New Testament Giving Verses Old Testament Tithing

Those who failed to put God first suffered financially as a result. They put their money into a bag with holes in it; and whatever they attempted to gather up, God blew it away.

Most Christians are also familiar with the curses pronounced upon those who rob God in Malachi 3.

8Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

[Mal. 3:8-11]

On the other hand, blessings and increase was promised to those who gave as they should (Proverbs 11:24; 3:9-10)

In this we see an important principle: While the tithe was Law, it was not forced upon them. It was still up to each individual to do as they chose.

God would bless the obedient, but not the disobedient. This principle remains true.

II. New Testament View of Tithing

The fact is, that under grace, no one has to give anything. Christian, you can keep it all! Hoard it up! Think of yourself, your wants, your desires and your needs. You are "free" to do with your income whatever you choose.

A. But Remember these verses.

1Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.[1 Cor. 16:1-2]

6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always have all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.[2 Cor. 9:6-8]

These verses declare some vitally important principles regarding our giving. We should consider them carefully. Consider:

Are these New Testament verses? Are they written to the church of the Lord Jesus Christ? Do they apply to us? Do they mean what they say?

Read carefully! These verses declare the kind of giver God loves, and they state that there are, in fact, only two classes of givers: those who give bountifully, and those who give sparingly.

Which category are you in?

III. Arguments Surrounding the Tithing Issue

The proponents of the tithe for today have various arguments and we’ll examine a few of the more predominant arguments they put forth.

A. Tithing Came Before the Law:

The tithing advocates use the Old Testament passages from Genesis (as above), as the basis for their argument, saying that Abraham and Jacob tithed centuries before the Law. It is their contention that because of that, it’s all right to teach tithing for today.