What Does the Bible Say About Christian Tithing? Should a Christian Tithe?
1) Direct answer
Yes. A Christian should tithe. The Bible shows that a tenth belongs to the Lord, and God uses it to support His ministry. It is not a bondage of the Law but an act of faith, honor, and obedience.
2) Scriptural explanation
- Before the Law: Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18–20). Jacob vowed a tenth to God (Genesis 28:22). So tithing isn’t just a Mosaic rule; it’s a faith response to God’s blessing.
- Under the prophets: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse” with a promise of open windows of heaven and the rebuke of the devourer (Malachi 3:8–10).
- Jesus affirmed it: “These ought ye to have done” (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42). He rebuked hypocrisy, not tithing. He said don’t leave it undone while also keeping the weightier matters.
- In the New Testament order: The Scripture teaches that those who preach the gospel should live of the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:13–14). Those taught in the Word should share with the one who teaches (Galatians 6:6). Elders who labor in the Word are worthy of double honor—“the laborer is worthy of his hire” (1 Timothy 5:17–18). Hebrews 7 brings tithing right into the New Covenant by pointing to Melchizedek, a type of Christ’s priesthood.
3) Simple clarifying logic
- What is the tithe? A tenth of your increase. It belongs to the Lord. We don’t give it as charity; we return it as God’s portion.
- Where does it go? To the storehouse—the place that feeds your soul—the ministry that labors in the Word over you. God’s pattern is that the ministry is sustained by the tithe.
- What about offerings? Offerings are freewill and cheerful (2 Corinthians 9:6–8). Tithes and offerings are not the same. Tithe is God’s set portion; offerings are love-gifts above that for needs, missions, the poor, and other burdens God lays on your heart.
- Is this legalism? No. Tithing was before the Law, honored under the Law, confirmed by Jesus, and harmonizes with New Testament support for the ministry. We don’t tithe to be saved; we tithe because we’re saved and we honor God first. “Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase” (Proverbs 3:9).
- A simple challenge: Some say tithing ended at the cross. But Abraham tithed before Sinai, Jesus said “these ought ye to have done,” Hebrews points back to Melchizedek, and the New Testament commands support for those who preach. If the Word says the ministry must live by the gospel, by what consistent rule is that sustained if not by God’s own portion?
Short reinforcing statement
Put God first. Return His tenth to the storehouse where you are fed, give offerings as He leads, and expect God to keep His Word—open windows, rebuked devourers, and sufficiency for every good work.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Why?
60-0309 §12
Paul told Timothy to stir up the gift that was within him that come from his grandmother Lois. We find out that in the seventh chapter of Hebrews that Paul, speaking on tithe paying, that he said Levi, who had an order from God to receive tithing of his brethren, paid tithes, for he was yet in the loins of Abraham when he met Melchisedec, which was his great-great-grandfather. And it was accounted to him for paying tithing. Your life will impress your children and have ... influence your children by the example you...
The Church choosing Law for Grace
61-0316 §31
...Ladies' Aid Society, and all this other nonsense that's been added into the church. Soup suppers to pay the preacher---where'd you ever get such a thing as that scripture? Tithes pays the preacher. He's to live by the tithes of the people. But we had to get something else to do. We have to have our part into it. And then, if they can't make it up, there's another society will do it, another society. God's way is right. Tithe and offerings goes to Levi, which was the minister. If everybody would pay their tithes, y...
Christ is revealed in His own Word
65-0822M §9
...Mason down on Court Avenue and Spring. And I said, "I owe you. And I'm just still awfully weak, but I'm trying to go to work. Now, if I can't pay you..." I'd just become a Christian; I said, "First thing, Mr. Mason, as my duty to God, I owe Him my tithes. I want to pay Him my tithing first." And I said, "Then my next duty is pay my debts." And I said, "My father's sickly and we got... There's ten of us children in the family." But I said, "If I can't pay you no more than twenty-five cents on that bill each payday....
Questions and Answers, Part 2
64-0823E §92
I could stand here till in the morning, telling you just what happened when I seen that, and what condition I was in. But just as loyal as I ever could, I paid tithes. And when I took my own money from the church here or from my campaigns, I'd take more ---I'd give a tenth. Then I'd give it out to the ministers, and give the rest of it to ministers. Then, when I couldn't do that, then the thing I did, I kept ten percent and give God ninety. And then, when the law told me I couldn't do that, I'd have to take... And...
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever
63-0604 §26
We go to church, whether we feel like it or not, and where we ... our church, we pay our tithings. Is it to a myth? Is it to just a building that we're paying to? Is this man who is our pastor, just an impersonator? or something there's nothing to? Is the Christian religion like Greek mythology or Roman mythology or something? it's just a myth? Or is it a reality? Now to me, this Bible is either right or it's wrong. Every Word is true or there's none of it true, see. Now, if He made this promise, then it's not you...