Below is a list of all 36 bible verses about tithes from both the Old and New Testament scriptures. There are many bible verses that refer to other forms of giving such as offerings, Spirit-led giving, or firstfruits; but I have only chosen bible verses that explicitly fit the definition of the tithe. I have combined the bible verses into 17 passages where it makes sense as a whole and included a general paraphrase to offer a quick synopsis of the verse(s).
You can view the Greek and Hebrew words that we to translate the word “tithe” on biblestudytools.com. The Hebrew word in the Bible most commonly used is Ma`aser. The Bible also uses `asar and `asiyriy when looking through a concordance. All these Hebrew words mean the same – to take a tenth. The Greek word used in the bible is Apodekatoo.
What are the Old Testament Bible verses about tithes?
- Genesis 14:20 – Melchizedek comes out to meet Abraham, as Abraham gives him a tithe of the spoils of his victory.
- Genesis 28:20-22 – After the vision of God’s renewed covenant, Jacob initiates a vow with God by offering a tithe of what he receives from the promised land.
- Leviticus 27:30-32 – The specifications of tithing are introduced into the law of Moses.
- Numbers 18:20-32 – The tithe is dedicated to the Levites for the work in the tabernacle.
- Deuteronomy 12:5-11 – God gives instructions for what to do with the tithe once Israel crosses the Jordan.
- Deuteronomy 14:22-29 – God gives instructions on how to disperse and exchange the tithe.
- Deuteronomy 26:12-15 – God gives instructions on how Israel should sanctify the tithe before they can ask for a blessing.
- 2 Chronicles 31:5-12 – The children of Israel do what’s right under the reign of Hezekiah, and bring the tithes to the designated places.
- Nehemiah 10:37-38 – Israel obeys God and brings the tithes to the storehouse.
- Nehemiah 12:44 – Officers were appointed to watch over the tithes in the storehouse.
- Nehemiah 13:5-12 – Nehemiah cleanses the storehouse and kicks Tobiah out of the room that was designated to store the tithe. He then restores order.
- Amos 4:4 – God commands Israel to bring back the tithe and reiterates the curse that is upon them if they don’t.
- Malachi 3:8-10 – God reprimands Israel for not delivering the tithe, and reiterates the blessings and curses that would be in result of whatever decision they chose.
What are the New Testament Bible verses about tithes?
- Matthew 23:23 – Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for not obeying the weightier matters of the law along with tithing.
- Luke 11:42 – A parallel bible verse of Matthew 23:23 as Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for not obeying the weightier matters of the law along with tithing.
- Luke 18:12 – A Pharisee brags about his obedience to the law and tithing.
- Hebrews 7:5-9 – Abraham’s tithe is used to illustrate a change concerning the priesthood.
Murutwo wa Jesu says
My Dear Brethren,
The following excerpt promises blessings to those who are generous to the poor.
Deuteronomy 15:7-11
7“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, 8“but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs. 9“Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the LORD against you, and it become sin among you. 10“You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. 11“For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.”
So why don’t we hear it being preached as much as Malachi 3:10?
Dagirathi, Murutwo wa Jesu
Sevent of Jesus the Christ says
I think tithing is a silly tradition, promoted in churches, by the greed of their own success. How many millions do the famous pastors really need? They encourage people to tithe, in hopes to simulate the peoples own greed and it works. Give more so that God will give more, they preach, so the people give. Blind guides, we should not want riches on earth but only in heaven. The people pass up the homeless on the street and the widows, orphans, hospitalized and jail mates and say, The good that I could have done to you, is promised to the church… Hypocrites!
erin michelle says
actually i used to believe that same lie you’re referring to. Look if you don’t want to give it to a church give it to a different god related organization. It’s not about giving to pastors and churches. It’s about having faith in God. Malachi 3:10: Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
Jeffrey Morales says
I just wanted to say tithing is Good and pleases God, it’s like a good deed. Obeying the ten commandment and loving him is mandatory and we have to repent for transgressing them. He loves everyone the same sinner or saint, giver or taker. God’s peace
Patricia says
why isn’t circumcision or food laws enforced in the church today? They’re also taught in scripture. Because preachers can’t get rich off those things.
Patricia says
why aren’t circumcision or food laws enforced in the church today? They’re also taught in scripture. Because preachers can’t get rich off those things.
Lance Carter says
Lusting after money corrupts both the individual and the church. I have no problem giving. I do have to be careful where it goes. We are to be good stewards of our resources. If I am giving my money to someone who is fleecing God’s lambs that does no good to further the Church. However if I am giving to further the work of the Gospel them I am greatly honored to be a part of that work.
GrammieOf47 says
That’s why tithing should be paid only to the true Church of Jesus Christ. It is thehe Church that has no paid clergy and all funds go to the building up of the Kingdom of God on the earth.
Patricia Backora says
copy and paste this link to watch this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baxW6aHpJT8
Jared Brian says
Patricia,
thanks for the link, i like it well enough to post it our blog home page.
– jared.
SERVANT-SERGIO says
TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF IS THE MESSAGE , BUT TO LOVE YOURSELF YOU MUST FIRST UNDERSTAND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOVE GOD FOR THAT IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT THAT WE MUST FOLLOW OF THE TO THAT REST TO THE LAW OF GODS COVENANT WITH US Mat 22:37-38 , WE LIVE UNDER A NEW COVENANT WICH IS THE LAW OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Rom 8:2 ALSO KNOWN AS THE SCEPTER OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS PSALMS 40:6 , FURTHER TO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT THERE IS NO DEATH TO SAY CONDEMNATION Rom 8:1 ,Gal 5:22-23 THEREFORE THE MESSAGE PUT OUT BY EXAMPLE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IS TO GIVE WHAT YOU GIVE TO GOD FROM THE HEART AND GIVE WITH GOOD CHEER AS YOU WOULD WISH UPON YOURSELF AND REMEMBER THE HOUSE OF WORSHIP IS TO BE UPHELD SO GIVE FROM THE HEART THOSE THAT DONT HAVE GIVE WITH SERVICE ,HUNGRY GIVE HIM A NOURISMENT OR THIRSTY SATISFY HIS THIRST LETS PUT GREED ASIDE AND BY THIS WE PUT AWAY DEATH AS A PRODUCT OF WICKEDNESS TO LIVE BY THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS A BETTER WAY TO SERVE GOD THAN TO GIVE ANY WORLDLY MONEY GOLD OR WHATSOEVER IT MAY BE ,
JB says
Jesus said.. God is looking for someone to worship him in truth and spirit. Jesus also said..give unto Ceasers what is Ceasers and give unto God what is Gods!! Money dosent fit that bill. So help others and give ur Time which cant be replaced.If u seek money then ur of this world and not of the Kingdom!
Patricia Backora says
Why don’t we see more blogs on whether CIRCUMCISION is still binding on the church? Preachers dig up any parts of the Old Law that make them money, and to be sure, if a few pennies could be made off circumcision, you’d hear a sermon on it every week and all the males of the congregation would head for the hills!
Lainii87 says
Tithing is NOT about making money for preachers. Any pastor who teaches it this way is just wrong. Tithing is about being grateful to our Father who has Blessed us and out of a heart of love and devotion to HIM wanting to give back to Him by sowing into His kingdom and what is important to Him. It is Blessing God and in return He will surely Bless us. I am so sick of people looking at the tithe as some drudgery “have to because a preacher said so” kind of thing. The simple fact of tithing is GIVE if you feel grateful to God for what He has Blessed you with and you want to show Him honor by giving back and don’t give if you view it as a chore or some kind of “duty tax” All this arguing back and forth about do I HAVE to pay tithe or not is just really ridiculous. Tithing won’t get you to heaven and not tithing won’t send you to hell so why do you argue about it? It is a personal choice we all make..to honor and thank God or not. We don’t live under the law…Jesus came to fulfill the law. If you don’t want to tithe…don’t. But if you don’t SOW then don’t complain when there is nothing to reap!
john says
being a member of the body of christ , i always go to john 3:16 were it says “God so loved the world”, that,s us in a fallen state, “that he GAVE”… you know the rest.
I really believe that giving from the heart is what he is looking for. That,s what he did. Giving from the heart, not the head, enables us to really be the cheerful giver we are supposed to be. The tithing I have done is nothing compared to the offerings I have given,at church or elsewhere. To be moved to compassion for a certain situation , is really God speaking to us. Its not a formula, but an existence.
I too believe that tithing is really not commanded in the new testament but I know that giving from the heart, things that the tithe could never touch , is the true lifestyle of the Kingdom of God.
If I were a church Pastor, I would keep my focus on offerings from the heart. No pressure, no guilt, no formula. Just give as He directs, to where he directs. Its really refreshing.
The results might surprise you.. I,m watching it happen to others.
Emmanuel Mnahela says
Not paying tith is disobeying God, according to malach chapter 3. Thus it can block the entrance gate of heaven.
Jeffrey morales says
I read it and it reads give to jeruserlum if you a Jew. They will pick it up and bring it to the temple in Jerusalem . The reason was there was no temple and God wanted it built so that Jesus whould come. I am a Christian not a Jew, the temple is gone for 2000 years. It is a good deed now, nothing else. Tith is not inthe Ten Commandments. But yes thank you for giving.
JB says
LOL!!! very true.The problem is that most everyone is Religous which is alot different then a personal relationship with Christ.
Miriam says
SOOOOO VERY TRUE!! THE BOOK OF LIFE , WHICH IS INSTRUCTION MANUAL SAYS TITHE A 10TH OF YOUR EARNINGS WHICH MAKES A WHOLE. IT IS TO HONOR GOD AND WHAT HE HAS BLESSED US WITH.
David says
It better we stop all this argument because God himself is reading all this quotes and replys.let just obey his word as the bible direct us.so it better we keep our mouth shot and let hope to see God give us the right answer on the judgement day.this argument will not lead us anywhere God know best for us.stay bleesed.
Mike says
That which the law requires, grace inspires to do so much more.
Patricia Backora says
Only the ten per cent figure is seized on, the rest of the law is ignored, like giving ALL the tithe to the poor every three years, letting the tither buy wine or strong drink with tithe money (Deut.14:26), and many other laws preachers NEVER mention! I wonder why.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cONsdK2tG9Y
Lainii87 says
Because we are no longer living under the covenant of law. We do not tithe because it is “the law”..we tithe to sow back to God a portion of what He has given to us. We are through Jesus now under the NEW covenant of Grace.
Patricia says
The apostles never taught tithing. Read through all the NT epistles written to the churches. No one is ever rebuked for forgetting to tithe on their paycheck anymore than they’re rebuked for not offering an animal on the altar. Some people are deep in debt or living on disability. The church should be giving to them, not the other way around. Other people donate time and labor to the church. But I guess that doesn’t count. MONEY is the green lifeblood of the modern apostate institutional church. You could clean every toilet, polish every pew, babysit the pastor’s kids till kingdom come and you would still “owe” cash for your free salvation! Tithe collecting preachers don’t value work, prayer, or personal evangelism like they do the green stuff which ensures they dont have to bust their own butt at some lousy job.
pfire252 says
Reference
John Wesley’s sermon
“Use Of Money”
Joshua says
Let us all do our best to follow the Messiah. In doing so, we will obey God’s commandments, and we will do as the Messiah said and as He did.
Our Father has given His Son as an atonement sacrifice for our iniquities.. so let us respond to Him in love with obedience to His Unchanging Word. We know that the Bible tells us that if we love Him, we will obey Him, and we know that sin is the transgression of God’s Law (1 John 3:4). So let us search God’s Word and obey Him with a joyful heart, as He is so gracious, merciful and kind, despite the fact that we don’t deserve it.
Instead of taking other people’s word on things, I suggest we just take God’s Word literally, and follow the old WWJD concept. Messiah would never teach to disobey God’s Unchanging Word, for He Himself obeyed it, as He was sinless, and He did not come to abolish God’s Law. When in doubt, I recommend you try out for yourselves things in question and consider what Our Master did. I can only speak for myself, and the more I conform my life to the Word (such as only eating clean, observing God’s Appointed Times, etc), the more rich and alive my life and my relationship with Him, as well as my understanding of His Word becomes.
In the end, I think you will find yourself living a much different life than most modern Christians live, if you forsake everything in order to obey God and live like the Messiah did.
May YHWH bless you all abundantly.
Sent with Love.
Nicole says
I very much admire your mature comment and personal understanding of God’s law.
I wholeheartedly appreciate your recognition that modern Christian’s have strayed from what it truly means to be a follower of the Messiah.
I lost my faith for many years because of the poor examples and treatment I got from fellow “Christians.” Your response gives me hope for the Christian religion, which unfortunately is too often poorly represented by those who don’t fully understand it and who don’t read and study the Bible.
ridgebax says
The Church (whichever one you attend) is not God, it’s a business just like the Goverment so keep on debating but paying a church 10% is just a tax.Share love and respect for people and help people when you can, buy some homeless guy a meal and that is what He wanted.
GrammieOf43 says
ridgebax, you are exactly right except for one huge thing: All the churches ARE man’s, and it wasn’t until the Lord restored his true church and gospel upon the earth that any of them had any authority or priesthood power. Now it’s up to you to find His church by humbling yourself and praying until you receive the promptings you need to find His church. If you are evil and unrepentant, you won’t find it. One hint is that it’s all over the earth searching out the righteous.
Delores says
Amen to that, coz some churches don’t do that we give and give to the church but what does the church give…We have people in this country that need food, shelter, water lites and we running to other countries supplying them God wants us to know he resides in us each of us and we are to take care of us, a building can’t help me, U are the kingdom of god he resides in you….
FP says
And how exactly do you think a church would be able to send missionaries, open orphanages in poor countries, feed the poor, spread the the good news of the Gospel to the 4 corners of the world if it wasn’t for church goers tithing?
GrammieOf47 says
FP a church could not send missionaries, help the poor and needy nor spread the good news of the Gospel to the four corners of the world without faithful members paying their full thithing.
Debra says
Giving freely covers all this!
RedFox says
Does anyone have thoughts on 1 Corinthians 9:14? Paul’s argument that “….those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” Doesn’t this imply that we need to give from our own possessions in order to support those in ministry that don’t have any other form of income? Call it what you may (giving/tithing)….the resources have to come from someone who is willing to give.
herb says
amen to redfox God will honour those who honor his word .
Chris says
Hi Redfox
The important things about any verse is to read it in context…starting at vs 1. Paul is speaking about the rights of APOSTLES…ie sent out ones…or missionaries and NOT resident preachers.
The right paul addresses in vs 4 confirms that he is addressing the ‘right to EAT and DRINK’…not the right to be paid a salary….or receive money from ‘tithes’
This is confirmed in the ‘first mention’ of the reward which APOSTLES only could expect and then only when they travelled. Mat 10:10…’the worker is worthy of his KEEP’…ie FOOD and not money … not mammon…and certainly not a ‘paid full-time career’
brian says
There will always be Christians who don’t give and will argue why we don’t have to. “live of the gospel” is talking about support of pastors as well. I pastored for eight years and worked a job and tithed and more just so the lights were on at the church. To many Christians want the church building, Sunday school, programs, worship services and a pastor to teach, visit hospital, council late at night in crisis, funeral, weddings and the list goes on………..for free. God never changes, his way is still through the tithe and some are more generous than that. My children and wife missed having a large part of me do to working and patoring. Those who say that’s old testament law, so is the ten commandments, oh how about the laws on who not to have sex with, the new never says you can’t sleep with your sister, so is it ok?………Most non giving Christians have a more things they don’t do. In the end you do or don’t do what ever pleases your flesh that between you and God. However, you have no authority to lead others to ignore Gods word, Old or New Testament and to believe yours.
Jared Brian says
Brian, I fully support the idea of providing generously for those who are fully devoted to a full time ministry. If God never intended to change the tithe, then the Church unlawfully did so on their own. You need to read this post. https://www.tithing.com/blog/god-never-changes-what-about-tithing/
Irving says
Hello Chris,
I do understand that many Pastors and church leaders use and miss use People because of greed. I do not believe however that we should categorize all pastors and leaders, because there are those who does honor and respect God enough to do right with funds received.
I also do believe that the workman need money to buy food, pay for hotel rooms, the workman may need to buy gas, buy a plain ticket, give in an offering etc, etc.
There are a lot of expenses related to providing a place for people to go and worship.
Now on the matter of tithing. If jesus did not discourage but rather encouraged it,we should do the same (Luke 11:42). Jesus told the Pharisees that it is good that they pay tithe down to the smallest of what they received. But that they shold not get so caught up in the outward showing of paying tithe that they forget To show justice and love.
He did not tell them not to tithe.
Jeffrey morales says
Well put, tithing is very,very, very good but not tithing is not a sin. We do it out of love, not because we have to
Chris says
RedFox the scripture you quote does not refer to pastors…it refers to travelling ministers ie apostoles. Those who are SENT out. It also does not refer to them being paid a salary or collecting money to build buildings…but to them being given food and accommodation. The only wages Jesus ever said apostles could receive are defined in Mat 10:10 (first mention) as related to ‘keep’. Even Luke 10:1-7 refers to ‘sent out ones’ being allowed to receive food and accommodation as ‘wages’. It never refers to them collecting money.
This is confirmed as the early church’s practice in 3 John 7
Dino says
Hi I am doing the tittes and offering this Sunday @ church it’s going be my first ever and I need help I need a good bible verse and the meaning of the verse please help thanks.
Charleston Burks says
I don’t think tithing should be a debate. When you give to the Church, you give to God and by your tithing you show your faith. I too have not much to give but I trust in the Lord. We all should be obedient and tithe. It is only those who try to use logic to understand a Christ and what it means to be a Christian and why we do things the way we do. If people do not want to tithe, that is simply their choice but as for me, I will listen to God.
God bless everyone
Jared Brian says
Wish we didn’t have to debate about tithing, but the truth of the matter is that people’s hearts are under bondage. People’s budgets are under bondage.
Debra says
The conflict is that tithes is not a part of the New Covenant. If it is then there a great contradiction as to when people come to the church for help, and financial need and can only get a few dollars after they have sown hundreds and hundreds. Their need is not necessarily met.
From studying and close observation of the Scriptures thus far, I can truely say that for 35 years I tithed because I was taught to from early on after I was Born Again. However, I have never seen it taught for the New Testatment Church!
I decided to stop tithing and just start freely giving and helping financially in situations where I feel by the Holy Spirit.
Also, a young minister was dragged out of my home church in front of his 2 crying and scard children because he wrote a book which brought out all the Scriptures on church tithing. His license was taken away from him etc…. All because he wrote a book which he was lead to write after much resistance.
That really bothered me too! That was wrong!
So that’s where I am right now!
Patricia says
Preachers can’t appeal to any instructions from Paul or other apostles, or even Jesus himself to pay preachers ten per cent of monetary paychecks. Preachers have to isolate scriptures from their context, or appeal to second-or third-hand reasoning to ADD TO God’s word in order to bilk Christians out of their money through guilt tactics.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/126565822/Brother-Bobcat-Tithe-or-You-ll-Fry-in-Hell#logout
Peter Mokete Malatji says
thanks for the information about tithing. May God provide more space for your success, in Jesus Name.
Yapheyah Ari-el says
U see, dats d problem with d world today, dats why d people are getting more lawless by the day. If u claim 2 b a child of yahweh who is being led by his spirit then u should have learnt 2 Obey his command without asking 4 reasons or bringing in earthly human logic. Pay ur tithes and leave the rest to yahweh or do not and continue 2 remain a spiritual and physical pauper. ‘GRACE’ cannot cover u when u deliberately break d law 4 ur selfish purpose!
Debra says
We are not a part of the law; that was fulfilled in Jesus Christ! That is where the argument is. The New Testament teaches giving not tithing as under the Old Covenant!
christine yenga says
Tithing is not debatable. I will give an example, if I had ten cobs of maize and gave them to someone and ask them cook them and just give me two cobs out of the ten they will prepare and allow them to eat the remaining 8. They cook and eat everything including the two. I hope you get my point right.
God bless you all
Christine
Patricia Backora says
Regardless of the motivation, tithing was NEVER commanded by Paul or any apostle to the New Testament Church. Jesus never took tithes from the poor people He ministered to. Galatians and Acts 15 make it perfectly clear Gentiles weren’t commanded to keep the Law, and if you do you’re in danger of falling from the grace of God, and come under the curse of the Law for failure to keep it perfectly. Where is the third-year poor tithe for the poor, and the festival tithe eaten by the worshipper (Deut.14:26)? If you don’t keep the many ordinances with help make up that law of tithing, you’re breaking it. There are other ways to support the true works of God. If you want a fancy church, and 24/7 pastoral care, you need to be prepared to pay for it. If you can’t afford a 5-star hotel room, camp out in a tent. It’s cheaper. You get what you pay for. If that preacher has to work crazy hours caring for his flock he doesn’t have time or energy left for a secular job, and should be supported strictly by freewill offerings according to ability to pay. But if you can’t afford your church, go somewhere cheaper or start your own prayer group.