What Christians Get Wrong About the Tithe

Welcome back to the podcast! Tithing is one of the most debated topics in Christian circles. Many believers have been taught that they must give exactly 10% of their income to the church, often based on Old Testament commands. But is this what the Bible truly teaches for New Testament believers? Let's find out!

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 Let’s explore some common misconceptions about tithing and what God really expects from us when it comes to giving.

Misconception #1: Christians are commanded to tithe.

Many Christians believe that tithing is a requirement under the New Covenant, but the truth is that tithing was originally part of the Mosaic Law given to Israel. The 10% tithe had three main purposes:

• Support for the Levites (and Temple) – The tithe funded the priestly tribe of Israel, who had no land inheritance (Numbers 18:21-24). Numbers 18:21 – “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.”
• Festivals and Worship – Part of the tithe was meant to be used for religious feasts and celebrations in worship of God. Deuteronomy 14:23 – “Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine, and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God... so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.”
• Provision for the Poor – A portion of the tithe was used to help widows, orphans, and foreigners (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). Deuteronomy 14:29 – “The Levites... and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.”

So: The Old Testament tithe functioned more like a national tax than a purely voluntary religious offering. 

• When combined, these tithes amounted to about 23.3% of a person's agricultural income over a three-year cycle—closer to a national tax supporting both religious and social functions in Israel. 
• Unlike modern church tithing, which is often seen as an act of personal giving, the Old Testament system was more like a structured government tax ensuring the well-being of the nation.

The New Testament mentions tithing in a a grand total of four passages:

1. Hebrews 7:1-10

• Hebrews 7:5-6 (NLT) Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Israel, who are also descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham.
• Context: This passage discusses Abraham giving a tenth to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:20) and connects it to Jesus' superior priesthood. However, it does not command Christians to tithe but rather uses tithing as a historical reference to highlight the greatness of Christ’s priesthood.
• Hebrews 7:9 (NLT) we might even say that these Levites—the ones who collect the tithe—paid a tithe to Melchizedek when their ancestor Abraham paid a tithe to him.

1. Matthew 23:23 (also Luke 11:42)

• Matthew 23:23 (NLT) 23 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.”
• Context: Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for their legalistic approach to tithing while neglecting more important spiritual matters. He acknowledges their tithing but emphasizes that justice, mercy, and faithfulness are more important.

1. Luke 18:12 (parable of Jesus)

• Luke 18:11-12 (NLT) The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’
• Context: This is part of the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee boasts about his tithing, but Jesus contrasts his self-righteousness with the humility of the tax collector, showing that God values a repentant heart over legalistic practices.

So clearly, Christians are NOT commanded to tithe in the New Testament

• Anyone who says they are is putting words in God’s mouth.
• But this isn’t the biggest misconception about tithing by a longshot.
• Because today, most Christians aren’t legalistic about giving at all
• If that’s you, listen to this…

Misconception #2: Christians are free NOT to give

Many Christians understand the first myth and misapply it to create this second myth. They think freedom in Christ means freedom from giving. Wrong! What we do with our money matters to God. It’s a HUGE litmus test for our devotion to Jesus. 

IOW: Just because we’re not required to tithe DOES NOT mean we shouldn’t give.

That’s why Jesus spoke about money frequently in the Gospels—more than most other topics. Approximately 11 of Jesus' 39 parables focus on money or use money as a key illustration. Money is mentioned in about 15% of Jesus’ recorded teachings. Here are a few examples:

1. The Rich Young Ruler (Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, Luke 18:18-30) – Jesus tells a wealthy man to sell his possessions and follow Him, showing the danger of wealth becoming an idol.
2. Matthew 19:23 (NLT) 23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
3. The Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21) – A man builds bigger barns to store wealth, but God calls him a fool because he isn’t "rich toward God."
4. Luke 12:15 (NLT) 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
5. "You Cannot Serve Both God and Money" (Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13) – Jesus warns about wealth competing with devotion to God.
6. Matthew 6:24 (NLT) 24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”
7. "Give to Caesar What Is Caesar’s" (Matthew 22:15-22, Mark 12:13-17, Luke 20:20-26) – Jesus addresses taxation and the balance between duty to government and duty to God.
8. Mark 12:17 (NLT) 17 “Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
9. What would happen if you didn’t pay your taxes?
10. What will happen if you don’t ever give to God? 
11. The Cost of Discipleship (Luke 14:28-33) – Uses financial planning as a metaphor for counting the cost of following Him.
12. Luke 14:33 (NLT) 33 So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.

Just because we’re not required to tithe DOES NOT mean we shouldn’t give.

Misconception #3: God Cares about Your Heart, Not the Amount

Here’s the reality: God cares about your heart more than the amount of money you give. That’s true enough. But dig just a little deeper for the facts: the relative amount you give almost always indicates your heart toward God, and whether you are truly generous (as we’ve been defining). 

That’s what the story of the poor widow is all about: 

Luke 21:1-4 (NLT) 1 While Jesus was in the Temple, he watched the rich people dropping their gifts in the collection box. Then a poor widow came by and dropped in two small coins. “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said, “this poor widow has given more than all the rest of them. For they have given a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.”

Jesus praised the widow who gave two small coins because she gave out of faith and sacrifice, while others gave large amounts with wrong motives. But don’t miss the point: Jesus noticed the amount they gave compared to the amount they had. There’s a mathematical term for that: percentage. 

Takeaway

Christians are not under a legalistic obligation to tithe 10% of their income. Instead, God calls us to generous, cheerful, and sacrificial giving as an act of worship. Whether it’s 10%, more, or less, the key is to give with the right heart and to trust God with our finances.

• Christians are NOT commanded to tithe in the New Testament
• But just because we’re not required to tithe DOES NOT mean we shouldn’t give.
• God cares about your heart… and the amount is a signpost
• the relative amount you give almost always indicates your heart toward God, and whether you are truly generous

Generosity is giving to others through a selfless act without expecting anything in return.