Chapter 4: Tithing in the New Testament

by Hazel

There are four different passages that mention the subject of “tithe” in the New Testament. Let’s examine each one, and see if there’s a command or even a word to suggest that Christians should tithe today.

• "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone” (Matthew 23:23).

• “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” (Luke 11:42).

Notice that in both of these passages the tithe had to do with garden herbs, which are products of the field—not money. But even more importantly Jesus criticized these very religious, law-keeping Pharisees for treating tithing (was a law at the time Jesus spoke this) as more important than mercy, love, justice and faithfulness.

It is essential that we understand that these Pharisees lived under the Old Covenant. They lived under a different covenant than New Testament believers today. It was Christ’s death that inaugurated the New Covenant, thereby bringing about a change in the law (See Luke 22:20; Hebrews 7:12). Also notice that the tithe mentioned here was not voluntary. Jesus tells them they “ought” to have tithed, because tithing was still obligatory.
• “I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get”(Luke 18:12).

In this passage in Luke Jesus is telling the parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector. Christ is speaking about a self-righteous Pharisee who trusts in something he does (tithing) to be acceptable before God while living under the Mosaic Law, not of a Christian tithing under the New Covenant.

• “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he abides a priest perpetually. Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham, and blessed the one who had the promises. But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him” (Hebrews 7:1-10).

The design of the author in this rather lengthy passage of Scripture is to show the superiority of the priesthood of Jesus Christ over the Levitical priesthood. The author of Hebrews is simply restating the fact that Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek from the spoils of war—a fact that we discussed earlier.

Notice that this passage of Scripture is not exhorting believers to give tithe like Abraham did, but rather instructing believers to perceive the excellence of Christ, who ministers as a Priest far superior to the Levites. Therefore, this passage cannot be used to impose mandatory tithing on Christians. It is not written to address that issue and has nothing to do with Christian giving, but everything to do with the superiority of Christ.

After checking out these four New Testament references on tithing it is clear that there is not one command or even a suggestion that New Covenant believers are supposed to tithe. Although this long held Christian tradition has survived some two thousand years after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no Scriptural support for it. Whatsmore, in my opinion, anyone teaching such a doctrine has no clear understanding of the mission of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the New Covenant.

Summary:

• There are only four different passages in the entire New Testament that mention the subject of “tithe”. Tithing is not mentioned as part of any teaching in the New Testament.

• Tithing was a Law of Moses at the time Jesus denounced very religious, law-keeping scribes and Pharisees for treating tithing (garden herbs) as more important than mercy, love, justice and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42).

• The author of Hebrews simply restates the fact that Abraham voluntarily paid tithes to Melchizedek from the spoils of war before the Law of Moses was in effect

• The author of Hebrews is not exhorting believers to give tithe like Abraham did, but rather instructing believers to perceive the excellence of Christ who ministers as a Priest far superior to the Levitical priesthood.

• The passage from Hebrews cannot be used to impose mandatory tithing on Christians today because it was not written to address that issue and has nothing to do with Christian giving, but everything to do with the superiority of Christ.

• There is no command or even a word of suggestion in these New Testament verses that New Covenant believers are supposed to tithe.

• Although this Christian tradition of tithing has survived some two thousand years after the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no Scriptural support for it.

• Although Jesus spoke a lot about money and giving, He did not teach the apostles, the disciples, or His followers about tithe being obligatory for believers who followed Him.

• Jesus did not receive tithes. He was supported by "gifts" (Luke 8:3, 9:1-6 10:3-16, Matthew 10:1-10; Mark. 6:7-11).

• There is no record that tithing was part of the apostles teaching.

• No New Testament believer ever tithed or gave money to “get” something from God.