Is tithing required for Christians today?
The practice of tithing, giving a tenth of one’s income, is a significant topic for Christians, often sparking questions about its contemporary relevance. While it’s clear that tithing was a prescribed practice in the Old Testament, its application for believers today is a subject of ongoing discussion and varying interpretations. The New Testament calls believers to generous and joyful giving, motivated by love, but it doesn't explicitly command tithing in the same way the Old Covenant did. Understanding the biblical trajectory of giving helps us discern God’s desire for our stewardship.
While the Old Testament mandated tithing, the New Testament emphasizes generous, joyful, and sacrificial giving rooted in love for God and others.
The Old Testament Foundation of Tithing
The concept of tithing first appears in the Bible before the Mosaic Law. Abraham gave a tenth of his spoils to Melchizedek, priest of God Most High, as recorded in Genesis 14:18-20. Later, Jacob vowed to give a tenth of his possessions to God if God would be with him (Genesis 28:20-22). These instances suggest a pre-Mosaic understanding of giving a tenth as an act of worship and recognition of God’s sovereignty.
Under the Mosaic Covenant, tithing became a comprehensive system with multiple tithes prescribed for the Israelites. The primary tithe, as detailed in Leviticus 27:30-32 and Numbers 18:21-24, was a tenth of all agricultural produce and livestock, given to the Levites for their service in the tabernacle (and later the temple). A second tithe was used for annual feasts and celebrations in Jerusalem, allowing families to rejoice before the Lord (Deuteronomy 14:22-27). Every third year, this second tithe was kept in local towns to provide for the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows (Deuteronomy 14:28-29; Deuteronomy 26:12). These multiple tithes, when combined, likely amounted to more than 10% of an Israelite’s income. The prophet Malachi condemned the Israelites for withholding their tithes, calling it robbing God (Malachi 3:8-10).
New Testament Principles of Giving
The New Testament does not explicitly command Christians to tithe a tenth of their income. Instead, it shifts the emphasis from a legalistic percentage to principles of generous, cheerful, and sacrificial giving. Jesus affirmed the Old Testament law but also escalated its requirements, calling for an inward transformation of the heart (Matthew 5:17-48). While Jesus acknowledged tithing in Matthew 23:23, rebuking the Pharisees for their meticulous tithing of minor herbs while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness, he did not explicitly command his followers to tithe.
The Apostle Paul, in particular, provided extensive teaching on giving. In 2 Corinthians 9:7, he writes, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." This verse encapsulates the New Testament
Bible verses about tithing
"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be God Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth of all."
"And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is Jehovah’s: it is holy unto Jehovah. And if a man will redeem aught of his tithe, he shall add unto it the fifth part thereof. And all the tithe of the herd or the flock, whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto Jehovah."
"And unto the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the tent of meeting. And henceforth the children of Israel shall not come nigh the tent of meeting, lest they bear sin, and die. But the Levites shall do the service of the tent of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations; and among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance. For the tithe of the children of Israel, which they offer as a heave-offering unto Jehovah, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance."
"Thou shalt surely tithe all the increase of thy seed, that which cometh forth from the field year by year. And thou shalt eat before Jehovah thy God, in the place which he shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, the tithe of thy grain, of thy new wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herd and of thy flock; that thou mayest learn to fear Jehovah thy God always. And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it, because the place is too far from thee, which Jehovah thy God shall choose, to set his name there, when Jehovah thy God shall bless thee; then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thy hand, and shalt go unto the place which Jehovah thy God shall choose: and thou shalt bestow the money for whatsoever thy soul desireth, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul asketh of thee; and thou shalt eat there before Jehovah thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thy household. And the Levite that is within thy gates, thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no portion nor inheritance with thee."
"Will a man rob God? yet ye rob me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with the curse; for ye rob me, even this whole nation. Bring ye the whole tithe into the store-house, that there may be food in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith Jehovah of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone."
"Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
"Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come."
"or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, let him do it with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness."
"And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and they sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all, according as any man had need."
Frequently asked
What is the difference between Old Testament tithing and New Testament giving?
Old Testament tithing was a legal requirement under the Mosaic Law, involving specific percentages for various purposes (Leviticus 27:30-32; Numbers 18:21-24). New Testament giving is not a command for a fixed percentage but rather a principle of joyful, generous, and Spirit-led giving motivated by love for God and others (2 Corinthians 9:7).
If tithing isn't mandatory, how much should Christians give?
The New Testament doesn't prescribe a specific percentage but encourages giving proportionally as one is able (1 Corinthians 16:2). The amount should be determined in one's heart, cheerfully and without compulsion, reflecting gratitude for God's blessings and a desire to support His work (2 Corinthians 9:7). For many, 10% serves as a helpful baseline or starting point, but it's not a legalistic requirement.
Is withholding tithes considered
While Malachi 3:8-10 in the Old Testament calls withholding tithes 'robbing God,' this was in the context of the Mosaic Covenant. For Christians today, while not under the same legalistic command, failing to give generously or responsibly as God has blessed us could indicate a heart issue of trust, stewardship, or love for God's kingdom. It's not about legal obligation but about a willing response to God's grace.
How does giving relate to stewardship?
Giving is a vital aspect of Christian stewardship. Stewardship recognizes that all we have—our time, talents, and treasure—belongs to God, and we are merely managers of His resources. Giving a portion back to God acknowledges His ownership and our responsibility to use His resources for His glory and the advancement of His kingdom (1 Chronicles 29:14).
Does tithing guarantee financial blessings?
While Malachi 3:10 speaks of blessings for those who bring the full tithe, linking it to the Old Covenant's promise of agricultural abundance, the New Testament connects generous giving to spiritual blessings and God's provision in various forms. While God does bless us, He does not promise a direct quid pro quo financial return. Our motivation for giving should be love for God and others, not the expectation of personal financial gain (2 Corinthians 9:6-8).
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