Tithing and Grace Giving, Rightly Divided

Introduction

Many assume believers today must tithe ten percent to a local assembly. That idea comes from reading Israel’s law as if it were the rule for this present dispensation. The King James Bible makes a simple distinction. Israel’s tithe belonged to the law, the land, the temple, and the Levites. The Body of Christ is not under the law but under grace. Our pattern for giving comes from Paul, not from Moses or Malachi.

What the Tithe Was in Israel

Leviticus 27:30 to 34 defines the tithe as the tithe of the land, the seed of the land, the fruit of the tree, and the tithe of the herd or flock. Numbers 18:21 to 24 says the Lord gave the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance because the Levites had no inheritance in the land. Deuteronomy 26:12 to 15 describes the third year tithe for the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. Second Chronicles 31:5 to 12 and Nehemiah 10:37 to 39 show tithes of corn, wine, oil, and the increase of the field brought to storehouse chambers. Malachi 3:10 speaks of meat in God’s house. The tithe under the law was agricultural and land based, tied to Israel’s national worship and Levitical support.

Was Money Ever The Tithe

Scripture does mention money, but not as a standing money tithe. God allowed two money related provisions inside the tithe system without changing its nature.

1. Distance provision. If the chosen place was too far, Israel could turn the tithe into money, travel with the money, then buy oxen, sheep, wine, or strong drink at the place and eat before the Lord. See Deuteronomy 14:24 to 26. The money was a transport convenience. The tithe itself remained agricultural and was consumed as food at the appointed place.

2. Redemption provision. For crop tithes a man could redeem part of it by paying its value plus a fifth. See Leviticus 27:31. That was a buy back option, not a redefinition of the tithe into wages or a cash tax.

These texts prove that while money appears in the system, God did not command a general money tithe from wages. The tithe remained property of the land and increase of herds.

The Storehouse and Malachi In Context

Nehemiah 10 shows storehouse chambers in the temple. Malachi 3:8 to 12 rebukes Israel for robbing God by withholding tithes and offerings and promises national blessing upon obedience. The passage sits inside Israel’s covenant with a standing temple, a Levitical priesthood, and agricultural increase from the land. It is not the rule for the Body of Christ.

Did God Change A Food Tithe Into A Money Tithe For Us

No. God did not convert Israel’s tithe into a Christian money tax. He removed us from the law entirely. Romans 6:14 says we are not under the law but under grace. Ephesians 2:15 says Christ abolished in his flesh the law of commandments contained in ordinances. Colossians 2:14 says the handwriting of ordinances was blotted out and nailed to his cross. Hebrews 7:12 says that with the priesthood changed there is made of necessity a change also of the law, and verses 18 to 19 speak of the disannulling of the commandment going before. The storehouse system with Levites has no authority over the Body of Christ.

What Paul Teaches About Giving

Paul gives clear instructions for grace giving. It is regular, purposeful, proportionate, voluntary, cheerful, and aimed at real needs and gospel work.

• Regular and proportionate. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store as God hath prospered him. First Corinthians 16:1 to 2.

• Voluntary and cheerful. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart so let him give not grudgingly or of necessity for God loveth a cheerful giver. Second Corinthians 9:7.

• Directed support. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Galatians 6:6. Elders who labour in the word and doctrine are worthy of double honour and the labourer is worthy of his reward. First Timothy 5:17 to 18.

• Real examples. The saints sent relief every man according to his ability. Acts 11:29. The Philippians sent once and again to Paul’s necessity and he calls it a sacrifice acceptable wellpleasing to God. Philippians 4:15 to 18.

None of these passages command a tithe. All of them teach giving by grace.

Answering Common Proof Texts

Abraham and Melchizedek. Abraham gave tithes of the spoils in Genesis 14:20. Hebrews 7 uses that event to teach the superiority of Christ’s priesthood. It is not a command to the Body of Christ and it was not a standing wage rule.

Jacob’s vow. Jacob vowed a tenth in Genesis 28:20 to 22 if God would keep him. A personal vow is not a universal ordinance for this dispensation.

Jesus and the Pharisees. Matthew 23:23 records the Lord addressing men under the law before the cross. That is not instruction to grace saints.

Malachi 3 storehouse. Covenant rebuke to Israel tied to temple chambers and agricultural meat in God’s house. To make it binding now would also require the Levitical priesthood and the land covenant blessings and curses, which the New Testament sets aside for this dispensation.

What Grace Giving Looks Like In Practice

Grace giving begins with the gospel. We give because Christ gave himself for us. We do not buy favour with God. We do not secure blessing by a percentage. Each believer should purpose in his heart an amount in view of how God has prospered him. Give regularly and joyfully. Assemblies should teach stewardship, publish honest budgets, honour faithful labourers in the word, and care for the needy without turning giving into a legal requirement. There is liberty to give above and beyond as the Lord enables, and liberty of conscience when circumstances limit giving.

Summary

Under the law God defined the tithe as agricultural produce and livestock, not wages. Money appears only as a transport aid and a redemption option, never as the tithe itself. The storehouse tithe belonged to Israel’s temple and Levites. In this dispensation the law of commandments contained in ordinances has been set aside. Paul teaches giving that is regular, proportionate, voluntary, and cheerful as God has prospered, to support the word and meet needs. Give by grace, not by a tax.