What does the Bible say about Tithing? Christianity has many requirements and it is because there is a great reward for all those who are able to finish the task. As I watch some reward-based reality game shows, they put contestants through harsh challenges just to win fifty-to-one hundred thousand dollars.
Life is a similar reality show, where the reward is eternal life and durable riches. There are rules to the game. One of the rules is tithing if you are blessed to receive much or little from the Lord. It is believed that the institution of tithing came when the Levitical priesthood was established by God through Moses and Aaron.
That is not correct. Abel, the third or fourth being in the creation gave his best unto the Lord (Genesis 4 v1-5). Giving his best ultimately got him killed. As he gave to God, it intensified a jealousy from the weak offering his brother Cain gave.
What Does the Bible say about Tithing ?
Abraham gave tithes of all kinds, and he is the patriarch of “Christianity” (Genesis 14 v20). Even, Jacob, the father of the Israelites gave God a tenth of all to the Lord (Genesis 28 v22). All of the forefathers of the bible tithed and if you read throughout the righteous kings of Israel, they offered and gave to the Lord.
But does this mean that we have to tithe today?
People often get disturbed with the belief that many pastors are abusing the church’s money with a fancy lifestyle. While there are pastors who do misuse the church’s funds, the misuse is between the pastor and God. We are to carry on our portion to the Lord, which is 10% of our increase or income.
In the days of Jesus the Christ, He told us that a workman is worthy of his hire (Matthew 10 v1, 5-10). Paul wrote quoting Moses in I Corinthians 9 v1-14 do not muzzle the ox that treads the corn, but to allow it to eat a bit while it is working.
Money in Bags Full of Holes…
Both of these scriptures should let us know a priest is worthy of his hire, we pay politicians to hold office. Why not pay a pastor who is helping us with our spiritual affairs that pertain to eternal life. Paul will also tell us that the tithes and offerings that we contribute to the Lord’s house are for our account with the Lord; not the pastor’s account.
When we run away from our duty of paying tithes and giving offerings things can happen to us and we don’t know why. Your life can stay at the same income level forever despites desires and efforts to increase. Your life can dwindle rapidly for not giving the Lord His due.
As Haggai the prophet said in chapter one, your wages seem like one who puts money in a bag full of holes. You’re saving money but not getting anywhere, why? It is because you have taken care of your house; but have left the Lord’s house and business undone.
God Loves a Cheerful Giver…
Jesus tells us that if we lay treasures up for ourselves but are not liberal and rich towards God, such person is worthless. This may make you feel like you have to give against your will; this is not the case. If you feel the gospel is good news you should be excited and happy to give to any organization that is teaching the true Word of God.
The Word of God is also the gospel of peace. To add to that II Corinthians 9 v1-2, 5-7 says God loves a cheerful giver. The great thing about tithes and offerings is that God is even handed in that He requires the same percentage from the rich or poor.
This is why Jesus acknowledged the woman who gave her last monies because to her it was comparable of a millionaire giving all his millions (Mark 12 v41-44 widow cast in all that she had). Ten percent is the requirement; but if you want to do more that is your decision to make; but the baseline is 10%.
Taking Care of the Lord’s Business
However, if you are late with a payment for whatever reason, be sure to add a 5th part to your tithes as written in the law (Leviticus 27 v26, 30-34). John 12 v3-6 shows that Jesus and the apostles carried the money bag because it was necessary to take care of the Lord’s business.
Buildings are not free today, heat, cool air; lights, vans, travel expense, microphones, telephones, internet, and many other expenses are not free. To answer the question, what does the bible say about tithing? In Malachi 3 v8-10 the Lord clearly says:
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD 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.”
The Lord even gives each of us a clear challenge, of course done with the right mindset this will give nice rewards to those who take care of the Lord’s business.
God bless you today, in Jesus name. Amen
Selah
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There is no example in the scriptures where Cain or Abel ever tithed. There is also no example of Jacob tithing. The one-time example of Abram is giving a tenth of war spoils, but no example of Abram/Abraham ever tithing on his regular income.
If you are going to use Malachi in your argument, start with Malachi 3:7 (KJV) “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ORDINANCES, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?”
Then read Colossians 2:14 (KJV) “Blotting out the handwriting of ORDINANCES that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”
The Bible clearly shows that the tithe ENDED at the cross in the Book of Hebrews. The ONLY place in the Bible, after Calvary, that tithing appears is in Hebrews 7. In the first nine verses of Hebrews 7 the words tenth or tithes appears SEVEN TIMES.
Hebrews 7:5 (KJV) “And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:”
Verse 5 is the first occurrence of the words TITHES, COMMANDMENT and LAW.
Hebrews 7:12 (KJV) “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.”
Hebrews 7:18 (KJV) “For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.”
The word COMMANDMENT in verse 18 must be referring to the word COMMANDMENT in verse 5 which is referring to the tithe.
Therefore, the COMMANDMENT to TITHE was disannulled.
When God gave the Israelites the promised land, he RESERVED, for Himself, a tenth of the crops and every tenth animal. They NEVER did belong to the Israelites. In other words, the tithe was from God’s increase of FOOD, not from man’s income. It was a way to distribute FOOD to the Levites and priests who did NOT inherit any land.
No one, not even the farmers, tithed on their income.
The farmers made their income by SELLING and/or barter-exchanging their crops and animals but did NOT tithe on that income.
Today, ALL born-again believers are priests. ALL of us are called to be disciples of the Lord. No one of us is higher than another. Our bodies are the Temple where the Spirit dwells. According to the scriptures, priests do not tithe.
When you understand the Biblical tithe, it makes sense, and it is plain to see that it makes NO sense to try to tithe today.
Gary thank you kindly for your response, I appreciate the edification. How then does a ministry thrive today? You may respond through the generous gifts given by the members.
Today we are all priest of God and are to continue the message of the gospel of the Most High God Jesus. Many of us priest do this with our own money; the people are suppose to support us through tithing and gifts (donations, offering) to help it grow faster.
Jesus carried a money bag, why? To practically show that it takes, especially under the Roman rule, that it takes money to operate as an organization. The tithing may not go to salaries and food for the priest, but it goes to the operation for things like this website and your website.
Lastly, not everything within the Levitical Priesthood was nailed at the cross. We know this because when Jesus returns to the earth He will set up His priest the Levites again, as it is written in Isaiah 61 v6 and in Ezekiel.
I’m glad you wrote in and your points were well taken. Please continue to write in with your edification… we’re all trying to get this right! God bless you.
your brother Warner
The New Testament teaches generous, sacrificial giving, from the heart, according to our means. For some, $1 might be a sacrifice, while for others, even giving 50% of their income might not induce a sacrifice. In the Old Testament, ONLY the farmers tithed, and it was equal percentage (a tenth). The New Testament teaches the principle of equal sacrifice instead of equal percentage. Equal sacrifice is much harder to achieve, if not impossible, than giving ten percent.
John MacArthur is a good example of a pastor who has been very successful even though he teachings there is no tithing in the Christian Church.
What needs to be taught is good financial stewardship. If Christians prayed over their spending, they may find that they don’t purchase so many wants that aren’t needed at all which would leave more funds available to give. I find it disgusting when someone has a smart phone, lap top, $300 pair of headphones, but they have little or nothing to give to the church or to the needy.
People, in general, whether Christian or not, have become greedy and spend much of their income foolishly. I believe that most should be living below their means in order to have enough left to be a generous giver.
So-called tithing is bad for many reasons. First, it makes the poor feel guilty or bad because they can’t afford to give a tenth. On the other hand, the well-to-do may feel they have done their part when they give a tenth of their income, and even feel they are really generous when they go beyond the tenth. But just maybe if they had sought the Holy Spirit, they may have been led to give two or three times as much.
Let’s do it right. Let’s teach it right. When it comes to finances, Christians are no different than non-Christians, but there should be a big difference. Christians should be taught that debt is bad. Debt is of the world, not of God. Christians should be taught at a young age the joy in giving. There is nothing that gives me more joy than to be able to help others.
I once heard a pastor say that a member of the church told him she was blessed with a new car. Problem is, she had to take out a car loan. The pastor said God doesn’t bless you with a car loan.
There is so much more to say on this subject, but I will stop for now.
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i really appreciate your help.
No problem, praise the Lord.