JOSEPH W. TKACH
PASTOR GENERAL

January 1989

Dear Friend:

Thank you for your question about Leviticus 19:23-25.

This passage concerns a principle in the care of our fruit trees that still applies today. As these verses show, we should not use any of the fruit which is produced during the first three years of the tree's growth. This allows the tree to become established. Often very little or no fruit would be borne at this young age anyway. These three years pertain to the AGE of the tree itself -- from the time it came up, or was rooted -- not to the number of years it has borne fruit.

In the fourth year -- after the tree has grown for three years -- the fruit is to be used in praising God. In ancient Israel such fruit, as well as any tithe, was given to the priests and Levites for their personal use. Today, we praise God with the fruit by giving it to one of God's ministers or by sending an offering equivalent to its wholesale value to the Church.

In the fifth and following years the fruit produced belongs to the individual (verse 25). Of course, we should not forget to tithe on the increase from our fruit trees during this fifth year and onward.

This law concerns only those trees that bear fruit and does not apply to shrubs, bushes, grapevines, or olive trees. These types of plants, having a production cycle different from that of fruit trees, are classified in the Bible with field crops. This is shown in the law of gleaning (Lev. 19:9-10; Deut. 24:19-22) and in the law of letting the land rest (Lev. 25:3-5; Ex. 23:10-11). A clear distinction is made between these two types of produce.

God promises to bless the increase of our trees -- make them more productive -- if we obey this command. With this and proper care in their management, God will cause fruit trees to provide us with good crops for many years.

Whenever we may be of additional assistance in your- study of the Bible, we hope you will let us know.

PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT