So, what about Christian Tithing?

The majority of leaders and parishioners in the Church say we’re required to tithe, that is one is to give a tenth of their income to God every week. But, I ask the reader the following questions: When and where did the tithe originate? Who was it for? And, what was it’s purpose?

Before answering those questions, let’s site the most popular verse regarding tithing, Malachi 3:8-10: “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 (i.e. Israel, not the church). Bring all the tithes in 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 the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be enough room for you to receive it (italics added).

It’s unfortunate that this passage regarding the tithe has been isolated in light of so many other passages in the Old Testament regarding the subject. The tithe became law back in the book of Leviticus chapter 27:30: And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or the fruit of the tree is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord (Italics added).

This tithe is regarded as the Levite’s tithe. Why? Because the other tribes were to support the priestly tribe for the service of their daily ministry at the house of God. Levites were not allowed to till the land as the other tribes did for their compensation. The Lord was their inheritance (Deuteronomy 18:2). The Levites were the governing body of the Theocracy of Israel – meaning the nation was run by God. Levites were God’s direct servants on the earth. Giving to the Levites was in essence giving to the Lord. The tithe was taxation to support their government, and it was holy and good. It was so holy that the Levites had to give a tenth of the tithe (a heave offering) they received from the people to the Lord through Aaron, the High Priest (Numbers 18:25-32).

Also every third year, the tithe was to be stored within one’s gates and was to be distributed to the Levites, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. Not only was the tithe meeting the needs of the Levites, it took care of the welfare of the poor along with their annual religious festivals where the nation would go to the sanctuary where they would eat and rejoice in the Lord’s provision (Numbers 14:22-29).


 Other Old Testament passages that deal with tithing are II Chronicles 31:5-11 and Nehemiah 10:35-39.

Tithing is not required of the church. It was an Old Testament ordinance. Jesus mentions the tithe in Matthew 23, and in a parable in Luke 18:12. The tithe is also mentioned in Hebrews 7 because the writer is recounting the events between Abraham and Melchizedek in Genesis 14, but not in the sense that we’re obligated to do it. This does not absolve the church of it’s obligation to give however. Jesus in Luke 6:38 commands us to give and it shall be given back to us… In I Corinthians 16 Paul commands the church to lay aside something on the first day of the week. Here, Paul was specifically making reference to the Corinthians giving money to support the poor Saints in Jerusalem. However I believe storing a discretionary amount on an ongoing basis is good.

II Corinthians 9:6-7 tells us to decide what we’re to give and give it with joy for this is what God loves. No percentage is prescribed here. It’s at the giver’s discretion. We’re allowed to give a tenth, more than or less than a tenth. Faithfulness and attitude is the key. 


Let me hasten to make another point, if you've been blessed by giving a tenth of your increase to the Lord every week, by all means continue. God is blessing your faithfulness.

There may be people who give tithes because they’re afraid not to – believing if they fail to do so, will be robbing God, and cursed with a curse. The tragedy of the Malachi 3:8-10 was that the people of God were not tithing, and as a result, were robbing the Levites, and more importantly God of what he was due. This forced the Levites to work in the fields with the other tribes to meet their needs which meant God’s house was neglected; meaning the daily offerings and obligation of the nation in terms of worship were brought to a halt. This angered the Lord, and that is why he told the children of Israel that “…you have robbed me in tithes and offerings.”  The Lord also told Israel, “you’re cursed with a curse for robbing me!” They failed to pay their taxes thus not supporting the theocratic government thus breaking the law of God which is holy. 


Keep in mind not only were tithes required giving year by year (not every week as people do in the church today), some Levitical offerings were required as well, and that on a daily basis. If the church is going to require the tithe, they have to require certain Old Testament offerings as well (Leviticus 1-5). See the confusion this causes?

In closing, where did the tithe originate? In Israel's day, Leviticus 27:30. This where it became law. What was it’s purpose? To fund the national government of Israel just like our taxes do today. Who was the beneficiaries? The Levites, the stranger, the orphan, and the widows. Giving to God should always be motivated by love and obedience, not by compulsion, intimidation, a prescribed amount, or  poor theology - not explaining the subject in it's entirety.

 Be glad we have the blessed privilege to give (Acts 20:35). It’s builds the kingdom of God, supports the work of the ministry, and most importantly, it glorifies the Lord with the resources he’s given us.