Tithing and the New Testament

There are a lot of Anti-Tithers who are keyboard commandos these days sending out diatribes against those giving and recieving tithing.

With great urgency, they make their case that tithing and our obligation to it have expired and anyone that would teach it are teaching false doctrine.

This is not a hard subject to address if one has a cursory knowledge of scripture.  

In the Old Testament, specifically, the Law of Moses there was a specific purpose of the tithing.

Tithing means to give ten percent of your increase.   The purpose of tithing was to provide for those who were dedicated to the ministry of the Lord on the behalf of the people.   God chose one Tribe of the twelve tribes to function and operate in a priestly capacity of ministry to the people for God and to God for the people.  They would tithe of all their increase.  Fruit, vegetables, livestock and any other thing that was an increase.   The purpose was to provide for those teaching and leading the people of God in the Word and ways of God.

The idea in the tithe is simple.  Everything you have belongs to God, we give God a tithe as a sign that we are returning a part of what he has given us in an increase.   That giving is used to provide for those involved in ministry to the people.  

Tithing predated Moses and the Law

The first time you find the idea of tithing is Abraham.   When he came back from a victory in battle he was met by Melchizedek who the Bible says was a priest of God.   The Bible tells us, 

" And he gave him tithes of all."    Genesis 14:20

Abraham paid tithes.

Jacob when he had the dream of the Angels descending from heaven and built an Altar he called Bethel he made a promise to God, 


"And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee."  Genesis 28:22




Tithing in the New Testament

Many people who are adamant against tithing miss the spirit of Giving that is throughout the scripture.

Tithing is given out of a spirit, "Everything I have God gave it to me, the least I can give is a tithe."   (Ten percent is a tithe.)  

Jesus admonition to the Pharisees


Luke 11:42But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.







Jesus did not tell them not to tithe, in fact, he told them, you need to give tithes.

Paul's teaching about giving to the New Testament.

Giving in the New Testament has the same purpose as it did in the Old Testament.  It is about supporting those who are involved in the ministry of the Word and the Ways of God.   No doubt in the New Testament, all believers have access to a priestly ministry of being used and available to God.   There is no longer an inherited ministry that is relegated to a family dedicated to the service of God.   Rather God gives individuals he has called to minister to the church in different roles.

"and he gave some apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers."
Listen to Paul as he appeals to the Law of Moses in relationship to money, giving and the ministry of the New Testament.
1 Corinthians 9
"9 For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
Paul appealed to the Law of Moses to affirm that giving of money and support was still a new testament obligation to the believers.    
In the Old Testament Giving was so much more than Tithe.
If you study the Old Testament there were many offerings given in addition to tithing.    First-fruit offerings, sin-offerings, peace offerings, free will offerings are just a few things in addition to the tithe.  If one were to put a calculator on this the people were giving over 30% of their increase.

In the New Testament, they were giving more than tithe.   
In Acts chapter 4 there was a season where people were selling all they had and were living in a way that made sure everyone had what was needed.  The early church lived under the occupation of Rome and there was a great need in the church.   People were selling land and giving the total selling price to the Apostles.    In fact, it was such an understood thing that Ananias and Sephira felt compelled to sell land and lie that they had given the total proceeds and in that they conspired to lie about what they had done, God killed them dead.

I would suggest that tithing is an easy beginning point in giving, however, we must also recognize that this should be a point of beginning, not the maximum.

Why?  Because tithing is a spiritual principle that began with faithful Abraham.  This principle was further demonstrated by Jacob and was then given as a spiritual principle in the Law.    This principle of giving to provide for those in ministry was burnished into the minds of the people final book of the Old Testament.

Read the following scripture with an eye for the spiritual principle and promise.   
Malachi 36 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.7 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?8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.10 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.11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.
Anyone that would speak against tithing is demonstrating a lack of Biblical understanding and a blindness to the spiritual principle.
Sadly the Anger of Cain is often reflected in the attitude of those who are offended at the idea of giving 10%.   How much angrier would they be at the idea that God actually is looking for more than 10%?  God want's us to give our all to him.  Body, Soul and Mind and Spirit.