Should we Tithe? | What the Bible says about Tithing

May 22

Is tithing still relevant today?

Before we jump into answering the question, we need to make sure we fully understand what “tithing” is. I mean, how many people ever use the word tithe in their everyday speech?

A tithe is a tenth part, or 10%. So when we are talking about tithing, we are talking about giving 10%.

Many people talk about tithing (or giving 10%) to their churches. Even Dave Ramsey promotes it! So, what does God say about tithing? Let’s begin by looking at some examples from the Patriarchal age:

Abraham gave 10% of his spoils of war to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7:1-4).
Jacob vowed to give God 10% of all that God gave him (Genesis 28:20-28).

Abraham and Jacob both seem to have given 10% voluntarily since we see no command recorded in Scripture requiring tithing during this time period.

But after God rescued Israel from Egyptian bondage He made a covenant with them at Horeb (Deuteronomy 5:1-3). Part of that covenant included specific laws concerning tithing. In fact, there were at least three tithes. Two were annual, and one was every three years. So in reality, the Israelites gave well over 20%, not just 10%.

The first tithe was the “Priestly Tithe” (Num. 18:21-24)

“Evey tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD’s; it is holy to the LORD. If a man wishes to redeem some of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it. And ever tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman’s staff, shall be holy to the LORD.” (Leviticus 27:30-32)

The second tithe was often referred to as the “Eaten Tithe” (Deuteronomy 14:22-27; 2 Chronicles 6:6)

“You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year. And before the LORD your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your heard and flock, that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.” (Deuteronomy 14:22-23)

Finally, the third tithe is often referred to as the “Charity Tithe” (Deuteronomy 14:28-29)

“At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.” (Deuteronomy 14:28-29)

It seems pretty clear that tithing was commanded by God for the Israelites to follow.

But what did Jesus say about tithing in the New Testament?

When calling out the Pharisees’ hypocrisy for tithing while also lacking justice, mercy, and faithfulness, He also made it evident that tithing was still binding. He said, “These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others” (Matthew 23:23). The Pharisees should have been doing both, because both were a part of the Law.

Jesus even said,

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Matthew 5:17,18).

Even the smallest details of the Law (which included tithing!) would be binding until all is accomplished. Until all of what is accomplished? In this context, Jesus is referring to the Law and the Prophets, which He fulfilled!

Jesus fulfilled the Prophets by fulfilling the hundreds of prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah.
Jesus fulfilled the Law by keeping it perfectly.
Jesus fulfilled the Law by bringing it to its intended purpose.

In Hebrews 8:6-13, God explains that Christ established a New Covenant that was promised in Jeremiah. In verse 13, He concludes that the First Covenant is obsolete:

“In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away” (Hebrews 8:13).

In Galatians, the inspired apostle Paul further clarifies the purpose of the Old Covenant,

“So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith” (Galatians 3:24-26).

In Ephesians, Paul says that Christ has abolished the Law,

“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace…" (Ephesians 2:14-15).

With the Law of Moses fulfilled and obsolete, the question remains: should Christians tithe to the church?

The answer is clearly, no. At least not as a matter of law.

Now, that does NOT mean that we should not be giving to the church. I am only saying that God has not commanded Christians to tithe (give 10%) to the church.

We are still commanded to give, but we have a different standard.

“Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

From these verses, we see that we should be giving every first day of the week, Sunday (by the way, this also implies that we are to attend services every week). But how much are we to give? Later in 2 Corinthians Paul says,

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

So, from 1 Corinthians 16 and 2 Corinthians 9 we learn that we must give consistently every Sunday, generously and joyfully as we have prospered.

Sure, but what about tithing? Is it still relevant? I know that we like concrete rules to follow, but the fact of the matter is that tithing is not for today.

But, maybe it can serve as a guideline rather than a Law. If the Jews who lived under the Old Convent gave 10%, how much more should we who live under a better covenant, made with better promises, give?

Maybe 10% is a good place to start. Not because God commanded it in the Law, but because we love God and want to help accomplish his purpose here on earth.