Tithing, as taught in the Bible, is the practice of giving a tenth of one’s income or produce to God. It is an act of obedience and worship, acknowledging God as the ultimate provider and owner of all things. The concept of tithing originated in the Old Testament, where God commanded the Israelites to bring a tithe of their crops, livestock, and other possessions to support the Levites and the work of the tabernacle.
Tithing was a way to honor God, demonstrate gratitude, and participate in the community of faith. In the New Testament, Jesus affirmed the principle of tithing and even commended the Pharisees for their faithfulness in tithing. However, Jesus also emphasized the importance of justice, mercy, and love alongside tithing.
The apostle Paul encouraged believers to give generously and cheerfully, emphasizing the heart behind their giving rather than rigid legalism. Tithing is not a means to earn salvation but a response of gratitude and trust in God’s provision. It is an opportunity to invest in the work of God’s kingdom, support ministry, and help those in need.
Ultimately, tithing is a personal decision made in prayerful consideration and according to one’s own conviction. When practiced with a joyful and willing heart, tithing becomes a spiritual discipline that aligns our priorities with God’s kingdom and fosters a spirit of generosity in our lives.
“Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce.”
Proverbs 3:9
Scriptures about Tithing
Malachi 3:10
“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.”
Leviticus 27:30
“Every 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.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-7
“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Matthew 23:23
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”
Hebrews 7:8
“In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.”
Luke 11:42
“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”
Deuteronomy 14:22
“You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field year by year.”
Numbers 18:21
“To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting.”
Proverbs 3:9
“Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce.”
Genesis 14:20
“And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand! And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
Nehemiah 10:37
“And to bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our ground, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our towns where we labor.”
Matthew 6:1-4
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
2 Chronicles 31:5
“As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in abundance the firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field. And they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.”
Luke 18:12
“I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.
Amos 4:4
“Come to Bethel, and transgress; to Gilgal, and multiply transgression; bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days.”
