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.
Hebrews, Chapter 7, part 1
57-0915E §8
Now, tonight, we're starting now for a little teaching lesson. And I don't think we will get down (maybe we will tonight) to... This is the great chapter of teaching on tithings, to the church. And it's a great subject, which we could stay on it for weeks and weeks, on that one thing: how Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec, and whether it's essential.
Watchman, what of the night?
58-1130 §71
...a little station wagon drove up. Who was it, but my little Mexican brother and his wife. Both of them just crying and praising God. Said, "Brother Branham, I brought these tithes to you. "Oh," I said, "Brother, I can't receive that." I said, "I just couldn't do it." He said, "But I brought them to you." I said, "I told you to put them on Ricky's bill." He said, "This morning when I went to give the doctor these tithings to go on Ricky's bill, the doctor said, You don't owe me nothing.' He said, 'I had nothing to d...
Questions and Answers
59-1223 §36
...this to hurt feelings; this is church. This is my tabernacle and I'm as free as a bird, see. Now I want you to remember that in this, that a man can be good; he can pay his tithes; he can be honest; he can help the widow; he can help the orphan; he can be a church member. You can't find one flaw about that man. Every time something is to come up, right down in his pocket, get the last penny he had and give to the poor. He will stand by you through thick and thin. He will be your buddy when even a lot of the so-call...
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
58-0928M §60
...the parents is visited. What you do, if there is a coming tomorrow and you have a great grandson, your action today will determine what he will be then. For we read in the Bible where that Melchizedek, when He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and Abraham the patriarch give Him a tenth, a tithings of all he had... And then he said that a tithing, that just only Levi could accept tithes. But he said Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes when he was yet in the loins of Abraham. Oh, can you catc...
Christianity versus Idolatry
61-1217 §2
...ri, Michigan. They come down from Chicago, just to one little Tabernacle meeting like this. It makes me so grateful for people like that. And not only that, but I'd like to say this, not in the interest of ... but in the interest of the Word of God: pretty near every one of those people don't only come but they bring their tithings along with them to put it into the church for the help. Now, that's just friends that's loyal. You just can't forget people like that.