Andrew G. Stanton - Dec. 3, 2025

I. The Uncomfortable Truth: The New Testament Never Commands Christians to Tithe

Many Christians assume that “tithing” (giving 10% of income) is a universal biblical requirement.

It isn’t.

Not once—not a single time—does the New Testament command Christians to give 10%.

Jesus never taught it.
Paul never taught it.
Peter and John never taught it.
The early church never practiced it.

Instead, the New Testament emphasizes:

• generosity
• cheerful giving
• sacrificial love
• Spirit-led stewardship
• care for the poor
• support for ministry

But never a fixed percentage.

II. What Tithing Actually Was in the Old Testament

Modern sermons often distort what the tithe truly was. Biblically, tithing was nothing like the modern “10% of your paycheck” model.

1. The tithe was agricultural, not monetary

The tithe was produce from the land of Israel—not wages, salaries, profits, or general wealth.

“The tithe of the land, whether of seed or fruit, is the Lord’s.”
— Leviticus 27:30

A carpenter did not tithe chairs.
A fisherman did not tithe fish.
A merchant did not tithe profits.

Only farmers and herdsmen tithed, and only from God’s promised land.

2. Israel had multiple tithes

Israel’s tithes included:

• the Levitical tithe (for priests),
• the Festival tithe (for national feasts),
• the Poor tithe (every third year).

Altogether, this functioned as a national tax system under Mosaic law.

3. Tithing ended with the Old Covenant

Tithing belonged to:

• the Temple,
• the Levitical priesthood,
• the promised land of Israel.

All fulfilled or dissolved in Christ.

III. Why the New Testament Never Commands Christians to Tithe

Because the New Covenant replaces law-based giving with free, Spirit-formed generosity.

Paul makes this unmistakably clear:

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart,
not reluctantly or under compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.”
— 2 Corinthians 9:7

Under the New Covenant:

• Giving is voluntary.
• Giving is joyful.
• Giving is relational.
• Giving is Spirit-led.
• Giving is proportional to ability.
• Giving is an act of worship, not obligation.

There is no law, no percentage, no threat of curse.

IV. The Real New Testament Standard: Everything Belongs to God

Ironically, modern tithing lowers the biblical standard.

“Give God 10%; keep the other 90%.”

But Jesus teaches that:

God owns 100% of everything we have.

The New Testament vision is:

• full stewardship,
• open-handed generosity,
• sacrificial giving,
• love for the poor,
• support for the gospel,
• and Spirit-guided offerings.

Christian giving is not a tax.
It is worship.

V. But Should Christians Be Generous? Yes—More Than Ever

Rejecting tithing does not reject generosity.

Christians are called to:

• give sacrificially,
• support the needy,
• strengthen the church,
• care for missionaries,
• and live open-handedly.

The New Covenant raises the bar.
But it removes compulsion.

VI. The Problem With Modern Tithing Theology

Tithing sermons often produce:

• guilt
• superstition
• prosperity formulas (“give to get”)
• fear (“you’ll be cursed if you don’t”)
• manipulation
• or transactional spirituality

But the New Covenant produces:

• joy
• freedom
• discernment
• humility
• generosity
• overflowing love

The issue is not “giving less.”
It is giving from the right covenant.

VII. What About Abraham and Melchizedek?

This is the most common argument used to justify tithing today.

“Abraham tithed to Melchizedek—so Christians should tithe!”

But this misunderstands the passage completely.

1. Abraham tithed only once

This was not regular giving.
It occurred one time in his entire recorded life.

2. Abraham tithed from war spoils, not his own wealth

Genesis 14 is clear: the tithe came from plunder taken in battle, not personal income.

Abraham never tithed:

• wages
• flocks
• crops
• profits
• inheritance
• annual produce

Just war plunder.

3. Abraham gave 10% and kept 0%

He gave:

• 10% to Melchizedek,
• and the remaining 90% to the king of Sodom.

If this were a model for Christians, then:

“Give 10% to your pastor and 90% to your enemies.”

No one teaches that because the story is not a command.
Not a pattern.
Not a rule.

4. Hebrews never uses this as a giving command

The New Testament uses Melchizedek to show Christ’s superior priesthood, not to teach tithing.

There is no command to imitate Abraham’s gesture.

VIII. What About Malachi 3? (“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse…”)

This is the second most common prooftext for tithing sermons.
But it is consistently misinterpreted.

1. Malachi was written to Israel under Mosaic law

Not to Christians.
Not to the Church.
Not under grace.

It addressed:

• agricultural tithes,
• Temple service,
• Levitical priests,
• covenant curses,
• and blessings tied to the land.

You cannot apply Malachi without re-imposing the entire Mosaic system.

2. The “storehouse” was a literal food warehouse

The storehouse was where Israel stored:

• grain
• wine
• oil
• produce

Not money.
Not salaries.
Not modern offerings.

3. The blessings and curses were agricultural

“I will pour out a blessing” referred to rain and harvest.
“Devourer” referred to locusts.

Not finances.
Not bank accounts.

4. The New Testament never repeats Malachi’s command

Jesus and Paul both taught giving—
but never repeated Malachi’s requirement.

Malachi is Old Covenant.
Christians are not under it.

IX. Why These Two Passages Cannot Establish Christian Tithing

Neither Genesis 14 nor Malachi 3 provides:

• a command to tithe today
• a percentage requirement
• a New Covenant obligation
• support for pastoral salaries
• a church budget model
• a prosperity formula
• a doctrine of spiritual cursing

Using these texts to impose tithing is mixing covenants and misrepresenting Scripture.

X. The New Covenant Way: Generosity, Not Legalism

Let’s state it plainly:

God is not asking for a percentage.
He is asking for your heart.

If the Spirit leads someone to give 10%, wonderful.
If He leads them to give more, even better.
If a struggling believer gives less for a time, that is grace—not sin.

Christian giving is:

• voluntary
• cheerful
• sacrificial
• Spirit-led
• proportionate
• relational
• and rooted in love

The tithe belonged to Israel.
Generosity belongs to the Church.