Jesus was not discouraging the practice of giving. He was reminding religious leaders that giving was about more than just money. Giving to God was about a person’s heart. It was one of the many ways a person could offer their lives and dedicate themselves to God.
This sentiment echoes another time Jesus expressed frustration with the practices of the Pharisees and leaders of the law. In Matthew 15:8-9 Jesus says, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” More than anything, Jesus is after the hearts of men and women. Financial giving only mattered to God when it was done with a worshipful heart.
There are three pieces to New Testament giving. Giving generously, consistently, and joyfully! Click To Tweet
Tithing and the New Testament Church
As the apostle Paul planted churches around the world, he spoke on the subject of giving. His encouragements on giving moved beyond the “tithe” (or 10%) giving. In fact, there are three pieces to New Testament giving. Giving generously, consistently, and joyfully.
Give Generously
As Paul encouraged the church in the city of Corinth, he shared how generous the Macedonian churches were giving. He says, “For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability” (2 Cor. 8:3). He then follows up his encouragements by saying, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously”(2 Cor. 9:6).
Instead of prescribing a certain amount or percent, the New Testament churches were simply encouraged to give generously. For those wondering, “Where does it say to tithe in the Bible”, you may not find a prescription to “tithe” in the New Testament, but you will find multiple encouragements to “give generously”.
Give Consistently
One goal of giving is to re-orient the giver’s heart to the things of God over the things of this world. It’s a declaration that God is first in our lives, before anything else. In order for this declaration to be effective, one should give consistently.
In Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, he writes, “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income” (1 Cor. 16:2). The church was encouraged to set aside an amount of money to give each week. The goal is not for this to be a new rule every church goer must follow, but a general principle to encourage consistent giving.
Paul also makes a distinction in this verse that the giving should be “in keeping with his income”. Yes, a person should give generously, but those who make more should be encouraged to give more, while those who make less should give less. Based on these verses, giving should be both generous and consistent. But, the manner in which we give also matters.
Give Joyfully
If God desires a person’s heart, then the heart with which a person gives matters. Paul again writes, “ Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7). Paul notes that giving should not be done so “reluctantly” or “under compulsion”. Another version of the text says, “grudgingly”. Instead, the follower of Jesus should joyfully engage in giving.
The joyful giver understands that this earth is not everything. This is why Jesus said, ““Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19-21). These givers understand the value of investing in the kingdom of God and the work of the local church.
FAQs
6. Leviticus 27:30-34. And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord. And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
What did Jesus say about tithing to the church? ›
After Jesus saved humanity from eternal death, He introduced a new perspective on tithing and offerings (John 3:16). Jesus endorses tithing – but expects His followers to exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees whom He encouraged to continue tithing (Matthew 23:23).
Where did tithing 10% come from? ›
The idea of tithing—and specifically giving 10%—comes straight from Scripture. Here are a few key Bible verses about tithing: Leviticus 27:30 (TLB): “A tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain or fruit, is the Lord's, and is holy.”
Where should I pay my tithe according to the Bible verse? ›
Malachi 3:10 says, “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” (NKJV).
Where in the Bible does it say tithing 10 percent KJV? ›
Deuteronomy 14:22-29: Make an offering of ten percent, a tithe, of all the produce which grows in your fields year after year. Bring this into the Presence of God, your God, at the place he designates for worship and there eat the tithe from your grain, wine, and oil and the firstborn from your herds and flocks.
Did Jesus condemn tithing? ›
The payment of tithes is a requirement that comes under the law. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for keeping part instead of the whole law. That is what tithe-collecting pastors demand of Christians today. But if they insist that tithes must be paid, they must also insist that they keep the rest of the law.
Did God command us to pay tithes? ›
No truth is more apparent in Scripture than this. God delights in giving so accordingly, we as believers being conformed to the image of Christ should equally delight in giving as He does. While tithing an exact amount of one's income may not be commanded in the New Testament, giving is.
Does the Bible command 10% tithe? ›
Throughout the Old Testament, Israelites were expected to give 10 percent of their resources to God. That tithe or “tenth part” was a requirement of the law. And that's already a little misleading, because when you factor in all of their required giving, Israelites actually gave around 23 percent of their income.
Is it a sin not to tithe? ›
Remember, tithing was an Old Testament obligation that was incumbent on the Jews under the Law of Moses. Christians are dispensed from the obligation of tithing ten percent of their incomes, but not from the obligation to help the Church.
What are the three types of tithes in the Bible? ›
Three Types of Tithes
The Old Testament, which is the first half of the Bible written before the birth of Jesus Christ that focuses on the Jewish myth, describes three different types of tithes that the Jewish people were expected to pay: Levitical or sacred tithe. Feast tithe. Poor tithe.
Although we aren't commanded to give 10% of our earnings to God, he does expect us to be givers. Don't look at the requirement to not tithe as an opportunity to be stingy. In the Old Testament, God required Israelite farmers and herdsmen to give the tithe regardless if they were in debt or not.
Do you tithe on social security? ›
QUESTION: If your only income is from social security, are you supposed to pay tithe and offering? ANSWER: It is believed that one should tithe from the gross of any increase one receives. When you tithe from your gross, you tithe from the overall amount from which your social security has been deducted.
Is tithing biblically correct? ›
Jacob vowed to tithe to the Lord at Bethel (Gen 28:22). This practice was later codified in the Law. Therefore, tithing is a biblical practice that precedes the Law and exists on its own quite apart from the Law. True: the law requiring us to tithe has been nailed to the cross (Col 2:14).
What does Jesus say about tithing? ›
In Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42 Jesus referred to tithing as something that should not be neglected… “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices–mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law–justice, mercy and faithfulness.
Who came up with tithing 10%? ›
The 10% tithe dates back to the Mosaic law. The other 11 tribes were instructed, under the Mosaic law, to give 10% of their produce, flocks, and cattle to the levites, and they were instructed to give 10% of that to the priests.
Is tithing part of the New Covenant? ›
The Law doesn't have the power to produce genuine faithfulness to God, but grace does because it changes the heart. Under the Old Covenant you are forced to pay tithes, but under the New Covenant you give your tithes to God voluntarily because you're captured by Him.
Did Jesus say you ought to tithe? ›
Matthew 23:23-24 New Living Translation (NLT)
You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.
Did Jesus ever pay tithes? ›
Jesus and His disciples never paid tithes neither did they instruct anyone to do so. Paul wrote three quarters of the New Testament and had many opportunities to talk about tithes but he never did! He spoke a lot on giving and as a matter of fact giving is mentioned 176 times in the New Testament- nothing on tithes.
What does Jesus say about giving money? ›
Money, for the follower of Jesus, is a tool for the kingdom. 2. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full” (Matthew 6:2).
Can I give my tithe to the poor instead of church? ›
In the New Testament, neither God nor Jesus commanded anyone to tithe money. But we are to love each other and “…as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” Galatians 6:10 (NIV). “Doing good” would include giving money to the poor.
