Should Christians Tithe? What the Bible Says
Ten percent of whose income, to whom, and is it commanded? The Bible says a great deal about giving, and Christians read the tithe question in two main ways.
What the Bible says
- Scripture
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Malachi 3:10 God commands Israel to bring the full tithe and promises blessing: the Old Testament's clearest giving command.
- Scripture
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Paul's New Testament principle is purposeful, cheerful, non-coerced giving: "not grudgingly, or of necessity."
- Scripture
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Matthew 23:23 Jesus affirms tithing while rebuking those who tithe precisely yet neglect justice, mercy, and faith: the heart matters more than the math.
A grounded way to understand this
Christians differ: some hold the tithe as an enduring baseline for giving; others see the New Testament replacing the fixed percentage with generous, Spirit-led giving that often exceeds ten percent (2 Corinthians 8-9). Both agree on this: Christians should give regularly, proportionally, cheerfully, and first (1 Corinthians 16:2; Proverbs 3:9).
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People also ask
Does the New Testament command tithing?
Not explicitly as a continued law. Jesus affirms the tithe (Matthew 23:23) and the New Testament commands generous, regular, cheerful giving (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:7). Christians differ on whether ten percent remains the baseline.
Where should my tithe go?
Malachi speaks of the "storehouse," which most apply to the local church (1 Corinthians 9:14; Galatians 6:6). Giving to other ministries and the poor is also commended (Galatians 2:10).
What if I can't afford to tithe?
God measures sacrifice, not amount (Mark 12:41-44; 2 Corinthians 8:12: "according to that a man hath"). Give what you can cheerfully, and trust God with the rest; the Macedonians gave "beyond their power" in deep poverty (2 Corinthians 8:2-3).
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