What Does the Bible Say About Tithing?

คำตอบอย่างเป็นทางการ 2026-07-13

Tithing is a subject many believers care about. From the Old Testament to the New, Scripture teaches us to put God first with our resources, giving to Him out of gratitude and faith. The word "tithe" means a tenth. Even before the Law was given, Abraham gave a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, priest of God Most High (Genesis 14:20), and Jacob vowed to give God a tenth (Genesis 28:22). Later, God commanded in the Law, "Every tithe of the land... is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord" (Leviticus 27:30). This tithe supported the Levites, the temple service, and the poor. Malachi 3:8-10 is one of the most powerful passages on giving. God rebukes His people for robbing Him of the tithe, then promises, "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse... And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." Giving is an invitation to experience God's faithfulness. In the New Testament, Jesus did not abolish giving. He told the Pharisees that tithing was something they "ought to have done," but they must not neglect the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). The New Testament lifts the focus from a fixed legal percentage to a cheerful, willing heart. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says, "Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." So the core principles of giving are these. First, acknowledge that everything belongs to God and we are only stewards (Psalm 24:1). Second, put God first by giving from the firstfruits of our income (Proverbs 3:9). Third, give willingly, according to our ability, and regularly (1 Corinthians 16:2). Fourth, believe that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). The tenth is an excellent starting point for this discipline, helping our faith and gratitude grow, and it is a tangible way to worship God and support His church and the work of the gospel. It is also worth remembering why we give at all. We give because God first gave to us. 2 Corinthians 8:9 says, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich." The measure of our giving is ultimately shaped not by a rule but by the immeasurable generosity of Christ, who gave Himself for us. When we truly grasp this, giving is transformed from a burdensome obligation into an act of joyful worship. Giving is never a way to earn God's love, which is already ours in Christ. Rather, it is a joyful response to the God who gave His own Son for us. May God help you become a cheerful, faithful steward. Open the free BiblePro 主内圣经 app and read Malachi 3 and 2 Corinthians 8-9, letting God's word guide you to give in a way that pleases Him.