What does the Bible say about tithing? Should Christians tithe, or is that something that only applied to God’s people in the Old Testament?
This is a controversial issue that has caused much division and hurt in churches, so it’s important to have biblical clarity on the matter.
Have you ever had an experience like this? You’re sitting in church, and it’s time for the offering. The pastor stands up and reads this passage. When he’s done, you’re struck with fear and pressure about how much you should give:
“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. 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. 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; “And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.
After they read that, you’re thinking, “I don’t want to be guilty of robbing God. I don’t want to be cursed. I would love to have a blessing poured out on me!” Too many pastors are using these verses to create fear and guilt among members to coerce them to give more. Is this the right application? Let’s break it down in Q&A style.
Will I be cursed if I don’t tithe?
The answer to this question is NO! You will not be cursed if you do not tithe. But, you might ask, doesn’t Malachi 3:9 say “You are cursed with a curse” for not tithing? It’s important to always read things in CONTEXT! This was written in the context of the Old Testament law. So what does the New Testament say about this?
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).
Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ...
It’s not possible for you, as a believer in Christ, to be cursed. God will not curse you if you do not give a certain amount.
Is tithing taught in the New Testament?
The word “tithe” only appears a couple of times in the New Testament, and neither time is it set forth as some kind of command. And when it is referenced, it’s actually referred to in somewhat of a negative way.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, 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…
There are no set percentages for giving found ANYWHERE in the New Testament. What the New Testament teaches is that our relationship with God should surpass whatever relationship we would’ve had with the law. Not only is murder wrong, but anger in your heart. Not only is adultery wrong, but even the lust in your heart. Divorce was permitted in the law, but Jesus said only to do so if there is adultery. Everything laid out by Jesus is beyond what was set forth in the Old Testament law.
So, if they were only supposed to give a certain percentage in the Old Testament, what we should be willing to give as New Testament Christians should not be limited to that.
If tithing was established before Mosaic Law, should New Testament Christians still tithe?
Some people promote tithing because tithing was established before the Law of Moses. So, since it was practiced before the law, they say it should be practiced after the law.
They’re referring to a couple of incidents in the Old Testament, such as Genesis 14:20 when Abraham tithed to a king. But Abraham wasn’t under any obligation or command to do that. It was a totally voluntary act of Abraham’s will. And we don’t see anywhere that Abraham ever taught others to do it, nor do we see that he ever did it again. It was an isolated, voluntary incident.
Should we really take that isolated example, and take it out of context and make it a command? That’s not proper biblical interpretation.
What does the Bible say about tithing? Will I be blessed if I do it?
I think the better question to ask here is: How does God respond to our giving? We can find the answer in Paul’s teachings.
But I say this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
We have to be careful with this verse, because it’s abused by prosperity preachers. This doesn’t say that God blesses you back equally in monetary form for what you give. It’s God’s business how He chooses to respond. We just know that if we sow more, we will reap more in whatever form God chooses to give that. That should be one motivation for us to give generously and voluntarily.
If I don’t give, will something bad happen to me?
Preachers will use Malachi 3 to invoke fear in people, making them give because they want God’s protection from bad things happening. But Christians should never give out of fear. We should only give because we are thankful for what God has given us to manage. We should give with a cheerful, not a fearful, heart.
Conclusion: What does the Bible say about tithing for Christians?
If you want to give 10% that’s great. But you should not feel condemned if you give less, and you should not feel that your giving has to be limited to 10% if you’re able to give more.