What Does the Bible Say About Tithe?

What Does the Bible Say About Tithing?

Tithing is the practice of setting aside 10% of your increase and profits to support the work of God. The first real mention of tithe in the Bible is found in Genesis 14:20 where Abram gives a tithe to the Priest and King Melchizedek.

Jacob also pledged a tithe to God a few chapters later in Genesis 28:20-22, “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, ‘If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.’”

Many years later when the Israelites conquered Canaan the priests and Levites didn’t get a portion of the land for an inheritance. Therefore, their livelihood came from the tithes of the other tribes who would give a tenth of their increase to support the priesthood.

Robbing God

God was and still is serious about tithing, even considering the withholding of tithe to be a form of robbery and theft. Malachi 3:8-9 says,

“‘Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!’
But you say,
‘In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings.
You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.”

However, consider God’s promise in Malachi 3:10, “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts,‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing, that there will not be room enough to receive it (emphasis added).’”

Living on only 9/10 of your total income just doesn’t make sense on paper. But people who follow the practice of tithing will tell you it works! Remember that 9/10 with God’s blessing goes much farther than 10/10 without God’s blessing.

As humans, we can be afraid of giving up a portion of our income for tithe. God knows this and He says, “Prove me!” If you put God to the test, you will find that God will take care of you and provide for all your needs.

Tithing in the New Testament

Tithe is often considered an Old Testament practice which no longer applies to modern-day Christians. However, the New Testament teaches the exact same principles of tithing and giving offering.

Matthew 23:23 says, “‘Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.’” Here Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for focusing only on minute details of the law while forgetting the most important aspects of God’s law. Jesus says that we need to pay tithe but without forgetting to have mercy on people and have faith in God.

Paul mentions the practice of separating money for God’s work. “…each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made” (1 Corinthians 16:2).

Paul also points out an equivalence between the way priests in the Old Testament made a living and how gospel workers in the New Testament era should make a living. “Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:13-14).

Should I Tithe?

God commands His people to return a 10% tithe to support the work of the gospel. But God doesn’t ask us to give Him part of our income without promising us a blessing in return. Here are two of promised blessings for tithing.

“Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9-10).

“‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse...And try Me now in this...If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. ‘And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,’ says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 3:10-11).

Bible Verses About Tithe

A biblical tithe is a tenth of your income. “A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, is the Lord’s, and is holy” (Leviticus 27:30, TLB).

What Is Tithe Used For?
In the Old Testament, tithe was used to support the priests. Now, it is used to support the pastors of churches and all God’s work at large. “Then the LORD said to Aaron: ‘You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel. Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting’” (Numbers 18:20-21, NKJV, unless otherwise noted).

In the New Testament, Paul says, “Don’t you realize that God told those working in his temple to take for their own needs some of the food brought there as gifts to him? And those who work at the altar of God get a share of the food that is brought by those offering it to the Lord. In the same way the Lord has given orders that those who preach the Gospel should be supported by those who accept it” (1 Corinthians 9:13-14, TLB).

Does God Need Our Tithe?
No, God does not need our tithe. “For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you; for the world is Mine, and all its fullness” (Psalm 50:10-12). God also owns all the money in the world. “‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Haggai 2:8). “The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1).

So Then, Why Should I Tithe?
Tithing is for supporting God’s workers and a way of teaching us that God must be our first priority. “You must tithe all of your crops every year. Bring this tithe to eat before the Lord your God at the place he shall choose as his sanctuary; this applies to your tithes of grain, new wine, olive oil, and the firstborn of your flocks and herds. The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives” (Deuteronomy 14:22-23, TLB).

God is the source of all our wealth. “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Deuteronomy 8:18). When we give tithe to God, we are really only returning to Him what He already gave us.

When Should I Tithe?
We are to return tithe to God first—before we start spending money on other things. “Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income” (Proverbs 3:9, TLB).

God Asks Us to Give Voluntary Offerings for His Work—In Addition to Tithe
“Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts” (Psalm 96:8). This offering is an amount that we decide with God. We may want to give extra offering if God has especially blessed us.

We Should Give Willingly
“So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver...” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

We Should Give Offering in Proportion to the Blessing God Has Given Us
“Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you” (Deuteronomy 16:17).

Do I Tithe When in Debt?
We should pay what we owe to God first, and God will help us take care of our debts. “Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me” (Psalm 50:14-15).

What if I Can’t Afford to Pay Tithe?
God promises to richly bless us if we are faithful in tithes and offerings. “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,’ says the LORD of hosts, 'If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it’” (Malachi 3:10). Try Him! If you pay tithe first, God will bless you with what you need.

What if I Think the Church Is Corrupted; Am I Still Required to Tithe and Give Offerings?
The temple practices were corrupt in Christ’s day, but Jesus still recognized the offerings as for God. “So He said, ‘Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had’” (Luke 21:3-4). Jesus commended the woman who gave a small offering Even though others gave more, they did so for the wrong reasons.

Jesus reminded his disciples that they should pay taxes to Rome, even though they didn’t want to. He also made them understand that paying tithe to God was likewise not optional. People were amazed at His sayings because they realized He spoke truth. “Then Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.’ And they were amazed at him” (Mark 12:17).

You Can’t Out-Give God Because He Promises Us So Many Blessings
God promises to richly bless us if we are faithful in tithes and offerings. “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38). God’s blessings are more amazing that what you could ever buy with that tithe money. He will abundantly take care of you as you choose to give Him your tithe.

Chaisa Main Seventh-Day Adventist Church