The Truth About Tithing

Leviticus 27:30-34
"'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD." If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it. The entire tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord. He must not pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If he does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.’”

These are the commands the Lord gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the Israelites.

Numbers 18:20-26
The Lord said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them; I am your share and your inheritance among the Israelites.

“I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the Tent of Meeting. From now on the Israelites must not go near the Tent of Meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die. It is the Levites who are to do the work at the Tent of Meeting and bear the responsibility for offenses against it. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. They will receive no inheritance among the Israelites. Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord. That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.’”

The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering.'"

Deuteronomy 14:24-26
“Now when the Lord your God blesses you with a good harvest, the place of worship he chooses for his name to be honored might be too far for you to bring the tithe. If so, you may sell the tithe portion of your crops and herds, put the money in a pouch, and go to the place the Lord your God has chosen. When you arrive, you may use the money to buy any kind of food you want—cattle, sheep, goats, wine, or other alcoholic drink. Then feast there in the presence of the Lord your God and celebrate with your household.


First off, if you see where these scriptures come from, you'll notice they are from the first five books of the Bible (the Pentateuch), or "The Law". Secondly, the tithe mentioned is a tenth of the fruit, grain, or animals, even though money was already in use (see Genesis 31:15, Genesis 42:27, Exodus 22:7, Leviticus 6:4, Leviticus 25:37, Deuteronomy 14:25). Deuteronomy gives the people tithing the option to sell their tenth of stuff for money, if the journey to the place God chooses is too far to carry their "stuff", then use the money to buy any kind of food, to feast in the presence of God. So the tithe was never meant to be money, it was supposed to be a celebration of honor to God for His blessings.

In the next verse, you see Jesus telling the Pharisees that they are wrong for tithing on everything but not upholding the more important things. While Jesus walked the earth, He talked to the people under the Law because He had not yet gone to the cross and done away with it. So He used examples from their everyday life to demonstrate what God wants from His people.

Matthew 23:23
“How terrible for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees! You pretenders! You give God a tenth of your spices, like mint, dill and cumin. But you have not practiced the more important things of the law, like fairness, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the last things without failing to do the first."


Keep All The Law

Romans 3:19
What the law says, it says to those who are ruled by the law. Its purpose is to shut every mouth and make the whole world accountable to God.

Romans 3:27
So who can brag? No one! Are people saved by obeying the law? Not at all! They are saved because of their faith.

Galatians 3:10
All who depend on obeying the law are under a curse. It is written, “May everyone who doesn’t continue to do everything that is written in the Book of the Law be under God’s curse.”

Galatians 3:13
Christ set us free from the curse of the law. He did it by becoming a curse for us. It is written, “Everyone who is hung on a pole is under God’s curse.”

Galatians 5:2-4
Here is what I, Paul, say to you. Don’t let yourselves be circumcised. If you do, Christ won’t be of any value to you. I say it again. Every man who lets himself be circumcised must obey the whole law. Some of you are trying to be made right with God by obeying the law. You have been separated from Christ. You have fallen away from God’s grace.

Galatians 5:18
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the authority of the law.

Hebrews 7:4-6
Think how great Melchizedek was. Even our father Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had captured. Now the law lays down a rule for the sons of Levi who become priests. They must collect a tenth from the people. They must collect it even from those who belong to the family line of Abraham. Melchizedek did not trace his family line from Levi. But he collected a tenth from Abraham. Melchizedek blessed the one who had received the promises.

James 2:10
Suppose you keep the whole law but trip over just one part of it. Then you are guilty of breaking all of it.

Galatians 3:10 tells us that all who depend on obeying the law are under a curse. In 5:2-4, we learn that people who are believers, who are wanting to get circumcised, will nullify what Christ did. If they keep one part of the law, they must obey all of the law. All the other verses show that Jesus set us free from the law, and if we are led by the Spirit, we are not under the authority of the law. We are saved by faith, so why are we still trying to keep part of the law, tithing?


Giving is Not Tithing, There IS a Difference!

Matthew 5:42
“Give to the one who asks you for something. Don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow something from you.

Matthew 10:42
Suppose someone gives even a cup of cold water to a little one who follows me. What I’m about to tell you is true. That one will certainly be rewarded.”

Mark 4:24
“Think carefully about what you hear,” he said. “As you give, so you will receive. In fact, you will receive even more.

Luke 6:30
“Give to everyone who asks you. And if anyone takes what belongs to you, don’t ask to get it back.

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good amount will be poured into your lap. It will be pressed down, shaken together, and running over. The same amount you give will be measured out to you.”

Luke 12:33
Sell what you own. Give to those who are poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out. Put away riches in heaven that will not be used up. There, no thief can come near it. There, no moth can destroy it.

Acts 2:42-47
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.


"...But I say"

Matthew 5:21-22
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire."

Matthew 5:27-28
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."


When Jesus quoted the Law, He made it more strict. Jesus' way of giving, and not tithing, makes people more responsible for others. In order to be aware to give, you need to know what others need, and meet their needs if you're capable. Tithing is the Law, but we're no longer under the Law. Giving is the way Jesus meant for it to be. So if you are still tithing instead of giving, you are bound to the law and under a curse. And if the teaching you are hearing in a modern day church is tithing, run! Run far away. Remember, if there is something being taught that you don't agree with, you vote with your feet and with your wallet.