What Does the Bible Say About Tithing?

Praise be to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Welcome, and let’s take a moment to study God’s Word, which is the light to our path and the lamp to our feet (Psalm 119:105). Today, we will briefly discuss tithing—what it is, why it’s important, and what the Bible says about it. According to the Bible, tithing is giving one-tenth (10%) of your income or earnings to God, and it is a form of offering.

Before we look at why we should tithe and whether it’s required or not, let’s first understand the history of tithing.

Tithing started with a man named Abraham, who is called the Father of Faith. We find this in Genesis 14:

Genesis 14:17-20 – “After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom came to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (the King’s Valley). Then Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. He was a priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.’ Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”

Here, Abraham gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek. Melchizedek is a figure of Christ—he had no known father or mother, no beginning or end, and is a priest forever, just like Christ. Abraham gave the tenth of his possessions as an act of gratitude and faith to God, recognizing that everything he had was a blessing from God.

At this time, there were no laws or commandments requiring Abraham to give a tenth. He gave it out of his own free will, moved by the Holy Spirit, because he recognized that God had blessed him.

Did the Law Require Tithing Later?

The law requiring tithing came much later, after the Israelites received the Ten Commandments and other laws from God. It became a requirement, and those who didn’t give tithes were considered to be sinning. This is mentioned in Malachi 3:8-9:

“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me.”

But today, we don’t live under the Law but under faith—just like Abraham. We give not because we are commanded to, but because we have faith in God, and we give willingly. Abraham gave his tenth without being told to, as an act of faith and love for God.

Jesus as Melchizedek

The Bible also says that Jesus is our High Priest in the order of Melchizedek:

Hebrews 6:20 – “Jesus has entered on our behalf as a forerunner, becoming a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 7:1-3 – “Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, met Abraham as he was returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him. And Abraham gave him a tenth of everything.”

Since Jesus is our Melchizedek, we give our tithes to Him. Just like Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek, we also give to Jesus, but not because of a law, but out of love and faith.

Should We Give to God?

Tithing is an act of worship and gratitude. It’s not about following laws or rules, but about recognizing that everything we have comes from God. Giving a tenth to God is a way to honor Him and show that we trust Him as our Provider. Jesus does not need our money, but He wants our hearts. He wants us to give because we love Him and because we recognize His work in our lives.

In Matthew 23:23, Jesus says:

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”

This means that while tithing is important, there are other matters, like justice and mercy, that are more important. But tithing should still be practiced.

What Happens if You Don’t Pay Tithes?

The real issue is not about tithing itself, but about whether or not someone has Christ in their heart. If someone refuses to tithe, it may show that their heart is not aligned with God’s will, and they may not have the Holy Spirit living within them. A person filled with the Holy Spirit will naturally want to give to God and others because the Spirit moves them to do so.

Not paying tithes doesn’t send someone to hell, but it could reflect a lack of gratitude and faith in God. If a person struggles to give a tenth of their income, they might also struggle to give in other areas of their life, such as helping others or even living for God.

A person who refuses to tithe may have trouble serving God in other ways, such as preaching the Gospel or giving their life for the Kingdom of God. If they can’t even give a tenth of their income, how can they give their time, talents, or life?

Conclusion:

Tithing is not about following laws or being forced to give; it is about honoring God. We give to God because we recognize His provision and blessings in our lives. If you are not earning an income, you are not required to tithe. But if you receive any form of income, you should consider giving a tenth of it to God as an act of faith and gratitude.

In the end, if someone resists giving tithes, it could be a sign that they are not fully submitted to God and His will for their life. A true believer, filled with the Holy Spirit, will naturally want to give to God and others, as the Holy Spirit moves them to do so.

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