Is Tithing Required for Christians Today? What the Bible Actually Says About the Tithe
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- 7 min read
Money has always been one of the greatest tests of the human heart.
Not because God needs it.
Because it reveals what we trust.
For generations, Christians have wrestled with the same question:
"Am I required to tithe?"
Maybe you've heard that if you don't give 10%, you're robbing God.
Maybe you've been told tithing ended with the Old Testament and doesn't apply anymore.
Or maybe you've simply wondered what the Bible actually says—without denominational opinions getting in the way.
But what does God's Word actually teach?
Let's begin at the beginning.
What Is a Tithe?
The word tithe literally means "a tenth."
But here's something that surprises a lot of people:
In the Bible, a tithe wasn't originally about money.
It was about increase.
Israel was an agricultural society, so people brought a tenth of what God had blessed them with:
Grain
Wine
Olive oil
Fruit
Sheep
Cattle
These weren't random gifts. They were the first and best portion of what God had provided.
The principle was simple:
Honor God first. Trust Him with the rest.
That principle hasn't changed.
The way it was practiced, however, deserves a closer look.
Tithing Didn't Begin With Moses
One of the strongest arguments for modern tithing is that it existed before the Law of Moses.
That's true.
Abraham's Tithe
In Genesis 14, Abraham met Melchizedek after rescuing Lot.
Out of gratitude, he gave him a tenth of the spoils of war.
Notice what Scripture doesn't say.
God never commanded Abraham to do it.
There was no law.
No obligation.
No instruction that every believer should do the same.
It was a voluntary act of worship.
And it's the only time Scripture records Abraham tithing.
Jacob's Promise
Later, Jacob made a vow:
"If God will be with me... of all You give me I will surely give You a tenth."
Again...
No command.
No law.
A personal promise born out of gratitude.
So yes—tithing existed before Moses.
But it wasn't yet a covenant requirement.
Why Did God Command Israel to Tithe?
Everything changed once Israel became a nation.
Under the Mosaic Covenant, the tithe became law.
But why?
Because God was building a nation, not simply establishing a church.
The tithe served several important purposes.
It Supported the Levites
Unlike the other tribes, the Levites didn't receive land as an inheritance.
Their responsibility was serving in the Tabernacle and later the Temple.
The people's tithes provided for the priests, musicians, gatekeepers, and those devoted to ministry.
In many ways, the tithe functioned as their livelihood.
It Cared for the Vulnerable
Every third year, another tithe was collected to support:
Widows
Orphans
Foreigners
The Poor
God has always cared deeply about justice.
The tithe wasn't simply about funding worship.
It also ensured no one was forgotten.
It Taught Dependence
Perhaps the tithe's greatest purpose wasn't financial at all.
It was spiritual.
Every harvest forced Israel to answer one question:
Do I trust God enough to give Him the first portion before I know if there will be enough left for me?
The tithe trained their hearts to depend on God rather than their possessions.
And that's still one of the greatest lessons generosity teaches us today.
Here's Something Most People Never Hear
Many Christians believe biblical tithing was simply 10%.
But Israel actually gave much more.
Scholars generally identify three different tithes throughout the year:
A Levitical tithe
A festival tithe
A third-year tithe for the poor
Altogether, Israel's giving likely averaged somewhere around 20–23%.
Why?
Because the tithe wasn't simply a church offering.
It helped support an entire nation operating under God's covenant law.
That distinction matters when we compare Israel to the New Testament Church.
What About Malachi 3?
If you've been in church for any length of time, you've probably heard this verse:
"Will a man rob God?... Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse..."
It's one of the most quoted passages on giving.
But context matters.
Malachi wasn't speaking to Christians.
He was speaking to Israel.
Specifically, he was confronting priests and people who were violating the Mosaic Covenant.
The "storehouse" wasn't a church offering box.
It was literally a storage area inside the Temple where grain and provisions were kept.
Does this passage reveal God's heart for faithful giving?
Absolutely.
Does it prove every Christian must give exactly 10%?
That's where the debate begins.
Did Jesus Command Christians to Tithe?
Jesus certainly talked about tithing.
But notice when.
In Matthew 23, He rebuked the Pharisees because they carefully tithed tiny garden herbs
while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
Then He said:
"These you ought to have done without leaving the others undone."
Some people point to this as proof Christians must tithe.
But here's what we have to remember.
Jesus hadn't gone to the cross yet.
The New Covenant hadn't been established.
The people He was speaking to were still living under the Mosaic Law.
Jesus wasn't introducing New Covenant giving.
He was correcting people who were failing to obey the covenant they were still under.
Then Something Changes...
After Jesus' resurrection, something fascinating happens.
The apostles write letter after letter teaching churches how to live.
They talk about:
Generosity
Caring for the poor
Supporting pastors
Funding missionaries
Meeting needs within the church
Yet something is noticeably absent.
Not once do they command Christians to tithe.
Instead, Paul writes something even more challenging.
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)
Notice the shift.
The Old Covenant emphasized obligation.
The New Covenant emphasizes transformation.
Not because generosity matters less.
Because the heart matters more.
The Strongest Arguments for Tithing Today
Those who believe Christians should tithe generally point to four things:
Abraham tithed before the Law.
Jesus never abolished tithing.
Churches still need financial support.
Ten percent provides a healthy starting point for spiritual discipline.
Those are thoughtful arguments.
Many faithful pastors encourage tithing—not because they believe Christians are under the Law, but because it gives believers a practical way to consistently honor God with their finances.
The Strongest Arguments Against Mandatory Tithing
Others point out equally strong biblical observations.
The New Testament never commands believers to give exactly 10%.
The Levitical priesthood no longer exists.
The Temple system has been fulfilled in Christ.
And every New Testament passage about giving emphasizes willingness rather than requirement.
Interestingly, the early church often gave far beyond 10%.
Not because they had to.
Because their hearts had been transformed by the Gospel.
So... Is Tithing Required?
After examining the biblical evidence, an important distinction emerges:
The New Testament does not command Christians to give a mandatory 10% tithe.
Acts and the New Testament letters contain no instruction requiring believers to give exactly ten percent of their income to the local church.
But that doesn't mean Christians are released from the responsibility to give.
Quite the opposite.
The New Testament repeatedly instructs believers to give regularly (1 Corinthians 16:2), generously (2 Corinthians 8:2–3), according to what they have (2 Corinthians 8:12), willingly rather than under compulsion (2 Corinthians 9:7), to support those who minister the Gospel (1 Corinthians 9:13–14; 1 Timothy 5:17–18), and to care for people in need (Galatians 2:10; James 2:15–16).
The New Covenant doesn't replace 10% with 0%. It replaces a prescribed percentage with surrendered stewardship.
The question therefore changes from:
"How much am I required to give?"
to:
"How should someone who recognizes that everything belongs to God steward what God has entrusted to them?"
What Happens If You Don't Tithe?
This may be the most important question because fear often enters here.
Will God curse someone who doesn't give 10%?
Will financial problems follow?
Are Christians "robbing God" if they don't tithe?
The New Testament never places Christians under the covenant curse of Malachi 3 for failing to give 10%.
But that doesn't mean refusing to give has no spiritual significance.
Jesus repeatedly warned about the power money can have over the human heart.
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."— Matthew 6:21
A Christian who doesn't give 10% isn't automatically disobedient simply because that particular percentage hasn't been reached.
But a Christian who refuses to be generous, refuses to help people in need, refuses to support the work of the Gospel, or consistently treats everything they possess as entirely their own has a much deeper question to confront.
Who actually owns it?
Biblical stewardship begins with recognizing that everything ultimately belongs to God.
Our income.
Our possessions.
Our abilities.
Our opportunities.
Our time.
The Christian isn't being asked to determine how much of our money God deserves.
We're being asked how faithfully we're managing what was His all along.
The Real Question
"Do Christians have to tithe?" is a legitimate biblical question.
But it can easily become an attempt to find the minimum requirement.
What's the least amount that can be given while still being obedient?
The New Testament pushes the conversation somewhere deeper.
Not:
"Did I reach 10%?"
But:
"Does the way I handle money demonstrate that I trust God?"
For one person, 10% may represent genuine sacrifice.
For another, 10% may require almost no sacrifice at all.
For someone struggling to provide food or housing for a family, generosity may look different during that season.
The New Testament doesn't give every believer the same number.
It gives every believer the same calling:
Be generous. Give willingly. Care for others. Support the work of the Gospel. Don't allow money to become your master. And recognize God as the source and owner of everything entrusted to you.
Perhaps that's why the New Testament doesn't give Christians a percentage.
God isn't merely interested in receiving a tenth.
He wants the heart that decides what happens with the other ninety.
What Do You Think?
This is one of the most discussed topics in Christianity, and faithful believers have landed on different conclusions for centuries.
Where do you stand?
After reading the Scriptures in context, do you believe tithing is a New Covenant command, a wise spiritual principle, or something else entirely?
Share your thoughts in the comments—we'd love to continue the conversation together.
Continue Your Search for Truth
If this article challenged something you've always believed, don't stop here.
At Undivided Truth, we examine today's biggest biblical questions by comparing tradition, culture, and popular opinion against the whole counsel of Scripture. Our goal isn't to tell you what to think—it's to help you discover what God's Word actually says.
Continue reading:
Does Being the Church Mean I Don't Have to Go to Church? — What the Bible really says about gathering with other believers.
The Crisis of Trust in Church Leadership — When leaders fail, what should Christians do?
The Bible Says: Marriage Belongs to God, Not the State — Who defines God's institutions?
God's Design for Government vs. Human Invention — Where does government get its authority?
Is Artificial Intelligence Part of the Anti-Christ Agenda? — Separating biblical prophecy from modern speculation.
Truth isn't afraid of investigation. Keep searching. Keep asking. Keep growing.
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