Old Testament Principle
Tithing (giving 10% of income) was established in the Old Testament as part of the Law given to Israel. It supported the Levitical priesthood and temple system. Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek before the Law was given, showing it predates Moses.
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."
New Testament Teaching
The New Testament doesn't command tithing as a law but emphasizes generous, cheerful giving. Christians are called to give according to their ability and what they purpose in their heart, not out of compulsion but out of love.
"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Grace-Based Giving
Under grace, Christians are called to give sacrificially and generously, which may be more or less than 10% depending on one's circumstances. The focus is on the heart attitude and willingness to support God's work.
"And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means."
Supporting God's Work
While the specific tithe percentage isn't commanded, Christians are called to support their local church, ministers of the Gospel, and those in need. Regular, systematic giving honors God and advances His kingdom.
"In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel."
Why this matters
Many of the questions Christians ask are not idle curiosity — they are the doorway to deeper faith. Is Tithing Required is one of those questions. How you answer it shapes how you read your Bible, how you pray, how you talk about your faith with others, and how you walk through suffering.
The Christian tradition has spent two thousand years thinking carefully about this. We are not the first to ask, and the answers we have inherited are deeper than any 21st-century take. Read slowly. Sit with it. The questions worth asking are usually worth more than one sitting.
Common misconceptions
A few things people often get wrong on this topic.
There is no real answer to "Is Tithing Required" — it's just a matter of opinion.
The Bible speaks directly to this question, and historic Christianity has held a coherent answer for two millennia. The answer is not always simple, but it is not absent.
I should figure this out on my own without input from the historic Church.
Chesterton called tradition "the democracy of the dead." The Christians who came before us thought carefully about these things; ignoring two millennia of wisdom is not humility, it is arrogance.
If I cannot answer "Is Tithing Required" perfectly, my faith is weak.
The disciples followed Jesus for three years and still misunderstood much of what He said. Faith is not certainty; faith is trust that grows as you walk.
If this question matters to you
- 1
Pray honestly
God is not threatened by your questions. Bring them to Him directly. Ask for wisdom (James 1:5).
- 2
Read the relevant passages
Look up every Bible verse cited above in its full chapter context. Notice what the surrounding text reveals.
- 3
Talk with a mature Christian
A trusted pastor, mentor, or friend who knows their Bible well will help you process. Faith is meant to be shared, not solved alone.
- 4
Be patient with yourself
Some questions take years to resolve. That is normal. Walk forward with what you do know, and trust God with what you don't.
The trouble with our age is not that we have too much faith but that we have too little. The world is busy assuring us we cannot know anything for certain — and the Bible quietly insists that we can know God.