Published September 24, 2024 at 8:27 PM

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Tithing is a debated topic in Christianity. There are those who believe that tithing is still required in the New Testament. There are churches that levy mandatory tithes, and cite Malachi 3:8-10. Churches that do this show that they have not read the Old Testament in full, let alone understood the context of Malachi. The sad truth of this fact is that many of these churches don’t touch Malachi (or any of the Minor Prophets) unless it is to tell people to pay tithes.

However, I am getting off track, so I will focus on the topic of tithing. The short answer to the debate is that tithing IS NOT mandated in the New Covenant. However, people are encouraged to (and should) give as the Spirit leads them. This article will discuss tithing in the correct context, then discuss how Christians should give.

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What Was Tithing Used For?

To understand the purpose of tithing, we will go back to the Torah. A tithe is another word for 1/10th, and it was the practice of giving 1/10th of your crops/goods to God. In the Old Testament, the tithe was used to take care of the Levites. They were the only tribe not to receive an inheritance, and could not work because their lives were dedicated to service of the Tabernacle and Temple. Because of this, the other tribes were required to pay a tithe to take care of them. The Levites would live amongst the people, (they had no land allotment) and intercede to God on their behalf, so the tithe helped take care of them.

“And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD.” (Leviticus 27:30 NKJV)

“Behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tithes in Israel as an inheritance in return for the work which they perform, the work of the tabernacle of meeting. Hereafter the children of Israel shall not come near the tabernacle of meeting, lest they bear sin and die. But the Levites shall perform the work of the tabernacle of meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity; it shall be a statute forever, throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance. For the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer up as a heave offering to the LORD, I have given to the Levites as an inheritance; therefore I have said to them, ‘Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.’ ” (Numbers 18:21-24 NKJV)

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Context of Malachi 3:8-10

With this established, it should be clear what the context of Malachi 3:8-10 is. The verses read:

“’Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,’ Says the LORD of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:8-10 NKJV)

The people were not paying their tithes, which meant that they were not taking care of the priests and the Temple. This also meant that they were robbing God, which Malachi calls them out for. They were seeking God’s blessing, but neglected taking care of His house. To reference Haggai, Malachi is calling on the people to consider their ways (Haggai 1:7).

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New Covenant Giving

Having established that tithing was used to take care of the Levites, it should become clear why we don’t have a mandatory tithe today. There is no more Levitical priesthood, as Jesus became High Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:20).

Therefore, I am AGAINST churches levying a mandatory tithe and taking advantage of members through it (millionaire mega-church pastors are another discussion). HOWEVER, I am very much in favor of people giving as the Spirit leads them. Let God put it on your heart to give!

When you read about the early church in Acts 2 and Acts 4, this is how they operated. The Spirit was moving powerfully, and people gave as they were led to (i.e. Barnabas). Peter and John did not levy a tithe to help provide for the early church. Similarly, Paul’s letters encourage people to be cheerful givers (2 Corinthians 9:6-8), as God loves when we cheerfully give (giving without being forced to and/or without expecting a reward for doing so). The early church operated without collecting a mandatory tithe, as they understood what the purpose of the Mosaic Law tithe was. They relied on the generosity of their members and thrived.

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Conclusion

I pray that this article brought clarity to the issue of tithing. The mandatory tithe was used in the Old Testament as a way to take care of the Levites. In the New Covenant, churches should not be mandating a tithe, but should instead encourage their members to give cheerfully. Giving is a huge part of our faith, and the reason we give (our heart behind it) is important. So don’t use the fact that we no longer tithe as an excuse to not give; we should give as the Spirit leads us!

Thank you for reading, and always remember to stay vigilant!