Is the 10% Tithe Biblical?

What the Widow's Might Teach Us About Charitable Giving

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Jesus stood in the temple, watching people bring their offerings. The smoke of the sacrifice filling the air and the sounds of the bustle of the temple all around Him. He watched as the wealthy Pharisees with their extra large prayer boxes and their extra long tassels came with their abundant gifts, dropping large sums into the treasury. Then, a poor widow approached. She placed two small copper coins—worth only a fraction of a penny—into the offering box. Jesus called His disciples and said, "Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." (Luke 21:1-4).

What does this tell us about God’s perspective on giving? Did Jesus emphasize a set percentage, or did He focus on the heart behind the giving? Was He calling attention to the prideful piety of the Pharisees in addition to the sacrifice of the widow? If God desires cheerful giving, as Paul teaches (2 Corinthians 9:7), then is the demand for a strict 10% tithe a biblical mandate, or has it been misunderstood and misapplied at the expense of mercy? Should struggling Christians be required to give beyond their means to fulfill a financial obligation to the church?

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The Reality of Financial Struggles and the Burden of Tithing

Many Christians today are drowning in debt, living paycheck to paycheck, and struggling to meet basic financial obligations. Some have been taught that if they faithfully give 10% of their income, God will bless them financially and protect them from hardship. However, experience shows that many devout tithers still face significant financial struggles. Some are even forced to choose between giving to their church or paying their bills.

Certain religious leaders tell their congregants, “Keep tithing and trust God to provide,” yet they offer no tangible assistance to those in need. This kind of advice is not only unbiblical but also financially irresponsible and neglectful of Scripture’s call to care for one another. Galatians 6:2 commands us to "carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ." If a church is focused more on receiving money than meeting the urgent needs of its members, it has strayed from Christ’s teachings.

Jesus condemned the Pharisees for burdening people with religious demands while doing nothing to help them (Matthew 23:4). Encouraging struggling believers to tithe at the expense of their well-being is a form of financial oppression and spiritual abuse. James 2:14-17 warns against empty words of faith that do not result in action. It is not enough to tell someone to “trust God” while ignoring their tangible needs.

Jesus’ observation of the widow’s offering was not only a testament to her generosity but also a critique of the religious system that demanded such a sacrifice from someone with so little. The rich Pharisees, adhering strictly to the letter of the law, gave out of their abundance while failing to recognize the heart of the law—justice and mercy. They tithed meticulously but neglected the greater commandments of caring for the poor and showing compassion. Jesus highlighted this disparity to expose the inequality in the religious system, where a destitute widow was expected to give her last coins while the wealthy maintained their status and comfort. This moment was not just about generosity; it was a call to righteousness and the true spirit of God’s law.

Providing for One’s Household: A Biblical Priority

Scripture teaches that a believer must first provide for their household before seeking to fulfill religious obligations. Paul strongly warns in 1 Timothy 5:8, "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." Prioritizing a church’s financial needs over one’s household obligations is a misplacement of biblical priorities.

Many churches emphasize "putting God first" by giving 10% before paying bills, yet the Bible does not teach such a principle. Nowhere in the New Testament do we see Jesus or the apostles instructing believers to tithe a specific percentage before meeting their basic needs. Instead, Jesus taught generosity that flows from the heart, not obligation (Luke 6:38).

Furthermore, research shows that much of church donations go toward operational costs rather than charity or evangelism. While supporting a church is important, it should not come at the cost of neglecting one’s own family. Sacrificing personal financial stability to fund a church building is neither wise nor biblically required.

The True Purpose of the Tithe in the Old Testament

To understand tithing biblically, we must examine its original context. The Old Testament tithe was never strictly about money but primarily about agricultural produce. There were three main tithes in Israel:

1. The First Tithe – Given to support the Levites and priests, who had no land inheritance (Numbers 18:21).

2. The Second Tithe – Set aside for festival celebrations (Deuteronomy 14:22-27).

3. The Third Tithe – Given every three years to care for the poor, widows, and orphans (Deuteronomy 14:28-29).

The tithing system was designed to provide for the nation of Israel, particularly the needy. Unlike modern church tithing practices, these tithes were not used to fund temple maintenance or pay salaries. In fact, poor Israelites were not required to tithe; they were instead recipients of charity (Deuteronomy 26:12). Misapplying the Old Testament tithe to compel struggling believers to give 10% of their income is a distortion of its original purpose.

Generosity, Not Obligation, in the New Testament

The New Testament also does not command Christians to tithe 10% of their income. Instead, it emphasizes freewill giving, generosity, and cheerful giving. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:7, "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

The early church shared their resources willingly, ensuring that no one was in need (Acts 2:44-45). Giving was not done out of obligation or coercion but out of love and a spirit of generosity. This model aligns with God’s heart for stewardship and care for one another.

Jesus Himself rebuked the Pharisees for their legalistic approach to tithing while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23). While He acknowledged tithing as a part of the Old Covenant, His focus was on the weightier matters of the law—caring for people rather than strictly adhering to religious rituals or traditions.

A Call to Biblical Stewardship

Telling struggling Christians to tithe regardless of their financial situation is unwise and unbiblical. True biblical stewardship involves managing one’s resources wisely, providing for one’s family, and giving out of a heart of generosity rather than compulsion. Churches should encourage responsible financial management and prioritize caring for the needs of their members over maintaining institutional expenses.

Instead of demanding a fixed percentage, believers should be encouraged to give as they are able, in accordance with the blessings God has given them (1 Corinthians 16:2). Giving should be an act of worship and faith, not a burdensome requirement.

This truth demands that the body of Christ fundamentally change the very nature of church. It has become more like a corporation looking out for its own interests than a church ministering to the needy. Instead of paying towards a building and salaries of the clergy, the church requires a radical shift that prioritizes providing for the members of the church and the community.

A Warning Against Financial Irresponsibility and Self-Indulgence

While tithing should not be a forced obligation, this does not mean believers are free to be irresponsible or self-indulgent with their finances. God calls us to be wise and faithful stewards of the resources He provides. Spending recklessly on lavish lifestyles while neglecting charitable giving is equally unbiblical. Proverbs 21:20 states, "The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down." We are to manage our finances prudently, ensuring that we are able to give generously where possible.

Paul reminds us in 1 Timothy 6:17-18, "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share." Thus, avoiding legalistic tithing does not excuse us from generosity and responsible stewardship.

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Conclusion

The widow’s offering was not about a mandated percentage; it was about her heart. She gave sacrificially out of love and trust in God, not because of a legalistic command. The New Testament upholds this principle—giving should be done freely, not out of obligation.

If you are struggling financially, know that God does not require you to go into deeper hardship for the sake of a church’s financial demands. He calls us to be wise stewards, take care of our families, and give as we are able. The rigid 10% tithe is not a New Testament requirement; rather, God desires a generous, willing heart that gives out of love, not compulsion.

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Lord, help me to be a cheerful giver, not out of obligation, but out of love for You and others. Grant me wisdom to steward my finances well and provide for my household. Protect me from financial oppression and guide me in generosity that reflects Your heart. May my giving be an act of worship, not a burden, and may I always seek to meet the needs of those around me before fulfilling man-made requirements. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bibliography

1. The Bible

2. Craig L. Blomberg, Neither Poverty Nor Riches: A Biblical Theology of Possessions

3. Randy Alcorn, Money, Possessions, and Eternity

4. John MacArthur, Whose Money Is It Anyway?

5. David A. Croteau, Tithing After the Cross

6. Robert Morris, The Blessed Life

7. Andreas J. Köstenberger & David A. Croteau, Tithing in the New Testament

8. John Piper, Money: The Currency of Christian Hedonism

9. Howard Dayton, Your Money Counts

10. Ron Blue, Master Your Money

11. Ronald J. Sider, Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger

Scripture References

• Luke 21:1-4

• 2 Corinthians 9:7

• Galatians 6:2

• Matthew 23:4

• James 2:14-17

• 1 Timothy 5:8

• Deuteronomy 14:22-29

• Numbers 18:21

• Acts 2:44-45

• Matthew 23:23

• 1 Corinthians 16:2

• Mark 2:23-28