The modern-day version of tithing isn’t biblical. In other words, scripture doesn’t support paying 10% of your income to a church. The biblical tithe is 10 percent of crops and livestock. The tithe was an Old Covenant command the LORD gave to ancient Israel only. Under the New Covenant, God never commands Christians to tithe. Bible. The reason is that the tithe command was given to ancient Israel under the Old Covenant.
One of our viewers wants to know is tithing biblical?
Table of Contents
- Listen to the Podcast
- Understanding What’s Biblical
- Understanding God’s Instructions
- RECAP
- Find Out More
Listen to the Podcast
Understanding What’s Biblical
First, we must establish what is meant by biblical. There are two ways of looking at it. One, everything in the Bible is biblical because it’s in the Bible. Therefore, tithing is biblical because it’s mentioned in the Bible.
However, what people ask when they want to know whether something is biblical is this: Are you supposed to do something simply because it’s in the Bible? In this case, should you tithe because it’s mentioned in the Bible?
Short answer – No. Here’s why.
Understanding God’s Instructions
Every Bible instruction, command, or religious practice is not intended for Christians to follow. This is because there were instructions or commands God ONLY gave to specific individuals or to the nation of ancient Israel. Therefore, every instruction, command, or religious practice that’s biblical (or in the Bible) does not pertain to New Testament Christians.
For example, the Bible says a woman must bring a sacrifice after childbirth.
Leviticus 12: 6 – 8
6 “‘When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering.[a] 7 He shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood (NIV).
“‘These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. 8 But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’
That command was strictly for the women of ancient Israel under the Old Covenant (or Mosaic Law). It’s biblical because it’s in the Bible. However, it’s not biblical in the sense that it does not apply to Christian women who are under the New Covenant. Therefore, Christian women are not required to sacrifice an animal after giving birth.
Likewise, tithing was a command given to ancient Israel under the Old Covenant. It’s biblical, but it’s not something the New Testament Christian Church must do simply because it’s mentioned in the Bible.
RECAP
Is tithing biblical?
It’s biblical in the sense that it’s mentioned in the Bible.
However, it’s not biblical in that it applies to New Covenant Christians simply because it’s mentioned in the Bible. The reason is that the tithe command was given to ancient Israel under the Old Covenant.
Find Out More
Discover the hidden truth about tithes the church doesn’t want you to know. Click here. All verses listed are from the King James Version of the Bible unless stated otherwise.
