Matthew 7:15 (NKJV) “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves."
To be a wolf is natural only to wolves.
It's their nature to be ravenous. To show no mercy to their prey.
The Greek definition of "ravenous" is to "extort." Webster's Dictionary meaning of the word "extort" is to "obtain (something) by force, threats, or other unfair means."
Did you know that "....extortioners.... will not inherit the kingdom of God?" See 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.
Did you know that "Covetousness.... is idolatry?" See Colossians 3:5.
Did you know that 10th Commandment is "You shall not covet?"
Did you know that the 1st and 2nd Commandment says "You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make any graven images? See Exodus 20:3-4.
Did you know that the Lord Jesus taught "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for a man's life doesn't consist in the abundance of the things he possess?" See Luke 12:15.
Did you know that "idolaters...shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone?" See Revelation 21:8
Here's a classic example of a ravenous wolf.
Luke 21:1-4 (NKJV) "And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.
So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”
Matthew 23:14 (NKJV) "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation."
Matthew 23:25 (NKJV) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence."
In being a real student of the Word, the discourse in Luke 21 runs consistently with the discourse of Matthew 23.
The ravenous wolves (Sanhedrin) wouldn't refuse to take the last two mites of the widow because the spiritual leaders were ravenous or extortioners. The Sanhedrin were so greedy for gain that the poor widow put in her last because they were greedy for gain.
Luke 16:14-15 (NKJV) “Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him.
And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”
In John chapter 2, at the very beginning of the ministry of Jesus, He overthrew the money changer's tables and took a whip and beat them out of His Father's House of prayer.
Then we remember what the Lord said.
Matthew 6:24 (NKJV) “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
The clearing of the Temple was done again in Matthew chapter 21, meaning that the Lord cleansed the Temple twice. At the beginning and end of His earthly ministry.
It's the same today with many houses of worship where extortion takes place.
The wolf in sheep's clothing uses the OT command to the Jews to make people in the NT to tithe. However, if you were to look in the NT, there's no command of the Lord to pay tithes.
Recently on YouTube, there were individuals that weren't Christians that did an unannounced tour of a large Baptist church that was abandoned. During the early 1930's till the 1990's, this church thrived but it closed.
It appeared to have been solid in terms of preaching the gospel but when economic downturns hit an area, nothing is safe.
I’m not accusing this church of being full of extortion. I will say that even in these times, it appears that the same thing has happened to many local churches.
There’s some places where local churches need to close because of extortion in the house, but there’s some places where regardless of the extortion, people are spending enormous amounts of money to keep their houses of worship open.
And they’re thriving.
I remember years ago that I went to Michael Freeman’s Leadership conference. I’ve paid $125 dollars for my wife and I to attend, and we've travelled from NYC to Baltimore.
At the end of the conference, the game started.
I honestly believe it was a set up. A pay day for the pastor.
All of a sudden, a man gets up and held up a check for $1000. And the next thing you know, several other “pastors” started giving large amounts. Not to the church, but to the pastor, Michael Freeman.
I’ve made up my mind on the spot. I’m not giving anything else. PERIOD!
In another place in California, it seemed like the same thing happened. And there, I’ve said “I’m not giving another dime. PERIOD!”
But another thing is noticeable with ravenous wolves.
False doctrine.
Apparently, the wilder the doctrine, the more people attend these places.
How do you know that you’ve been a victim of extortion?
When pastors and teachers deliberately twist the Scripture on tithes.
They call it the “blessing of the Lord” and they believe that because they serve the Lord, that they’re just as highly favored.
And you can be “highly favored” too.
But this isn’t the case. And if you’re honest with yourself, you know it isn’t true.
We’re not in the gospel to reap the earthly blessings.
Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV) “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Cornelius, a Roman officer, was a classic example of storing up treasure in heaven in Acts 10.
Millions of people are homeless and starving, and they live in multimillion dollar mansions, fly in expensive jets, dress very well, and people in their congregations are struggling. They say to you that the way to get out of poverty is to give.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NKJV) “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
Sadly, everyone’s situation is different. Many are living paycheck to paycheck.
Don’t ever give your last when last month’s rent was due.
Manage the money that the Lord God graciously gives you. Be good stewards with what the Lord gives you and never stretch yourself beyond your means.
Learn the miracle of a BUDGET.
Giving your last is giving your rent money to a preacher instead of paying your rent, light, gas, or other important bills. The prosperity gospel is a lie from satan (see Galatians 1:6-9).
It (prosperity) works for them but it doesn’t work for you.
They get to enjoy life while you’re struggling for your life isn’t God and it isn’t right or fair.
1 Timothy 6:5 (NKJV) “…useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.”
2 Peter 2:3 (NKJV) “By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.”
If you study the law of Moses, you’ll see that tithing started with Abram giving a tenth to Melchizedek (see Genesis 14). Melchizedek was a type of Christ, serving as High Priest unto the Lord. Melchizedek gave Abram bread and wine (type of communion) after Abram returned from the slaughter of the kings.
I’ve once said “Tithing and communion go hand in hand.”
It was one of the most stupidest statements I’ve ever said.
We don’t see the Levites offering communion after the people brought tithes to the Levites.
The kings kidnapped Lot and Abram took 300 men and plundered the kings, saving Lot and his family. Abram gave a tenth to Melchizedek and this is the beginning of tithes. We see a further expounding of Abram paying tithes in Hebrews 7.
The next time that we see tithes is with Jacob (Genesis 28:10-22). While Jacob was at Bethel (House of God), he saw angels ascending and descending on a ladder and Jacob said, “…this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
Then Jacob said...Genesis 28:22 (NKJV)
"And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”
The next time that you see tenth or tithes is when the Lord gave instructions to Moses regarding the Levites. Remember. The Levites had no inheritance and they were to minister before the Lord exclusively. The ministry of the tabernacle was their sole occupation and tithes from Israel was the way that the Levites were paid (see Numbers 18 and Deuteronomy 12).
There's many churches that "tithe the tithe."
Where did this come from?
Numbers 18:26 (NKJV) “Speak thus to the Levites, and say to them: ‘When you take from the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you shall offer up a heave offering of it to the LORD, a tenth of the tithe."
But we don’t see "tithing" or "tithing a tithe" given as a command by the Lord Jesus or the apostles of the Lamb anywhere in the NT to the church.
We see in Luke 18, Matthew 23, and Hebrews 7 where "tithe" or "tithes" is mentioned but we never see the Lord or the disciples teach that NT believers are to tithe.
The NT teaching on giving is Acts 4 and 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9.
A false pastor can do a lot with 10%.
If everyone was working and earning a decent wage, a few people or a lot of people that can give 10% or more. You could build large places, pay staff, pay the pastor a decent salary, or rent large facilities.
So to build huge venues, many (including myself) erroneously and egregiously taught tithing.
Thankfully, nothing happened for me where I’ve built something big.
When Covid hit the United States and the lockdowns were in place (I’ve ignored the lockdowns), many large facilities were financially hurt.
Many churches have never recovered and they were forced to permanently close.
When we imposed tithing we did it with extortion methods that compelled people to give.
Here’s some of the things that I’ve used or have heard other preachers use to compel people to give.
"If you don't tithe, you're cursed."
"If you want to be blessed, tithe and give offerings. You won't be blessed if you don't tithe."
"It's time to plant a seed ABOVE your tithes and offerings."
“If you take care of God’s house, He’ll take care of yours.”
“Give, and it shall be given unto you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over shall men give into your bosom.”
“God will open up the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that you might not have room enough to receive it.”
“God loves a cheerful giver.” “God hates a stingy giver.”
“Will a man rob God? Certainly you have robbed Me. Of tithes and offerings.”
“If you rob God, you’re a thief.”
“God will give you a hundredfold return on everything you give.”
Or Haggai’s prophesy.
“If you don’t tithe, you'll have holes in your pockets. When you eat, it’s like your teeth is still clean, and the Lord blows on your house because the Temple remains unfinished.”
And many other sayings to compel the people to give money.
This is extortion and you need to avoid them.
Remember the definition to extort?
"extort" is to "obtain (something) by force, threats, or other unfair means."
It’s unfair to use the Scriptures with the deliberate intent to deceive the people to give money, regardless of the amount.
People are sheep and when you abuse His sheep, the Chief Shepherd takes note.
So beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing who inwardly are ravenous (extortioners) wolves.
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