NEW TESTAMENT TITHING

Tithing is commonplace in the Body of Christ today.  Is it supposed to be that way?  Yes, and no.

Yes, if done according to the New Testament.

No, if done according to the way it is commonly taught by many, especially in the HAW-WOF (Health And Wealth - Word of Faith) circles. You know, you have to tithe, or you will be cursed.  That is legalism, trying to put people under the Law of Moses that don't belong there.

Well, what is the New Testament way?  I am glad you asked me that... Let's see what the NT says about tithing.

What Jesus said about tithing

In the accounts of the Widow's Mite, the texts incidentally mention that Jesus watched as people placed tithes and donations into the collection box in the Temple.  This was a normal practice at the time, under the Old Covenant.

But this passage gives us a more meaningful glimpse:

Luke 11:37-44 Legacy Stantard Bible

Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee asked Him to have a meal with him.  And He went in and reclined at the table.  But when the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first aceremonially washed before the meal.

But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness.  You foolish ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also?  But give that which is within as charity, and then all things are clean for you.

“But woe to you Pharisees!  For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God, but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.

"Woe to you Pharisees!  For you love the best seat in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the marketplaces.  Woe to you! For you are like concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it.”

Jesus tells us the Pharisees went to painstaking extremes to fulfill their obligation to tithe, but neglected the more important issues of the heart.

Tithing under the Law of Moses applied mostly to crops.  The Pharisees, whether or not they owned farms, orchards, or vineyards from which they would tithe, they might also have grown herbs in their homes the way many do today.  They made sure to keep track of how much their herb gardens produced, so they could give a tenth of their "crop."

Jesus just pointed out that in going to such extremes to keep the Law, they forgot more important issues, like justice and love.  So, if a "pastor" talks more about "tithes and offerings" than he does about heart issues, you should probably wonder about who he is following, the Pharisees, or Jesus.

What the Apostles said about tithing

The Acts of the Apostles does not mention tithing.  I am sure the first disciples tithed, if the Old Testament tithe applied to them, because they were Jews who still saw themselves as Jews.  But even when Gentiles began to believe in Jesus, the Apostles never said anything about them having to tithe.

Paul's letters do not say anything about tithing, not even when the issue about Gentile disciples keeping the Law came up.

No one knows for sure who wrote the letter to the Hebrews.  Many say Paul wrote it.  I can see Paul being involved, because the next to last verse in the book mentions that Timothy was just released from jail.  My personal view is that it was written by a committee, and Paul was on it.  Any speculation about who the other contributors are is just that: speculation, conjecture, guesswork.

I go into that because Hebrews was written to Jewish disciples who were beginning to experience persecution from the Roman government.  They could escape the persecution by rejecting Jesus and claiming to be just Jews.  Judaism was protected by Roman law.

The writers wanted to encourage the Jewish disciples to stay faithful to Jesus while facing persecution, whether it came from government or religious authorities.

The writers focused on showing that Jesus is better than elements of Judaism: angels, Moses, the Old Covenant, the temple, the priesthood, etc.  When it came to the priesthood, they wrote this:

Hebrews 7:1-8 LSB

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.  Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest continually.

Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the spoils.

And those indeed of the sons of Levi, who receive the priest’s office, have a commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brothers, although these are descended from Abraham.  But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them had collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.  And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.

That passage shows us that the Levitical priests, while still in the loins of Abraham, tithed to a priest of a superior order, the one Jesus belongs to.  When did this happen? Before the Law!  This even happened before God changed his name from Abram to Abraham:

Genesis 14:17 - 24 LSB

Then after he came back from striking down Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).  And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of aGod Most High. Then he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of aGod Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Then he gave him a tenth of all.

And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give the people to me, but take the possessions for yourself.”

Then Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to Yahweh God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, so that you would not say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’  I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share.”

So, disciples of Jesus are not obligated to tithe.  If you desire to tithe on your income, you can do so.

If you choose to tithe, don't follow the model of the Law, as if you have to continue tithing forever. I recommend the model of Abram:

1. Abram tithed voluntarily.  He did this only once that we know of.  Even if you make tithing your regular practice, you still have the option to not tithe.

2. Abram's tithe was an act and a statement of faith.  His exchange with the king of Sodom shows his mindset in this event.  He saw himself as one bound to God in a covenant, and God was his provider, not man.