Hebrews 6:20, 7:2,5,6 (NIV), “where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek… 7:2and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything…5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people that is, from their fellow Israelites even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.”
Hebrews 7:22 “Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.” Paul is stating that Jesus has become ‘guarantor.’ From this statement, we believe that this covenant has not yet gone into effect. Also, the statement teaches there is an ‘order of Melchizedek.’ Thus, Jesus is not the only one involved in that ‘order’. It is to this ‘order’ to which we, ‘the bride of Christ,’ have been called. We are exhorted to “make your calling and election sure.” (2 Peter 1:10.) The new covenant will go into effect in the future fulfilling Revelation 21:2 “I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
Presently, we are having the laws of that new covenant written in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:2-3) “He is making us into competent ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6. Today we are practicing to become competent ministers of that new covenant in all our interactions with our fellow man.
While Jesus was here ‘becoming the guarantor of a better covenant’ did he receive tithe? Absolutely not. And we as practicing ministers like Jesus should not presume to receive them before our inauguration. Hebrews 2:10-11 “In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, to make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11For both the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of the same family. So, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.” We are the family of the Mediator.
In the future when the new covenant goes into effect, will the world give to Christ a tithe? It is our belief that we must wait and see how God works out the details of that covenant. However, praising God is always an offering or sacrifice that He loves. “Return to the LORD and repent! Say to Him: ‘Completely forgive our iniquity; accept our penitential prayer, that we may offer the praise of our lips as sacrificial bulls.” Hosea 14:2 (NET)