New Testament Tithing
New Testament tithings are more of a generous giving than a mandatory or an obligation to give the 10%. For example, in the Old Testament, as it is written in Deuteronomy 14:22–23, You shall tithe all the yield of your seed that comes from the field… – Deuteronomy 14:27–29: At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce…added to this is a reminder to set aside a tenth from the harvest to go to the storehouse, now we call it warehouse.
While in the New Testament – In 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) says, “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give….” Tithing means you’re being obedient to the law of tithing that is more focused on the income of the field, technically known as the law of the harvest. We must remember that all God’s creations are His and not ours. No one should be expecting anything in return. Tithing is still being used by many congregational pastors for personal or business reasons, maybe! The first known secular law about tithing was during the 6th century in Europe, where despite the wave of resistance, tithing became obligatory and followed by ecclesiastical law after two centuries. (Source: Britannica)
Some churches took a regular share of the hard-working farmer’s produce and livestock. Tithing was not finally abolished by the early 20th century. This shows that tithing was a burden to all farmers since the beginning of tithes, including the tithes’ war in England and Ireland. However, later, tithing became voluntary and not mandatory and should not be used as a form of offertory in this modern age. Giving to the church to help maintain the building and salaries of employees and pastors should not be out of control. This uncontrollable gesture sometimes benefits the Pastor favorably and leaves the members unforgotten even though their,r spiritual growth is not being taken care of. We should take care of our own before anything else. God is with us and will not leave us just because we cannot give tithes.
As Dave Ramsey said in his blog: Tithes come off the top of your income, but offerings come out of anything left over. And if you’re in debt, you should put all your extra money toward your debt snowball. Then, once you’re out of debt, you’ll be free to give as generously as you want!
If we are given more than enough blessings from above, we are indebted to help needy relatives. The Scriptures below will update us as is behind the veil of tithing.
New Testament Tithing
2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV—Each one must give as he has decided, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Matthew 23:23 ESV—”Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You tithe mint, dill, and cumin and have neglected the law’s weightier matters: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These you ought to have done without neglecting the others.
Luke 21:1-4 ESV—Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on.”
Luke 18:12 ESV—I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
Luke 11:42 ESV— “But woe to you, Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done without neglecting the others.
Acts 20:35 ESV— In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way, we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
1 Timothy 5:8 ESV—But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, especially for his household members, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Hebrews 7:5 ESV—And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham.
1 Corinthians 16:2 ESV—On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper so that there will be no collecting when I come.
Matthew 6:1-4 ESV—”Beware of practicing your righteousness before others to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and the streets, that others may praise them. Honestly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Luke 6:38 ESV—Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Hebrews 7:1-28 ESV—For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Highest God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him, Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. So he is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor the end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he continues a priest forever. See how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though they are also descended from Abraham.
Matthew 5:17-20 ESV—”Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Acts 2:44-47 ESV—And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily who were being saved.
2 Corinthians 8:1-24 ESV—We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.
Hebrews 7:8 ESV—In the one case, tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.
Luke 12:33 ESV—Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
1 Timothy 5:17-18 ESV—Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. The Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and “The laborer deserves his wages.”
1 Corinthians 16:1-4 ESV—Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the Galatia churches, so you are also to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. They will accompany me if it seems advisable to go also.
Genesis 28:22 ESV—This stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all you give me, I will give a full tenth to you.”
Acts 4:32-37 ESV—Now the total number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power, the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means Son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, …
Acts 2:44-45 ESV—And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Matthew 5:17 ESV—”Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Romans 12:1 ESV—I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Philippians 4:19 ESV—And my God will supply your every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 19:21 ESV—Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Hebrews 7:1-10 ESV—For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Highest God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him, Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. So he is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor the end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he continues a priest forever. See how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though they are also descended from Abraham.
Matthew 6:19-21 ESV—”Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.
Mark 12:41-44 ESV—He sat opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. They all contributed out of their abundance, but she, out of poverty, has put in everything she had and all she had to live on.”
2 Corinthians 9:6 ESV—The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Matthew 6:21 ESV—For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.
2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV—For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake, he became poor so that you by his poverty might become rich.
John 3:16 ESV—”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Mark 14:3-30 ESV—And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon, the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. Some said indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? This ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. You always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me.
Matthew 5:42 ESV—Give to the one who begs you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Galatians 6:6 ESV—One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.
Hebrews 7:4 ESV—See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!
Hebrews 7:1 ESV—For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Highest God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
Acts 11:27-30 ESV—These days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them, Agabus, stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
2 Corinthians 9:1-15 ESV—Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter and that you may be ready, as I said you would be. Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange for the gift you promised so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
Acts 6:1-4 ESV—Now, when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the total number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and the word’s ministry.”
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 ESV—Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the Galatia churches, so you are also to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper so that there will be no collecting when I come.
Hebrews 7:1-2 ESV—For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Highest God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him, Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. So he is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.
2 Corinthians 8:3 ESV—For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
James 1:27 ESV—Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
2 Corinthians 8:2 ESV—For in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
Galatians 5:18 ESV—But if the Spirit leads you, you are not under the law.
1 Corinthians 9:14 ESV—In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
Romans 8:4 ESV—The righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 11:33-35 ESV—Oh, the depth of God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who gave him a gift that he might be repaid?”
Revelation 1:1-20 ESV—The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants the things that must soon occur. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood.
Hebrews 7:12 ESV—For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law.
Mark 14:3-25 ESV—And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon, the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. Some said indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? This ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. You always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me.
2 Corinthians 11:8 ESV—I robbed other churches by accepting support from them to serve you.
2 Corinthians 8:1-5 ESV—We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.