Can I give my tithe to the poor instead of church? The answer is yes. The Bible encourages giving tithes (and other resources) to the poor. Taking care of the poor is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, the Gospels, and the New Testament. You can give whatever money you desire to help those in need. The poor people in the Bible received support in multiple ways.
Table of Contents
- Watch the Video
- A Tradition of Giving Tithes to the Poor
- The Poor and the Old Testament
- New Testament Poverty
- The Gospels and the Poor
- The New Testament and the Poor
- Conclusion
- Outsmart the Prosperity Preachers
Watch the Video
A Tradition of Giving Tithes to the Poor
Many Christians have asked: Can I Give My Tithe to the Poor Instead of Church? There are dozens of verses illustrating how the poor were helped. Taking care of the poor was a part of ancient Israel’s tradition. After establishing the Mosaic Law, God made it a legal requirement for ancient Israel to tithe to the poor. In the Gospels, Jesus teaches about taking care of the needy.
Starting with the Book of Acts, you can always find a New Testament teaching about the apostles helping fellow believers who faced financial hardships. The Bible teaches us that helping the poor is important to God.
Old Testament
Leviticus 25:35
If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. (NIV)
Gospels
Matthew 19:21
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (NIV)
Matthew 26:9
“This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” (NIV)
New Testament
Acts 24:17
“After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. (NIV)
The Poor and the Old Testament
Old Testament Poverty
The Bible mentions specific groups who were considered poor. Under the Old Covenant, poor people included the Levites (the tribe of Levi), the widows, the fatherless (orphans), and the strangers within the gates of ancient Israel. They were people who typically weren’t able to provide for themselves. Without the help of their fellow Israelites, they would have starved to death.
Deuteronomy 14:29
so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
Poor Religious Leaders
The Levites were poor. This is the tribe of the Levitical priests and their assistants. Their primary role under the Mosaic Law was to handle Israel’s ceremonial worship, which included the tithing system. In exchange for their service, God commanded the other 11 tribes to pay them tithes.
The tribe of Levi had no land inheritance. The Lord commanded the other tribes to give the Levites tithes from the land. The Levites were made poor in a sense. The Lord placed them in the position of relying on him as their source of provision.
Numbers 18:24
For the tithe of the people of Israel, which they present as a contribution to the Lord, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance. Therefore I have said of them that they shall have no inheritance among the people of Israel.” (ESV)
Tithes for the Poor
God set aside a Poor Tithe. The poor received this tithe every third year in a seven-year cycle. It was given to the Levites, widows, orphans, and strangers within the land of ancient Israel. Again, this is a prime example of how God prioritized providing for the poor.
Deuteronomy 26:12
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 foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. (NIV)
New Testament Poverty
Oppression was a common cause of poverty in the New Testament. Some rich people gained or maintained their wealth by exploiting those who worked for them. Some suffered under the weight of Roman taxation.
Droughts and other natural disasters resulted in the loss of material possessions. Some people struggled due to laziness or unethical conduct. Other poverty-related issues included loss of family, sickness, disease, and old age.
There are numerous scriptures on helping the poor throughout the Bible.
James 5:1-4
Warning to Rich Oppressors
5 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. (NIV)
2 Thessalonians 3:11
11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. (ESV)
Ephesians 4:28
28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. (ESV)
The Gospels and the Poor
Jesus emphasizes giving to the poor throughout the Gospels. He witnessed firsthand the mistreatment of those who were less fortunate. So, he stressed the importance of helping the poor. If you need a helping the poor scripture for a reference, look below:
Matthew 19:21
Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (ESV)
Luke 14:13-14
13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (NIV)
Mark 12:43
And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. (ESV)
The poor widow in Mark 12:43 gives a freewill offering, not a tithe. The poor were welcome to give whatever money they could afford to the Temple treasury. Remember, that the Mosaic Law Covenant was still in effect. Under the Law, poor people received tithes, and they were exempt from paying tithes.
The Lord didn’t want poor people weighed down with paying tithes. However, some preachers insist that poor Christians pay God 10% of their income. This type of teaching contradicts the word of God.
The New Testament and the Poor
New Testament Christians didn’t tithe. The biblical tithe was always agricultural produce that ancient Israelites (Hebrews, Jews) could eat or drink. In the early New Testament church, believers gave money (and other material possessions) to those in need.
The Bible cites accounts of the apostles collecting money (not tithes) to aid their fellow Christians. They did whatever they could to ease the burden of fellow believers, including sharing their possessions. What they demonstrated was an example of the New Testament giving under grace.
Acts 4:32
[ The Believers Share Their Possessions ] All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. (NIV)
Conclusion
“Can I give my tithe to the poor Instead of church?” That’s a valid question. Before I give you the answer, please understand, as a New Testament Christian, you don’t tithe. The modern-day tithe of 10% of your income isn’t biblical. So, you don’t tithe to the poor. Instead, you can give to them. You give whatever your heart desires and whatever you can afford. Additionally, your giving isn’t limited to money.
The biblical tithe was always limited to agricultural produce (fruits, vegetables, grains, livestock, etc.). When the Old Covenant was established, the Lord made it mandatory for ancient Israel to tithe to the poor. Under the Mosaic Law, the Levites, widows, fatherless, and strangers within the land of ancient Israel received tithes. A poor tithe was set aside specifically for poor people. They received this tithe every three years during a seven-year period.
Provisions for the poor continued throughout Jesus’s ministry. Jesus’ death at Calvary ushered in the New Covenant and ended the tithing system (and the Mosaic Law). However, giving to the poor continued. The apostles often collected money and shared what they owned to help fellow believers who faced hardships. This was how they practiced New Testament giving under grace.
If you’re looking for scripture on helping the poor, you can find one (and more) in the Old Testament, The Gospels, and the New Testament. Throughout the Bible, giving to the poor was a common practice that God favored. So, trust God and let the Holy Spirit guide you in how you give.
Outsmart the Prosperity Preachers
If you want to discover more tithe facts, I encourage you to get a copy of The Tithing Hoax. This book provides in-depth information on how to give the RIGHT way.
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Thanks for reading, and be blessed!
