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Bible Verses About Tithing: What Scripture Says and Means

October 27, 2026
Bible Verses About Tithing: What Scripture Says and Means

The Bible mentions the tithe, a tenth set apart for God, in the Law of Moses, in the stories of Abraham and Jacob, in a few words from Jesus, and in one passage in Hebrews. It never gives a Christian a ten percent command in so many words. It does call believers to give regularly, generously and with a willing heart. This guide walks through the key verses in order, explains what each meant to its first hearers, and then turns to the questions families actually ask: how much, gross or net, tithe or offering, and what to do when the bills are heavy.

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TL;DR

  • The tithe (a tenth) appears before the Law with Abraham and Jacob, then becomes a requirement for Israel in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
  • Jesus affirmed tithing for the people of his day but rebuked leaders who tithed small herbs and neglected justice, mercy and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23).
  • The New Testament teaches regular, proportionate, cheerful giving (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:7) without naming a percentage.
  • Many Christians still use ten percent as a starting guideline. The Bible does not settle gross versus net, so decide prayerfully, together, and without shame.

Table of Contents

Where the tithe begins: Genesis

The word tithe simply means a tenth. The first mentions come before the Law of Moses existed. In Genesis 14:18-20, Abraham gives Melchizedek a tenth after a military victory, and in Genesis 28:22 Jacob vows to give God a tenth if God provides for him. Reference works on the topic note both as pre-Mosaic examples.

These are stories of gratitude, not commands. Abraham was not under a rule when he gave. He responded to what God had done. Notice that thread, because it returns throughout Scripture: the best giving starts in thankfulness.

The tithe in the Law of Moses

The tithe becomes a requirement for Israel in the books of the Law. The key passages are:

  • Leviticus 27:30-32: the tithe of the land, of grain and fruit and of the herd and flock, belongs to the Lord and is holy. The tithe of produce and livestock was obligatory under the Mosaic law.
  • Numbers 18:21: God gave the tithes to the Levites as their inheritance for their service at the tent of meeting, as explained in this overview of the Old Testament tithe. The Levites had no land of their own, so the tithe was their support.
  • Deuteronomy 14:22-29: the tithe also funded worship festivals and, every third year, care for the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow.
  • Deuteronomy 14:23: the stated purpose is learning to revere God always, which is a heart goal and not only a budget line.

The tithe in Israel did more than pay clergy. It supported the Levites, the festivals and the poor, so it worked as a worship fund and a safety net in one. Some scholars argue that when you add up all the required portions, an Israelite farmer's total burden came closer to 23 to 25 percent of produce. That is a reminder that the Old Testament picture was a national system, not a simple ten percent rule applied to a paycheck.

Malachi 3:8-10

This is the verse most people mean when they search for scriptures on tithing. God, through the prophet, accuses the people of robbing him in tithes and offerings and invites them to bring the full tithe into the storehouse. It is addressed to Israel under the covenant, at a time when the temple support had been neglected. Teaching that places the tithe within the Mosaic Law reminds us that Christians are not legally subject to that Law, though the passage still shows God's heart for faithful, trusting giving.

A careful reader holds two things together. The context is Israel's covenant. The principle, that God cares whether we trust him with our first and best, carries forward.

What Jesus said about tithing

Jesus speaks about the tithe directly in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42. He tells the Pharisees they gave a tenth of mint, dill and cumin yet neglected the weightier matters: justice, mercy and faithfulness. Then he adds that they should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

Two observations matter here:

  1. Jesus did not tell them to stop tithing. He acknowledged it as an obligation for Israelites in his day.
  2. His rebuke was aimed at precision without compassion. Reading the passages together, he condemned leaders who tithed scrupulously while disregarding what mattered most.

Luke 18:9-14 adds the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee boasts that he tithes all he gets, and the humble tax collector goes home justified. Giving can never be a way to impress God or other people. Jesus also warns in Matthew 6:1-4 against giving for public recognition.

New Testament tithing verses

Three New Testament passages refer to tithing: Matthew 23:23, Luke 18:9-14 and Hebrews 7:1-10. In a study of the subject, scholars Köstenberger and Croteau argue that none of them contains a command for new covenant believers to tithe.

Hebrews 7 recalls Abraham's gift to Melchizedek to show that Christ's priesthood is greater than the Levitical one. Its point is about Jesus, not about household budgeting.

So what does the New Testament teach about giving? Look at these verses:

  • 1 Corinthians 16:2: set something aside on the first day of each week, in keeping with your income. Believers are encouraged to set aside money regularly as they have been prospered.
  • 2 Corinthians 9:7: each person should give what they have decided in their heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.
  • 2 Corinthians 8:12: a gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not what they do not have.
  • 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 and 1 Timothy 5:17-18: those who preach the gospel may be supported by it. Giving is meant to support the local church, those who preach, and those in need.
  • 1 John 3:17: if you see a brother or sister in need and close your heart, God's love is not abiding in you. This verse is one reason generosity is pictured as meeting real needs.
  • Matthew 6:1-4: give quietly, not for an audience.
  • Luke 6:38: the measure you give will be the measure you receive. Read it as a promise about God's generosity and not as a formula for guaranteed returns.

Should Christians tithe?

Faithful Christians answer this differently, and it helps to know the main positions.

Tithing is not required, but generosity is. David Croteau, a biblical scholar, emphasizes that New Testament Christians are not under the Mosaic Law and so are not bound to its percentages. On this view, the New Testament standard is giving as you have prospered, freely and cheerfully, with no mandated figure.

Ten percent is a wise place to start. Wayne Grudem says a tithe can be a wise guideline, at least when someone is beginning to give, while stressing that New Testament giving is measured by what a person may prosper, so the right amount varies.

The tithe is still a minimum. The United Church of God teaches that tithing, though Old Testament in origin, provides a model God still expects as a minimum standard from those who honor him.

Three Christian views on tithing

You can see why a couple might land in different places. What matters is that you search the passages together, pray, and decide as a household. A husband and wife who shout verses at each other have missed Jesus' point in Matthew 23.

Tithe versus offering, and what first fruits means

These terms are often blended, but they are not the same.

  • Tithe: a fixed tenth. In the Old Testament pattern, it was given as income was received.
  • Offering: a gift above the tithe. Offerings were given on holy days, in an amount determined by the worshiper. Deuteronomy 16:17 says each person gives as able, according to the blessing the Lord has given.
  • First fruits: the first portion of the harvest, brought to God before the rest was used. Proverbs 3:9 says to honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce. First fruits is about the order of giving, putting God first, while the tithe is about the amount.

Adventist Stewardship puts it plainly: the tithe is ten percent and offerings are set by the giver's grateful heart, and the two, though different in purpose, are both essential parts of worship. For many families, a practical reading is to decide on a regular first gift, then add offerings as needs and gratitude arise.

How much should I tithe, and on gross or net?

The Old Testament figure is a tenth. The New Testament gives no percentage. That leaves the question to wisdom and conscience.

On gross versus net, Scripture is silent. The New Testament does not address giving from after-tax or gross income. In the Old Testament pattern, the tithe was on increase, and the United Church of God teaches that business owners deduct business costs from gross income to find the increase.

Here is a simple way to work through it:

  1. Agree as a couple on what you are trying to honor: first fruits, a tenth, or giving as you prosper.
  2. Pick one base, gross pay or take-home pay, and use it consistently.
  3. Write the number down as a percentage so it moves with your income.
  4. Review once or twice a year, not every paycheck.

Our four-question tithe checklist for gross or net walks a family through this choice. If taxes are on your mind, see what Scripture says about paying taxes. Windfalls raise their own questions, which we cover in tithing an inheritance.

Should I tithe if I cannot pay my bills?

This is the hardest question, and shame has no place in the answer. A person's ability to give is subjective: for some, 5 percent may be a significant sacrifice, while for others 20 percent might be modest. Paul's principle in 2 Corinthians 8:12 fits: God accepts a gift according to what you have.

Scripture also values providing for your household (1 Timothy 5:8) and paying what you owe (Romans 13:7-8). None of this cancels giving, but it means a family in crisis can pray and plan instead of carrying guilt. Some choose a smaller percentage while they pay down debt, then raise it. Others keep ten percent and cut elsewhere. Both can be faithful when chosen together with a clear conscience. We explore this in tithing while in debt. If you are in real distress, talk with your pastor or a trusted, qualified Christian financial counselor.

Our perspective: from rule-keeping to a calm conversation

We hear from many families who dread the tithing conversation. One spouse quotes Malachi, the other points at the credit card statement, and the talk ends in tension. We think the verses were never meant to produce that.

Our perspective: from rule-keeping to a calm conversation — overview diagram

Here is what we have come to believe. First, the Bible's tithe verses show us God's character before they show us a formula: he provides, he asks us to trust him with our first, and he cares about the Levite, the widow and the stranger. Second, Jesus' words in Matthew 23 warn us that getting the percentage right while missing mercy is a failure. Third, the New Testament frees believers to give by conviction and not by compulsion, which means you can be generous without being reckless.

So we encourage families to take one small step: choose a percentage you can keep, write it down, and talk about it without judgment. A modest, steady gift given in faith is worth more than a large one given in resentment. If you want more verses for these talks, start with 12 Bible verses about money for families and ten actions to put biblical money principles to work.

— James

A simple next step for your family

If this topic has stirred up questions at your kitchen table, our Bible Money Book is a short digital guide that turns biblical principles into plain, actionable steps for family money talks, with an implementation workbook to guide the discussion. It costs $1. Get the Bible Money Book and use it to start a calm conversation about giving, debt and spending. You can also browse our recommended Christian books and devotionals or follow the daily Bible money wisdom feed.

FAQ

What did Jesus say about tithing?

In Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42, Jesus told the Pharisees to keep tithing but not to neglect justice, mercy and faithfulness. He treated tithing as an obligation for Israelites of his day. His complaint was with giving that ignored the heart.

Does the Bible say to tithe 10 percent?

Yes, in the Old Testament law, where a tenth of produce and livestock was required (Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 14:22). The New Testament does not give Christians a set percentage. It teaches giving in keeping with your income, willingly and cheerfully.

What is the difference between a tithe and first fruits?

The tithe is a fixed tenth, while first fruits is the first portion of a harvest or income offered to God before anything else is spent (Proverbs 3:9). One is about amount and the other about priority. Many families treat them as one practice: give first, and give a set share.

Do I tithe before or after taxes?

The Bible does not say. Pick gross or net with your spouse, apply it consistently, and make sure you can give it with a clear conscience. A pastor can help if you are unsure.

Sources