What does the Bible say about tithing?

by JanEgil Gulbrandsen - 2009

Updated March 2015

Tithing

• Tithing is mentioned 28 times in the old testament and 9 times in the new testament

• But tithing does not necessarily mean giving 10% to “the local church”

• This presentation is an attempt to get a true “biblical understanding” what tithing is all about – free of personal agendas to keep the religious machinery going

Tithing

• Tithing in the old testament

• First story:

• The first time tithing is mentioned in the Bible is in Genesis chapter 14

• (NB.This was before the law was given)

Tithing

• Abrahams nephew Lot and his family was taken captive and everything they owned was stolen by “foreign kings”

• Abraham decided to take his (318 trained) men and go after them…

• Abraham (with the help of the Lord) managed to free them all and recover all the lost property

• Melchizedek - the priest (a picture of Jesus) blesses Abraham by God the most high and blesses God for the victory

• Then Abraham gave him (Mel) a tenth of everything (Gen. 14:20)

Tithing

• What really happened here:

• 1) Abraham trusted God to support him in battle to establish justice

• 2) God delivers on Abrahams trust

• 3) The priest “Mel” blesses Abraham for his faith in God

• 4) In his thankfulness Abraham gives “Mel” a tenth of all the loot (plunder) he had just gained

Tithing

• Does this story indicate, or can this story be used as legitimacy or justification for

• 10% tithing of all monthly income from our daily labor?

• Absolutely not.

• This was a “one time giving” by Abraham.

• Not “a law” or a rule that says: Give 10% of everything you earn – week after week.

Tithing

• Second story:• Deuteronomy 14: 22-29• If you have not read this story before it is

almost ”unbelievable” – the tithing is spent on a lavish private “party”

• This is the story that “few pastor” wants you to know…

• This is how it goes:

Tithing

• Be sure you set aside “a tenth” of all produce (farm production) each year

• Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine, oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord our God “at Gods dwelling place” (the temple)

• It the temple is to far away: Sell all your produce and use the money to buy “whatever you like”

• Cattle – sheep – wine and other strong drink – or anything you need for the party

• (sorry about the mentioned of “strong drink” or liquor – I’m sure it was not a absolute requirement – but I refuse to leave it out like some do)

Tithing

• This is the purpose:• Then you and your household shall eat and

rejoice in the presence of the Lord• And do not forget (to invite) the Levites ( the

pastors and church leaders) for they do not have an inheritance (farm) of their own

• Also invite the strangers, the fatherless and the widows in your town and they shall eat and be satisfied

• The Lord your God (in doing this) will bless you in all your work of your hands

Tithing

• In plain English:

• You decide how you use your tithe

• Use it for a party of thanksgiving to the Lord

• Invite anyone who is poor and in need

• This is pleasing to the Lord

Tithing

• Third story:• Tithing was a common way for kings and rulers

of taxing the people• Read Samuels speech to Israel in

1 Samuel 8 – verse 15 and 17• Samuel warns the people that if they insists on

having a king (“big” government) the king will “make the people work for him” and tax the farmers 10%

• This tithing is really a government tax• (It’s unclear (to me) if this is “the tithe” or an additional tithe over and above

the tithe the law required)

Tithing

• Forth story - Genesis chapter 28:• Jacob has a prophetic dream about the promised

land and all his descendents• He wakes up from the dream and is afraid• He makes a vow (a promise):• If God will be with me and protect me,• If God will feed me and cloth me,• Then the Lord will be my God• And of all you (God) give me – (increase of

possessions) I will give you a tenth (Verse 22)

Tithing

• What really happened here:• As we see from the story – Jacob voluntarily and

on his own initiative offered to give • a tenth to the Lord (if God did a lot of thing for

him first)• This was a promise initiated by Jacob in

thankfulness to God,• Not a commandment from God that Jacob had

to fulfill

Tithing

• Fifth story – Leviticus chapter 27• These are the commandments the Lord

gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites (verse 34)

• This belongs to the Lord: a tithe from all of the land - grain and fruit, the herd and flocks (Verse 30 to 33)

• All the tithes is to be given to the Levites (Numbers 18:21)

• (As you know: We are free from the law of Moses – and we do not

have a Levitical preast hood anymore)

Tithing

• Tithing in “the new testament” (before the cross)

• Lukas 11:42• Jesus complement the Pharisees for tithing but

woes them for neglecting justice and the love of God

• Does Jesus in this verse suggest or indorse “law commanded” tithing for “Christians”?

• Absolutely not - The Pharisees were men under the law – they were not Christians

Tithing

• Tithing in “the new covenant” (after the cross)

• There is no commandment of tithing in the new covenant writings (or anywhere else in the N.T.)

Tithing

• How about Hebrews chapter 7?• Is not the mention of tithing in this chapter

“proof” of the laws requirement for tithing and that it is still applicable to “the new covenant church”?

• The story here (staring in Heb. 6:13) is not about tithing but about “the certainty of Gods promise”

• God has set a hope before us – this is His promise: Jesus our priest forever

• This Jesus is so great (represented by “Melchizedek”) that even Abraham chose to gave him a tenth

• In other words: We like to give to someone so great!

Tithing

• Tithing in “the new covenant” (after the cross)

• But there are a number of scriptures that tells us to share our material goods with the 1) church leaders,

• 2)the church members

• and 3) the needy

Tithing

• 1) Regarding the church leaders:• “The Lord has commanded that those who

preach the Gospel should receive their living from the gospel” 1 Cor. 9:11-14

• “Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share “all good things” with his instructor” (teacher) Gal 6:6

• “The elders (pastors) who direct the affairs of the church well, are worthy of double honor” ( and adequate financial support) 1 Tim 5:17

Tithing

• 2) Regarding your fellow Christians:• “Share with each other your material blessings”

(Rom. 15:25-27)

• “On the first day of every week – set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income (as God has prospered him) to be sent to (the church in) Jerusalem” (1 Cor. 16:2-3)

• Great generosity - “they gave as much as they were able and even beyond their ability” (2 Cor.8:3)

• “Just as you excel in everything – faith, speech, knowledge and love, see that you also excel in the grace of giving” (2 Cor. 8:7)

Tithing

• 3) Regarding the needy:• Jesus said: “For I was hungry and you

gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick in prison and you did not look after me,

• Whatever you did not do to any of these, you did not do to me” (Matt. 25:43-45)

Tithing

• In conclusion:• We – the church – are clearly not under

the law of tithing…• And just because Abraham (living before

the time of the law) choose to give “Mel” 10% of his “plunder”, that does not mean that you have to

• So forget your “calculator” and the discussion if your tithing is of your gross or net income

Tithing

• But pay close attention:

• That does not mean that “new covenant believers” don’t give

• Infect we are under “a higher law”

• To love our neighbor as our self

• Everything we own and everything we earn belong to God

• And we are to “set aside” every week what God prompts us to give…

Tithing

• Not because we have to…

• But because we love to…• It’s a part of “our new nature” (Christ within

me) to give – to help – to share - over and above our ability… (2 cor. 8:3)

• That can easily ad up to much more then 10%

• We are not under the law – but our love and freedom makes us give…

Tithing

• Your future “giving” will most likely look like this:

Sharing yourearthly income and

possessionsin love

will most likely ad upto more then 10%

10%tithing

We are free fromthe lawof tithing

Tithing

The End