Tithing
In many of our stewardship testimonies and sermons, we talk about “tithing” as the biblical norm, and something to reach toward. But we don’t always explain it very well. The following is a brief summary of what the Bible teaches about giving for the work of God’s kingdom.
“Tithing” means giving one tenth (10%) of one’s income to God’s work in and through the ministries of the Church and related ministry organizations.
This might include giving to a local congregation, to missionary-sending organizations, to organizations which administer humanitarian aid in the name of Christ, or any organization which seeks to proclaim and demonstrate God’s love in some tangible way.
It could also include private and personal acts of mercy to hurting people in the name of Christ.Where does the idea of “tithing” come from?
Tithing is a practice consistently taught throughout the Bible. The New Testament says very little about tithing, but assumes its continuing relevance and validity.
As with almost every other Old Testament moral and spiritual teaching, Jesus affirms the original but adds a higher demand. He reaffirms the moral principles of the Old Testament law but warns against hypocrisy and encourages us to go deeper than mere outward conformity.
What does the Bible Say About Tithing?
Old Testament
Genesis 14:1-20
“Priest of the Most High God” Abraham gives a tithe to Melchizedech in gratitude for Melchizidech’s blessing and God’s protection of him and his relatives after having been attacked by other tribes and winning the battle.
Genesis 28: 10 – 22
God appears to Jacob in a vision of the ladder to heaven and reaffirms the Covenant that God had previously made with Abraham: the promise of land, descendants and protection. In gratitude for God’s gift, Jacob promises to give back a tithe to God: “out of all that you have given me, I will give a tenth to thee”.
Leviticus 27: 30-34
After the descendants of Jacob have settled in the land, God reminds the people of the promise made by Jacob to give back a tenth: “All the 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.”
Deuteronomy 26: 1-14
God commands people to give the “first fruits” of the crops and live stock “the tithe of your produce” to support the temple worship and to feed the poor, widows and orphans.
Malachi 3: 8-10
God, through the prophet, upbraids the people of Israel for “robbing the Lord”. They ask “How are we robbing thee?” God’s answer: "In your tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse for you are robbing me; the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the window of heaven and pour out an overflowing blessing.”
New Testament
Matthew 23: 33
In this passage, Jesus is criticizing the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and hardness of heart. He says that it’s not enough simply to tithe. We should also be concerned with “the weightier demands of the law: justice, mercy and good works”. He exhorts his followers to be concerned with “all of the above”while continuing to tithe.
Matthew 6: 1-4
Jesus affirms the moral obligation to “give alms” (which is one of the main purposes of “tithing” in Old Testament practice as seen in Deuteronomy 26: 1-14). He assumes that his followers will continue doing this but exhorts us to do it in a way that does not call attention to your own generosity.
2 Corinthians 8: 1-15 and 9: 6-8
St. Paul gives us the most extensive teaching in the entire Bible on giving. The context is “famine relief”. He is taking a collection from all of the churches that he founded to help the “saints in Jerusalem” who are starving.
2 Cor. 8: 1-5
“For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will…but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.” Giving flows from a personal dedication to the Lord.
2 Cor. 8: 12-14
“your abundance at the present time should supply their want”. Giving should be proportionate to your means.
2 Cor. 9: 6-7
“Each one must do as he has made up his mind to do, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Giving should be cheerful – in gratitude for all that God has given us.
2 Cor. 9:8
“And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work.” God will provide for our needs to do God’s work.
The main points
Sometimes God blesses us with material blessings; sometimes in other ways. We are called to extend the material, spiritual and personal blessing to others generously.
When we give generously, we receive generously.
“Tithing” means giving one tenth (10%) of one’s income to God’s work in and through the ministries of the Church and related ministry organizations.
This might include giving to a local congregation, to missionary-sending organizations, to organizations which administer humanitarian aid in the name of Christ, or any organization which seeks to proclaim and demonstrate God’s love in some tangible way.
It could also include private and personal acts of mercy to hurting people in the name of Christ.Where does the idea of “tithing” come from?
Tithing is a practice consistently taught throughout the Bible. The New Testament says very little about tithing, but assumes its continuing relevance and validity.
As with almost every other Old Testament moral and spiritual teaching, Jesus affirms the original but adds a higher demand. He reaffirms the moral principles of the Old Testament law but warns against hypocrisy and encourages us to go deeper than mere outward conformity.
What does the Bible Say About Tithing?
Old Testament
Genesis 14:1-20
“Priest of the Most High God” Abraham gives a tithe to Melchizedech in gratitude for Melchizidech’s blessing and God’s protection of him and his relatives after having been attacked by other tribes and winning the battle.
Genesis 28: 10 – 22
God appears to Jacob in a vision of the ladder to heaven and reaffirms the Covenant that God had previously made with Abraham: the promise of land, descendants and protection. In gratitude for God’s gift, Jacob promises to give back a tithe to God: “out of all that you have given me, I will give a tenth to thee”.
Leviticus 27: 30-34
After the descendants of Jacob have settled in the land, God reminds the people of the promise made by Jacob to give back a tenth: “All the 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.”
Deuteronomy 26: 1-14
God commands people to give the “first fruits” of the crops and live stock “the tithe of your produce” to support the temple worship and to feed the poor, widows and orphans.
Malachi 3: 8-10
God, through the prophet, upbraids the people of Israel for “robbing the Lord”. They ask “How are we robbing thee?” God’s answer: "In your tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse for you are robbing me; the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the window of heaven and pour out an overflowing blessing.”
New Testament
Matthew 23: 33
In this passage, Jesus is criticizing the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and hardness of heart. He says that it’s not enough simply to tithe. We should also be concerned with “the weightier demands of the law: justice, mercy and good works”. He exhorts his followers to be concerned with “all of the above”while continuing to tithe.
Matthew 6: 1-4
Jesus affirms the moral obligation to “give alms” (which is one of the main purposes of “tithing” in Old Testament practice as seen in Deuteronomy 26: 1-14). He assumes that his followers will continue doing this but exhorts us to do it in a way that does not call attention to your own generosity.
2 Corinthians 8: 1-15 and 9: 6-8
St. Paul gives us the most extensive teaching in the entire Bible on giving. The context is “famine relief”. He is taking a collection from all of the churches that he founded to help the “saints in Jerusalem” who are starving.
2 Cor. 8: 1-5
“For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will…but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.” Giving flows from a personal dedication to the Lord.
2 Cor. 8: 12-14
“your abundance at the present time should supply their want”. Giving should be proportionate to your means.
2 Cor. 9: 6-7
“Each one must do as he has made up his mind to do, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Giving should be cheerful – in gratitude for all that God has given us.
2 Cor. 9:8
“And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work.” God will provide for our needs to do God’s work.
The main points
- An Expression of Gratitude: Tithing should be an expression of our gratitude for all the good things God has provided for us. We have been blessed by God and we are passing the blessing on to others.
- A Means of Advancing the Kingdom Of God: Tithing should be given to advance the work of God’s kingdom on earth in worship, proclamation, missionary outreach and works of mercy.
- God Will Provide For Our Needs: Tithing is expected by God as an expression of our appropriate gratitude. God blesses those who give sacrificially and provides for our needs so that we may continue to be a blessing to other people.
Sometimes God blesses us with material blessings; sometimes in other ways. We are called to extend the material, spiritual and personal blessing to others generously.
When we give generously, we receive generously.