Question Corner by M. C. Wilcox

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 4, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 18.

Question Corner

By M. C. Wilcox

Conducted by M. C. Wilcox

119—EATING AND DRINKING

Please explain Deut. 14: 22-29, especially the twenty-sixth verse, and also the three years of verse 28, the tithing of the tithe, the widows, and the stranger.

S. and E. and also M. C. W.

Deut. 14: 22-29 contains instruction quite similar to what is given in Deuteronomy 12. There were two tithes given by the Jews. First of all, the tithe was given to the Levites. That was regular. The law for this is found in Num. 18: 21-32. The Levites were to tithe what they received, for the benefit of the priests. Then there was a second tithe, which the children of Israel were to use in connection with the three great feasts of the Lord. Three times a year they were to go to Jerusalem for the offering of sacrifices, and this tithe should be spent for that purpose. The “Bible Commentary” has this note on Deut. 14: 22:

“These words recall, in general terms, the command of the earlier legislation respecting tithes (compare Lev. 27: 30; Num. 18: 27), but refer more particularly to the second or festival tithe, which was an exclusively vegetable one. So Keil, Schultz, Lange, etc., and the Jewish authorities generally. One computation of the increase of the field would of course serve for both the Levitical tithe of Leviticus 27, so far as it consisted of that increase, and for the other tithe, to be applied to the feasts at the sanctuary, or in each third year at home, as directed in this passage. One tenth would belong to the Levites. The second tenth would remain at the disposal of the landowner, for the purposes so earnestly commended to him in Deut. 12: 6, 7, 17-20, and in this passage. These purposes are minutely classified and regulated in the Mishna. Thus all together one fifth part of the annual produce would be claimed for religious, hospitable, and charitable employments; and this, considering the various charges met out of it, would not be an unreasonably burdensome impost.”

The second tithe of the third year was dispensed in charity at home. It was not paid in addition to that in other years bestowed on the sacred meals, but was substituted for it, which seems to be plainly implied in the text. The expression “all the tithe” in verse 28 refers to all of the second tithe.

Secondly, the permission to eat “whatsoever thy soul lusteth after” could not include animals forbidden by the law. No general permission would set aside specific legislation. The law of clean and unclean animals permitted some animals for food which were not offered for sacrifice, as the various deer kinds, like the hart, the roebuck, etc. The permission intimates that if they were faithful to God, their souls would not lust after things contrary to what God had expressly enjoined. This would be true of wine or strong drink. These permitted drinks were not alcoholic; that is, they were not distilled liquors. Those were a later discovery. They may have included fermented liquors; but if one's soul lusted after that which was wrong, and led him to wrongdoing, he of course would be responsible. God gives liberty to His people, with the supposition that they will not abuse that liberty. The rule for eating and drinking in the Christian dispensation, or the great general principle, rather, which should control, is “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” I Cor. 10: 31. The Lord does not imply that we should indulge the flesh in that which would lead to sickness, disease, aberration of mind, or any other evil result. If we do so, we are responsible.