What Churches Don’t Always Tell You About Tithing

Let’s talk about tithing. You’ve probably heard it said in church, “God wants your first 10%,” or “You’re robbing God if you don’t tithe.” Maybe it’s taught as a test of your faith or as a guarantee of blessings. Sound familiar?

But here’s the thing—when you actually open up the Bible and start digging, you find out there’s way more to this topic than most churches talk about. And honestly? Some of what’s commonly taught isn’t even in the New Testament.

So let’s clear the air with three big truths about tithing that a lot of Christians never hear:

First off, tithing was never a rule for the church. It was a law for Israel under the Old Covenant. You can read about it in Leviticus 27:30 and Numbers 18:21. Basically, the Israelites gave a tenth of their crops and livestock to support the Levites—the priests who didn’t get land like the other tribes. It was part of their religious and national system, not some personal act of generosity.

Jesus did mention tithing once in Matthew 23:23, but He was talking to Pharisees who were still living under the Old Testament law. That’s pre-cross, pre-resurrection, pre-church. When the New Testament talks about giving, especially in places like 2 Corinthians 9:7, it’s not about tithing—it’s about giving from the heart, not out of guilt or pressure.

Here’s another thing: the Old Testament tithe wasn’t just one 10%. There were multiple tithes—one for the Levites, one for religious festivals, and one every three years for the poor. That added up to more than 20% a year. So if we’re going to go Old Testament on this, we’d better be ready to give like 23%!

But the New Testament flips the script. It doesn’t give us a percentage—it gives us a principle. Paul talks about giving cheerfully, not because someone told you to, but because you want to (2 Corinthians 9:7). Acts 2 shows believers sharing everything they had because they loved each other, not because someone passed around a calculator.

So no, tithing isn’t a Christian command. But giving generously? Absolutely. God wants our hearts, not our math. He doesn’t need our money—He wants us to trust Him with everything, including our finances. That might mean more than 10% sometimes. It might mean less. The point is: it’s not about a law—it’s about love.

So if you’ve been giving out of fear or because someone guilted you into it, take a breath. Talk to God. Ask Him what He wants you to do. And then give out of joy, not obligation. That’s the kind of giving that honors God.

Sources: 

The Holy Bible, New Living Translation

Leviticus 27:30, Numbers 18:21–24, Deuteronomy 14:22–29

Matthew 23:23, 2 Corinthians 9:6–7, Acts 2:44–45, Romans 6:14

John MacArthur – Whose Money Is It, Anyway?

Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart – How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

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