By Abhilash Pulichanickal
A lot has been said about tithing in the past. The Christian camp is divided when it comes to tithing. Should one tithe? Is it prescribed in the New Testament? What did Jesus have to say about tithing? If we should tithe at all, how much should we tithe? Well, there are a lot of questions to answer.
First of all, what is tithing? The word tithe comes from Hebrew which means one-tenth. Tithing is often seen as a way to show our love, gratitude and devotion to God for all that He has done for us.
Tithing is often viewed as a way to support the work of the church and to contribute to the needs of the community. The Bible teaches that believers should give a tenth of their income to support the work of the church, and this practice is still observed by many Christians today.
While tithing is a voluntary practice and not required by law in the New Testament, many people choose to tithe as a way to support their religious community or to give back to those in need.
What does the Bible say about tithing?
In the Old Testament, we read about how Abraham and Jacob offered tithes to God in Genesis 14 and 28. The Israelites were also commanded to tithe from what they earned (Lev. 27:30; Num. 18:25–28; Deut. 14:22–24; 2 Chron. 31:5–6).
Leviticus 27:30 says: “A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, is the Lord’s, and is holy.” Proverbs 3:9 says: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops.” It’s important to recognize that tithing was central to God’s plan for the upkeep of the temple, the priests and their religious duties.
A tenth of one’s income or resources, belongs to the Lord and is to be set apart as holy.
We see Cain and Abel bringing their offerings to God in Genesis but the first one to tithe was Abraham.
In Genesis 14:19-20 we see Abram returning from battle and being met by Melchizedek. During their encounter Melchizedek attributes Abram’s victory to God and he blesses Abram. Abram responds to the blessing in gratitude and gives Melchizedek a tenth (tithe) of all his possessions.
And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Malachi 3:10 says: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
God encourages believers to bring their tithes to the storehouse, or the local church, so that there may be food in His house. He promises to bless those who are faithful in their tithing.
What did Jesus say about tithing?
Well, let’s look at Matthew 23:23 – “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”
In this passage, Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for tithing meticulously but neglecting the more important matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. He affirms the practice of tithing, but reminds believers to prioritize the weightier matters of the law.
Jesus had a special word of blessing for those who give. He said in Luke 6:38: “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
3 reasons why you should tithe cheerfully
The Bible says “God loves a cheerful giver” in 2 Corinthians 9:7. This verse encourages believers to give generously and joyfully, rather than out of obligation or compulsion. There are several reasons why the Bible emphasizes the importance of giving with a cheerful heart. Let’s look at three:
Giving with a cheerful heart reflects God’s character. The Bible teaches that God is a generous God who delights in giving good gifts to His children. When we give generously and joyfully, we reflect God’s character and demonstrate His love and goodness to others.
Giving with a cheerful heart is an act of worship. Giving is not simply a duty or obligation, but an act of worship that honors God and acknowledges His provision in our lives. When we give with a cheerful heart, we show our gratitude to God and express our faith in His continued provision.
Giving with a cheerful heart blesses both the giver and the receiver. When we give generously and joyfully, we not only bless those who receive our gifts, but we also experience the joy and blessings that come from giving. The Bible teaches that “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35), and when we give with a cheerful heart, we experience the truth of this statement.
Tithing never made anyone poor. Tithing is our obligation to God. It demonstrates our trust and dependence on God. It prioritizes God in our life. As Malachi 3:10 says, test God by giving to Him.
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