Should I Pay Tithe?

Now all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord.

Leviticus 27:30 (NASB)

Even today, many Christians wonder about tithing. In some churches, tithing is an absolute necessity; in others, it is rarely discussed, and believers may decide to give according to their emotions or vocation. Therein lies the problem. In the Old Testament, tithing was God's command to Israel to provide for the Levites and help the poor. In the New Testament, our giving, while not obligatory, has the same purpose: to support the work of the ministry and help those in need, in accordance with the teachings of Christ and the apostles.

In the Old Testament, tithing, often called the tenth, was a legal obligation, obliging the Israelites to bring 10% of their crops and livestock to the Temple. God imposed this on them because he had promised the Levites that he would give them their inheritance, that is, that he would provide for their needs. It was also a way of caring for the poor of the land.

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic law of tithing. He ended the ceremonial system that imposed certain requirements. It was no longer a matter of bringing the tithe to the temple, as Malachi specifies. Rather, it was a matter of worshipping the Lord by supporting those in need with what we have, as He has placed it in our hearts. Since there is no longer a specific temple, all who place their faith in Jesus Christ constitute His Church. Giving is no longer a legal obligation, but a personal way of showing love for God, for His Church, and for those in need.

May God's grace and peace be with you all.