Does the New Testament Teach Tithing?

I’ve heard an awful lot over the past few years about tithing, or the lack thereof. There has been a push by many to say that Jesus never taught tithing, and even that the New Testament as a whole does not teach one to tithe as we see throughout the Old Testament. It’s not a new argument, it’s been around for years, but the no-tithe bandwagon has certainly become a popular one as of late. And of course it has. Who wouldn’t want to believe we aren’t required to give God 10% of everything? Especially in our me-first, money-first society.

While I can see why some might argue for this, it negates to show the whole truth. If you really study the giving shown in the New Testament, tithing isn’t the issue at hand. And I might agree with the basic idea: tithing was not necessarily being taught. But that’s because it didn’t have to be taught. People weren’t tithing; people were giving FAR MORE than just a tithe, or 10%. Consider these passages:

“All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” –Acts 2:44, 45

“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales  and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.”  –Acts 4:32-35

 And, of course, who can forget the widow’s two mites in Mark 12:

“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

I FIRMLY believe that 10% is a bottom-of-the-barrel-baseline for giving. It’s the least we can give. It seems pretty obvious to me that even IF someone could claim that tithing isn’t a NT principle, one cannot deny that giving, specifically money (b/c some claim time and energy is a gift that can negate the giving of money) is undoubtedly taught. And if you want to claim that the giving of 10% is not a NT principle, than you’d better be following what IS the NT principle of giving…

GIVE.

IT.

ALL.

If you’re not giving AT LEAST 10%, I would ask, “Why not?” And then, I’d DARE you to give it a try. But if you’re going to claim that tithing isn’t a NT principle, you’d better be giving an awful lot more than 10%.

Perhaps there’s a reason money was Jesus’ second favorite topic. It’s almost like he was an ancient sort of Dave Ramsey, even. I think I’ve even seen the phrase “too much month left at the end of the money” written in red a time or two.

Last week my kids put their first tithe envelopes into the offering plate. It was a proud day for my wife and me. They’d all gained a whole $3.00 for chores during the week. Each one placed their 30 cents into the envelope and filled out their names. We’re not teaching that God requires them to give 10% of their money, but rather, we are teaching them the privilege of keeping 90% of God’s money. Some people call this stewardship. I like to simply call it faith—faith to believe that God’s Word is true; faith to believe that God is bigger than our bills and bank accounts.

It’s a faith that doesn’t always come easy. Just ask the rich young ruler:

 A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”…“You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”

“All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. —Luke 18:18-25