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Questions About Tithing, Giving, & Stewardship

On these pages, you will find commonly asked questions that are asked about tithing, stewardship, or giving. We are always searching for questions to answer from our readers, so please contact us with your specific questions and we will do our best to answer them. Our goal is to be as objective as possible and use scripture and sound reasoning to provide the best possible answers to your questions.

Should We Tithe Since Jesus is the High Priest?

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As we continue our ‘Tithing on Trial’ series, we will evaluate the most common tithing arguments used to defend its practice.

Argument: Jesus is the High Priest and Should Receive a Tithe

If the Church wants to continue tithing as it happened in the Old Testament, there is an enormous obstacle to overcome with the absence of crucial elements including the Levites, the Mosaic law, the temple; and the Israelites. Tithing was used to support the infrastructure of Old Testament worship, but with that infrastructure replaced, supporters today try to find the missing link that connects the whole tithing system in the Old Testament with the infrastructure of the New Testament.

missing link

The priesthood of Jesus is used as a missing link that somehow transforms the practice of “tithing under the law” – To – “tithing under Grace”. Tithing had been contingent upon the Mosaic law, the temple, the Levites, & Israelite soil, but these links have been cut off; so we would need another type of bond to help graft tithing back into the chain of requirements. Unnaturally, Jesus’ priesthood gets linked in between the Law and Grace and creates a defective union between the old and the new so that tithing can be grafted in with the Church. This is what the bible calls putting new wine into old wineskins. (Matthew 9:17)

Most of the confusion about Jesus Priesthood and what it has to do with tithing is found in Hebrews 6:19-Hebrews 8:6 It would be good for you to read the passage before reading the rest of this post because there is a lot of information, but if not, i’ll do my best to fill you in.

Let’s get some context

Hebrews is written to a group of people who had trouble transitioning from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. Hence the name of the book is ‘Hebrews’. It is not called, ‘Greeks’, or ‘Gentiles’ since it was the Jews who had this problem. Although, i think it would serve well to rename the book – “Gentiles” today, since 2000 years later it seems the Gentile Church has a huge problem with this Law issue.

In a brief paraphrase, this passage in Hebrews uses Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20) to illustrate how the priesthood of Christ is greater than the Levitical priesthood.

Other Offerings Given to Priests

I think one of the major problems is that everyone focuses on tithing and overlooks all the other offerings for the priests. Here are some details on the overlooked offerings received by the priests.

  1. Twice a Year (Numbers 28)
    – Two lambs, a tenth of an ephah of grain, a quarter-hin of wine
  2. Once a month (Numbers 28)
    – Two bulls, three-tenths ephah of  flour, half-hin of wine
    – One ram, two-tenths ephah of  flour, third-hin of wine
    – Seven lambs, tenth ephah of flour, quarter-hin of wine
  3. Once Each Harvest (Nehemiah 10:38)
    – One-tenth of Israel’s tithe from crops and animals (1%)
  4. Once a Year (Numbers 28)
    – Two bulls, Three-tenths of an ephah of flour
    – One ram, two-tenths of flour
    – Seven lambs, one-tenth of flour

Question 1: If Jesus is the High Priest and deserves at least the same offerings that the earthly Priests were offered, then why do we stop at tithing?

Question 2: Why would Jesus Priesthood get 10% of our increase, when the Priests only received 1% of Israel’s increase? (Nehemiah 10:38)

Another thing most people do not understand is that the Israelites never tithed to the priests. They only tithed to the Levites and then the Levites were responsible for then tithing to the priests. So, not only did Israel not give to the priests, but the priests only received 1% of Israel’s increase.

Other symbolic Titles of Jesus

Regardless of my previous points, let’s say that Jesus’ position as a high priest is what compels us to keep the tradition of tithing going. In this case, you would have some explaining to do if we were to honor His offices found both in the Old and New Testaments. Let’s address a few other positions . . .

Jesus was named the . . . 

  • Lamb of God
    right-arrow-icon Are we compelled to kill any lambs? (1 Peter 1:19)
  • First Fruits of the Dead
    right-arrow-icon Are we compelled to offer our first born, first paycheck, first car? (Colossians 1:15)
  • Passover Lamb
    right-arrow-icon Are you spreading blood on your door posts? (1 Corinthians 5:7)
  • High Priest
    right-arrow-icon Are you giving your tithe?

All the rituals found in the Old Testament that were meant to symbolize who Jesus was or what Jesus would do, have all been fulfilled. For some reason, people feel the need to resurrect a few of these ceremonies and continue to practice them.

I don’t know what reasons you may have for practicing tithing, but to practice it for the sake of honoring the Priesthood, would be comparable to raising an altar and sacrifice an animal in honor of the Lamb of God. I know it sounds ridiculous to compare tithing with slaying a lamb on an altar, but honoring any one of these rituals has no less severity over any of the others.

Looking forward, there is one task that Jesus asked us to perform in honor of him.

As Often as You Eat This Bread & Drink This Cup

Jesus didn’t ask us to commemorate anything except for his death.
Luke 22:19 states, “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.“

Between the meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek, there were two things offered – A tithe and also bread & wine. The ironic thing is that before Christ’s death He initiates a Church practice with his disciples, but specifically mentions one of the offerings and not the other. It was the Lord’s Supper that Christ asked us to perform in remembrance of him under the New Covenant. He did not say tithe, sacrifice a lamb, shed some blood, or offer your firstborn. Since the meeting between Abraham and Melchizedek is not what launched the Lord’s Supper into church practices, then why would tithing be added to Church practices?

Some people treat tithing as if we are to obey it in commemoration of Jesus’ priesthood just as we obey the Lord’s Supper in commemoration of his death. I’m not sure how the Lord’s Supper can be placed at the same table as tithing? Tithing was being practiced looking forward to the fulfillment of our final Priest, and the Lord’s Supper is being practiced while looking back at the fulfillment of his work on the cross.

There are so many symbolic practices of Christ found in the Old Testament. Just to name a few: Noah’s Ark, Manna, the Tabernacle, the Bronze Altar, the Mercy Seat, the Bronze snake, the Passover, Scapegoat, etc. All of these are just as symbolic of Christ as the tithe would be to Christ’s priesthood. . . yet, do you practice them?

As The High Priest, Jesus Set The Precedent

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

What other example do you need? The High Priest of High Priests set up his ministry on earth through the freewill offerings of his followers. Pastors talk from the pulpit about the “order of Melchizedek” and continuation of tithing to our living high priest. We are quick to exemplify Abraham’s tithe to an earthly priest and yet overlook Mary, Joanna, & Chuza’s literal example of giving to Jesus. The ultimate question is why is Abraham giving to Melchizedek more significant than these women actually giving to Jesus?

If the argument here is about Jesus’ priesthood supporting the tithe then don’t use Moses, the Law, Abraham, or Melchizedek to illustrate when you have a clear example right in front of you. All this, if Jesus is actually the one we are trying to honor, unless we know it’s really not about Jesus but admittedly we know it’s about the money. In that case, I respect you for your honesty at least.

Conclusion

Our giving should be cheerful, free, liberal, and sacrificial and should look nothing like tithing to the priests. It should resemble how God gave to us when he gave his only Son. The Priesthood of Jesus is not the missing link that that enables tithing to be grated between the old and the new. This union is defective and can be illustrated in the example of new wine put into the old wineskins.

Luke 5:36-39 He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.”

You Be the Judge

Now that the evidence has been given in this court of law, it is your turn to decide

Does Jesus' Priesthood Mean We Should Tithe?

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What Happens When We Don’t Tithe?

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As we continue our ‘Tithing on Trial’ series, we will evaluate the most common tithing arguments used to defend its practice. So let’s evaluate another argument used to promote tithing. This argument comes directly from a well-known author on finances from Crown Financial Ministries – Larry Burkett. He has now passed, but we are going to evaluate his argument below taken from his book, “Giving & Tithing.”

While reading through the book, “TIthing & Giving” by Larry Burkett I came across a section that asked, “Is Tithing Legalism”? In the beginning, Larry states, “Although the tithe is mentioned in the law, no punishment was indicated for not tithing. There is a consequence (the loss of blessings), but there is no punishment from God for not tithing.”

What happened when Israel didn’t tithe?

I am not sure where Larry Burkett is getting his information about tithing in the bible, but you have to know that there certainly was a curse on Israel for not tithing. Malachi 3:9 states, “You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed me.”

Malachi 3:11 goes on, “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,“

I don’t think there is any question about the curse for Israel not tithing. We can find further proof in the book of Deuteronomy when God is laying out the laws for Israel. In chapter 26 he outlines the rules for tithing and by chapter 28 beginning in verse 15, God outlines in the next 50 verses the curses and punishments that would come upon them for not obeying his commands that were just laid out.

What Happens When Your Don’t Tithe?

As counterintuitive as it may sound, when we don’t tithe the opposite of what happened to Israel happens to us as Christians. The answer is that when we don’t tithe, we are blessed. Here are five reasons we are blessed for not tithing.

  1. You are under grace (Romans 6:14)
  2. God said He would supply all our needs without mentioning the tithe (Philippians 4:19)
  3. Our gifts are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God (Philippians 4:18)
  4. God Loves a Cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)
  5. The Spirit gives life (Romans 8:5-10)

As Christians, we should have confidence in these new promises under grace and the blessings that come with them. There is a caveat that I want to mention. Even though there are no consequences of not paying tithes, and we receive some inherent benefits and blessings, our greatest blessing comes when we give freely without obligation instead of giving a tithe.

This is not an excuse to give nothing. We should be willing to give from the love of our hearts. God has given us so much that it should compel our hearts to give back as he sacrificially gave to us. This is not an external force compelling us to give. This is an internal force that aligns with our heart’s attitude.

Are We Cursed When We Don’t Tithe?

Even though we receive a blessing for not tithing, some may still be wondering about the curse for not tithing and did it go away. The answer is no, God does not curse us if we don’t tithe. We are no longer under the curse of the law. We are under grace. You are cursed if you do tithe and blessed if you don’t.

If you don’t practice tithing, you are free from the curse, free from the law, and free from tithing. So many feel led to give to someone outside their church but are terrified to do so because of the fear of the curse. It’s not that they don’t like their church or disagree, but in their heart, they have the desire to fill a more urgent need. When people pass up the opportunity to give from their hearts, they invite doubt or even guilt in their hearts, which robs them of their blessing.

The problem with Larry Burkett and others with the same mentality towards tithing are that they know that tithing looks out of place when we attempt to fit it into a Church that is not supposed to be governed by the law. So they modify its appearance a little bit and make tithing more user-friendly than what it was in the Old Testament. The deception is that if we can mix in a little grace by disassociating it from the curse, then the tithe will appear as if it fits right in there with the other principles we practice today. This reformulation of the tithe is nothing but the law dressed up in grace’s clothing.

THE LAW + GRACE + LENIENCY  = THE LAW

You Be the Judge

Now that the evidence has been given in this court of law, it is your turn to decide. You be the judge.

If We Tithe, Are We Cursed Under the Law?

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Should We Tithe To Confirm God As the Owner?

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As we continue our ‘Tithing on Trial’ series, we will evaluate the most common tithing arguments used to defend its practice. So let’s evaluate another argument used to promote tithing.

Argument: We should practice tithing because we want to acknowledge that God owns everything.

In what way, shape, or form does giving a small portion of what you own portray that you actually don’t own any of it? Does paying your taxes also acknowledge that Government owns everything?

Some people believe that giving a tithe (10%) will establish the right attitude about the other 90%. But maybe for others, giving 10% would actually set the wrong tone for how they should spend the other 90.

Some may give up the 10% and feel that they have just appeased the wrath of the volcano god, and that they can do whatever they want with the other 90. Without a platform that we could raise ourselves up to, there is no feeling that one has ‘arrived’ or appeased the wrath of the volcano god.

The platform of tithing allows some to gloat about their accomplishments and develop a feeling that they have ‘arrived’. If there were no benchmark in place, then there is no platform to stand on to distinguish our accomplishments from the rest of those “underachievers”.

10 reasons why tithing does not automatically acknowledge God owns everything

  1. The Pharisees tithed religiously and yet, the bible calls them “lovers of money” (Luke 16:14)
  2. God knows the thoughts and intents of the heart regardless of how we give. (Hebrews 4:12)
  3. The servant in Matthew 25 actually gave 100% of his talents back to his master and yet was still called wicked.
  4. Ananias Sapphira only kept back a portion of their sold land and were destroyed regardless of what they had given. (Acts 5)
  5. God owns everything, regardless of whether i acknowledge it or not.
  6. People use tithing to brag (Luke 18:12)
  7. God asked the rich ruler to sell his possessions (not to tithe) and come follow him. (Matthew 19:24)
  8. The bible asks us to sacrifice ourselves (not to tithe) if we are to follow Jesus. (Romans 12:1)
  9. Believing that tithing acknowledges God’s ownership is simply not found in the bible anywhere.
  10. Look at God’s example: he gave his only son, not a tithe. (John 3:16)

I’m certain that there are those who do tithe, that really believe and practice that God owns everything; but I’m also just as positive that there are those who do not tithe, that also practices and believes that God owns everything.

Can you look at the verses and examples above and tell me that tithing actually does a good job at making people believe God owns it all? Did you see how great the Pharisees excelled at tithing, while they also gloated about their works and lusted over money?

Now that the evidence has been given in this court of law, it is your turn to decide

YOU BE THE JUDGE

Does Tithing Acknowledge God Owns it ALL?

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God Never Changes. What About Tithing?

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As we continue our ‘Tithing on Trial’ series, we will evaluate the most common tithing arguments used to defend its practice. So let’s evaluate another argument used to promote tithing.

Argument:
Malachi 3:6 States That God Never Changes, so we must continue to obey tithing.

Malachi 3:6-8 “For I am the Lord, I do not change;  . . . Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.”

Anyone who says that tithing never changed because God never changes couldn’t explain these next NINETEEN ways that tithing had been changed. These 19 changes are not only examples of how things have changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament, but many of these examples show how tithing was altered and even exempted at times within the Old Testament alone.

Change #1
From This:  Abraham tithed on all the spoils of war (Hebrews 7:4).
  → To This:  Later Israel could only tithe from their crops or animals (Leviticus 27).

Change #2
From This: Abraham tithed items made outside the land of Israel
  → To This: Israel could only tithe from items grown from within the land of Israel. (Deuteronomy 12:5)

Change #3
From This: Abraham gave 1/10 of the spoils of war.
  → To This: Israel was commanded to give 1/500 of their spoils of war. (Numbers 31:9, 27-29)

Change #4
From This:  FIRST, Abraham gave the tithe out of obligation (Genesis 14:20)
→  To This: AND then Jacob offers it voluntarily (Genesis 28:22)
→ →  Then To This: AND then the nation of Israel is required to give it out of obligation (Leviticus 27)
  → → → And Finally To This: Now, we are under grace so we are told that it’s now voluntarily obligated? Huh?! (Galatians 4)

Change #5
From This:  Israel’s tithe only went towards taking care of the poor, Levites, and national feasts (Nehemiah 10:38, Deuteronomy 14:22).
  → To This: Today, we’ve been told that the tithe can be used for anything including building funds.

Change #6
From This: Non-farmers and non-herdsmen (ie: Bankers, Lawyers, Doctors, and Carpenters) were not allowed to tithe their income. (Leviticus 27)
  → To This: Today, we’ve been told that every occupation is required to tithe their income.

Change #7
From This: It was directly commanded by God to not include the best nor the first in the tithe. (Leviticus 27:32)
→  To This: Today, we are told to include the best and first fruits of our tithe, disregarding not only the Old Testament command in Leviticus 27:32 but also the New Testament command in 2 Timothy 2:6.

Change #8
From This: The poor didn’t give tithes in the bible, they received them. (Nehemiah 10:38)
→  To This: Today, not only do the poor probably see very little of the tithe, if any, but they are told they are required to tithe.

Change #9
From This: Most of the tithe was stored in storehouses to be distributed and consumed mostly outside the temple. (Nehemiah 10:37-38)
  → To This: Today, there is no storage house for the tithe, and mostly consumed within the Church instead of distributed.

Change #10
From This: Only 1% was stored in the Temple Storehouse, the other 9% were stored in Levitical cities
  → To This: Today, we are told to bring the whole 10% to the Church building. (Deuteronomy 14:28)

Change #11
From This: Some of the agricultural tithes were only given 5.5 out of every 7 years – The 7th year was sabbatical, so there was no gleaning or planting. The first half of the next year was planting. (Leviticus 25)
  → To This: Today, we changed it to give tithe year after year without a single sabbatical or rest.

Change #12
From This: Abraham & Israel gave a tithe while under the Old Covenant
  → To This: We are told it is still required under a completely new covenant.

Change #13
From This: Many types of offerings in the Old Testament were also required
  → To This: We’ve been told these offerings are freewill now.

Change #14
From This: We are no longer under the curse (Galatians 3:13)
→  To This: But are reminded that we are still under the curse of the tithe (Malachi 3:9)

Change #15
From This: The tithe was given to the Levites because they couldn’t have an inheritance of land (Numbers 18:24)
  → To This: No one is stopping ministers from owning land today.

Change #16
From This: Jesus’ own ministry was supported without tithes and also sent the disciples out without tithes. (Luke 8:1-3, Matthew 10:8-10)
  → To This: Ministries today do not follow Jesus’ example.

Change #17
From This: The tabernacle was built and maintained through only freewill offerings (Exodus 35).
  → To This: Today, we support the church through tithing while other “outside” ministries receive freewill offerings.

Change #18
From This: From 1 A.D. through 566 A.D. the Church did not recognize tithing.
  → To This: In A.D. 567 The Church ordered the payment of tithes.

Change #19
From This: God did not accept money for tithing (Leviticus 27).
  → To This: The church accepts checks, cash, credit card, and even Bitcoin.

Now that the evidence has been given in this court of law, it is your turn to decide

YOU BE THE JUDGE

Has Tithing Changed?

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Should We Ignore Tithing in the Old Testament?

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As we continue our series ‘Tithing on Trial’, let’s evaluate another argument used to defend tithing.

ARGUMENT #3
All Scripture is profitable, so we can’t ignore tithing in the Old Testament.

2 Timothy 3:18 states this, “All Scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness“

If this passage applied to half of the Mosaic laws in the Old Testament (OT), I’d be okay with using it in this context; but considering how 2 Timothy 3:18 is not a common source used to validate any of the other 600+ Mosaic laws, then using this verse to defend a single OT law makes one look desperate.

If we really believed that 2 Timothy 3:18 can be used to defend tithing then there are many other OT laws that would drastically change how the Church functions today. Here are a few examples below

  • Deuteronomy 23:2 would not allow illegitimate children into Church services.
  • Exodus 21:20-21 would allow us to own slaves as property and beat them within an inch of taking their life.
  • Leviticus 19:19 would not allow you to wear clothing made with polyester and cotton nor spandex mixed with silk.
  • Leviticus 21:5 would not allow ministers to shave any part of their head. Maybe this included the beard ( i don’t know? )
  • Leviticus 21:16-23 would not allow anyone with a physical defect to give offerings.
  • Numbers 8:24 would not allow ministers to serve in the Church for more than 25 years.
  • Leviticus 20:9-10 would sentence rebellious children and adulterers to death.

I think you get my point now.

How Profitable is the Old Testament Law?

Galatians 3:24-25 states, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.“

Although our schoolmaster is retired and we are not longer following the law as our master, this does not render the Old Testament useless. There are many other universal principles that can be taught through the Old Testament, but the ordinances were nailed to the cross and left there

Colossians 2:14 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross”

Although Old Testament laws were taken out of the way, this doesn’t mean there aren’t principles to be found within the practice of them. We can find universal principles taught in the New Testament with references to Old Testament laws. Circumcision, altar sacrifices, and burning incense are all referenced in the New Testament. Here are some scriptural references of how Old Testament laws are applicable in the New Testament

  • Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,
  • Hebrews 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
  • Philippians 4:18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

We know that neither circumcision, nor sacrifices need to be enforced in order to teach principles behind the matter. In regards to tithing, we can read that tithing is neither a necessary nor exclusive practice used to teach principles of stewardship.

What does the New Testament say about giving?

Here’s a concise list of passages in the New Testament that describe how giving should be administered throughout the Church.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first [day] of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.
  • 2 Corinthians 9:7 [So let] each one [give] as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity;
  • Romans 12:6-13 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, [let us use them]:…he who gives, with liberality…distributing to the needs of the saints
  • 2 Corinthians 8:1-8 …their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to [their] ability, yes, and beyond [their] ability, [they were] freely willing,  imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints…. I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
  • 2 Corinthians 8:12-14 For if there is first a willing mind, [it is] accepted according to what one has, [and] not according to what he does not have. For [I do] not [mean] that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, [that] now at this time your abundance [may supply] their lack, that their abundance also may [supply] your lack–that there may be equality.

After reading the above passages you will see that there is nothing to advocate tithing in the New Testament. Although, I have bolded some words above to emphasize how giving should be influenced. You will see phrases such as- ‘liberality’, ‘freely willing’, and ‘not by commandment’. This form of giving in the New Testament does not fit with the form of giving found in the Old Testament, so this puts us in a bit of a quandary if we wish to honor the whole scripture.

Ignoring the Cross

I think people get all messed up on this issue because they ignore the cross. It’s not about ignoring the Old Testament or the New, it’s about Calvary. The greatest example we have of giving found throughout the entire bible should answer this question for us. The ironic thing is that neither of us have doubts about whether we ought to be praying or reading more even though I don’t see anyone enforcing a minimum amount of praying or the minimum amount of bible reading.  When we reflect on what Jesus did for us, we challenge ourselves to pray and read more. Some of us may incorporate personal benchmarks that help us perform this duty, but these benchmarks all vary and have different effects for everyone.

When scripture said pick up our cross and to give up our lives as a sacrifice, I don’t believe that he meant for us to legalize the process with our petty milestones.

Now that the evidence has been given in this court of law, it is your turn to decide; Can we ignore tithing in the Old Testament – guilty or not guilty?

YOU BE THE JUDGE

What Did Jesus Teach About Tithing?

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As we continue our series ‘Tithing on Trial’, let’s evaluate another argument used to defend tithing. Many believe that Jesus taught tithing so it should be required for Christians. Let’s read through and examine scripture to answer the question – Did Jesus teach tithing for the Church?

In Matthew 23:23, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees and says this, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.”

Undoubtedly because these words come out of the mouth of Jesus, many believe this settles the tithing issue for them. But this assumption is made out of ignorance and the conclusion is not within scriptural context. If you read the whole chapter of Matthew 23 and research the other Old Testament commands that Jesus taught, we can reveal that the tithing issue is not settled by the words of Jesus.

If you were to understand what Jesus was talking about, who he was talking to, and under what circumstances in Matthew 23:23, then we need to start at the very begging on the passage and understand its context. shouldn’t surprise us that Jesus still taught aspects of the Law since the Bible records him observing the Passover in Matthew 26:17.

Matthew 23:1 begins by saying, “Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe,[a] that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.“

At the beginning of Matthew 23, Jesus confirms that the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat, and then commands the disciples to obey the Pharisees (which is surprising). The introduction in Matthew 23 reveals that Jesus upheld the Mosaic law, and still commanded it. One of the keys to remember in this passage is that we can learn from the teachings of Jesus, but it doesn’t mean Jesus’ address to the disciples and the Israelites is a personal plea for the New Testament Church. If you believe Church leaders sit in Moses’ seat and that we are to observe the Mosaic laws, then i can see why you believe that everything Jesus’ commanded back then should be commanded now.

In another example of Jesus teaching the law, we read Matthew 5:23-24, “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Considering that this was near the end of Jesus’ life on earth and somewhat close to the birth of the Church, I am somewhat shocked that Jesus is still giving the Israelites instructions on how to worship on an altar.

Luke 5:14 is another passage of Jesus upholding the law when he commands a healed man to show himself to the priest. If you read more scripture, you will see that Jesus observed the Passover and attended the feasts prescribed in the Mosaic law. There was no question that Jesus obeyed the law, practiced the law, and taught the law. So, who is to say that Jesus was commanding the New Testament Church to tithe?

Let’s review Matthew 23:23 again where Jesus highlights how meticulous the Pharisees were tithing the small herbs in their crops, and then criticizes them for omitting justice, mercy, and faith. If you have an understanding of how tithing was practiced in the Mosaic law, you would know that the only items that could be tithed upon were crops and animals. This means that neither money nor goods were accepted for the tithe. What’s important to remember here is that Jesus did not ridicule them for their obedience to the specifics of the Mosaic law; he approved their obedience to the Law. So, if you believe Jesus commendation to tithe is applicable to us, then you must also believe that only the tithes of animals or from crops is applicable.

If you need some sort of litmus test to determine what laws in the old testament are commanded today and what laws are not, you could likely use the actions of the Pharisees as your test. We know the Pharisees excelled at keeping the Mosaic law but did not excel at obeying universal principles such as justice, mercy, and faith. So, you could abstain from any of the laws that the Pharisees were religious about without worrying if you are doing the wrong thing. In regards to tithing, please take note that the Pharisees excelled in this area.

In a final note, if Jesus’ words confirmed tithing for us, then it is confirmation that all the requirements and meticulous regulations that went with tithing should be continued as well. We can’t just take parts of Jesus’ words about tithing and cherry-pick the parts we wanted to obey. For instance, the Jews could only give from their crops or their animals. Yet, all the churches are ok with giving money, which was illegal to give as a tithe.

Now that the evidence has been given in this court of law, it is your turn to decide; Did Jesus Teach Tithing for the Church – Guilty or not guilty?

YOU BE THE JUDGE

Did Jesus teach tithing for the church?

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