Tithing, the act of giving a tenth, is introduced early in Scripture. Genesis 14:20 records ai/”>Abram giving Melchizedek “a tithe of all,” long before the Law was given. Genesis 28:22 shows Jacob vowing to give God a tenth of all he received.
Under the Law, tithing was commanded. Leviticus 27:30 says, “And all the tithe of the land… is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.” The tithe supported the Levites, the priests, and the poor (Numbers 18:21, Deuteronomy 14:28-29).
In Malachi 3:10, God says, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse… and try Me now in this… if I will not open for you the windows of heaven.” This is the only place in Scripture where God invites His people to test Him.
In the New Testament, while the tithe is not emphasized as a legal requirement, generous, sacrificial, and cheerful giving is. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 says, “He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly… God loves a cheerful giver.” Giving is an act of worship, not obligation.
Jesus affirms the principle of tithing in Matthew 23:23, rebuking the Pharisees for neglecting weightier matters while being meticulous about tithes. He says, “These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.”
Tithing reflects the heart. It acknowledges God as the source of all and supports the ministry and the needy. While the New Testament standard is grace-driven, Spirit-led generosity, the principle of the tithe still stands as a faithful pattern.
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