What is the context?
Israel must set apart a tenth of its yearly field produce and eat before the Lord at His chosen place. If distance makes transport difficult, the produce may be exchanged for money, carried there, and used for the household’s feast.
The passage expressly permits wine and strong drink within this celebration, while warning not to neglect the Levite. Every third year a tithe is stored locally so Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows may eat and be satisfied. Worship includes shared rejoicing and concrete provision for people who might otherwise lack it.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Wesley identifies the festival tithe as a second tithe and relates the third-year provision to that pattern. The passage states the different uses and recipients; relating every tithe law into one complete system requires reading the other laws as well. It should not be collapsed into an unqualified statement that every tithe in Scripture is paid to clergy, or used as permission for drunkenness.
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.
Where can I study this further?
No deeper study linked yet.