By Sherri Stevens

Don’t fall into the trap of tithing!

Many preachers intentionally or unintentionally misrepresent the true meaning and purpose of Scriptural tithing. According to the Bible, Christians are not obligated or mandated to tithe as is commonly taught and practiced in most churches today. Tithing has no relevance to a New Testament believer. This blog aims to expose how many churches twist the truth of Scripture to get your money and debunk the false teachings surrounding how tithing is taught by preachers today.

Tithing was commanded to the children of Israel for the support of the Levitical priesthood (Num. 18:21). Because the Levites were consecrated to full-time ministry and could not be profitably employed, the tithe allowed them to enjoy a standard of living that approximated the national average. In turn, the Levites then contributed a tenth of their income to the priests for their support (Num. 18:26-28). This system established under the Old Covenant was designed to free up many men to minister regarding the Tabernacle/temple and teach law to people. The tithe or “tenth” was not an arbitrary fraction but corresponded to the needs of the number of full-time ministers requiring support.

Since God has abolished the temple and the Levitical priesthood, there remains no biblical basis for Christians to devote ten percent of their income to the church’s coffers as was required of the Israelites in their support of the temple clergy. This is why neither Jesus nor the apostles ever suggested this obligatory duty to the disciples. The tithe was used to support the Levitical priesthood established for the ritual system of Israel. The ceremonial aspects of the Law became obsolete when the New Covenant went into effect (Heb. 8:13).

It has been argued that tithing did not go out with the Law because it was practiced before the giving of the Law, and therefore, it still has validity independent of the Law. Only two passages describing the practice of tithing before the time of Moses and the giving of the Law exist, both in the book of Genesis. In Genesis 14:20, Abraham gave the priest Melchizedek a tenth of the spoils after his conquest against Chedolaomer. Also, in Genesis 28:20-22, Jacob vowed to give God a tenth of whatever prosperity God might grant him in his absence from Canaan.

Neither of these passages teaches that godly people regularly devoted ten percent of their wealth to God. Two isolated cases do not establish a pattern. The Bible never records Abraham or Jacob doing so on any occasion other than these two recorded instances. Therefore, it can’t be established from Scripture that tithing was recognized or mandated before the time of Moses. Furthermore, it would be ridiculous to equate Abraham voluntarily giving a tenth of the spoils he gained through winning a war with that of a Christian's obligatory duty to give ten percent of their annual wages.

Even if there were a biblical basis for such a teaching, it does not follow that tithing would continue as a mandate under the New Covenant. Animal sacrifices and circumcision (both commanded in the Law of Moses) were regular practices before the Law was given, and these practices did not continue under the New Covenant.

Tithing is mentioned three times outside the Old Covenant context. The Gospels record Jesus saying that the scribes and Pharisees meticulously paid their tithes while neglecting the “weightier matters of the law” (Matt. 23:23). Jesus states that they should have done both (i.e., paid tithes and observed the weightier matters), but he made this statement in the context of the Old Covenant law.

It is essential to understand that though many people mistakenly think that Matthew and the other Gospels are part of the New Covenant, the New Testament did not go into effect until after Jesus's death, burial, and resurrection (Heb. 9:17). At that time, the New Covenant replaced the Mosaic Law, which includes tithing. Jesus stated what was required of the Pharisees living under the Old Covenant law, but that tells us nothing about any obligation a Christian would have living under the New Covenant.

Also, in the Gospels, we have an account that describes the self-congratulating “prayer” of a Pharisee in a parable (Luke 18:12) who boasts of paying tithes of all he possesses. This parable, however, does not make this man out to be a model of morality that a Christian would emulate; instead, it exposes him as a hypocrite.

Finally, in Hebrews chapter 7, we read the story of Abraham and Melchizedek recounted, but without any reference to a duty of tithing that would pertain to a New Covenant believer. Unsurprisingly, tithing advocates refrain from reflecting on these New Testament accounts because it would derail the deception that runs their money train.

Most of the preaching in today’s churches usually centers upon the classic Old Testament rebuke of those who neglect to “bring all of the tithes into the storehouse” (Mal. 3:10). The argument preachers tend to convey to their congregations typically sounds something like this:

“The storehouse is the local church where you get your spiritual feeding. Therefore, God commands you to give a tenth of your income to the church you are a member of. Anything over that amount you would give is not your tithe but an offering.”

It’s not difficult to speculate why churches might teach their members this false doctrine. They typically have some building project they want to accomplish, or they intentionally deceive those they count on to be gullible givers so they can live life high on the hog. The only thing wrong with the argument above is everything! There is not one legitimate scriptural point contained in their deceptive pitch.

First, the correct quote reads, "Bring all your tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in My house..." This quote in Malachi 3:10 literally refers to the tithe as meat, which means cattle, lambs, goats, etc. It does not refer to money or mention bringing money into a church.

Second, the biblical storehouse was not a place of religious worship and is not comparable to our churches today. According to Scripture, a storehouse was where crops, grains, oils, and wine were stored (Neh. 10:38).

Thirdly, the “storehouse” was not a pantry where the Jews went to get their food. The storehouse refers to the storage rooms in the Jerusalem temple where food was stored for the priests. The priests ate there, and any surplus of the provisions was given to the poor (Deut. 26:12). The concept of the “storehouse” in no way resembled a private pantry from which a tithing worshipper provided for his own sustenance.

Nothing in this passage is addressed to New Covenant believers. It is entirely irresponsible and illogical to equate Old Testament tithing instituted for the provision of the Levitical priesthood living in an agricultural-based economy with that of a mandatory monetary percentage for a New Covenant believer. The Christian standard for giving is defined under an entirely different Covenant—the stewardship of New Covenant giving replaced Mosaic Law tithing.

Aside from the manipulative motivations a preacher might have in the deceptive way he teaches tithing, most fail to accurately teach the truth about how much Israelites tithed under the Old Covenant. Under the Mosaic law, there were three tithes:

• A regular tithe was given to support the priests and the work of the temple (Num. 18:21).
• A “festival tithe” to celebrate the required feasts (Deut.12:17-19).
• A “charity tithe” is given every third year to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow (Deut. 14:28-29).
  

Given the observance of these three different tithes, we can compute that the Israelites were required to give 23.3 percent of their income, not 10 percent.

The Israelites operated under "The Law” of Moses (John 1:17), whereas the New Covenant Church is to operate under the “Law of Christ” (1 Cor. 9:11; Gal 6:2). Israel had a priesthood that was specific to the tribe of Levi (Num 3:6-7), whereas all Christians are a kingdom of priests to God (1 Pet. 2:9; Rev 1:6). Israel worshipped first at the Tabernacle and later the Temple (Ex 40:18-38; 2 Chron. 8:14-16), but for Christians, their body is the temple of the Lord and they gather locally where they choose (1 Cor. 6:19-20; 1 Cor. 16:19; Col 4:15). Israel offered animal sacrifices to God (Lev 4:1-35), but Christians offer spiritual sacrifices (1 Pet 2:5; Rom 12:1; Heb 13:15). Israel was required to tithe from the produce of their land (Deut 14:22-23; 28-29; Num 18:21), but there is no tithe required from Christians, only a joyful attitude when giving, “for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7).

To Christians, the apostle Paul mentions systematic giving (1 Cor 16:1-2), but nowhere specifies an amount. Giving 10% of one’s income can be a guideline, so long as it is understood that it’s voluntary and not required by the Lord. Financial support of a pastor is in accordance with Scripture (Gal. 6:6; 1 Tim 5:17-18), although the apostle Paul supported himself in his own ministry as an example to others of sacrificial living (Acts 20:32-35). Giving generously, cheerfully, and not under compulsion is the teaching for New Testament believers (1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:7).

Don't fall into the tithing trap set by most churches! If you are being guilted, coerced, and manipulated by money-hungry pastors and leaders, remember that you are free to steward the money and resources God has blessed you with as a New Covenant grace-giver!

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