According to the Bible, tithing is the practice of giving a tenth of one’s income or possessions as an offering to God. The word “tithe” literally means “a tenth.” In the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites to give a tenth of their crops and livestock as a holy offering to Him (Leviticus 27:30).
Exploring the Significance of Tithing in Scripture
The purpose of tithing is to support the church and the needs of the poor.
In the Old Testament, the tithes supported the priests who served in the temple and provided for the needs of the Levites and the poor (Deuteronomy 14:28-29).
In the New Testament, the church is supported through the voluntary giving of its members (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Here are some key verses about tithing:
Genesis 14:20 – “Blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand. Abram gave him a tenth of all.”
This verse mentions the first instance of tithing in the Bible, where Abram (later known as Abraham) gives a tenth of the spoils of war to Melchizedek, the priest.
Leviticus 27:30-32 – “All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord. If a man redeems anything of his tithe, he shall add a fifth part to it. All the tithe of the herds or the flocks, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy to the Lord.”
In this passage, God commands the Israelites to give a tenth of their crops and livestock to the Lord as a holy offering.
Malachi 3:8-10 – “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with the curse; for you rob me, even this whole nation. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this,” says the Lord of Armies, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there will not be room enough for.”
In this passage, God admonishes the Israelites for failing to bring their tithes to the temple and promises to bless them if they obey.
Matthew 23:23 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.”
In this passage, Jesus criticizes the religious leaders for being legalistic about tithing but neglecting more important matters of justice and mercy.
Tithing is seen as an act of obedience and worship, a way of acknowledging that all we have comes from God and that we trust Him to provide for our needs. While tithing is not explicitly commanded in the New Testament, many Christians choose to tithe as a way of honoring God and supporting their church community.
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