Do Christians Need to Tithe?

Is tithing required in the New Testament? – Visit our Bible Question Archive on our website here: https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/listen/archives/o/24/t/bible-question-archive Join Pastor Doug Sunday at 7:00pm Pacific. Call 1-800-GOD-SAYS during the broadcast to have your question answered live on the air! Find a broadcast in your area using our station locator: https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/station-locator/mt/214/t/radio Read the Bible Study Guide 'In God We Trust' free online here: https://www.amazingfacts.org/media-library/study-guide/e/5002/t/in-god-we-trust- Transcript
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PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Our next caller is Yunello calling from Farmington Hills, Michigan. Yunello, welcome to the program. YUNELLO: Hello, yes, how are you doing? PASTOR DOUG: Very well, and your question tonight? YUNELLO: My question is on tithing. My question is, the difference between Old Testament tithing and New Testament giving; because, from reading the Word of God, I don't see a necessity in tithing, like the 10 percent, but most churches say that it's required for Bible believers to give that 10 percent. From what I see, it looks like the New Testament believers, they gave everything; and just gave to everyone who had need. PASTOR DOUG: Alright, that's a good question, and you're right. Actually, New Testament giving is much more than 10 percent. But tithing is kindergarten for any believer. It's a bare minimum. The principle of tithing is found in the New Testament. You'll find, for instance, in Matthew 23:23, it's kind of easy to remember, where Jesus is talking. He's in that debate with the scribes and Pharisees, and they were very exacting about tithe. He said, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin." Those were herbs that they grew in their garden and they would count out pieces of parley and they'd say, "Okay, and one for the Lord." So they were very particular. And He said, "you've omitted," Jesus is speaking here; He said you pay on your herb garden but you've, "omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these you ought to have done," and notice what He says at the end, "and do not leave the other undone." In other words, don't neglect tithe-paying, but don't forget the priorities of judgment, mercy, and faith. So another reason that we believe that the principle of tithe is still in effect for New Testament Christians, but like I said, it's actually beyond that, is because anything that you find among God's people before the time of Moses in the Levitical law, is typically an ongoing principle. And you find where Abraham paid tithe. He lived long before the Ten Commandments or the Levitical ceremonial laws. Abraham paid tithe when he paid it to Melchizedek. I actually don't remember that verse, Pastor Ross, where he paid tithe to Melchizedek. PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Well it's mentioned in Hebrews chapter 7, 1 and 2. PASTOR DOUG: Well there you go. That's another New Testament reference to what Abraham did. And then Jacob, when he fled, he said if God would safely bring him back, "a tenth of all that You give me I'll restore to You." "Tithe" means, "a tenth." And so, you've got at least two examples even before Moses where they believed in the principle of tithe. And then of course, what really begs the question is, if God had a system for the support of mission work and ministry around the world in the Bible, both Old Testament and New Testament, if He has not substituted it with a different system–tithes and offerings were the system in the Old Testament–we still have offerings today. I don't think God has deducted the tithe. So, you know, we have a lesson we could send you on that, Yunello. YUNELLO: You said some awesome stuff about Melchizedek. PASTOR DOUG: Yes YUNELLO: I thought that was very true. But there's only one thing that I was contemplating on when you were talking about it, was, when you said Abraham gave the tenth to Melchizedek. PASTOR DOUG: Yes YUNELLO: I was reading it in Genesis and what I saw was that, yes, he gave that tenth; but he offered it, not as a requirement, but out of just willing heart. And then I go on to 2nd Corinthians 9 where he says, "…give not grudgingly, nor of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." PASTOR DOUG: Exactly. And, by the way, I'd be very suspicious about joining any church that has tithe police. If the pastor is going around and asking to see their check stubs and see what their income is, making sure that they pay a tithe, it should be from the heart. Even among the children of Israel, it was something that was to be done from the heart, as part of worship. Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vajA7LgeZaA