Some people believe that the Tithe was only under the Law and Christians should not give it. What does the Bible say? Here are four reasons why Christians tithe.

To tithe or not to tithe? That is the question. What does the Bible say? Click To Tweet

Committed Christians have given tithes and offerings to God through their local church for 2,000 years without much controversy. However, there have always been those who contend that Christians do not need to tithe in the New Testament age.

Some people believe that the Tithe was only under the Law and Christians should not give it.

Here are four Bible reasons why Christians tithe today.

1. God uses giving as a way to measure our faith and obedience.

Giving is a test of our heart. If God doesn’t have your wallet, He does not have your heart.

Matthew 6:19–21

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Some Christians love preaching about grace, mercy, and love but stiffen against Bible doctrines that demand discipline and sacrifice.

Our willingness to give is a tangible demonstration of our faith and obedience. God doesn’t need your money, but He demands your absolute devotion. Anything in your life more important than God is an idol.

After all that Christ has done for you, there is nothing too much for Him to ask. Or is there? Are you willing to give whatever God commands? We should happily submit to God’s commands and His preferences.

2. God established the tithe before the Old Testament Law was given. Therefore, tithing is not dependent upon the law. 

Some consider tithing as a part of Old Testament Law. As such, they contend that Christians are not required to tithe because we are “not under the law” in Christ. There is a big problem with that reasoning.

Tithing predates the law.

Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek before the law. Melchizedek was a Christophony, an Old Testament appearance of Jesus Christ.

Genesis 14:18–20

18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Jacob honored God by tithing as well.

Genesis 28:22

And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

God did not remove the tithe when Christ died on the Cross. Christians are not under the Law, but we are still required to give the tithe and offering.

People tithed before the Law, and we are required to tithe after the Law.

3. Jesus Christ commended the Pharisees for giving the tithe. 

Of all the things wrong, at least the Pharisees got the tithe right. Our Lord could have taken this opportunity to explain why the tithe was no longer necessary. Instead, he confirmed its importance.

Luke 11:42 

But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

In many ways, the Pharisees are an example for us of what NOT to do. In the matters of tithing, we should be like them.

If you are not faithful in giving your tithes and offerings, you are not a good steward of God’s blessings.

4. The New Testament commands Grace Giving. 

Rather than give the lowest acceptable amount of the tithe, Our Lord expects Christians to give by grace. Grace is the supernatural empowerment of God. “Grace giving” is supernatural giving by faith. We should ask God what to give and offer it by faith.

A law establishes the lowest acceptable behavior. The tithe is the least amount we should give. Many people want to give less than the tithe, so they look for ways to get out of it.  Grace giving uses the tithe as the LEAST acceptable amount to give. Tithing is the floor. Grace giving has no ceiling.

God calls giving a “grace.”

2 Corinthians 8:7

Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. 

Grace giving is the goal for the Christian.

Grace giving occurs when God supernaturally enables you to give beyond your power. It happens when God knows He can funnel money through you without you keeping it for yourself. The Macedonians were able to give by grace despite deep poverty and great affliction. 

Grace giving is cheerful giving.

2 Corinthians 9:7–9

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

Grace giving is sacrificial giving.

Typically, those who contend that you don’t need to tithe in the Old Testament give less than the tithe. Jesus did not come to destroy the Law. He came to fulfill it and give us a better understanding of it. In every case that our Lord taught about the Law, He reinforced its teachings and told us that the Jews were not applying it properly.

Consider Jesus Christ’s teaching in Matthew chapter five. He challenged the common people that they could not go to Heaven unless their righteousness exceeded the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. This statement was astounding to the people. The scribes and Pharisees were incredibly dedicated to the Law and lived their entire lives to keep it. They filtered every choice of every day through Rabbinical teaching. How could anyone be more righteous than a Pharisee?

Of course, our Lord taught them that no one could be good enough to earn their way to Heaven. The only way to Heaven is by the forgiveness of sins through faith in the sacrifice of the Messiah. Learn how to be saved from your sins HERE.

Jesus was teaching the people that their religious leaders were misunderstanding and misapplying God’s teachings in the Old Testament. Pharisees were dedicated to the right things in the wrong ways and for the wrong reasons.

We see in Matthew chapter five that Pharisees misinterpreted other commandments in the law as well.

Matthew 5:20–28

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. 21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. 27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Our Lord did not come to remove the Law. He fulfilled it and taught us how to live as the Almighty intended.

Jesus Christ did not do away with the tithe. He did not undermine the law so we could give less! He instituted grace giving so we could give more through His power!

We have so many advantages over those who lived in Old Testament times. We have the complete Word of God, a full understanding of the Messiah, and the Holy Ghost living within us. God expects of us than any of His people during any age.

Should Christians Tithe? Absolutely! (Here’s what the Bible really says) Click To Tweet

Conclusion – Christians Tithe

Although the idea is tempting to our flesh, we not must rob God by keeping His tithe for ourselves. We must not give God our leftovers. In these days of apostasy and compromise, we need to cling to His commandments and obey Him in the power of the Holy Spirit

We must tithe in the New Testament age due to four Bible truths:

1. God uses giving as a way to measure our faith and obedience.
2. God established the tithe before the Old Testament Law was given. 
3. Jesus Christ commended the Pharisees for giving the tithe. 
4. The New Testament commands Grace giving. 

I give my tithes and offerings to God through Curtis Corner Baptist Church. On top of that, I attempt to be sensitive to the Lord as He directs me to give to other needs. God is generous. You can’t out-give Him!

Don’t let anyone talk you out of giving the tithe and offerings. They will rob you of countless blessings and bring upon you untold trouble.