Tithing started early. When Abraham won a battle he gave a tenth of his spoils to Melchizedek (Gen. 14:19-20). This is the first instance of tithing in the Bible. The second instance is when Jacob promised to give a tenth of all his wealth to God (Gen. 28:22).
Tithing, like many religious rituals, predated the Mosaic law. Ancient rituals like sacrifices, circumcision, and the Sabbath were all divine ordinances that God’s people kept since the time of Abraham (and even earlier). These ancient religious rituals were instructions from God, and righteous people practiced them for generations and handed them down.
However, just because a religious predates the Mosaic law doesn’t mean Christians need to do it today.
For example, sacrifices predate the Mosaic law, but we don’t offer sacrifices today. Circumcision predates the Law, but we don’t need to be circumcised today.
Just because tithing predates the Law doesn’t necessarily mean we need to tithe today.
The Mosaic Law and Tithing
When Moses came, these ancient religious rituals were codified, along with other divine commands, into the Law. Tithing was part of the Law, and the Israelites had to regularly give a tenth of their wealth to God.
Just because tithing is in the Law doesn’t mean we need to tithe today.
When Jesus came, he set us free from the Law. The Mosaic law is full of commands that we don’t obey literally today. The Law says not to eat pork. It says to kill adulterers and witches. It says to go to Jerusalem three times a year. We don’t need to follow these instructions literally today. Instead they are all symbolic for us in the New Covenant (Hebrews 10:1).
It’s the same with tithing.
Jesus and the Pharisees
Jesus said, “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” (Luke 11:42).
Jesus commended the Pharisees for tithing. Does that mean we need to tithe?
When Jesus made this statement to the Pharisees, the Old Covenant was still in effect. Like all Jews living before the cross, the Pharisees had to keep the Mosaic law.
Jesus also told the Israelites that they should follow the teaching of the Pharisees – “whatever they bid you to do, do it.” The Pharisees taught the Mosaic law, including circumsion, sacrifices, and dietary regulations. Jesus expected his people to keep the Mosaic law, until the cross.
After the cross, God’s people were set free from the Low, and they no longer had to keep its regulations. They could now eat pork, stop sacrificing, and stop going to the temple worship. In addition, they no longer needed to tithe.
Jesus’ instructions to follow the teachings of the Pharisees does not directly apply to us, because we are not under the Mosaic law.
Tithing Today?
When Jesus came, he brought many of the teachings of the Old Testament to a higher level. While the Old Testament said do not commit adultery, Jesus said don’t even look on a woman with lust. Whereas the Old Testament said don’t murder, Jesus said if you hate your brother you are a murderer.
In the Old Testament, God’s people had to give 10%. But in the New Testament, Jesus told people to sell everything they had (Luke 12:32-33). The early disciples sold everything and gave it all to God’s work.
Tithing is a lower standard than the standard of the New Testament. Today, all of a Christian’s resources belong to God.
This means much more than saying, “God, all I have is yours. I give it all to you, and then you give it all back to me, and now I am your steward!” This mindset usually results in very little giving, as people just wind up keeping their stuff and using it as they please. Rather, we are called to be radically generous with our possessions, like the early disciples (Acts 2:44-45).
It is important for Christians to be generous and give to support God’s work. Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive. The New Testament provides good reasons for Christians to give to support God’s work. Giving blesses other Christians, helps the church grow, and helps the gospel advance. When Christians give, they lay up treasures in heaven. They are blessed spiritually. They are even blessed materially. Giving is an important part of the Christian life.
It is usually a process to get to the point where a Christian can actually give everything to God. This is where it helps to have a Biblical church community. When saints are radically loving each other and seeking to follow the Bible, obedience to this instruction becomes possible. Until such communities are raised up which make radical New Testament giving possible, tithing is better than nothing. It serves as a baseline for giving. Tithing is a minimum standard that might be helpful to follow, in preparation to giving all we have to God.
Bethel Cornerstone 