Comments on: Tithing in the Bible: Summary

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:54:00 +0000

I believe it all come down to giving. Being lead by the Holy Spirit how to give and when to give, whether it is land, food, money etc. If it is within Gods plan you will prosper and the person, company what ever it may be will be BLESSED.

By: Paul Williams

Paul Williams — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:50:23 +0000

Hi, Jennie! The idea you are talking about comes from Malachi 3:6-12. It is Biblical in the sense that it is in the Bible. However, I do not think Christians should be trying to put themselves back under the yoke of the Law in the way the Jews approached it. So I do not think it is Biblically sound when you consider the message that Jesus brought and the teachings of the Apostles. You will only find discussion of the tithe once in the New Testament after Jesus’ death, and there it is talking about how there has been a change in the Law. I’d encourage you to read through my studies on tithing if you really want to learn what the Bible says about tithing.

By: jennie

jennie — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:42:48 +0000

I am new to studying this topic. I was taught that if you don’t tithe you are robbing God. Where did this come from and is it biblical?

By: Paul Williams

Paul Williams — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:03:32 +0000

RevG’s comment gets at what I’ve been saying all along – that it has to become an act of love. Tithing that is done or taught as a requirement of law does not accomplish this.

The purpose of these articles is not to stop people from giving but to free them from the guilt and condemnation of the Law – the very guilt and condemnation that Jesus freed us from.

I want all Christians to give and give generously because we are clearly called to do so. I cannot imagine any other response to God’s love for us. We personally give more than 10% but it’s not because of the Law or the threat of guilt or a curse. It’s because we want to out of our response to God.

By: Paul Williams

Paul Williams — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:36:22 +0000

JLP,

I restricted this set of studies to the explicit references to tithing. I think it would be hard to say for sure that Cain & Abel’s offerings were tithing or were even expected. We just don’t have those details in that passage.

One of my primary emphases has been that tithing was explicitly part of the Old Covenant between God and Israel. It seems so strange that we should cling so tightly to it when we claim we are under a New Covenant. Why do we keep pushing ourselves back under the Old when we were never even a part of it to begin with?

All of this does not mean that we should not give to support churches, ministers, missionaries, the poor, etc. I’m simply trying to point people to the fact that tithing as it is taught today isn’t found in the Bible, isn’t for Christians, and that there’s a much better example for giving that we could be using – namely, Jesus Christ.

By: JLP

JLP — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:30:33 +0000

RevG,

Good comment.

By: JLP

JLP — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:23:45 +0000

Paul,

What about Genesis 4:3-7? It’s called an “offering” but it appears to be an example of tithing and seems to be expected.

The tithe appeared to be part of the covenant between God and Israel and was designed to provide for the clergy. I find it somewhat funny that churches today pretty much ignore the Old Testament except when it comes to the topic of tithing since tithing is barely mentioned in the New Testament.

By: Paul Williams

Paul Williams — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:49:21 +0000

Very well put, Wilson!

By: Wilson

Wilson — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 02:29:29 +0000

It seems to me that tithing is a type and shadow of the true giving one has by living the life of Jesus. Just as God stated he would write his laws into our hearts and minds, so it is with giving. The grace of God is a more perfect law which includes doing what is right described in the law without being under it. Don’t make us tithe….let us give.

By: RevG

RevG — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:27:20 +0000

I am well aware of what the Old and New Testament says about tithing: however, my wife and I have been faithful tithers for over 30 years and the testimonies in every area of our lives would fill this website. There have been many times that we needed an increase in our finances and all we did was ask for a specific amount. Without fail God supplied it and we did nothing beyond what we were already doing.
It is important to realize that everything we do has to be by “Faith.” Today, tithing is not a law to be obeyed, it is an Act of Love to be demonstrated in appreciation for the sacrifice Christ made for us. Everything I have is His, therefore, it is my love for Him that inspires me to not only tithe, but sow financial seed in others ministries and mission work as well. For those who choose to allow the controversy surrounding New Testament tithing to keep you from doing it, there are blessings assoicated with it that you will never experience, because if you are not doing it by “Faith”, you cannot determine what you are missing. May God continue to bless you all.