What Does the Bible Say About Tithing?
It’s commonly understood that we’re supposed to tithe 10% of our income and give it to the church.
Now, is that 10% of the gross, or 10% of the net? Where is this command in the Bible that talks about tithing, anyway?
The answer might surprise you… when we understand the text!
Hebrews 7:4-6 records that Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils from war back to the Lord. By his example, the Levite priests were to collect from the Israelites a tithe – or 10% – to support their ministry.
It’s debated as to whether or not this implies we should be giving 10% of our income to the church.
Another viewpoint says that was only a practice in the Old Testament.
Transcript from an actual sermon:
“The first 10% goes to God! Now, I know the arguments: ‘Well, tithing is Old Testament law.’ If you’re here tonight and you’re that person, I’m glad you’re here! That tells me two things about you – 1) You’re stupid. 2) You don’t read your Bible.”
Really, now?!
Well, let’s take a look at that.
In Genesis 14, Cheddarlaomer, king of Elam, sacked Sodom and kidnapped Abram’s nephew, Lot. At that time, Abram was yet to be called Abraham. Having heard the news, Abram took 318 men, rescued lot, and seized their goods. Abram then met with Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High. And Abram gave him a tenth of his gain. Then the king of Sodom told Abram to take what he had recovered, but Abram replied:
“I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say I have made Abram rich. I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten and the share of the men who went with me.” (Genesis 14:21-24)
See, the concept of tithing started as a pagan practice. A conqueror would give 10% of the plunder to the king or pagan god of his choice, swear loyalty, and receive a blessing.
Abram wouldn’t do any such thing. Instead, he gave it to a priest of God, showing that his loyalty was to the Lord only. And that’s the only time Abram did that.
God did not command him to, and then scripture never records him doing that again.
Fast-forward to the law of Moses, when the Israelites were told to pay a tithe to the Levitical priests, since that would have been the priests only source of income.
But that wasn’t the only time that they had to pay. When you add up all of the required giving from the Books of the Law, it comes up to be more like 25%.
See, Israel is a theocracy and tithes were taxes.
That’s something that a lot of today’s preachers don’t seem to understand when it comes to the subject of tithing.
Actual sermon from Ed Young:
“Malachi 3:8-10 says, ’Will a man rob God?’ You bring the devoted things to God, he’ll bless the rest. If you don’t, you’re under a curse.”
Sorry Mr. Ed, that’s not what those passages are saying at all.
What we should take from the subject of tithing isn’t that we should give 10% of our income to the church. It’s actually that we should pay our taxes.
In Matthew 17, Jesus pays His taxes and tells the Disciples to do the same. Later, in Matthew 22, Jesus famously said, “Render unto Caesar that which belongs to Caesar and to God that which belongs to God.”
In Romans 13, the Apostle Paul says that:
Because all governing authorities have been established by God, therefore we need to pay our taxes. (Romans 13:6)
Nowhere in the New Testament is the church ever commanded to tithe.
Not one time.
God’s pattern for giving in the New Testament is not the tithe.
But here’s the thing: God’s pattern for giving in the Old Testament was not the tithe either.
God’s pattern for giving has always been free will giving. He simply says to give.
The point is this: Whoever sow sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver! (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
It is important to give to the church. This is mentioned in Acts 11:27-30, 1 Corinthians 16:1-3, 1 Timothy 5:17-18, and in other places.
But, giving also means “helping those in need”.
If anyone has the world’s goods and sees a brother in need, yet doesn’t help him, how does God’s love abide in him? Let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth! (1 John 3:17-18)
1 John 2:6 says to “walk as Jesus walked”. When it comes to the subject of tithing, that means: Pay your taxes. When it comes to the subject of giving, it means: To give the Lord EVERYTHING – time, talent and treasure, just as Christ gave us everything!
And that’s the truth about giving.
…when we understand the text
(This video is by WWUTT. Discovered by Christian Podcast Central and our community — copyright is owned by the publisher, not Christian Podcast Central.)
