Tithing is a biblical principle that demonstrates trust in God’s provision. Today, we’ll see what Scripture says about giving back to God and how it blesses our lives.
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What Does The Bible Say About Tithing
Genesis 14:20
And blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
This verse shows Abram’s act of tithing, giving a tenth of everything to God. It highlights the principle of honoring God with our finances and recognizing that all we have comes from Him.
Tithing is not just an Old Testament practice, but a timeless principle of giving back to God as an act of worship and obedience.
Leviticus 27:30
Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord.
This verse emphasizes that the tithe belongs to the Lord and is considered holy. It reminds us that tithing is not optional but a sacred responsibility.
By giving our tithes faithfully, we honor God and acknowledge His ownership over our resources.
Malachi 3:10
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
In this verse, God challenges His people to bring the full tithe and promises to pour out abundant blessings. It reveals the faithfulness and provision of God when we prioritize Him in our finances.
By tithing, we demonstrate an act of trust and reliance on God to provide for our needs.
Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
Jesus highlights the importance of both tithing and practicing justice, mercy, and faithfulness. He calls out the Pharisees for focusing on external actions while neglecting matters of the heart.
Tithing should not be done in isolation; it should be accompanied by a genuine transformation of the heart, reflecting God’s character in our dealings with others.
Luke 11:42
But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.
Similar to Matthew 23:23, this verse highlights the importance of tithing alongside justice and the love of God. It warns against placing undue importance on rituals while neglecting the more fundamental aspects of our relationship with God.
Tithing should be accompanied by a genuine love for God and a desire to promote justice and righteousness in our lives.
2 Corinthians 9:7
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
This verse reminds us that tithing should be a decision born out of a joyful and willing heart. It emphasizes that giving should not be done out of compulsion or obligation.
When we give with a cheerful heart, our tithes become an expression of gratitude for God’s blessings and a demonstration of our love and trust in Him.
Proverbs 3:9-10
Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
These verses encourage us to honor the Lord with our wealth and the firstfruits of our produce. They promise abundant blessings when we put God first in our finances.
Tithing is an act of faith, trusting that as we prioritize God’s kingdom, He will provide for our needs and bless us abundantly.
Proverbs 11:24-25
One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
This passage highlights the principle of generosity and its reciprocal nature. It shows that those who give freely and generously will experience increase and blessings in their lives.
By faithfully tithing and giving, we participate in God’s economy of abundance, trusting His promise of provision and multiplication.
Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.
Jesus teaches that our giving has a direct correlation to what we receive. He promises that when we give generously, it will be returned to us in abundance.
Tithing is not only an act of obedience but also a pathway to experiencing God’s overflowing blessings in our lives.
Proverbs 19:17
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
This verse highlights the connection between generosity and lending to the Lord. It reveals that when we give to the poor, we are actually lending to God Himself.
Tithing is not only about supporting the work of the Church but also extends to caring for those in need. God promises to repay our acts of kindness and generosity.
Malachi 3:8
Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, “How have we robbed you?” In your tithes and contributions.
Obedience in tithing is not optional. This verse reveals that failing to give our tithes and offerings is considered robbing God of what rightly belongs to Him.
Tithing is an acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty and a tangible expression of our faithfulness to Him as our Provider.
Hebrews 7:8
In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.
This verse speaks of the significance and eternal nature of tithing. It contrasts the earthly priesthood that receives tithes with the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ.
By tithing, we participate in supporting the work of Christ in the world and align ourselves with His eternal priesthood.
1 Corinthians 9:13-14
Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
These verses emphasize the principle of providing for those who serve in ministry. They reveal that just as the Levites and priests were supported by the sacrifices and offerings, those who proclaim the gospel should also receive their living from the gospel.
Tithing enables the Church to support pastors, missionaries, and other ministries dedicated to sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.
Deuteronomy 26:12
When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, giving it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your towns and be filled
This verse emphasizes the importance of tithing for the benefit of the community. It reveals that tithing not only supports the Levites but also provides for the needs of the sojourners, orphans, and widows.
Tithing is an act of compassion and justice, ensuring that vulnerable members of society are cared for and have their needs met.
Luke 21:1-4
Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
This story of the poor widow’s offering teaches us the principle of sacrificial giving. Despite her poverty, she gave everything she had, demonstrating her complete trust and reliance on God.
Tithing is not about the amount we give but the attitude of our heart. God values our sacrificial giving and blesses it abundantly.
Acts 2:44-45
And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
These verses describe the communal sharing of resources among the early believers. They highlight the principle of generosity and caring for one another’s needs.
Tithing extends beyond our individual giving to a collective responsibility to support and care for the body of Christ.
Proverbs 28:27
Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
This verse underscores the blessing that comes from giving to the poor. It promises that those who give generously will not lack, whereas those who ignore the plight of the needy will face negative consequences.
Tithing includes a broader commitment to help those in need and demonstrate God’s love through our acts of compassion.
Luke 12:33
Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.
In this verse, Jesus encourages His followers to prioritize eternal treasures over earthly possessions. He invites us to invest in acts of generosity that have eternal significance.
Tithing is a tangible way to invest in God’s kingdom and store up treasures in heaven that cannot be taken away.
Proverbs 22:9
Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
This verse highlights the connection between generosity and receiving blessings from God. It reveals that those who have a generous and compassionate spirit will experience the favor and blessings of God.
Tithing extends our generosity beyond ourselves, allowing us to share our blessings with those in need and invite God’s abundant provision into our lives.