In light of the Gospel, does God require 10% of my income?

This was the rabbit hole that I went down this past week, in a discussion with my mentor, as I prepared a sermon on items of Old Covenant Law that have leaked into our modern Western Church, as part of a teaching series on Colossians.

I’m just not sure that Jesus would demand 10% of my income. Or any fixed percent for that matter.

Old Covenant Law – Tithing

The Bible teaches us that Tithing stems from Old Covenant Law; that God required 10% of goods (income) in tithe, directly speaking about 10%.

Here’s a quick definition.

Tithe: “a tenth of the produce of the earth consecrated and set apart for special purposes. The dedication of a tenth to God was recognized as a duty before the time of Moses…The first Mosaic law on this subject is recorded in Lev 27:30-32.”

Easton’s Bible Dictionary

The Levitical Law referenced as follows:

“Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord…every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman’s staff, shall be holy to the Lord.”

Lev. 27:30

Here’s where it gets interesting!

At no point in the New Testament does Paul or any of the other Apostles reference the Law of Tithing (10-percenting) to any of the churches to which they wrote. It just isn’t there!

But don’t just take my word for it.

“For it is curious that at no point here–or for that matter elsewhere in Paul’s writings–is the tithe put forward as a guideline for giving. In fact, no New Testament writer either encourages ‘tithing’ or presents it as the normative or even occasional practice of the church. Yet many of our churches assume that this is the accepted New Testament standard.”

IVP New Testament Commentaries, 2 Corinthians

What about Jesus?

You might be thinking, “Surely Jesus spoke about tithing!” And you’d be right, he did! But not in the way you might be thinking.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.”

Matthew 23:23

Speaking about the same account, Luke adds his take.

“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God.”

Luke 11:42

Jesus is highlighting a problem with the Pharisaical heart; focused on the minute rules and legal requirements, but missing the bigger picture of what God desires.

I believe this problem saturated the New Testament Church and the modern Western Church as well. And why Paul, although didn’t highlight the Law of Tithing, did teach strategically on giving.

Tithing Vs. Giving

“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

This is the beautiful gift of Gospel-centred giving; not being burdened by legal obligation. The Gospel calls us to submit everything, yet demands nothing!

Our time, our talent and our treasure are His to use. Instead of adhering to a Law, we’re free to come to Him each and every day, asking “What can I give you today?“