Truth About Tithing

Money / Tithing

Truth About Tithing

Tithing is giving a tithe. And a tithe is merely one tenth. Tithing truths are stated clearly in the Bible. Sadly, tithing truths are difficult to learn for many folks because they listen to wealthy TV evangelists who use Bible verses out of context to fund extravagant lifestyles. They do not teaching the truth about tithing. Wittingly or unwittingly they operate a Ponzi Scheme whereby they guilt you to send money to them with lies about tithing. Understanding tithing truths will free you from the guilt projected by many TV preachers. Truly, learning the truth about tithing will set you free.

Tithing in the Bible must be understood in the context of the sacrificial system God established for Israel after He led them out of Egypt. Only agricultural crops and livestock were presented as tithes and offering in the Bible. Tithing and giving in the Bible needs to be viewed in two parts. Part one starting while Israel sojourned in the desert and ending with Jesus' death. Part two beginning with Jesus' ressurection and continuing to the present.

Let's drill down in the Bible to get to tithing truths. First, I repeat, a tithe is merely one-tenth. That's it. Through Moses, God established tithing in Torah, among other reasons, to support Levites whom He did not give a specific allotment in the Promised land. He chose the Levites to minister to the children of Israel, and from the Levites, He chose Aaron's sons to be priests in the Tent of Meeting.

All tribes of Israel, except Levi, were required to present three tithes; two yearly tithes of 10% each of agricultural produce and livestock, and a third tithe of 10% every three years ofagricultural produce only. Therefore, the total tithing requirement was 23.3% yearly.

Many Messiah followers come to me with this major concern about tithing:

My pastor, elder, ministry official, say I should tithe to church or ministry on my credit card; however, I am carrying a balance on my card. These leaders say this is no excuse; I must tithe. They quote Malachi 3:10 and tell me not to rob God. When you tithe, these leaders say, God will bless you. These folks do not study tithing truths in the Bible.

Besides, I hear these two popular questions about tithing, too. Do I tithe from the gross or do I tithe from the net? Do I give my tithe to my church or can I give it to different ministries?

When you study the truth about tithing and giving in the Bible with an open mind directed by the Holy Spirit, you will see tithing is not today's basis for a believer to give to the Lord. I state emphatically, tithing does not apply today. It is not today’s biblical standard. Jesus, having been offered as a sacrificial Lamb to take our sins, by His death and resurrection He replaced the Aaronic priesthood, abolishing the need for intermediaries to sacrifice animals to remove our sins.

It is clear in the Scriptures why tithing isn’t relevant today: Yeshua (Jesus) became the perfect passover lamb to provide the means to remit sin, and the path to the Father. While Jesus was alive, tithing was practiced. Indeed, while denouncing the Pharisees, Jesus referred to tithing in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42.

Later, I will talk about today's standard, grace giving, which flows out of our relationship with Jesus and recognizes the need for Messiah followers to pay our Messianic Jewish Rabbis and pastors.

Study the truth about tithing and giving in the Bible with an open mind directed by the Holy Spirit and you will see plainly that tithing does not apply today. Neither the Temple, nor the Aaronic priesthood exists today, and so the Levitical Tithe, Numbers 18:21-32, (10%), and the Aaronic Priesthood, Exodus 30:30, do not apply.

Levitical Tithe of Agricultural Products and Livestock - 10%

The Levitical tithe of agricultural products and livestock sustained the Levites and priests who had no inheritance in the Promised Land. Although we do not have Levites today, through our relationship with Yeshua, we must ask Him to guide us to decide how much to give to pay our Messianic Jewish Rabbis and pastors.

Festive Tithe Consumed by the Giver - 10% & Poor Tithe 10% Every Three Years

Farmers in Israel paid two other tithes: the Festive Tithe (10%) in Deuteronomy 14:23-27, consumed by the giver in God's presence, and the Poor Tithe (10% every three years) in Deuteronomy 14:28-29, for the disadvantaged in Israel, and the Levites. Yearly tithes of agricultural produce and livestock that Israel had to provide totalled 23.3%.

Tithing was Taxation

Despite tithing truths in the Bible, several folks follow blindly incorrect teaching and application of tithing. The Bible shows clearly that giving offerings and tithes were introduced by God through Moses and applied to Israel alone. Tithing related to agricultural crops and livestock only, not money.

Generally, tithing was an established taxation form to fund the priesthood and the governing levites. When Israel demanded a king, Samuel cautioned them that the King would require a tithe (1 Samuel 8:15). Understanding Bible teachings on tithing is central to managing God’s money for His glory. Be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, study this topic.

To understand the truth about tithing, we must look at why God introduced it to Israel. Why it stopped, who re-instated it, and when. Once God shows you that tithing does not apply today, you will be free to practice grace giving with a cheerful heart.

Tithing Truths: Why Introduced to Israel

God did not give the Levites a specific geographic area in the Promised Land, but assigned them towns and pasturelands from other Tribes’ allotments (Numbers 35:2-3). In these assigned towns, Levites lived, farmed, and helped other tribes worship God (Numbers 35). They received tithes in these towns, where most tithes were stored. Only a small portion was stored in the Tabernacle’s storehouse.

Not only did Levites work in the Tabernacle and on the land, but they ran the government (Deuteronomy 17:8-9, 21:5; 2 Chronicles 34:12-13).

To provide for the Levites, the poor, widows, orphans, and to teach Israel to celebrate, commune with and revere Him, God introduced three tithes:

1. The Levitical tithe in Numbers 18:21-32 called for all tribes except Levi to give one-tenth of their agricultural crops and livestock only, to the Levites in return for the Levites’ work in the Tent of Meeting. Levites had to tithe from their tenth. Numbers 18:20-22 (Complete Jewish Bible), says, ADONAI said to Aharon, "You are not to have any inheritance or portion in their land; I am your portion and inheritance among the people of Isra'el. To the descendants of Levi I have given the entire tenth of the produce collected in Isra'el. It is their inheritance in payment for the service they render in the tent of meeting. From now on the people of Isra'el are not to approach the tent of meeting..."
2. Donors consumed in God’s presence the Festive tithe of agricultural crops and livestock only (Deuteronomy 14:23-27). Its purpose was to teach Israel to worship God, to learn to fear or revere Him, and to celebrate with Him and the community.
3. The Poor tithe, in Deuteronomy 14:28-29, agricultural crops only, once every three years (equal to 3.3% each year), went to feed the Levites, foreigners, widows, and orphans.

These three totalling 23.3% were specific to Israel and dealt with Israel’s religious and social arrangements at the specific time.

Tithing Is Not Today’s Biblical Standard

Hebrews 7 and 8 tells us that Jesus replaced the temporary Aaronic office of High Priest with a permanent priesthood (Hebrews 7:24). As well, Jesus is the High Priest according to the Order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:4-6). Besides, Apostle Peter reminds us that following Yeshua's death and resurrection, each believer is a priest (1 Peter 2:5-9). Read Hebrews 7:23-28 reflectively and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you about His truth: Today, we do not need intermediaries between us and Jesus. We do not need animals for animal sacrifice. God sent His one and only Son, Yeshua the Messiah, whose blood was shed for all our sins, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He, not Levites, is our intermediary to our Father.

Tithe, Tithing, to Grace Giving

I repeat, tithing and giving to God today is clear in the Bible. Giving to God should flow from each person’s relationship with Messiah—from lives surrendered to Messiah.

We see examples of surrendered lives in the early church in Acts 2:41-47 and Acts 4:35 to Acts 5:24, and in 2 Corinthians 8 & 9.

Our heart condition is the central issue here. Do we accept God’s sovereignty over all possessions we use? Are we prepared to hold them loosely and make all available to Him? Believers have nothing, so we can’t give God anything but our hearts. Apostle Paul says: For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." (Romans 8:13-14).

In the first giving reference after Pentecost, in the new unorganized church, as needs arose believers shared what they had directly with each other (Acts 2:44-45). They did not tithe. Shortly after, believers brought gifts to the apostles to share (Acts 4:35, 37; 5:2). They did not tithe. Later that practice changed and individuals started to fulfill their individual responsibilities toward God. They started to practice grace giving, which I call keeping, because it accepts God’s ownership of everything and my stewardship. We see the keeping lifestyle in these four Scripture passages:

1. The selfless giver (2 Corinthians 8:2-7)
2. The hilarious giver (2 Corinthians 9:7-8)
3. The regular giver (1 Corinthians 16:2)
4. The sharing and hospitable giver (Romans 12:13)

Keeping aims to maximize funds Jesus keeps for His work and minimize amounts we use. We achieve it by:

1. Surrendering every area of our lives to Jesus (giving ourselves first, like the Macedonians (2 Corinthians 8: 1-7)
2. Applying His ownership and our stewardship to our possessions
3. Praying continually to seek Jesus’ allocation of funds
4. Obeying His directions

Grace Giving Pays Pastors Proper Wages

Since tithing does not apply today, how should we pay our pastors? How should churches and ministries fund their expenses? Apostle Paul tells us to pay our pastors (1 Corinthians 9:1-19), not mechanically from a tithe, but from grateful hearts (2 Corinthians 9:7). We must seek the Lord’s will continually; He will direct our paths. But we shouldn’t respond to crafty manipulation from leaders who seek to fund-raise to do their wills. Mull over this Mother Teresa’s quote: Messiah followers to whom I speak individually or in a group, tell me they believe God owns 100% of everything and they are His steward. Yet, many believe they should tithe. They have not studied New Covenant teachings, and so, as with my earlier walk with the Lord, they hear the tithing teaching so often, especially when churches and ministries fund raise, they believe it. But the good news is this: every person I know who studies grace giving understands tithing does not apply, simply because they do not see it taught or practiced by early believers.

Jesus wants us in a personal relationships with Him where we place all money and belongings at His disposal and then follow His direction to use and share them. Still, many folks withhold parts of their lives and live in at least two silos. In one silo, they alone decide how to use God’s 90%. And in the other, they give Him a tithe or less—in North America the average is much less. That’s why I define tithing as a guilt relieving way to spend God’s 90% without His approval.

Grace Giving Funds The Great Commission

It doesn’t end there. Often, when folks give God this 10% or less mechanically, they ask for something in return—an attitude that reinforces the selfish lifestyle practiced in North America.

As the Spirit leads, ask Jesus to help you stop seeking stuff for you, stop focusing on your circumstances, and seek to get to know Him better to become more like Him. Then His will might become your wish.

Develop the mindset that all funds you get go to God’s bank account. Write ’God’ on the back of your credit and debit cards. Pray continually, ask Jesus to show you how to divide His possessions you manage. Don’t wait until Sunday or when an organization asks for funds. Invest time with God regularly to learn His way to share His funds. Live in one silo as a Christian; surrender all to Jesus.

Each believer should use time, talents and funds God gives him, to further the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). This includes giving to your Bible-believing church, selected Christ-centered Christian charities, the poor, less fortunate, and others, as the Lord leads. Know your local church’s life, learn its needs, ask God to show you the right responses. Don’t let pastors, leaders or others pressure you to fund building or programs God does not lay on your heart! When God wants buildings built and programs funded, He provides funding through willing hearts He gives to His people!

Many churches and Christian charities have been manipulating believers, preying on their naivety and greed. Do not give God’s money to any group unless God tells you. Don’t give under compulsion. These groups appeal to the tithing attitude; they suggest you give a bit to God and claim more. That’s not biblical! You do not need these groups’ intervention to access God; you need Jesus.

Beware; don’t give to a group when it tells you to give it funds so it can do something for you. Rather, ask God to show you where to give His funds. Another growing practice Christian charities use is to ask you to give on credit cards. They do not teach you the proper use of a credit card, and so they don’t tell you to pay your balance fully each month; rather they tell you to give them funds and then believe for a financial miracle. Yet, putting funds on credit cards give merchants a percent of those funds, wasting God’s money—they ignore this! Then again, likely you will fall deeper in debt by giving on your credit card while the ministry gets more money. Stop; do not give unless God tells you!

Tithing: Why Practiced Today

So, why is tithing practiced today when it is clear from the Bible it does not apply? Perhaps it fits North American me-centered Christianity, and is a good fund raising base, when presented as a seed for God to return a blessing. Probably, ignorance, greed, and the seductive marketing by flashy TV charlatans?

The prosperity gospel proponents use several Bible verses as hooks to catch the poor, uneducated, greedy, and ignorant. Tithing, using Malachi 3:10 as bait, seems to be one of their favourites:

Wittingly or unwittingly, these charlatans ignore the context. Malachi 3:10 refers specifically to priests mentioned in Malachi 1:6-8, who were presenting defiled animals to the Lord--Israel’s tithes to Levites were unfit. In turn, the priests who received these tithes, presented them to God, though the animals were blemished and defective. They ought to know the law! In Malachi 1:12-15, God cursed the priests for this. Then, in Malachi 3:10, God tells the priests that if Israel tithed as required by the law, and the priests presented proper tithes to God. He will bless Israel as He promised in Deuteronomy 11:26. 

Malachi 3:10 does not mean individuals today should send money as a tithe to churches, and to health-wealth-prosperity gospel preachers, and then God will pour out blessings on the givers! No, it does not! Here, Malachi refers specifically to God’s promises of blessings and curses in Deuteronomy 11. But, seductive prosperity messages, and manipulation by wealthy TV preachers appeal to the greed and ignorance in their supporters who continue to give what they don’t have to gain a bonanza. Clearly, an unbiblical practice.

Then again, I think, like me, many folks grew up hearing about tithing and have not studied the subject. So too, I think many God fearing sincere pastors have not studied the matter fully. Still, it is good to know a few preach this truth. Certainly it is tough to be a pastor to say to the congregation, we are not under law and you do not have to give. But understand, if you do not give, you will need to account to God, not to me. This is not a pretty message, but happily, some preach it. Nevertheless, we must keep focusing on our relationship with our Messiah.

Tithing: When Re-introduced

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia: "... The earliest positive legislation on the subject seems to be contained in the letter of the bishops assembled at Tours in 567 and the canons of the Council of Macon in 585. ... "

Tithing and Giving To God: Summary

What's the truth about tithing and giving to God? Ask the Holy Spirit to show in the Bible. I want to stress, I am not saying tithing is the start of giving, a minimum, a 'training wheel.' This would be similar to a message which says, "abstain from sex before marriage, but if you must, use a condom." Partial obedience of God’s word is disobedience.

We must start with God owning 100% and you owning nothing. Then through your continuing relationship with Jesus, He shows you how much you should take from His 100% and how much He wants (He will keep) for His work.

It is not about percentages, but about your heart. Study 2 Corinthians 8 to see the Macedonians’ hearts.

After Jesus’ resurrection, you won’t find one instance in the New Testament where someone in the early church taught or practiced tithing. Like many folks I know who turned away from tithing to keeping, I pray you will study this topic, hear the truth from God, and stop giving under compulsion or giving to get something.

I pray you will start to let God lead your giving. Folks who write, e-mail, and talk to me, testify to giving more to God when they practise keeping instead of tithing. Only, they become more discerning, and move away from ministries that manipulate and appeal to their greed nature. They say also, they draw closer to Jesus.

God will show you how much to leave in His Kingdom; stay close to Him. Learning to leave funds in His Kingdom is an important part of growing closer to Him. If after reading this section you want to continue tithing, I suggest you answer these questions:

1. What’s the basis for your decision?
2. Are you tithing 23.3%?
3. Which of the three tithes aren’t you practising?
4. To whom do you tithe, and why?
5. Do you tithe money, or stuff?