Why Tithe? Part 1

Tithing Is Biblical

-This reason is first and foremost. This reason in itself should stand alone on its own merit. Jesus declared the litmus test of love when he said, “If you love me you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) As Christians we are followers of Christ. We believe that his word is our rule of faith and conduct. It defines how we should and how we must live our lives. One cannot call themselves a follower of Christ if they are not in pursuit of his word.

-So what does the bible say about tithing? Let’s start with the fact that tithe or its plural occurs in Genesis, Leveticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, 2Chronicals, Nehemiah, Amos, Malachi, Matthew, Luke, and Hebrews. Each it represents a 1/10 of a persons income given back as an offering to God. There are also numerous references to giving and offerings in addition to the tithe. Those references are too numerous to count and occur in almost every book of the bible. Here is the clear cut command that we tithe:

Mal 3:7-10 ⁷Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” Says the LORD of hosts. “But you said, ‘In what way shall we return?’ ⁸“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. ⁹You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. ¹⁰Bring 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.

-Yet there are many other examples.

1. Abraham paid tithes of all he possessed. (Gen 14:20)
2. The Levitical law provides guidelines for repaying tithes. (Lev 27:31)
3. King Hezekiah placed a renewed emphasis on the tithe. (2Chr 31:12)
4. Jesus told the Pharisees they should tithe. (Matt 23:23)
5. Jesus commanded that we pay taxes and tithe. (Mark 12:17)
6. The author of Hebrews used Abraham tithing to Melchizedek to validate the New Covenant. (Heb 7:1-10) Tithing is therefore a biblical concept rather than an Old Covenant one seeing that Abraham predates the Old Covenant.