Here is #19 of 31 Questions in 31 Days! To learn more about this 31 Day series, just search “31 Questions” in the search bar above or click here!
Q #19: Why do so many churches teach tithing if it’s an Old Testament principle?
A: I have heard many people ask this question in a variety of ways. Often, people wish to connect it to the law of Moses and say we’re not under the law. Others claim they don’t need to tithe because God is more interested in their time. In short, while I hope the questioner is asking an honest question, I hope he is not asking out of sheer unwillingness to have an open, giving heart to God.
There are a number of reasons why so many churches teach tithing, even though it is largely found in the Old Testament.
Tithing transcends the law in the Old Testament.
We see God’s people and those who receive blessing from God worshipping him by giving a tenth from the start. Abraham and Jacob are a few who give the example of tithing. Additionally, it is Abel who gave a portion of his flock as an offering to God. Tithing is not just a part of the Mosaic law, it’s a part of fabric of the way God’s people relate to him. If you’d like to understand specifically what scripture says about the tithe, here are a few passages.
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.
“And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will surely give a tenth to you.”
Leviticus 27:30
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.
Deuteronomy 26:1-2
And it shall be, when you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and you possess it and dwell in it, that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground, which you shall bring from your land that the Lord your God is giving you, and put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide.
The Old Testament is the Word of God.
Check out more posts from the 31 Questions series on subjects as varied as marijuana, infidelity, 666, the eternal destiny of children who die, dealing with discouragement, cremation, co-habitation, baptism, suicide, prayer, the origins of scripture, hell, work, the third heaven, tithing, Old Testament salvation, and even speaking in tongues!