The Law of Tithe in the Bible: What You Need to Know

Ever since the Bible was written over 2,000 years ago, tithing has been a topic of discussion. Some people believe that tithing is something that is still necessary today, while others maintain that it is no longer a part of God’s law. In this blog post, we’ll explore what tithing is, the Law of Tithe in the Bible, and what it means according to the Bible.

We’ll also look at tithing from the perspective of old testament scripture and see how it compares to what is said in new testament scripture. So whether you’re a believer or an unbeliever, read on to learn more about tithing in the Bible!

Before we continue deeper, you can check out our article about tithing on our blog. Maybe you will find the answer to your question about it. Go to: Tithes New Testament – A Guide

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The Law of Tithe in the Bible

What is Tithing

Tithing is a principle that is mentioned many times in the Bible and it has an important role in Christian worship.

Although the word “tithe” is frequently used to refer to any charitable donation to the church, its actual meaning is “tenth.”

According to the law of Moses, an Israelite was required to give 10% of their firstfruits as a tithe. The first half of the harvest was given back to God because He provided it. It served as a reminder to Israel that all we possess is God’s. It was an expression of appreciation for His provision. It also provided for the Levitical priests, festivals, and the destitute.

Read more about tithing in our article here: What is Tithing in New Testament?

Do Most Christians Tithe

Tithing is a biblical principle that emphasizes giving back to God. It is found throughout the bible and refers to giving 10% of your income to him. Christians who follow this principle are called “tithers”.

So, almost all Christians tithe?

The phrase is largely to blame for the ambiguity around the issue of whether Christians should tithe. Israelites were obligated to donate 10% of their wealth to God throughout the Old Testament.

The law stipulated that this “tenth part,” or tithe, be paid. And even that is a little deceptive because the Israelites actually donated about 23% of their income when you take into account all of their mandatory donations.

Many Christians today would argue that tithing was once a requirement of the law but has since been abolished. This doesn’t imply that they don’t think charitable giving is important; it just means they don’t think Christians have to contribute a certain amount.

In fact, some of these individuals would contend that a tithe places far too few demands on us in comparison to the early Christians.

When many Christians use the term “tithing” to refer to any form of giving, the topic becomes a little more complicated. Christians who are used to thinking of all donations as tithing may find this biblical idea difficult to grasp. Therefore, it’s imperative that we use vocabulary that is obvious.

We are able to donate the church 3, 5, or 8% of our gross income, but not a tithe. A tithe is a 10% donation. Less than a quarter of every congregation, according to tithing data, tithes.

Additionally, Christians typically donate 2.5% of their income to the church. Thus, the majority of Christians do not tithe in that sense.

Thankfully, a variety of solutions, including online giving for churches, are now accessible to help you give your congregation a seamless digital tithing experience. These technologies have the power to fundamentally change how your church contributes and expands.

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Taking out of the Bible

Being able to see how strongly God emphasizes the idea that our resources are an outgrowth of our faith is one of the great benefits of having Scripture on giving all in one place. When we look at all of this data, it’s difficult to minimize the importance of how we manage our resources.

You can use this information to create sermons, Bible studies, or stewardship classes.

Tithing before Moses

The First Tithe

And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Genesis 14:19-20

Following his victory over the armies of the four kings, the rescue of his nephew Lot, and the recovery of his properties, Abram is greeted by the mysterious Melchizedek, a priest of God Most High. The priest gives Abram a blessing and praises God, who possesses heaven and earth, for his success.

Abram gives Melchizedek a tenth of his riches as an expression of appreciation for God’s leadership and blessing. He does it in response to God’s blessing, not in order to obtain it.

Jacob offers a tithe

After receiving a dream from God, Jacob builds an altar and makes a promise to give God a tenth of everything he owns in return for God’s protection and provision.

Quotations from Moses about Tithing

Moses told the Israelites to donate a tenth of their seed harvests, fruit trees, and every tenth animal to the new Tabernacle in the second year of the Exodus. These guidelines weren’t just recommendations or best practices; they were demands from God.

It’s crucial to understand that God’s law placed tithing at its core. The Israelites were required to tithe, and on top of that, they were urged to make freewill offerings. They didn’t wait until they felt moved to do so.

The tithe is introduced as law

“Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord. If a man wishes to redeem some of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it. And every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman’s staff, shall be holy to the Lord. One shall not differentiate between good or bad, neither shall he make a substitute for it; and if he does substitute for it, then both it and the substitute shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.” (LEV. 27:30–34)

Moses is presenting the tithe as a law here. The first ten percent is referred to as “holy” or “put apart,” since it belongs to God. The Israelites were to acknowledge God’s provision by giving back to Him what was already theirs.

If someone needed to “redeem” or keep all or some of the things they were supposed to tithe, they might just give money in their place. But the money would have to be five percent more than the value of the tithe. In other words, Israelites had the option of giving 10% in crops or 12% in cash.

Tithes established for the levites

To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting. Numbers 18:21 ESV

Israel’s priests before God were the Levites, who had a specific role in the nation. The Levites were exempt from inheritance from the other tribes at God’s command. Their inheritance and part were in the Lord (v. 21).

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How Israelites Made Tithes

The tithe was not viewed by the Israelites as a gift to God. Instead, it was a debt they owed to the All-Creating God. As “firstfruits,” or the best of what they had, these tithes were offered to God. 10% of whatever they possessed was immediately given to God.

Israelites were additionally urged to make voluntary sacrifices. These served as a means of expressing gratitude and thanks. Therefore, the tithe might be viewed as a tax that Israel paid to God, and they were also urged to pay more out of their own free will.

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Jesus’ Teachings on Tithing

Lord Jesus challenged the established religious order. This conflict was largely centered on the propensity to uphold the letter of the law while disregarding its intent. Their conception of loyalty centered around paying close attention to every last legal detail while ignoring justice and mercy.

Therefore, when Jesus particularly discusses the tithe, He emphasizes sticking rigidly to the tenth while ignoring the more important issues of what it really means to serve God. But when He brings it up, He doesn’t tell them to stop tithing; He tells them to keep their attention on the things that were truly crucial.

Jesus encourages individuals to practice their giving in meaningful ways throughout His teaching on it rather than trying to undermine the tithing premise.

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How to Decide Whether to Tithe

Today, when people think about tithing, they frequently concentrate on its legalistic aspects—and they should. It’s simple to go through the motions faithfully without letting your actions affect your heart.

With regard to tithing, Jesus Christ took this position (and other empty spiritual practices). However, such does not render the practices unimportant.

Jesus, for instance, had a problem with the way people approached prayer and fasting. He criticized those who put on these rituals as a show to demonstrate their spirituality. They would publicly pray aloud or fast while putting on the worst possible face.

Their behavior and demeanor served as a walking billboard for their superior religious beliefs. Jesus even had to criticize them for making a great deal out of their charitable contributions in order to brag.

However, the significance of these techniques was not diminished by these abuses. These practices are still being used by people in the New Testament. Jesus didn’t discount the worth of these customs; rather, he condemned their abuse.

We need to be honest with ourselves when it comes to tithing, which is the 10% of one’s income that is given to the church. For instance, we might determine that the law that mandated 10% is no longer in effect, but it is still obvious that we should be giving. How much should we donate then? When should we donate?

Saying that God’s people should be less charitable than they were under the law doesn’t make much sense. But far too frequently, people go off in the opposite direction in response to legalism. Giving under grace turns into a sentimental, sporadic, and irregular activity.

When it results in God’s people becoming less consistent in their giving, the debate over whether Christians should tithe becomes disturbing. It would be erroneous to believe that giving by God’s people was simpler in the Old Testament.

It’s simply untrue. Being a steward is challenging, and the want to hang on to what we have is constant. The Israelites were frequently rebuked by God for failing to fulfill their obligation to donate (Malachi 3:8–9).

Whether or if we should give is the true topic at hand when it comes to tithing. And there is no doubt in the matter—yes! The amount? Actually, 10% should be viewed as the starting level of charitable contribution.

There is no justification for supposing that our almsgiving should be less than a tithe. Our charitable contribution should rise along with our income. If you’re fortunate enough to earn $1 billion, 10% is equal to $100 million dollar.

But do you actually require $900 million? You could easily distribute 90% of it while surviving on the remaining 10%. But in order to achieve it, you must truly believe that God ultimately owns everything you possess.

The true secret is to set a specific amount aside and adhere to it after making a conscious decision. Don’t rely on inspiration because you’ll almost always wind up giving much less than if you planned your giving approach in advance.

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Conclusion

The tithe is an important element of the law of giving, and it should be given consistent with God’s Word. Giving by people who profess faith in Jesus Christ should rise along with their income, but a tenth (10%) is a good starting point. We must be willing to give sacrificially above our means if we are going to live lives pleasing to God.