Tithing vs. Giving

  I want to look at what the Bible has to say about tithing under the old and new covenants, and compare it to what many are teaching today. I believe that the Bible teaches that God doesn’t want 10% from Christians; He wants 100%. Many today say that you should give 10% of your income to your local church. They call this tithing. I don’t know when this started, but from what I find in the Bible, it wasn’t practiced in the early church. In this study we see that the early church was supported by offerings given freely, not by tithing. The Mosaic Law was done away with at Christ’s death and resurrection. Let’s start out by looking at how the early Christian church was supported, and what the Bible says about giving.

• Luke 8: 1After 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, 2and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

  Here we have one of the few looks into the financial backing of Jesus’s ministry. It appears that while Jesus and the apostles were busy spreading the news, some of His followers were giving him support.

• Matthew 10: 5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep. 11"Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave.
  
  
• Luke 10: 1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. 5"When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' 6If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
  

  I find it interesting that in these two instances, the disciples were told to “find a sponsor” in the town. No mention was made of taking up collections. They were even specifically told not to move from house to house, which would have spread around the burden of their support. They were also told specifically not to live on their own money. It makes me wonder about how most missionaries today go out with sponsorship from their home church. I’m not saying that it is wrong for them to do so, but I wonder if that is God’s perfect will for them, considering His words to the disciples He sent out. I also found another reference from Paul to the Corinthians:

• 2 Corinthians 11:7Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you.9And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.
  

  “I robbed” – This implies that Paul rightfully should have received support from the Corinthian church, but chose not to accept support from them for other reasons, probably because of accusations from the “false apostles” he was warning them against.

• 1 Corinthians 9: 1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?2Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. 3This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4Don't we have the right to food and drink? 5Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas? 6Or is it only I and Barnabas who must work for a living? 7Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? 8Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn't the Law say the same thing? 9For it is written in the Law of Moses: "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10Surely he says this for us, doesn't he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12If others have this right of support from you, shouldn't we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. 13Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
  
  
• Galatians 6: 6Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.

  We can see from what Jesus and Paul said that our spiritual leaders should be supported by those that are led. Supporting the Christian ministry in New Testament times is biblical. There are other instances of giving in the early church that were not intended for the support of the ministers of the Gospel, mostly providing for the poor, widows, elders, orphans, or persecuted brothers in Christ. (I think that it is a shame that in this country the poor look to the government for help, and in turn the government taxes us to help them. I believe that God’s intent was for the church to provide this support, bringing more attention to the generosity of the church. Today muchchurch offering money goes to minister’s salaries and goods for the church, with little money leaving the church. But I digress….) Now that we see plainly that we are to give support to our spiritual leaders, the natural question is, How much should I give? That answer will be different for different people. I think that the most important thing to remember when it comes to finances is that as a Christian you should not see any money as yours. If you are truly a servant of Christ, as the apostles were, and you believe that “Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above “, then the money in your possession doesn’t belong to you, you are just a steward.

• Luke 16: 8"The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 10"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? 13"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."
  

   You must decide how God would want it spent. We already know He wants our ministers supported, so lets look at some other scriptures.

• Acts 2: 42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
  

• Acts 4: 32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.33With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
  

   These first verses tell of the earliest church, before they were scattered by Saul(Paul). Let’s look at others:

• 1 Timothy: 17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
  
  
• 2 Corinthians 9: 6Remember this--a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. 8And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9As the Scriptures say, "Godly people give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will never be forgotten." 10For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11Yes, you will be enriched so that you can give even more generously.
  
  
• Acts 11:29The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
  
  
• Matthew 6:19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
  

   Notice that in all of the scriptures we have looked at so far, that tithing wasn’t mentioned once. There are only three references to paying a tenth in the New Testament that I know of, let’s look at them quickly before moving to the Mosaic Law.

• Luke 11: 42"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
  

   This is Jesus speaking to Jews that are still living under the Mosaic Law. Note that the Pharisees weren’t tithing money, but plants. He pointed out that they were such sticklers for the Law that they didn’t just tithe their vegetables, but even the smallest herbs.

• Hebrews 7: 1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything.
  

This is a reference to an Old Testament act that was before the Mosaic Law. It was a free will offering of 1/10 of the spoils of war.

• Luke 18: 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.
  

   This is another Jew, speaking of obeying the Law of Moses. Let’s move on to the Old Testament.

                                               Old Testament Tithing

• Leviticus 27: 30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD. 31 If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth to it. 32 And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the LORD.
  

   Later on, as the people neared the Promised Land, more instructions are given:

• Deuteronomy 12: 8 You are not to do as we do here today, everyone as he sees fit, 9 since you have not yet reached the resting place and the inheritance the LORD your God is giving you. 10 But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety. 11 Then to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name—there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the LORD. 12 And there rejoice before the LORD your God, you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites from your towns, who have no allotment or inheritance of their own. 13 Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you please. 14 Offer them only at the place the LORD will choose in one of your tribes, and there observe everything I command you. 15 Nevertheless, you may slaughter your animals in any of your towns and eat as much of the meat as you want, as if it were gazelle or deer, according to the blessing the LORD your God gives you. Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it. 16 But you must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water. 17 You must not eat in your own towns the tithe of your grain and new wine and oil, or the firstborn of your herds and flocks, or whatever you have vowed to give, or your freewill offerings or special gifts. 18 Instead, you are to eat them in the presence of the LORD your God at the place the LORD your God will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites from your towns—and you are to rejoice before the LORD your God in everything you put your hand to. 19 Be careful not to neglect the Levites as long as you live in your land.
  
  
• Deuteronomy 14: 22 Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. 23 Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the LORD your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the LORD your God always. 24 But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the LORD your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the LORD will choose to put his Name is so far away), 25 then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the LORD your God will choose. 26 Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice. 27 And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.  28 At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, 29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
  
  
• Deuteronomy 26: 12When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. 13 Then say to the LORD your God: "I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them. 14 I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean, nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God; I have done everything you commanded me. 15 Look down from heaven, your holy dwelling place, and bless your people Israel and the land you have given us as you promised on oath to our forefathers, a land flowing with milk and honey."
  

   As you can see, the tithe was collected from plants and animals and birds. No tithe was paid on anything else. Fishermen didn’t tithe, tentmakers didn’t tithe, and carpenters didn’t tithe. The tithe was taken to particular places, and most of it was eaten by the tither and his household, while sharing it with the Levites. Money wasn’t tithed. The only time a tithe was money at all, was a provision made for those that lived too far from the temple to carry their tithe. They were allowed to sell it, but they then had to buy food with the money when they got to the temple, and eat it with their household in the usual way. Under this law, a tithe couldn’t be given to a church, because the law spells out exactly how it was to be consumed. So, I have asked myself how so many churches have come to preaching that we need to tithe today. I can only guess, because the Bible surely doesn’t tell it. My guess would be that either someone purposely warped God’s word to try to get more money into the church, or someone just misunderstood the difference between the old Law and the Grace we live under today. Still have doubts? Let’s look at some more. In the early church, Christian Jews were faced with Gentile Christians for the first time, and were arguing about how to teach them. Some wanted them to be circumcised, and follow Jewish traditions. The apostles and elders met together and discussed it. They sent this message to the Gentile Christians: “Acts 15: 28It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.” If tithing was to be practiced in the New Testament, wouldn’t it have been mentioned here?

Let me close by pointing out that if you feel led to give 10% of your income to the church, there is nothing wrong with that. My problem is with those that are trying to tell Christians that the Bible says you have to give 10% of your money to the church. New Christians have a hard enough time learning about their new life without bad teachings to confuse them.