What Does Jesus Say About Tithing?

In the New Testament, Jesus mentions tithing three times, and each time it is a form of reprimand to the attitude of the Pharisees about tithing. He did not instruct his followers to tithe, and seems to have had nothing further to say about the matter. What does this say about whether Christians should tithe? All quotations below are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Identification

Tithing originated in the laws of Moses in the Old Testament, and was much more complicated than the modern-day view of giving 10 percent of one's income to charity. Tithing as it originated was done by Jewish law, rather than by charity. It involved contributing agricultural products along with other offerings and added up to more than 10 percent. We assume that Jesus tithed, as he was a follower of the Jewish law as set down in the Torah. In the New Testament, the idea of tithing can be found eight times, all referring to the Jewish law.

Features

Each of the three times when Jesus specifically mentions tithing, it is as a reprimand to the Pharisees. In Luke 11:42 he says, "But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone." In Matthew 23:23, which includes the comment from Luke, additional words are reported and Jesus declares that the Pharisees are omitting the greater parts of the law, which are judgment, mercy, and faith. He addresses the issue of Pharisees and tithing once more in Luke 18:12, by telling a parable in which the Pharisee brags, "I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess." Jesus ends the parable by saying "Everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

Significance

The only other discussion of tithing in the New Testament occurs in Paul's letter to the Hebrews, in Chapter 7:1-12 where he speaks of the Old Testament king and priest Melchisedec, who blessed Abraham upon Abraham's return from victory over a confederation of kings. Abraham then gave Melchisedec a tenth of all the spoils of these battles.

Considerations

Most Christians generally accept that the law of tithing, as other Jewish laws, was absolished upon Jesus' crucifixion, when he fulfilled the Old Testament law. Christians do not follow Jewish community laws such as the extensive dietary restrictions in the Old Testament, for example, and tithing was part of that group of laws. Others believe that because Jesus spoke about tithing, he was instructing his followers to continue the practice.

Size

Jesus spoke more often about giving than tithing, and giving in much larger amounts, including service. In Matthew 10:8 he says, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." In Matthew 19:21, he tells a young man who asks how to gain eternal life, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me."

Resources

• Tithing and Christianity