No, it is not. The text was meant to show that Abraham’s one time tithe to Melchizedek shows the superiority of the priesthood of Jesus over the Aaronic priesthood. Levi, in the loins of Abraham, payed tithe to Melchizedek. This has zero to do with a perpetuation of the Levtical tithe. The system was tied to that priesthood, the temple itself, and was paid in produce and livestock brought to the storehouse in connection with the temple. To conclude as you have that this supports tithing in the NT church is to miss the whole point not only of this text, but of the entire book of Hebrews, that the Levitical system including tithe has been made obsolete by the coming, death, resurrection, enthronement, and priesthood of Christ, a priesthood after the order of Melchizedek, not Aaron.
On the contrary, there is no evidence that a system of tithe was imposed upon the post resurrection NT church. This can be seen especially in the letters that went to congregations in the Gentile world/empire. Paul, when addressing those churches, never speaks of tithe, never gives an alternative storehouse, and never imposes any type of tithe requirement upon them. Not once.
What he did talk about was giving freely, generously, and willingly as the appropriate response to God’s grace and indescribable gift in Christ. The churches and all its members are left free to respond as they determine. It’s called gospel freedom.
Yes, Jesus spoke of the ramifications having to do with living totally for ones own pleasure rather than for the good of others in this story…the idea of laying up treasures with God, and not just for oneself. This is not the same as the covenant curses in Malachi or has to do with imposed tithing. It has to do with the general principle of generosity as opposed to selfishness and hoarding. Living freely by such principle is not the same as a modern denomination imposing tithe upon its members as a baptismal requirement. A requirement that finds its roots in an ahistorical and a acontextual reading of the scriptures, the gospel, and the change of covenants.
If you’re convinced that tithing is the way to go for you to systematically give, that’s fine. It can be a good way to regularly do so. I had for years. Just don’t go imposing that upon others who are not convinced, and who choose different ways and means to give. That’s called legalism.
Frank
