Art Toombs Ministries 

Online Bible Commentary

Will You Answer His Call?
Deuteronomy 18:1 "The priests, the Levites--all the tribe of Levi--shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel; they shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and His portion. 2 Therefore they shall have no inheritance among their brethren; the Lord is their inheritance, as He said to them. 3 "And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it is bull or sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach. 4 The firstfruits of your grain and your new wine and your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, you shall give him. 5 For the Lord your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons forever. 6 "So if a Levite comes from any of your gates, from where he dwells among all Israel, and comes with all the desire of his mind to the place which the Lord chooses, 7 then he may serve in the name of the Lord his God as all his brethren the Levites do, who stand there before the Lord. 8 They shall have equal portions to eat, besides what comes from the sale of his inheritance. (NKJV)

 

The tribe of Levi was the only one of the twelve tribes that was not given property in the Promised Land by God (v. 1a). Instead, they were to “eat the offerings of the Lord” (v. 1b). They had “no inheritance” (v. 2), no property, no other means to eat. They were to be fed by the people of God. 

The Levites were to receive their “due from the people” (v. 3). The people were to give their “firstfruits” to them (v. 4). God ordained this because He chose the Levites “to stand to minister in the name of the Lord” (v. 5).

If the Levite “comes with all the desire of his mind to the place which the Lord chooses, then he may serve in the name of the Lord his God” (vv. 6-7). They shall have equal portions to eat (v. 8). 

Thus the Lord has commanded how His ministers should be fed. Those He has chosen to minister to His people should be fed by His people. Ordained ministers of today represent those who are chosen by God to minister. Ordained ministers should be fed by God’s people. 

From the very beginning God commanded that His ministers would be provided the first fruits from those to whom they ministered. His instruction was that His ministers should be free to “stand and minister in the Lord’s name always.” 

This meant that ministers were to be fully devoted to the Lord and were not to devote time to other professions in order to provide for their household. This theme is carried throughout the Old Testament and into the New Testament, instructing Christians to tithe and provide offerings to those who minister to them. 

Money is talked about more than any other subject in the Bible because it is required in order to spread God’s word. As with every other area of our lives, we Christians should put God first in the use of our money. This means our tithes and offerings should come off the top, should be paid first. These are the “firstfruits” spoken of in this passage. 

This is the way that God has determined that those who minister in his name will be supported. This ministry, as well as your local church, is to be supported by those who benefit from its teaching. 

If you are reading this today, this ministry is part of God’s divine plan for your life. He has placed this ministry in your life. God does not make mistakes. You are reading these commentaries for a reason. God is speaking to you through these words. Therefore, as this scripture says, He is also calling you to support this ministry with a donation of any amount. Will you answer His call?