Transcription
“Tithes and offerings!” That’s all some people seem to hear. Week in and week out. What about you?
It surprises a lot of people to learn that—even though their preacher won’t stop talking about tithing—Jesus mentioned it only a couple of times, and when He did, He was issuing a warning about those who obsess over tithing. More on that in a little bit.
So, are Christians required to tithe? Let’s be honest. A lot of people come to this question not from curiosity, but from guilt. They’re strapped for money, yet they’re being spiritually manipulated. I’m making this video for those who feel trapped by what their church leaders are demanding of them.
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Someone once said, “Tithing is the price you pay for not studying your Bible.” We’re going to open the Scriptures and get to the heart of this question: Are Christians required to tithe?
Tithing was part of the Law of Moses—and the New Testament is clear: trying to bind that law today is placing people under bondage. Let me give you a few real-world examples.
I recently visited a widow in the United States who’s living on welfare. For some reason, her preacher knows exactly what goes into her bank account. Every month, he gives her “tithes and offerings” envelopes already filled out. And she knows that if she doesn’t fill them to the brim, even while struggling to pay rent, she’ll be hounded, and maybe even disfellowshipped.
A friend in New Zealand used to attend a church that reserves the front pews for those who gave the most money last week. I once noticed in a village in Fiji that there was a mansion towering over the huts. I was curious, so I asked who lived there. I thought it belonged to some political leader. But no, it’s the home of the local preacher, funded by the tithes of the people living in poverty all around him.
Let me say it again: Tithing was part of the Law of Moses, and Scripture warns us of those who would bind that Law, the Law that never applied to us to begin with. Yes, tithing is mentioned in the Bible a couple of times before the Law of Moses, and we’ll get to that. But first, let’s look at what the Law actually commanded about tithing. Although you may be tempted to skip this part of the study, it’s vital to understanding whether or not we should tithe today. You may be surprised at what the Bible doesn’t say about tithing.
In the Bible, where was tithing required? According to the Old Testament, the Israelites were expected to give three distinct types of tithes. We may dig deeper into those in a future video, but here they are in brief.
The first of these, often called the Levitical Tithe, required the Israelites to give 10% (that’s what the word tithe means) of all produce and livestock to the Levites. In the Bible, money was never given as a tithe. When the Israelites entered the Promised Land, it was divided among the tribes, except for the Levites. As the priestly tribe, the Levites did not receive a land inheritance because they were dedicated to leading the nation in worship, reverence, and atonement under the Law of Moses. Their full-time service in spiritual matters meant they had no time to cultivate land, so the rest of the nation was expected to provide for their needs through tithes. In turn, the Levites were commanded to give a “tithe of the tithe”—10% of what they received—to the priests from the family of Aaron. To study these deeper, see Leviticus 27:30–33 and Numbers 18:21–24.
The second tithe (sometimes called the Festival Tithe) required the Israelites to set aside annually for themselves to use when they traveled to Jerusalem for religious festivals. If the distance to Jerusalem was too great to carry the produce, they could convert it into money and then buy what they needed for the festival upon arrival. The purpose was to enable them to celebrate and rejoice before the Lord with food and drink for themselves and their families at the feast. See Deuteronomy 14:22–27 to look into this tithe further.
The third tithe (often called the Charity Tithe) was collected every third year. This one wasn’t used for festivals. Instead, it stayed local, distributed to the Levites, the poor, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. It served as a community welfare system to ensure that the most vulnerable members of society were cared for. For more study, see Deuteronomy 14:28–29 and 26:12–15.
The three tithes commanded of the Israelites were:
* The Levitical Tithe, for the priests and Levites.
* The Festival Tithe, to celebrate before God.
* The Charity Tithe, to support the poor every third year.
Here are some facts we must remember about these tithes:
* They were introduced in the Law of Moses.
* They were commanded to only the Israelites in the Promised Land.
* Although tithe means one tenth, when all tithes were considered, more than 20% of a person’s produce and livestock were required.
* The tithe always had to do with food (not money).
* And they were, essentially, taxation in the theocracy of the nation of Israel.
These tithes were commanded of the entire nation of Israel and woven into the Law of Moses to ensure the proper functioning of society. They provided for the priesthood, upheld the worship of God, and cared for the poor and vulnerable. Giving the first portion of their produce and livestock was a regular reminder to the people that everything they had came from God’s provision. Without His mercy and deliverance, they would still be slaves in Egypt. Still, when the people labored with their hands and minds, just like today, they had a tendency to believe they earned what they had, and, therefore, they may have thought that God was not entitled to it.
When that happened, how did God respond? In Malachi 3, He accused the people of robbing from Him. He challenged them to go back to His commandments and fulfill His tithes. In essence, He said, “Follow me, and just see how much I bless you.” To withhold these tithes meant that the nation did not function properly, God was not worshiped, and the poor went uncared for. No wonder why God 1) considered it robbery when citizens withheld their tithes, and 2) promised untold blessings for those who tithed properly.
In addition to the required tithe, Israelites were also encouraged to give freely on occasion (often called Freewill Offerings). For example, in Exodus 36, when the tabernacle was being constructed, the people gave such a large amount from their hearts, the offerings had to be stopped.
Next, let’s ask: What did Jesus say about tithes? During His earthly ministry, Jesus mentioned tithing a couple of times. Once was when He was rebuking the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23.
“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.” Matthew 23:23 (this is similar to what He said in Luke 11:42).
Remember that, as we have studied in previous videos, the Law of Moses was in effect until Jesus’ death established the new covenant. Tithing, therefore, was still binding at this point. Regarding these people’s habit of tithing, Jesus essentially said, “Good! You should do that!” However, apparently, they believed that following the Law of Moses externally was enough. But they were neglecting what Jesus called the weightier matters of the Law: justice, mercy, and faith.
The first time Jesus mentioned tithing in Scripture was in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector:
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’” Luke 18:10–12
Again, this Pharisee was depending on his outward religiousness to be enough. Read the rest of the parable, and you’ll learn that he did not go home justified.
So, what’s my point? Even when tithing was expected (mandated) of God’s people, on both occasions when Jesus mentions tithing, He is speaking to the human tendency to try to earn God’s favor by doing, or by giving. The Pharisees and other hypocrites leaned towards an unhealthy obsession of tithing over the weightier matters of the Law, like justice, mercy and faith. And sadly, that obsession with money didn’t end with the Pharisees. It sounds a lot like what we see in many churches today. A couple of months ago, a brother told me, “When I used to attend one church, we would go half a year without hearing a lesson on faith or love, but not a single church service went by without ‘tithes and offerings’ being mentioned five different times.”
Before we get into the New Testament to see how God does want us to give, let’s address this question: If tithing was first commanded in the Law of Moses, then what about Melchizedek and Jacob? Did tithing exist before the Law?
Genesis 14:20 says that Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of the spoils from battle. Some take this as proof that tithing was established before the Law of Moses. But that’s a misreading of the text. When we look at the context, it becomes clear that Abram didn’t give a regular tithe from his produce or earnings. He gave a portion of the spoils of war—a one-time act after a victory. This wasn’t a command from God, and it wasn’t presented as part of an ongoing spiritual obligation. It seems to have been more of a gesture of goodwill from one man to another: “Here, take a tenth of what I just won.” This has nothing to do with a priesthood tax or a sacrificial offering to God. And we’re never told that Abram did this again. His son didn’t do it. His grandson didn’t do it. Genesis 14 is not a pattern, not a precedent, and not a command. Using this verse as a prooftext to bind tithing on people today is stretching the passage far beyond what it actually says.
But what about Jacob? In Genesis 28:22, after a powerful encounter with God, Jacob makes a vow: “Of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.” Some point to this as evidence that tithing was practiced before the Law of Moses. But let’s take a closer look. Jacob isn’t responding to a command. No one told him to do this. It wasn’t part of some established system. Instead, it was a personal vow, coming from his own heart, in response to what God had just shown him. He even named the place Bethel (“House of God”) because of how meaningful that moment was to him. Just like with Abram, we don’t see this becoming a regular practice. We’re not told that Jacob kept giving a tenth. There’s no law, no pattern, and not even a tradition here. Just a one-time, heartfelt response. So, to take this single moment and use it to say that God expects all believers to tithe today is not only poor interpretation, but it’s also adding to the word of God.
Alright, if tithing isn’t binding on Christians, does that mean we shouldn’t give at all? In short: no! Christians are expected to give, and to give generously! Let’s see what the New Testament says by studying the New Testament model of giving.
Just like the Israelites who were rescued from slavery and given the Promised Land, we need to recognize that we wouldn’t have anything without the grace and gifts of God. In a very real sense, we actually own nothing. God, the creator and sustainer of the universe, owns it all. So, when we give to God, we should recognize it’s all His and that all things should be done to and for His glory.
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 9:6–8:
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”
Here’s the principle: If you want to reap bountifully, then sow bountifully. Of course, this principle has been twisted by preachers wanting you to pad their pockets. They imply that if you give them $1,000, God will give you $10,000. That’s not what God is saying here. When we give (or sow), what are we hoping to reap? According to verse 8: sufficiency for every good work. Paul goes onto explain in verses 10–15 that this sowing is for the purpose of giving thanks to God and multiplying ministry and kingdom work (not your own bank account, and not your preacher’s $500 sneakers).
When Christians give to the work of the Lord, it’s primarily for two purposes. First, it’s to ensure that those who work diligently at preaching the word can live. This would include the local evangelists, as well as missionaries. Paul told the Corinthians:
“If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? … The Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:11, 14
Second, Christians give to make sure that the needy saints—both locally and far off—are taken care of. When the church in Jerusalem was suffering, Paul told the Corinthians:
“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.” 1 Corinthians 16:1–2
Here are the commandments and principles regarding Christian giving that we glean from Scripture:
* Christians are to give as they’ve been prospered. In other words, if you earn anything, you should be giving something in proportion to how much you make. See 1 Corinthians 16:1–2.
* Every gift is a freewill offering. No percentage, therefore, is mandated.
* Christians should give liberally, bountifully, and generously.
* They should also neither give grudgingly nor under pressure. See 2 Corinthians 9:6–15.
* When giving, the Christians should be cheerful, knowing:
1. The gift is offered as “a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God” (Philippians 4:18).
2. The gift goes towards the spread of the gospel.
3. The gift provides for those in need.
* Finally, when giving through the local congregation, it should be done on the Lord’s Day (Sunday). See 1 Corinthians 16:1–2.
Let me emphasize 2 Corinthians 9:7 in the New American Standard Bible. Speaking of giving, the Bible says: “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
First, if, when you consider to give, you grudge the opportunity, you need to reevaluate what’s important to you. Would you rather store up treasures on earth? Or would you rather see God’s gospel reach more people than it ever has before? Would you rather stock your storehouses, or see Christians in need taken care of?
Secondly, you must not give under compulsion. In other words, don’t give because someone is pressuring you to do so. Do you have a preacher who can’t stop talking about “tithes and offerings”? Does he try to guilt you into padding his pockets? Stop following that wolf in sheep’s clothing. Don’t give grudgingly or under compulsion. Instead, give freely, generously, and cheerfully.
So, how much should I give? No, tithing is not for Christians. But even so, it’s worth pausing to reflect on what God required of the Israelites when you’re considering how much to give today. Under the Law of Moses, the Israelites were expected to give multiple tenths for different purposes. If that was an obligation under the old covenant, what about those of us who live under Christ in the better covenant? Many Christians have reasoned that ten percent should be the starting point, not the finish line. That’s a fair principle, and I hope it truly challenges you (as it has me), but we must remember that the New Testament doesn’t give us that number. Instead, the gospel—the system of faith we live under—teaches us to give generously, from the heart, and as God has prospered us. Not under compulsion, and not to check a box.
Now, for you, maybe you’re a little disappointed to learn that tithing isn’t required. I get it. I’m a bit like that too. I like rules. I like clear expectations. I like knowing what’s right and what’s wrong so I can check the box and move on. But that’s not the heart of the gospel.
Does God want our obedience? Absolutely. Does He want us to give? Yes! But how much? As much as the Macedonians gave:
“For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.” 2 Corinthians 8:3–5
We don’t know how many dollars they gave. But we do know what mattered most: They first gave themselves to the Lord. Once they did that, giving generously to the work of the Lord was a natural result.
Why do so many people keep harping on tithes? If your church leadership is constantly preaching about tithing, you have to wonder: Are they trying to put you in bondage? Are they living lavish lives on money that you believe you’re offering to God?
As I spend time reaching out with the gospel, one of the most common objections I hear is, “I’m not going to church. All they want is my money!” Isn’t that heartbreaking? But sadly, it’s the image many people have when they think of preachers and so-called pastors today. And if you’ve diligently been giving your tithes and offerings, do you realize you’re part of the problem? Stop feeding this lie and break free from the bondage of a false gospel.
This bondage is usually tied to what’s known as the Prosperity “Gospel.” A couple of years ago, we put together some videos digging into that movement. If you’re anything like my friend—someone who was starving for real faith and love but constantly bombarded with sermons about money—then it’s time to start digging deeper. You can begin with this playlist right here.