What is Tithing in the Bible?

 What is Tithing in the Bible?

Guest post by Leah E. Good of www.leahegood.com/.

 

“What does the Bible say about tithing?”

If you’re like most Christians, you’ve probably heard a sermon or two about tithing, but maybe you still have questions. Questions like:

“What is tithing in the Bible?”

“Why should we tithe?”

“How to tithe correctly?”

“Do I have to tithe a certain percentage of my money?”

“Finances are tight. How do I balance my family’s needs with giving to my church?”

 

These are good questions to ask. There are a wide variety of opinions and perspectives regarding tithing in the Bible. 

Because we are called to be good stewards of the resources God gives us, we should ask questions to make sure we are designating those resources well.

 

 

What is Tithe?

 

Leviticus 27:30-32 contains the first command regarding tithing in the Bible. It states that a tithe, or a tenth, of all the seed of the land, fruit of the trees, and livestock belonged to the Lord.

In other words, the Lord told the people of Israel that one-tenth of their livelihood was His.

Why would the Lord do this? Why would He require His people to sacrifice a piece of their sustenance when He has no need?

 

A story in Numbers 16-18 sheds more light on why God instituted the tithe.

The children of Israel had just finished challenging the authority of Moses and Aaron, and suffering a plague as a result of their rebellion. After God reaffirmed His selection of Aaron (and Aaron’s sons) for service in tabernacle, He laid some ground rules for how the Levites and the rest of Israel were supposed to interact.

God told the children of Israel that the Levites were a gift to them to do the service of the tabernacle. Because the Israelites could not draw near and offer sacrifices for themselves, the Levites would do it.

 

On the flip side of the coin, the Levites would not have an inheritance among the land. The Lord Himself would be the Levites inheritance.

The inheritance of the Levites explains God’s institution of the tithe when He himself has no need. When the Lord made Himself the Levites’ inheritance, the tithe was included. 

Israel’s tithe would sustain the servants of God.

 

Tithing in the Bible

 

The concept of a tithe actually exists in the Bible before the Leviticus tithe was instituted.

Though only a few Old Testament Bible verses mention him, Melchizedek is one of the most intriguing characters of the Old Testament. We know that Melchizedek was the King of Salem, a priest of God, and that Abraham met Melchizedek after freeing Lot from an invading army.

During their brief encounter, Abraham honored Melchizedek by giving him a tithe of all the treasures he had recovered when he rescued Lot.

A few generations later, Jacob promises to give a tithe to the Lord after waking from his famous dream of “Jacob’s ladder.”

These pre-law examples of tithing tell us that there is purpose and importance to tithing outside of the Levitical command to tithe in order to provide for the needs of the priests.

 

Bible Verses About Tithing

 

If you’re asking yourself, What does the Bible say about tithing? it’s super important to go right to the source and look up Bible verses about tithing.

Mentions of tithing in the Bible are scattered across several books. The topic comes up most frequently in books that outline the establishment of the law and the formation of Israel as a nation. Bible verses about tithing also appear when the nation has fallen away from God and His commands, and are being called to return.

Many of these passages are mentioned or paraphrased throughout this article, but this list will help you find Bible verses about tithing to study yourself.

 

  • The first tithe made by Abraham to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20)
  • Jacob promises a tithe to the Lord (Genesis 28:20-22)
  • The Leviticus tithe instituted and the first command to tithe (Leviticus 27:30-32)
  • The tithe explained to be provision for the Levites ( Numbers 18:21-28)
  • Directions given for how to tithe correctly (Deuteronomy 12:6-17)
  • A tithe feast enjoyed by the people and the Levites together (Deuteronomy 14:23-27)
  • A once every three years tithe given to the Levites, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widows (Deuteronomy 14:28-29)
  • The once every three-year tithe mentioned again (Deuteronomy 26:12-15)
  • Tithing re-instituted during the revival under Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 31:5-12)
  • Tithing again re-instituted, stewards appointed, and a storehouse prepared (Nehemiah 10:37-38, 12:44, and 13:5-12)
  • Israel mocked for tithing despite rebellion against God (Amos 4:4)
  • Israel accused of stealing from God by withholding tithes and offerings and challenged to return to God’s favor by obeying his call to tithe (Malachi 3:8-10)
  • Jesus exhorts the Pharisees to attend to more important elements of the law without neglecting tithing (Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42)
  • The tithe of the self-righteous is esteemed less than the repentance of the humble publican (Luke 18:9-14)
  • The tithes of the Old Testament used as part of an illustration pointing to the priesthood of Christ (Hebrews 7)

As you can see, the topic of tithing in the Bible is far-reaching and complex!

 

Tithing in the New Testament

 

Did you know that tithing is never directly commanded in the New Testament?

When Christ died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn in half and the separation between common man and God was abolished. No longer were the Levitical priests needed to offer sacrifices on an altar that others could not approach.

With the Old Testament system fulfilled by Christ’s sacrifice, the tribes of Israel could draw near to God and the Levites were free to own property. Though Israel did not eagerly adopt this new freedom, God’s command to adhere to a system that necessitated a tithe was removed.

 

What does that mean for us? Is tithing in the New Testament times an outdated construct?

As with most Old Testament systems, the tithe created a picture and pattern that remains relevant to us today.

In Matthew 23:23, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for paying tithes and failing to exercise judgement, mercy, and faith. He admonishes them to be diligent in the ignored areas without leaving the tithe undone.

This verse and its companion, Luke 11:42, are the closest the New Testament comes to requiring a tithe. Since Christ had not yet died, it could be argued that the tithe of the Old Testament was still relevant at the time, but I think these passages make it clear that Jesus doesn’t give us a free pass when it comes to financial giving.

 

While a strict ten percent tithe to the church might not be a New Testament mandate, the call to give generously and cheerfully permeates the New Testament.

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul refers back to the law to support his argument that he and Barnabus have a right to be financially cared for as they “sow spiritual things,” but adds that he has refrained from requesting compensation to avoid distraction from the gospel message he shares.

In 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, he returns to the topic by encouraging the Corinthian Christians to give generously, cheerfully, and without compulsion.

Even people who do not have a religious affiliation know the term “it is more blessed to give than to receive,” which originates from Acts 20:35.

 

How to Tithe Correctly as Christians

 

One of the beautiful things about our faith is the freedom within boundaries that God provides us. There is no question that we are called to give generously, but that might look different for you than it does for me.

Though there is no exact formula for how to tithe correctly as New Testament believers, there are some patterns and commands that can guide our decisions:

  • Though a strict ten percent tithe is no longer commanded, it can be a good guideline to create a habit of giving.
  • The Levitical tithe supported the servants of God and Paul supports this concept when he argues that it is reasonable for those who sow spiritual things to reap physical things from those they serve. Consider using this principle to direct your giving to support those devoted to ministry in your church and community.
  • Give cheerfully or not at all. Beginning with the story of Cain and Abel and repeating throughout the Bible, the Lord makes it clear that He wants us to give on His terms only.
  • Enjoy freedom in your giving. If you choose to use a tithe as your baseline of giving, pray and make a decision between yourself, your spouse, and God regarding whether to calculate your percentage from your gross or net income. If you have debt, follow your conscience regarding giving while you pay down debt or waiting until your money is fully your own.
  • Do not allow the concept of a tithe to limit your generosity. While we are not required to give ten percent, we are not limited to ten percent either. James warns that it is sinful to know to do good and not do it. If the Spirit calls you to give beyond ten percent, go for it!

 

 

What Biblical principles guide your giving decisions? What aspects of tithing in the Bible do you find challenging or encouraging? Do you use a tithe as a guideline for giving or vary the amount that you give?

 

Guest post by Leah of leahegood.com.

 

Leah E. Good Leah E. Good is a lover of stories, homeschooling enthusiast, orphan care advocate, and daughter of God. She lives in beautiful New England where she stays busy with volunteer work for her church and a full time job in data management. In her free time, Leah enjoys reading and working on the sequel to Counted Worthy, the young adult novel she published in 2014. You can find Leah at leahegood.com.

 

  1. Bravo! This is one of the best, concise articles on this subject I have read. You were thorough and unbiased about your teaching and quickly made your point. You said in one article what authors have taken books to write. Thank you.

  2. Yes, my husband and I do. We always give 10% of our gross income. We do this because we know that God has blessed us and we want to give back to Him what belongs to Him. We give more when needed but on an average we give 10% of our income. If we, as Christians can get into our minds that everything we have comes from God and He has blessed us with it, then its not hard to give back. I always pay my tithes before any bills are paid and God has always provided what we have need of. I have learned the hard way that you can’t out give God.

    1. It’s such a blessing when God shows us that He will provide when we are obedient to what He calls us to. I’ve found that each time He teaches me that lesson, it makes it a little easier to trust the next time a similar situation shows up. Thanks for sharing!

  3. Please read the following books about tithing. Tithing was not money but livestock and fruit of the land. According to the Bible only landowners were required to tithe and the tithe was distributed to the Levite Priests and poor people (not to build a church building or pay church members). Giving and tithing are two different things. Books to read: The Tithing Hoax, The Naked Truth About Tithing and Kleptomaniac.

    1. Hi Lisa. Thanks for our comment! I agree that there is often misunderstanding of how money is used in the modern church. As mentioned in the article, I believe all of our giving should be voluntary and dictated by desire and conscience (not a mandatory tithe), as you mention, while a tithe (or a tenth) is simply a pattern set by the OT that can be a helpful guideline as long as not made a legalistic requirement.

      I looked up the book you mentioned on Goodreads and it looks interesting. If I have opportunity, I will give it a read.

  4. I thought this was a good explanation of tithing from both the Old and New Testaments. Great guidelines on how we should view tithing.

  5. What a wonderfully thorough article about tithing. We have found that you can never outgive God. The girl who wrote offering books like the tithing hoax, while I’ve never read those and never will based on the title. It just makes my heart hurt. In our church, if we don’t tithe, the pastor doesn’t eat or have a roof over his head and theres no lights or heat for church services. What we have all belongs to God. A measly portion of that is our reasonable service to the supporting of God’s ministry and spreading the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

    1. Thank you, Wendy! I think there is a valid point to be made that churches should not require or guilt their members into giving a tithe. But, as you say, the Bible also tells us that it is not unreasonable for us to provide practical support to those doing God’s work. It’s a wonderful testimony when God’s people both give generously and thank God for providing when they receive!

  6. I agree with Lisa. Tithing was never money. The New Testament tell us to be cheerful givers. I cheerfully give when I see a need – people in hard times, etc – not church buildings or salaries. Certainly not for teen pizza parties or elaborate church buildings.

  7. One of my favorite books on tithing is The Blessed Life by Robert Morris. It’s so good and really gets your wheels turning on why we should tithe not only to reap financial blessing, but spiritual blessing as well. It affects our whole lives. I remember just last year we decided to start tithing and my husband was freed from his addiction a month and a half later. Of course there were many steps involved with his healing, but I know that tithing was one of those acts of obedience that played a part in our miracle.

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