Thithing: Biblical Background
The Biblical Background of Tithing
Tithing has been found as a key principle in history.
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Tithing is first mentioned in Genesis 14:20, but it is not unique to the Old Testament or Mosaic Law. Tithing has been found as a key principle in the history of the Arabians, Carthaginians, Lydians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and Mohamedans. This tithe was a one tenth portion of income or resources.
In the Old Testament there were three kinds of tithes.
In Leviticus 27:30-32, a tithe was given annually for the support of the local priesthood. This is similar today to our church budget. The second kind of tithe is found in Deuteronomy 12:5-19 and 14:22-27. This tithe underwrote the expenses of the three major Jewish Festivals of Passover, Feast of Tabernacles, and Feast of Weeks. Today, we seldom spend funds for any kind of religious celebration except infrequent banquets and fellowships. The third tithe is identified in Deuteronomy 14:28-29 and 26:12-15. This tithe was taken every third year for local communities to help the needy. Today this need is addressed by government programs, public charities like United Way, and benevolent and mission giving. So, each year the prescribed tithe amounted to 23 1/3% income before any buildings or special offerings.
In the New Testament, tithing is specifically mentioned four times.
The passages in Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42, Luke 18:12, and Hebrews 7:4-9 do not constitute a major teaching. As a matter of fact, Jesus does not teach about tithing; but He does not repeal the tithing either. He affirms its importance to discipleship and faithfulness to God. Paul and John also do not provide specific teaching about the tithe, but they do address the issues of attitude and motives for giving. The major teaching about giving in the New Testament has to do with the support of the Christian saints in Jerusalem through a special over and above kind of gift.
In a Capital Stewardship Program there are at least two foundational passages that give guidelines for over-and-above giving. The first is 1 Chronicles 29:1-9 where David raises the resources necessary to build the temple. The second is 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 where Paul challenges the church leaders in Corinth about an over-and-above commitment for a specific need. He also identifies the profound spiritual motivation for this kind of giving.
<<back<<
Tithing is first mentioned in Genesis 14:20, but it is not unique to the Old Testament or Mosaic Law. Tithing has been found as a key principle in the history of the Arabians, Carthaginians, Lydians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and Mohamedans. This tithe was a one tenth portion of income or resources.
In the Old Testament there were three kinds of tithes.
In Leviticus 27:30-32, a tithe was given annually for the support of the local priesthood. This is similar today to our church budget. The second kind of tithe is found in Deuteronomy 12:5-19 and 14:22-27. This tithe underwrote the expenses of the three major Jewish Festivals of Passover, Feast of Tabernacles, and Feast of Weeks. Today, we seldom spend funds for any kind of religious celebration except infrequent banquets and fellowships. The third tithe is identified in Deuteronomy 14:28-29 and 26:12-15. This tithe was taken every third year for local communities to help the needy. Today this need is addressed by government programs, public charities like United Way, and benevolent and mission giving. So, each year the prescribed tithe amounted to 23 1/3% income before any buildings or special offerings.
In the New Testament, tithing is specifically mentioned four times.
The passages in Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42, Luke 18:12, and Hebrews 7:4-9 do not constitute a major teaching. As a matter of fact, Jesus does not teach about tithing; but He does not repeal the tithing either. He affirms its importance to discipleship and faithfulness to God. Paul and John also do not provide specific teaching about the tithe, but they do address the issues of attitude and motives for giving. The major teaching about giving in the New Testament has to do with the support of the Christian saints in Jerusalem through a special over and above kind of gift.
In a Capital Stewardship Program there are at least two foundational passages that give guidelines for over-and-above giving. The first is 1 Chronicles 29:1-9 where David raises the resources necessary to build the temple. The second is 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 where Paul challenges the church leaders in Corinth about an over-and-above commitment for a specific need. He also identifies the profound spiritual motivation for this kind of giving.
