Tithing in the Bible: What Scripture Really Says About the 10%
Updated: 2 days ago
Tithing in the Bible means giving a tenth of your produce or income to God. In the Old Testament it was a legal requirement for Israel, used to support the Levites, the temple and the poor. In the New Testament, no fixed percentage is set for Christians, who are urged to give willingly, generously and cheerfully.
Few questions about money cause more worry in church life than this one: do I have to give ten per cent? If you have heard sermons on Malachi 3:10, been told you are “robbing God”, or simply wondered what the Bible actually requires, you are in good company. This guide walks through the key passages in order, from Abraham to Paul, shows where Christians honestly disagree, and ends with a practical, pressure-free way to decide what to give.
If you are new to the faith, it may help to read what Christianity is before weighing up what to give.
Last reviewed: 21 October 2026. Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), Biblica, Inc.
What this guide covers
What the word tithe means in the Bible
Whether tithing began before the Law of Moses
What the Law required, and what Malachi 3:10 means in context
What Jesus said about tithing and giving
Whether the New Testament commands Christians to tithe
Where Christians differ, and a practical way to decide what to give
A short prayer, common mistakes, a free printable and frequently asked questions
What does the word tithe mean in the Bible?
The word tithe simply means a tenth. In the Old Testament it describes one tenth of the land’s produce or flock, set aside for God. Leviticus 27:30 says, “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” Leviticus 27:32 applies the same idea to animals: “every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod” was to be holy to the Lord.
Notice what was being given. In an agricultural society, wealth was grain, fruit, oil and livestock, not wages. A tithe was therefore a share of the harvest, handed over at the point where the family had actually received it. That detail matters later, when we ask how the principle applies to a modern salary.
Did tithing start before the Law of Moses?
There are two earlier examples, though neither is a command. In Genesis 14:20, after a military rescue, Abram gave Melchizedek, the priest-king of Salem, “a tenth of everything”. The writer of Hebrews returns to this scene: “This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything” (Hebrews 7:1-2).
The second example is Jacob. At Bethel he made a vow to God: “of all that you give me I will give you a tenth” (Genesis 28:22). That was a promise freely made in response to God, not a rule imposed on him.
Some Christians point to these stories as evidence that the tenth is older than Moses and so is not only a Jewish law. Others reply that two examples of a custom do not make a universal command, and that Abraham’s gift followed a single event rather than a regular practice. Both readings take the text seriously.
What did the Law of Moses require?
Under the law given to Israel, tithing became an organised system with a clear purpose. Numbers 18:21 explains that the tithes went to the Levites, who had no land of their own: “I give to the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.” The tithe was how the worship life of the nation was funded.
Deuteronomy 14:22 adds a yearly rule: “Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.” Then Deuteronomy 14:28-29 shows a second purpose. Every third year the tithe was stored in the local towns so that the Levites, “the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied”.
In short, the tithe under the Law paid for three things:
Support for the Levites and the worship of Israel (Numbers 18:21)
A share set aside from the yearly harvest (Deuteronomy 14:22)
Food for foreigners, orphans and widows every third year (Deuteronomy 14:28-29)
So the tithe was never only about a building or a salary. It supported those who served in worship, and it fed the most vulnerable people in the community. Jewish and Christian scholars have long debated whether these passages describe one tithe used in different ways or more than one tithe. Some readings add them up to well over ten per cent of a farmer’s yearly produce. The honest summary is that the Law’s system was more detailed than “give ten per cent to your church”.
What does Malachi 3:10 really mean?
Malachi 3:8 asks, “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.” When the people ask how, the answer is “In tithes and offerings.” Verse 10 then gives the best-known instruction on the subject: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
To read this well, place it in its setting. Malachi spoke to Israel after the exile, when the people were neglecting the upkeep of the temple. Nehemiah 10:37-38 shows the same issue and the same pledge: the people promised to bring offerings “to the storerooms of the house of our God” and “a tithe of our crops to the Levites”. The “storehouse” in Malachi was most likely a literal storeroom attached to the temple, where grain and oil were kept to feed the priests and Levites.
Christians read this passage in different ways. Some churches teach it as a direct principle: bring your tithe to your local church, and God will honour faithfulness. Others stress that the promise was made to a nation under a covenant, and that it is not a formula for guaranteed wealth. The wider Bible does not treat giving as a way to buy blessing. A balanced reading hears Malachi’s heart: God cares whether his people put him first with what they own, and he is generous in return, though not always in the form of money.
What did Jesus say about tithing?
Jesus mentioned the tithe directly only a handful of times, and never as a rule for his followers to adopt. The clearest passage is Matthew 23:23: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices: mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law: justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” (NIV, punctuation lightly adjusted.)
Two things stand out. First, Jesus did not tell the Pharisees to stop tithing. He assumed they would keep doing it, and he said they “should have practiced” justice, mercy and faithfulness without neglecting it. Second, his concern was the heart behind the giving. A person can count out ten per cent of their herbs and still ignore the neighbour in front of them.
The same point appears in Luke 18:12, where a Pharisee boasts in prayer, “I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.” Jesus holds up the humble tax collector as the one who went home right with God. Careful tithing was never a substitute for humility.
On secret giving, Jesus said, “when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others” (Matthew 6:2). And in Mark 12:41-44 he watched people put money into the temple treasury. Many rich people gave large amounts, yet he said of one poor widow, “this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.” The measure Jesus used was sacrifice and sincerity, not the percentage.
Does the New Testament command Christians to tithe?
This is the heart of the question, and the answer is that the New Testament never repeats the ten per cent rule as a command to churches. What it gives instead are principles, and they are demanding in a different way.
Paul writes to the Corinthians: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Earlier in the same letter he adds, “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12).
In 1 Corinthians 16:2 he gives a pattern for regular giving: “On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.” Notice the three marks of this giving: it is regular, planned and proportionate to income. It also supported real needs, a collection for believers who were struggling.
The early church shows the same spirit. In Acts 2:44-45, “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” Paul’s own summary of an agreement with the Jerusalem leaders was that they should “continue to remember the poor” (Galatians 2:10).
Hebrews 7:5 does mention that “the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people”. The writer is describing the old priesthood in order to show that Jesus, a priest like Melchizedek, is greater. The passage explains the Law. It does not turn the tithe into a Christian obligation.
Where do Christians differ on tithing?
Sincere believers land in three broad places, and it helps to name them fairly.
The tithe is still the starting point. Many evangelical, Pentecostal and charismatic churches teach that the tenth is the biblical baseline, pointing to Abraham and Jacob as pre-Law examples and to Jesus’ words in Matthew 23:23. They usually encourage giving the tithe to the local church first and offerings on top.
The tithe is a helpful guide, not a law. Many Anglican, Methodist, Baptist and Reformed Christians treat ten per cent as a useful benchmark for proportionate giving while stressing that the New Testament sets no fixed amount. Some give less, many give more.
Giving is a duty without a set percentage. The Catholic Church teaches that the faithful have a duty to provide for the material needs of the Church according to their ability, without prescribing a percentage. Eastern Orthodox practice varies by parish and country.
For a sense of how rarely a full tenth is given, Barna Group’s 2008 study of US adults found that, in 2007, about 5% of them had given a tenth or more of their income, rising to 24% among evangelicals. That research was published in 2008 and covers the United States only, so treat it as a snapshot of one country at one moment, not a current UK figure.
There is also a practical disagreement about whether the tenth should be calculated on gross or net income. The Law spoke of the first produce of the harvest, so some argue for giving from the gross. Others calculate on what reaches the bank. The Bible does not settle it, which is a good reason to avoid judging anyone else’s answer.
One warning belongs here. Teaching that promises financial return in exchange for giving, sometimes called prosperity teaching, goes beyond what Malachi 3:10 and the New Testament say. Luke 6:38 does say, “Give, and it will be given to you,” but the surrounding passage is about mercy and generosity of spirit, not a guaranteed payout. Be wary of any appeal that uses fear or the promise of riches to pressure you.
How much should a Christian give today?
There is no verse that settles your exact figure, but Scripture offers a clear shape for the decision. You may find it helpful to work through these steps.
Start with provision for your own household. 1 Timothy 5:8 says, “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” Generosity does not mean letting your family go without.
Decide in advance, in prayer, what you will give. This follows 2 Corinthians 9:7: “what you have decided in your heart”. Planned giving beats pressured giving.
Make it regular and proportionate, as in 1 Corinthians 16:2. Some people choose ten per cent, some begin with a smaller share and grow it, and some give more.
Support your local church, because it carries the teaching, pastoral care and buildings that serve you. Then consider the poor, as Deuteronomy 14:29 and Galatians 2:10 both stress.
Give wisely. Check that a charity is registered and well run, and use Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer.
Review once a year. Income, family needs and opportunities change.
For UK donors there is a practical point worth knowing. According to GOV.UK, when you donate through Gift Aid, charities can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give, at no extra cost to you. Gift Aid applies to most donations to registered charities, though not every payment qualifies, so read the GOV.UK Gift Aid guidance first. Many churches are registered charities, though some smaller congregations are exempt from registration, so it is fair to ask your church how it is set up.
If you are weighing up where to give beyond your own church, our guide to 10 trusted Christian charities is a useful starting point, and you can check any charity’s details on the Charity Commission register.
What if I cannot afford to give ten per cent?
This is where many people feel quiet guilt, so it deserves a direct answer. 2 Corinthians 8:12 says the gift is acceptable “according to what one has, not according to what one does not have”. Jesus praised the widow’s two small coins in Mark 12:41-44 above the large gifts of the rich.
If you are in debt, out of work or caring for a family on a tight budget, God is not measuring you against someone else’s income. Give what you can with a willing heart, give your time and prayer where money is tight, and ask your church leaders for help if you are struggling. No church should shame you for being poor. If money worries are weighing on you, free and confidential debt advice is available in the UK from independent services such as MoneyHelper.
Common mistakes when thinking about tithing
Treating Malachi 3:10 as a promise of guaranteed wealth, rather than reading it in its setting of the temple storehouse.
Assuming the Law’s tithe and a modern church tithe are exactly the same thing, when the Old Testament tithe also fed the poor and funded the temple system.
Giving to be seen, which Jesus warned against in Matthew 6:2.
Giving under pressure or fear instead of cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Thinking money is the only thing God asks of us. Justice, mercy and faithfulness come first in Matthew 23:23.
Judging others by their percentage. Only God sees the whole picture of someone’s finances.
A short prayer about giving
Lord, everything I have comes from you. Teach me to hold my money loosely and to give with a glad heart, not from pressure or fear. Show me where to give, how much to give and when to wait. Help me to care for my family, to support your church and to remember the poor. Make me generous in spirit as well as in money. Amen.
Free printable on giving and generosity
If you would like a keepsake of the key verses, we have made a free printable of Bible verses on money, giving and generosity. You can also browse more on our Free Christian Downloads page.
Key takeaways
A tithe means a tenth. In the Old Testament it supported the Levites, the temple and the poor.
Abraham and Jacob gave a tenth before the Law, but those were free-will gifts, not commands.
Malachi 3:10 spoke to Israel about the temple storehouse. Read it in context, not as a money formula.
Jesus assumed tithing was practised but put justice, mercy and faithfulness first (Matthew 23:23).
The New Testament sets no fixed percentage. It calls for willing, regular, proportionate and cheerful giving (1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:7).
Christians differ on whether ten per cent is a rule, a guide or one option among several. Treat each other kindly.
Give from what you have, look after your household first and give wisely, using Gift Aid where it applies.
Frequently asked questions
Is tithing required for Christians?
The New Testament does not command Christians to tithe ten per cent. It teaches willing, planned and cheerful giving according to your means (2 Corinthians 9:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). Many churches still teach the tenth as a helpful guide, so you may be encouraged to start there.
Is tithing in the Bible 10 per cent of your income?
The Old Testament tithe was a tenth of the produce of the land and of the flocks (Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 14:22). Nothing in the Bible spells out how that translates to a modern salary, and Christians differ on whether to calculate on gross or net income.
What does Malachi 3:10 mean?
In Malachi 3:10, God told Israel to bring the whole tithe into the temple storehouse so that there would be food in his house. It was addressed to a nation under the old covenant, and many Christians apply its principle of putting God first rather than treating it as a promise of money.
Did Jesus say Christians should tithe?
Jesus mentioned the tithe in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 18:12, but he did not command his followers to adopt it. In Matthew 23:23 he said the Pharisees should keep justice, mercy and faithfulness without neglecting the tithe, so he treated the heart as more important than the percentage.
Should I tithe on gross or net income?
The Bible does not say. Some Christians give a tenth of gross income because the Law referred to first produce, and others give from take-home pay. What matters is that you decide prayerfully, give willingly and are honest with God about what you can do.
Should I give to my church or to charities?
Many Christians support their local church first, since it carries teaching and pastoral care, and then give to other causes and to the poor. The Bible values both. It is wise to check that any charity is registered, which UK donors can do on the Charity Commission register.
Can I tithe if I am in debt?
Yes, but you do not have to feel guilty if you cannot give ten per cent. 2 Corinthians 8:12 says a gift is acceptable according to what you have. Look after your household and your debts responsibly, give what you can and seek free debt advice if you need it.
Conclusion
Tithing in the Bible began as a tenth of the harvest, given to support worship and care for the poor. Jesus honoured the heart of giving over the arithmetic, and the New Testament asks Christians to give willingly, regularly and in proportion to what they have. Whether you choose ten per cent or another figure, give with gladness and with thought. For more on faith and money, read What Does the Bible Say About Money?, explore Bible verses about giving, or start with How to Start Reading the Bible if you are new to Scripture. More answers to common questions are in our 50 Christian FAQs.
References and further reading
Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). Copyright Biblica, Inc. Used by permission.
Comments