Tithing, Is it Commanded and Is it New Testament Doctrine?

Published 2008. Last updated: Oct. 5, 2021.

Please read entire article before making final decision, and oh yeah, pray and fast!

Brethren, this is very very important. We know this famous scripture:

Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Did you read the above scriptures in your personal paperback/hardback bible today or just only on this website?
If only online, I encourage you to please open your bible and read these verses both on our website and in your bible. There is power in reading the real bible. Also, did you pray before beginning to read about this specific subject today? If not, I encourage you to take the time now to pray for understanding of truth.

In the Old Testament, not paying tithes and offerings was robbing God! So it is very important that we find out if this is still enforced in the New Covenant era! First of all let's see how far back tithing goes. Tithing began before the law was introduced. The law simply regulated the tithe. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek, 400 years before the time of Moses and the Law, and according to Romans 4:12 we are to walk in the footsteps of the faith of Abraham. If tithing was good for him, it should be good for us, too. We give tithes like Abraham gave them—not by the Law but by faith. And beside that, if the people of God paid ten percent before the Law, and ten percent under the Law, shouldn't we, who live by grace, be doing any less when we have a better covenant (Heb. 7:22). There is a passage in Hebrews, which deals with this issue directly.
Hebrews 7:8: "In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living."
Melchizedek received Abraham’s tithe. The Hebrew writer shows that Melchizedek is a prefigure of Christ. We can conclude that just as Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek we give a tithe to Christ who is declared to be living.

Some people think this is a new issue. It is as old as the second century when more and more Gentiles were being converted. The early Jewish believers had no problem with tithing since they had done it under the Law and gave it to the priests. They simply gave their tithe to the elders of the church and did by love. However, as the church became less Jewish this issue came up to the church fathers. They answered the question of tithing with Matthew 23:23:
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices - mint, dill and cummin. 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.

Notice Jesus said, "You should have practiced the latter (justice, mercy and faithfulness), without neglecting the former (tithing)." The fathers argued, and rightful so, that Jesus word ends the discussion. Since Jesus said not to neglect the former - being tithing - then no believer should neglect tithing. I wholeheartedly agree! He never said to neglect either one of these! The Pharisees gave a tithe (tenth) of even their spices! Jesus says this is something they should practice.
Paul also uses the pattern of tithing under the law in 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 and says,
"Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel."

Paul argues that just as the priests got their food from the tithes of the people, so the preachers should live the same way. This passage clearly shows the mentality of the apostle and his understanding of carrying over the concept of tithing into the church. The passage often used to contradict this is 2 Corinthians 9:7 "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
The argument goes something like this: "Each believer has a right to decide for himself what to give and should not be told what percentage he should contribute."
The problem with this argument is that the 2 Cor. 9:7 is not dealing with giving to support the church, but rather giving to the poor. Under the Law, giving to the poor was a freewill offering. The Law commanded freewill offerings as well as tithes:
But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. (Deut. 12:5-6) It is quite inconsistent for people to appeal to freewill offerings yet claim that tithing has been abolished. Both tithing and freewill offerings were incorporated in the Law as the above passage shows, but they preceded the Law, thus they both should be practiced. The burden of proof is placed on those who teach that tithing has been abolished. If so, where in the New Testament does it clearly say that tithing has been abolished?

Notice the resemblance of the language Paul uses in the first passage in Galatians and compare it with the Old Testament passage about tithing:
Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. (Gal. 6:6)
And you and the Levites and the aliens among you shall rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household. When you have finished setting aside a tenth of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give it to the Levite, the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. (Deut. 26:11-12)
But then I don't really think that believers limited themselves to a measly tithe. They seem to have given much more than the tithe. Examples would be Acts 2:44-45; 4:32,34-37; 2 Corinthians 8:3.

There are two things that I think create problems for Christians when it comes to the tithe:
The first problem is that Christians think that the tithe is a purely Jewish and religious concept. The truth is that God simply used a concept that was familiar to all of the people in the Middle East. "Tithe" means "tenth" and referred to a 10% tax that was levied upon every subject who was under the protection of a king. The king says, "I will allow you to farm my land and I will protect you from invaders, robbers, and unrighteous neighbors. In return I require 10% of everything you produce."
The tithe was a secular practice in both Egypt and Babylon. It's not just a Jewish practice. You might have read about the Egyptian tablets that were discovered in Cairo that appear to be the oldest writing found to date. The Associated Press report says:
"Clay tablets uncovered in southern Egypt from the tomb of a king named Scorpion may represent the earliest known writing by humankind...
"But the subject they mostly deal with may be of no surprise at all. It's taxes. "Gunter Dreyer, head of the German Archaeological Institute, said the tablets record linen and oil deliveries made about 5,300 years ago as tithe to King Scorpion I."
You can see this tithe and king connection in scripture too in 1 Samuel 8:15-17. In this passage the prophet Samuel is telling the Israelites not to ask for a king. He warns them that if they get a king "he will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants…. He will take a tenth of your flocks and herds…" The word "tenth" is "tithe" -- same Hebrew word.
So when God takes a secular tax concept and commands the Israelites to give him a tithe of everything they produce, what is He telling them?
He is saying that (1) He is their king, (2) that He owns the land, and (3) that He will protect them.
This is why God gets so upset over people in the Old Testament not paying their tithe. It's not because God needs the money. Failure to tithe is a rejection of His kingship (Proverbs 3:9-10). Paying tithes recognizes the Lord as their King (see also the covenant renewals under Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 31:4-11 and Nehemiah in Nehemiah 10:37-39).
Giving of the tithe is also recognition that God owns everything and the Israelites are merely stewards (Psalm 50:12; Deuteronomy 26:1-11). When they failed to give to God, He accuses them of robbery (Malachi 3:7-9). They are keeping what is not theirs to keep. Tithing also meant that the King would watch over his people and bless them (Deuteronomy 14:29; Malachi 3:10-12). Failure to tithe meant that God was not obligated to uphold His part of the bargain to protect them (Haggai 1:2-11; 2:15-19).

What the tithe principle teaches:
1. God is our sovereign king.
2. Everything we have belongs to God. We are the renters or stewards (see Mark 12:1-12). He is the owner.
3. As God receives His share of increase, He will provide protection against our enemies.

God is still our king. He still owns everything. We still need Him to watch over and protect us. I don't see where this principle ceases in the New Covenant.

The second thing that creates problems for Christians related to the tithe is that most Christians have a misunderstanding of the validity of the Old Testament for today. I think that it's clear that the Old Testament has some continuing legitimacy for Christians today. It's hard to ignore passages like 2 Timothy 3:14-17 where Paul says the Old Testament is profitable for "teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training." And we must not ignore Matthew 23:1-3 where Jesus clearly upholds keeping even the 10 Commandments.
Matt. 5:17-20
:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

These are very strong words from our Lord's mouth. Those who encourage Christians to completely ignore all Old Testament commands disregard the teaching of Jesus. Obviously Christians should keep some laws from the Old Testament, but yet some other laws are done away by the blood of Christ and the New Covenant. The ceremonial laws of unclean meats, circumcision and sacrifices have been fulfilled in Christ. There is no need to continue to practice these according to the book of Hebrews and Acts and Mark.
The commandments left over after removing ceremonial laws are usually called the personal moral laws of the Old Testament. The verses I've already mentioned (2 Timothy 3:14-17; Matthew 5:17-20; Matthew 23:1-3) make it clear that the moral law has some usefulness and is to be obeyed -- at the very least, by way of principle, if not specific detail.

What this means is that every Old Testament command does not need to be repeated in the New Testament and we miss much of God's word if we expect it to be. For example, there is nothing in the New Testament regarding the sin of bestiality, but, I dare say, there are few Christians that would say that therefore, it is permissible to have sex with animals. The Old Testament moral law is still binding upon us.

Requiring the Lord to repeat everything in the Old Testament that is still binding in the New Covenant reminds me of children who might say, "But Dad, you didn't tell me to go to bed tonight. You only told me last night." If the principle of tithing held during the times of the patriarchs, and Moses, and the nation, and Babylonian captivity, and during the return, and was restated by Jesus Himself, why does God have to repeat it again?
I'm convinced that the tithe principle is not just a ceremonial law or a national law. This is why the tithe was practiced before Moses or Israel even existed. The tithe was a practice and principle before the tabernacle was ever created (Genesis 14:20; 28:22). The tithe is a moral principle for all time for all people everywhere who: (1) claim God as their King, (2) believe that He owns everything, and (3) desire His protection. Because Christians are so Old Testament illiterate and unfamiliar with their Jewish heritage they miss the entire significance of the tithe and end up arguing over percentages.

Many people are weary about just giving just 10% of their income like if God is not going to be faithful and bless them back, but I believe we should believe in beyond tithing which would be called "offerings" which most people do not know even exist but the bible plainly mentions both tithes and offerings! But the matter is really one of giving. I base this belief on two scriptures: Matthew 5:20 and 2 Corinthians 8:7.
In the first scripture, Jesus said our obedience to the law must "exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees" (Matthew 5:20). Hear the challenge?
So what is the goal we should strive to exceed. God's people actually gave more than one tithe. The priests and Levites were excluded from owning hereditary land, so the Levites were to be given a tithe (10%) of all produce (see Leviticus 27:30-33, Numbers 18:21; 2 Chronicles 31:4-11; Nehemiah 10:37). This tithe provided funds for them to minister in the house of God and teach God's Word to the people.

But there is also a second tithe commanded. The second tithe is not given to the ministry but rather is saved back by you and is to be consumed by the worshiper in his pilgrimages to keep the Feast Days. The worshiper is required to leave their local town three times a year and keep the Feast Days of the LORD and so this tithe provides funds for travel, sacrifices, and lost wages. While you are at the Feast, you give an offering to the ministry. The offering can be part of your second tithe. Many times, people with large second tithe savings help others that may not have a large enough second tithe savings to get to the Feast.
And in addition to the first and second tithe, there is another tithe. This tithe (called the third tithe) is a tithe for the ministers, orphans, widows and the poor. It only occurs in the third and sixth year of the seven-year cycle beginning with the date of your true baptism (contrary to your baptism in Babylon). For the scriptures of these second and third tithes please read Deuteronomy 14:22-29; 12:17; 26:12.
The physical need and spiritual principal for 3 tithes still exist. The 1st Tithe goes directly to the work of the Gospel, the church and the minister. The second tithe is kept by each individual to use for all the feast days. The 3rd tithe supports the orphans, widows, poor and needy. The church has been trying to do all of this with only one tithe. That's extremely difficult. But if everyone does their part, with all 3 tithes, then the real body of Christ, the church, can be much more effective at reaching more people with bibles and the gospel as well as helping the needy. There would be no need for government welfare if the church fulfilled its responsibilities and was financially able to do so. If everyone saved back their 2nd tithe, they would not have financial excuse of why they cannot afford to keep the feast days. I know from personal experience over many years that employers will work with good dependable hard working employees to ensure that they get the Feast Days and Sabbath off from work. God will provide if you make up your mind to obey Him.

Remember to also give "Free Will Offerings". In a passage about collecting offerings, Paul commands us to "excel in this grace of giving" (2 Corinthians 8:7). I just have never been able to convince myself that giving only 10% of my income is "excelling." Can you?

"'Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,' says the Lord of hosts, 'if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it'". (Malachi 3:10)

Luke 6:38 "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again."

If you hold back from God, He will hold back your blessings. This is very biblical, it is right there in Luke 6:38. Read it again! Has that been repealed?

Update: May 18, 2009:

Very recently I received an email from a person asking me to reconsider my position on tithes. The person wanted me to read a lengthly website on the subject. I kindly replied that I did not have time to read the website as my time is very very limited on the internet and that the subject is very clear in the scriptures. Then the person replied with lengthy striving of words to debate me regardless. Whenever this occurs, God gives me strong confirmation to stay on track and this happened in this case as well. Here is what the Lord has given me to confirm His will on tithing.

Deuteronomy 14:22-25:
22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:

Many people say that tithes are only of food/livestock/seed/agriculture. They say this would be hard to tithe because we no longer have these things available to us and we do not deal with these objects any longer. However, we see in the above scripture that if we cannot tithe with agriculture, that we are to turn it into money!

Gen. 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

We see above that Abraham give tithes to King Melchizedek (Christ). That was before Moses was even born, Before the law of Moses, Before the Aaronic covenant.

Genesis 28:22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
Again we see another example above, a confirmation, that tithes are not part of the law of Moses and existed before the ritual laws.

Most people in the bible times worked in agriculture and on private farms. They gave tithes first instead of waiting until the food sold on the market. They did not need to pay tithes of the money if they gave the tithe of the livestock itself. But if they did not tithe of the livestock itself, they would then tithe of the retail price that it gave forth at the market.

But now let's take a look in the New Testament:

Matthew 6:1-4:
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms, before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

It has been said that these "alms" are righteous works and has nothing to do with tithes. However, it has been revealed that these "alms" has everything to do with money and tithes!

Matthew 6 deals with 1. alms 2. fasting 3. prayer. All 3 are to God. Notice more in Matthew 6:19-34:
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Matt. 6:19-34 are all concerning why you don't want to give 10% of everything including money first!

Now let's see the connection between alms and tithes in Luke 11:37-42:
37 And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.
38 And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
40 Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have (it doesn't have to be food!); and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

That does not say to not tithe! In fact vs. 41-42 shows me that there is a connection of alms and tithes!

Luke 12:22-34:
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Do you see the connection and how Luke brings Matt. 6:1-4 together with Matt. 6:19,33 ?

Acts 3:1-10:
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. (Peter knew that alms were money!)
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

Acts 10:
:2 [A] devout [man], and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
(Some people say that 'alms' is just good works, not money. How did this man give good works to the people? This is clearly talking about giving money and physical help to the people.)
:30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
(We see in these verses the alms, fasting and prayers all connected to God just like in Matt. 6! Let's not leave one undone!)

Acts 9:36:
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
(This shows TWO words, one for good works and another for alms. These are two separate things. The Greek word for "almsdeeds" is the very same word for "alms".)

Acts 24:14-17:
14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.
17 Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. ("bring" alms & offerings? Could this be saying "tithes and offering"?)

Brethren, I do believe that "alms" is the New Testament form of tithes. It's not about obeying the law. It's about putting God first in every area of your life including everything, leaving nothing out, leaving no area of your life in exception to God. It's a matter of giving God our 1st in every decision and every area of our lives. Why would you not want to put God first in every area of your life, in your income and treasures and offerings and every area? It's not about a law that says "You have to do this", it's about not holding back on God and remembering Him first in all things!

There is enough reason to do so. Don't take a chance of robbing God what is His!

2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

"If the Gentiles have been made partakers of their [the Christian Jews'] spiritual things, they [the Gentiles] owe it to them [the Christian Jews] also to minister unto them in carnal things," Romans 15:27.

The Christians of Philippi, likewise, may be mentioned in this connection, their liberality being recognized by the apostle, who wrote that "in the beginning of the Gospel no church had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving, but ye only: for even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my need," Philippians 4:15-17.

There were other churches where, for good reasons, Paul chose to forego personal remuneration, 1 Corinthians 9:12, but he did not thereby give up his right thereto; for, with the Corinthian Christians, he argues thus:

"Have we no right to eat and to drink? . . . What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? . . . If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things? . . . Know ye not that they which minister about sacred things eat of things of the temple, and they which wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar? Even so did the Lord ordain that they which proclaim the Gospel should live of the Gospel," 1 Corinthians 9:4-14. See also 1 Thes.2:6, 2 Thes.3:9, 2 Cor.11:7-11

The Almighty Creator is my witness that I did not write this article in search or desire of money but rather in hope that everyone will serve God and put God first. You do not have to give the money only to me or a minister/church. The tithe is to God, not man. True ministers are authorized to receive your tithes, & according to scripture, at least some of the tithes should be given to the ministers. But you can also give God your tithes via non-profit organizations if they are truly non-profit. You can also give directly to the poor, widows, orphans and homeless, hungry, etc. The fact that you do not own a farm does not remove the fact that people need your help. Tithing was never abolished and is at the very least a good and perfect guideline to how you should help your fellow man and support the work.

Update: 11-19-2009:

Recently, another person tried to "correct" me again on this subject! Every time a person does that, God gives me another powerful confirmation of His will concerning tithing.

Many people have been thinking that we do not have to pay tithes any more because tithing was agriculture based. But then that would mean that even in Old Testament times that only the people who worked in agriculture were required to pay tithes! It is true that mostly everyone had some cattle or some animals of some sort for their own food supply as well as a garden. But did everyone? Was the tithe commanded only to those who sold their animals/herbs/vegs/fruits? Was the tithe commanded only to one or two groups? Did the silversmith have to tithe? Did the coppersmith have to tithe? Did the carpenter have to tithe? These are good questions to think upon.

Lev. 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 unto the LORD.
:31 And if a man will at all redeem [ought] of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth [part] thereof.
:32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, [even] of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.
:33 He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
:34 These [are] the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.

From the above Lev. 27 scriptures we see the tithe includes anything from the seed or fruit of the land including animals. What does "seed" mean in this verse?
Strong's H2233 - zera` æøò Transliteration: zera` Pronunciation = zeh'·rah
Part of Speech = masculine noun
Outline of Biblical Usage 1) seed, sowing, offspring
a) a sowing b) seed c) semen virile d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children e) of moral quality 1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.) f) sowing time (by meton)
æøò zera` {zeh'-rah} from 02232; TWOT - 582a; n m AV - seed 221, child 2, carnally + 07902 2, carnally 1, fruitful 1, seedtime 1, sowing time 1; 229 1) seed, sowing, offspring 1a) a sowing 1b) seed 1c) semen virile 1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children 1e) of moral quality 1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.) 1f) sowing time (by meton) 2233 zera` zeh'-rah from 2232; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity:--X carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing- time.
Root Word (Etymology) from H2232: 1) to sow, scatter seed
a) (Qal) 1) to sow 2) producing, yielding seed b) (Niphal) 1) to be sown 2) to become pregnant, be made pregnant c) (Pual) to be sown d) (Hiphil) to produce seed, yield seed

Genesis 1:11 "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so"
H2233.zeh'-rah; from H2232; seed; fig. fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity: -- X carnally, child, fruitful, seed (-time), sowing-time. H2232.zaw-rah'; a prim. root; to sow; fig. to disseminate, plant, fructify: --bear, conceive seed, set with, sow (-er), yield. Dictionary definition: Seed - Progeny (noun) - Descendants - Heirs – Offspring See (d) - to receive (verb) - To Take Possession Off - To Overcome "Fruit"= Strong's H6529 - pĕriy פריTransliteration pĕriy
Part of speech = masculine noun
Root word (Etymology) from H6509
Outline of Biblical Usage = 1) fruit a) fruit, produce (of the ground) b) fruit, offspring, children, progeny (of the womb) c) fruit (of actions) (fig.)

So from this study of the words "seed" and "fruit", we see they mean the offspring/product/fruit of the work both fig. and physically! A seed does not prosper unless you plant it. Planting it is work. The fruits of our work in modern times is money: dollar bills, coins and checks and bank account balances. Money is the seed/fruit of your physical labours!

What is the seed of the land? Did you know metal, wood and cotton all come from the land? Did you know furniture comes mostly from wood which is trees of the land? Plastic is made from petroleum from the land. Glass is made from sand. Restaurants sell products from the land. Grocery stores sell products from the land. Doctors and nurses treat humans which were made from the land! Veterinarians treat animals which are including in the list of things to tithe and of course animals are made from the ground as were humans. Gas stations sell gasoline made from petroleum that came from the land. Every job has something to do with the land. A mental doctor treats patients with pills manufactured from elements that at some time were from the land or manufactured from the land at some point in time. He/She treats humans which come from the land. He mostly treats them with the product of his lips.

Deut. 14:22-29
:22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.
:23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.
Wine is not directly from the ground! Wine is made! From what? from grapes or other fruit!
What kind of oil? most likely olive oil. But isn't olives and petroleum both from the fields?

:24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; [or] if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
:25 Then shalt thou turn [it] into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:
It says we can turn it to money!
:26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
:27 And the Levite that [is] within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.
:28 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay [it] up within thy gates:
:29 And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which [are] within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.

Verse 28 "increase": Strong's H8393 - tĕbuw'ah תבואה Transliteration tĕbuw'ah
teb·ü·ä' feminine noun from H935 Outline of Biblical Usage
1) produce, product, revenue a) product, yield, crops (of the earth usually) b) income, revenue c) gain (of wisdom) (fig) d) product of lips (fig)

2 Ch. 31:5 And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all [things] brought they in abundantly.

They gave tithe of honey! Wouldn't this also include eggs, milk and other by-products! But then it also says "of all"!

Hebrews 7:1-10
:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
:4 Now consider how great this man [was], unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he [receiveth them], of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
:9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
:10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

Abraham paid tithes before Moses, of all the spoils of warfare, not just agriculture! But he also did this by law? How can this be by law if Moses had not even been born yet? This shows there has always been law! Was it not sin that Cain killed Abel? That was many centuries before Moses! If these laws were in existence before Moses and before the Mount Sinai covenant, Wouldn't they then be in existence after Moses and apart from any debate of the Mount Sinai covenant?

Please read Heb. 7 again in The Amplified Bible:
Hebrews 7:
1 FOR THIS Melchizedek, king of Salem [and] priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2 And Abraham gave to him a tenth portion of all [the spoil]. He is primarily, as his name when translated indicates, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, which means king of peace.
3 Without [record of] father or mother or ancestral line, neither with beginning of days nor ending of life, but, resembling the Son of God, he continues to be a priest without interruption and without successor.
4 Now observe and consider how great [a personage] this was to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth [the topmost or the pick of the heap] of the spoils.
5 And it is true that those descendants of Levi who are charged with the priestly office are commanded in the Law to take tithes from the people--which means, from their brethren--though these have descended from Abraham.
6 But this person who has not their Levitical ancestry received tithes from Abraham [himself] and blessed him who possessed the promises [of God].
7 Yet it is beyond all contradiction that it is the lesser person who is blessed by the greater one.
8 Furthermore, here [in the Levitical priesthood] tithes are received by men who are subject to death; while there [in the case of Melchizedek], they are received by one of whom it is testified that he lives [perpetually].
(Read that again. Basically it is saying that ministers here in this generation receive tithes! After the death and resurrection of Jesus!)
9 A person might even say that Levi [the father of the priestly tribe] himself, who received tithes (the tenth), paid tithes through Abraham,
10 For he was still in the loins of his forefather [Abraham] when Melchizedek met him [Abraham].

KJV: Malachi 3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.
6 For I am the LORD, I change not;
therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
7 Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Compare Malachi 3:5 with James 5:4 "Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth."
Compare this same Malachi 3:5 with Rev. 22:15 "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. "

Compare Malachi 3:6 with Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

Can you say that Malachi 3 is done away? I think not!

Malachi 3 & 4 are prophetic chapters. The LORD will return and all the worldly possessions will be burned up. The money will be gone. But what we do with the money, the spiritual fruit of our alms/tithes will remain. With what measure you measure with, your rewards will also be measured with. But we don't give so that we can be paid back. We give, not grudgingly nor of necessity but rather from the heart of love toward the ministers of truth, the fatherless, widows and others in need. We also want to bear forth good fruit for our King and His Kingdom. If we sow good fruit, we shall reap good fruit. Sharing only 7% of our resources is not a good fruit example. At least 10% is both the eternal law (until new heavens & new Earth) and the perfect guideline of how much we should sacrifice of our carnal property of which God has charged us with as stewards. And as stewards, we should not bury it in the ground to hide/horde it but rather to use it so it will bear increase toward His Kingdom.

Update: July 3, 2014:

Abraham walked by faith yet he still paid tithes to Jesus even without the existence of the old covenant and law of Moses during his lifetime. He would say to all these preachers of lawlessness, don't you know that Jesus is our eternal King and High Priest? Abraham gave tithes to Jesus, therefore we should also still give tithes. King Melchizedek Gen.14:17-20 was a manifestation of Jesus. Hebrews 7:1-10 verse 8 says He (King Melchizedek) still lives. Jesus is High Priest of the order of Melchizedek. Jesus is not High Priest of the order of any mortal man. For all mortal men have sinned. He is of the heavenly priesthood. The context of Hebrews is all about Jesus being High Priest. Other subjects in Hebrews plainly state that the Sabbath still remains (4:9), that commanded assembly still remains (10:25), that daily sacrifices are no longer required and that the law of priesthood was changed from mortal men to the heavenly order of Melchizedek. All of that is plainly stated in Hebrews. It does not plainly state that tithes are done away. It teaches tithes remain in the same way that it teaches the Sabbath remains. The people who actively preach against tithes will be will be held accountable for muzzling the ox. What that means is that they are responsible for the fact that people no longer support the true Gospel, true ministries, true church function and true ministers with tithes thereby limiting the reach of these workers of Christ. James 5:1-7

Update Dec.11, 2018: How Often to Pay Your Tithes?

It is important to pay your tithes as soon as you receive your pay every pay day. This way it is truly of your first fruits which is required of tithes. If you wait until after you have paid all of your bills/dues, then it is not your first fruits and it is not a tithe, even if you pay 10%, because what it really is, is your scraps, leftovers. Part of paying your tithes is the spiritual principal of trusting God to provide for you, and putting him first in all things. If you put your tithes last, they are not tithes, but scraps.
Also, poor people and the true ministers of God need your help as soon as possible. They can not wait until after you have decided that you now have enough left over to obey God. They need food now. They need to have bibles now. They need to hear the Word of God now. So it truly is important to put God first and to put others ahead of yourself and to seek the Kingdom of God first, not last.

Who to Pay Tithes To

1. Don't send to rich ministers like Benny Hinn, Joel Osteen who are millionaires living in huge mansions. They don't need your money!
2. Don't send to Babylonian ministers like the ones listed above that are deceiving the entire world.
3. Don't send to local Babylonian false ministers of false denominations who are deceiving your local community.
Therefore, you should send your tithes only to the minister that you can find that is sharing the most truth. If that is me, then so be it. If it is not me, then so be it. But send to the person who is speaking the most truth. And you could also send some to your social media Christian friends in other nations (or in your own nation) who so badly need your help. You can also help someone buy their groceries in the store, or fuel at a gas station. When you see someone in need, help them!

Update Oct. 5, 2021, Just to Clarify and Explain

Your first tithe is the first 10% of your income and of your increase.
Second tide is your second 10%.

Your first 10% (1st tithe) is given to the ministry,
and then the 2nd 10% (2nd tithe) you keep for yourself for gasoline and supplies and food and other expenses related to Holy Day observances for all the holidays including the Fiesta of Tabernacles such as campsite fees and travel expenses. You do not give the second tithe to me.

The second tithe is God's system of a savings account for the purpose of paying for holiday observance expenses.

There is also a third tithe which is given to the church only in the the third year after true baptism. So you do not need to worry about paying 3rd tithe if I have not yet baptized you, since we will already be in the Great Tribulation 3 years from now.

Most of the Babylonian Church world does not teach anything about the 2nd tithe.
Most people who know about 2nd tithe, focus on the Fiesta of Tabernacles. But actually it is for all 3 annual pilgrimages which is the Tabernacles plus Passover/Unleavened Bread week and Pentecost. These 3 times a year, we are commanded to go to "where Jesus has placed his name/authority", which previously had been Jerusalem, Shiloh and Bethel. But now it is Tennessee. It's important for the church to come together these 3 times a year and see each other in person and hug and fellowship together.

Disagree with Any of This?

Many people have a difficult problem believing that God requires a specific amount to be given to him and his kingdom and people in need. Their belief is that it should be given only from the heart without any requirements. Try to apply that to the Sabbath! Can we just pick any day of the week? No! He ordained a specific day. (Click here for proof.) If there is no requirement, it won't get accomplished. Most people would not give 10% or more if it was not required. And you can mock at that all that you want, it's still the honest truth. You might be different than everyone else in the world. But most people won't do something else told to do it. Would you pay your taxes to the government if it wasn't required? No way! And tithes are God's Kingdom's taxes to provide for the financial needs of his Kingdom in this physical world.
I ask that if you still disagree, that you at least take the time to sincerely pray in fasting. Stealing from God is a very serious offense. It is serious enough to take the time and effort to seriously seek the truth about this subject in fasting and much prayer. I am not talking about only 5 minutes prayer. I am talking about days and weeks of prayer and several days of fasting. Some times it is difficult to give up physical things and doctrines that we have embraced. It's important to test ourselves and deeply examine ourselves and our motives and loves, idols and treasures upon this Earth. Time is short. Too short to hold onto carnal beliefs that hinder the gospel and withholds from people in need.

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Tithing, Is it Commanded and Is it New Testament Doctrine? Copyright 2008 I Saw The Light Ministries