Deuteronomy 14:22-29

Deuteronomy 14:22-29

[22] Thou shalt truly  all the increase  of thy seed,  that the field  bringeth forth  year  [23] And thou shalt eat  before  thy God,  in the place  which he shall choose  to place  his name  there, the tithe  of thy corn,  of thy wine,  and of thine oil,  and the firstlings  of thy herds  and of thy flocks;  that thou mayest learn  to fear  thy God  always.  [24] And if the way  be too long  for thee, so that  thou art not able  to carry  it; or if the place  be too far  from thee, which the LORD  thy God  shall choose  to set  his name  there, when the LORD  thy God  hath blessed  [25] Then shalt thou turn  it into money,  in thine hand,  and shalt go  unto the place  which the LORD  thy God  shall choose:  [26] And thou shalt bestow  that money  for whatsoever thy soul  lusteth after,  for oxen,  or for sheep,  or for wine,  or for strong drink,  or for whatsoever thy soul  desireth:  and thou shalt eat  there before  the LORD  thy God,  and thou shalt rejoice,  thou, and thine household,  [27] And the Levite  that is within thy gates;  thou shalt not forsake  him; for he hath no part  nor inheritance  with thee. [28] At the end  of three  years  thou shalt bring forth  all the tithe  of thine increase  the same year,  and shalt lay it up  within thy gates:  [29] And the Levite,  (because he hath no part  nor inheritance  with thee,) and the stranger,  and the fatherless,  and the widow,  which are within thy gates,  shall come,  and shall eat  and be satisfied;  that the LORD  thy God  may bless  thee in all the work  of thine hand  which thou doest. 

What does Deuteronomy 14:22-29 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

There was a yearly tithe ( Deuteronomy 14:22-27) and an additional three-year tithe ( Deuteronomy 14:28-29) in Israel. The Israelites were to invite the Levites to the celebration at the tabernacle when the Israelites consumed the yearly tithe ( Deuteronomy 14:23). They were also to invite the Levites and the needy to the third year celebration, every third and sixth year in the seven-year sabbatical cycle, which they held in each town ( Deuteronomy 14:28).
"As the Israelites were to sanctify their food, on the one hand, positively by abstinence from everything unclean, so they were, on the other hand, to do so negatively by delivering the tithes and firstlings at the place where the Lord would cause His name to dwell, and by holding festal meals on the occasion, and rejoicing there before Jehovah their God." [1]
In what way did observing this ordinance cause the Israelites to learn to fear Yahweh ( Deuteronomy 14:23)? Yahweh was the possessor of the land, and He provided that His servants, the Levites, would receive sustenance from its bounty. [2]
"The fear of the Lord is not merely a feeling of dependence on Him, but also includes the notion of divine blessedness, which is the predominant idea here, as the sacrificial meals were to furnish the occasion and object of rejoicing before the Lord." [3]
"The purpose of this section is not so much to give a comprehensive statement of the tithe law as to guard tithing procedure from being prostituted to idolatrous ends; that Isaiah , to prevent Israel from honoring the Canaanite fertility deities for their harvests." [4]
The yearly celebration evidently coincided with the Feast of Firstfruits in the spring (in March/April; cf. Leviticus 23:9-14; Leviticus 27:30-33; Numbers 18:21-32). The third year feast occurred at the end of the religious year, earlier the following spring ( Deuteronomy 14:28).
The Hebrew word shekar, translated "strong drink" ( Deuteronomy 14:26, NASB) or "fermented drink" (NIV) refers to some type of fermented beverage made from grain. God did not forbid consumption of this beverage in Israel, but He did condemn drunkenness. Near Easterners did not distill liquor until the seventh century A.D, so the beverages in view here were not that high in alcohol content. [5]
The Lord does not require these tithes of Christians, but He has taught us to express thanksgiving to Him for His provisions and to demonstrate His compassion. We should have compassion on those who serve God and the specially needy by sharing what God has given us with them ( 1 Corinthians 9:11; 1 Corinthians 9:14; Galatians 6:6; Galatians 6:10; et al.).