycle! The word tithe simply means “tenth” and refers to a tenth of one’s earned income. So the second tithe must mean a second “tenth.” But what is it used for? Is the sec- ond tithe the same as the first? To understand tithing, more specifically— second tithe— there is only one place to
look—God’s Word. ANOTHER TITHE In Deuteronomy 12:1 we read:
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