Key Scriptures: Malachi 3:8–10 | Matthew 23:23 | 1 Corinthians 16:1–2 | 2 Corinthians 8:12 | 2 Corinthians 9:6–7

Tithing is widely practiced in churches, but does the New Testament require every Christian to give exactly ten percent of their income to their local church?

The Bible clearly teaches giving, generosity, supporting ministry, and caring for people in need. However, there is an important distinction between biblical giving and teaching that every Christian is under a compulsory 10% tithe.

The New Testament does not plainly command Christians to give exactly ten percent of their income to their local church.

What Was the Biblical Tithe?

The word “tithe” means a tenth.

We see examples of giving a tenth before the Law of Moses. Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek in Genesis 14:18–20, and Jacob promised God a tenth in Genesis 28:20–22.

However, neither account establishes a command requiring every future believer to give ten percent of their income to a local church.

Under the Mosaic covenant, tithing became part of Israel’s religious and national system.

Numbers 18:21 tells us:

“And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service.”

The tithe helped provide for the Levites, who had particular responsibilities within Israel.

Other passages in Deuteronomy describe tithes connected with agricultural produce, worship, festivals, and provision for the Levite, stranger, fatherless, and widow.

So biblical tithing under the Old Covenant was more involved than simply

“Give 10% of your salary to your local church.”

What About Malachi: “Will a Man Rob God?”

Malachi 3:8 is probably one of the most frequently quoted scriptures concerning tithing:

“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.”

Verse 10 continues:

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse…”

These are powerful words, but context matters.

Malachi was addressing Israel within its covenant relationship with God. The storehouse belonged to the system surrounding the temple and the provision God had established for Israel.

Therefore, we should be careful about taking this passage and telling Christians:

“If you don’t give ten percent of your wages to your church, you are robbing God.”

That conclusion goes further than the passage itself establishes for New Testament believers.

Didn’t Jesus teach tithing?

Jesus certainly mentioned tithing.

In Matthew 23:23, He challenged the scribes and Pharisees because they carefully tithed even their herbs while neglecting what He called the “weightier matters of the law”—judgment, mercy, and faith.

Jesus wasn’t praising an obsession with percentages. He was exposing religious hypocrisy.

We should also recognise that Jesus was speaking to people living under the Mosaic covenant before His death and resurrection.

This passage therefore should not automatically be turned into a command requiring every Christian under the New Covenant to pay ten percent to a local church.

What Did the Apostles Teach About Giving?

When we come to the teaching given directly to New Testament churches, something important happens.

The emphasis moves towards willing, generous, proportionate, and cheerful giving.

Paul writes:

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”
— 2 Corinthians 9:7

Notice those words:

“Not…of necessity.”

Paul doesn’t tell the Corinthian believers, “You owe God exactly ten percent.”

Instead, he speaks about giving from the heart.

Similarly, 1 Corinthians 16:2 encourages believers to set something aside according to how God has prospered them.

The principle is not no-giving.

It is grace-filled giving.

Note: Tithing Does Not Mean Not Giving

This distinction is extremely important.

Someone may hear that Christians aren’t commanded to tithe ten percent and conclude:

“Good. Then I don’t have to give anything.”

That completely misses the message of the New Testament.

The early church could be extraordinarily generous.

Acts 2 and Acts 4 describe believers willingly sharing their possessions and helping those who were in need.

Grace didn’t make them stingy.

Grace made them generous.

The difference was that generosity flowed from transformed hearts rather than merely satisfying a religious percentage.

A Christian may choose to use 10% as a personal guideline, and there is nothing wrong with doing that.

One believer may currently be able to give less.

Another may give ten percent.

Another may joyfully give considerably more.

The problem comes when a useful personal discipline is transformed into a universal New Testament law and people are condemned, frightened, or manipulated when they cannot meet it.

Good Biblical Ways to Give to the Local Church

Rejecting compulsory tithing does not mean rejecting financial support for the church.

Churches have genuine needs. Ministry costs money. Missionaries, outreach programs, teaching ministries, community work, and ministers may legitimately require financial support.

Paul writes:

“Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.”
— 1 Corinthians 9:14

So how can Christians give?

Give Regularly

Setting something aside regularly can be a healthy Christian discipline.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 16:2:

“Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him…”

Regular giving can help a local church plan responsibly and maintain its ministry.

Give According to Your Ability

Not everybody has the same financial circumstances.

Second Corinthians 8:12 teaches an important principle: willingness is measured according to what someone has, not according to what they do not have.

God does not require us to pretend everybody’s circumstances are identical.

Give Toward Genuine Ministry

Supporting genuine gospel work is thoroughly biblical.

Churches may need financial resources for ministry, outreach, missions, community projects, and those legitimately serving in ministry.

Supporting such work can be a beautiful expression of partnership in the gospel.

Give to People in Need

Christian giving should not become entirely about maintaining an institution.

The New Testament repeatedly reminds Christians about people experiencing genuine need.

Galatians 2:10 tells us to remember the poor.

James 2:15–16 challenges believers who offer religious words to someone lacking food or clothing without helping meet their practical needs.

Sometimes one of the most biblical offerings we can give is simply helping somebody who needs help.

Give Your Time

Giving isn’t limited to money.

Your time has value.

Visiting someone who is lonely, helping with an outreach program, supporting church activities, mentoring younger believers, cleaning, organizing, or simply making yourself available are all meaningful forms of service.

Give Your Gifts and Talents

Peter writes:

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another.”
— 1 Peter 4:10

Perhaps you can teach.

Perhaps you can sing.

Perhaps you understand administration, technology, media, hospitality, children’s ministry, maintenance, or community outreach.

Your offering doesn’t always come in an envelope.

Sometimes what your local church needs is the gift God has already placed inside you.

Give Practical Resources

There may also be occasions when Christians can provide food, clothing, equipment, transport, professional expertise, or other practical resources.

Generosity asks:

“What has God placed in my hands that could bless someone else?”

Give Privately

Jesus warned in Matthew 6:1–4 against performing acts of generosity simply to receive recognition from others.

Not everyone needs to know what you gave.

Some of the most meaningful Christian generosity happens quietly.

Give Cheerfully

Above everything else:

Give from your heart.

Christian giving should not require intimidation.

We should not need someone frightening us with a curse before we become generous.

Paul’s principle remains:

“God loveth a cheerful giver.” — 2 Corinthians 9:7

Can We Rob the Local Church in Other Ways?

There is another side to this discussion.

If we’re going to talk about robbing God, perhaps we should recognise that money isn’t the only thing Christians can withhold.

A believer can faithfully put money into an offering every week while withholding things the body of Christ genuinely needs.

Paul describes the church as a body, with different members contributing to its life.

“But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.”
— 1 Corinthians 12:18

We can deprive the local church when we continually receive but never contribute.

We Can Withhold Our Gifts

God may have given you the ability to teach, encourage, organise, sing, pray, lead, help, or serve.

If every believer decided, “Someone else can do it,” the church would struggle to function.

We Can Withhold Our Time

Sometimes what the church needs most isn’t another financial contribution.

It needs you.

Your presence. Your willingness. Your service. Your encouragement.

We Can Neglect Fellowship

Hebrews 10:25 warns believers against forsaking assembling together and emphasises encouraging one another.

The church isn’t merely somewhere we attend.

We are part of the church.

Our absence can affect more than ourselves because somebody else may have needed the encouragement, prayer, or gift we could have brought.

We Can Refuse to Support Genuine Ministry

Rejecting compulsory tithing shouldn’t become an excuse for refusing to support anything.

If we benefit from Christian ministry but deliberately expect everyone else continually to finance it when we are perfectly capable of contributing, we should examine our attitude toward generosity.

We Can Ignore People in Need

A congregation could have an impressive building and healthy bank balance while people around it are struggling.

Christian generosity must have room for people.

The poor, vulnerable, struggling families, elderly people, widows, and others experiencing genuine hardship should matter to God’s people.

We Can Rob the Church of Unity

Not everything we take from a church is financial.

Gossip can rob a church of trust.

Bitterness can rob it of fellowship.

Unforgiveness can rob it of peace.

Unnecessary conflict can rob it of unity.

Paul, therefore, urges believers in Ephesians 4:3 to endeavour to keep:

“the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

We Can Expect to Be Served Without Serving

Jesus gave us a radically different example:

“For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister…”
— Mark 10:45

The church cannot simply become:

What can I receive?

There must also be:

How can I serve?

Giving Is Bigger Than the Offering

Imagine one Christian faithfully gives ten percent every month but refuses to serve, forgive, encourage anyone or help people in need.

Another gives according to their ability, helps struggling families, serves faithfully, uses their spiritual gifts and quietly supports gospel ministry.

Should we measure those two believers simply by asking:

“Which one paid 10%?”

Biblical stewardship is much bigger than that.

Our money belongs to God.

But so does our:

Time.
Ability.
Influence.
Possessions.
Compassion.
Opportunities.
Service.

The New Covenant does not merely ask us to calculate ten per cent and assume everything else belongs exclusively to us.

It challenges us to recognise that everything ultimately belongs to God.

Final Takeaway

Giving is biblical. Generosity is biblical. Supporting the local church is biblical. Caring for people in need is biblical.

But the New Testament does not clearly command every Christian to give exactly 10% of their income to their local church.

Ten per cent can certainly be a useful personal guideline. A Christian is free to practise it and may find it an excellent discipline.

But Christian generosity shouldn’t be driven by fear, guilt, manipulation or compulsion.

Give regularly.

Give according to your ability.

Give toward genuine ministry.

Give to people in need.

Give your time.

Give your talents.

Give practical help.

Give quietly when appropriate.

And above all:

Give willingly and cheerfully.

The question isn’t simply:

“Have I paid my tithe?”

Perhaps the greater question is:

“Am I faithfully using everything God has entrusted to me for His glory and for the good of others?”

“For God loveth a cheerful giver.” — 2 Corinthians 9:7

Giving should be an expression of grace—not fear; worship—not pressure; generosity—not compulsion.

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