Is tithing for gentiles? According to Scripture, the tithe was only for ancient Israel. God required ancient Israel to pay tithes as part of the Old Covenant (Exodus 19: 5-8, Leviticus 27:30). Once the New Covenant was established through Jesus Christ, the tithing system was no longer necessary. Therefore, it’s not mandatory for New Testament Christians to tithe.
One of our viewers wants to know whether tithing was only for Israel.
The answer is yes. Here’s why…
Tithing was part of the Old Covenant between God and ancient Israel.
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Old Covenant Tithing
Exodus 19: 5-8
5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you[a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.
Leviticus 27:30
A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.
Tithing is one of the 613 commands under the Old Covenant. The Lord required ancient Israel to keep all the commands to receive blessings. Disobeying any of the commandments resulted in curses or punishment.
The New Covenant replaced the Old Covenant, and tithing was not carried over into this New Covenant.
The New Covenant Foreshadowed
Jeremiah 31: 31-33
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to[a] them,[b]” declares the Lord. 33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Romans 6: 23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.
The tithing system involved sacrifices and rituals ancient Israel had to perform to please God and remain in his good graces. The tithing system was no longer necessary once the New Covenant was established through Jesus Christ.
RECAP
Was tithing just for Israel?
Yes.
God required ancient Israel to pay tithes as part of the Old Covenant. Once the New Covenant was established through Jesus Christ, the ritual and sacrificial tithing system were no longer necessary. Therefore, tithing is not required of New Testament Christians.
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.
