To Tithe or not to Tithe?
To Tithe or not to Tithe?
There are many believers today who look at preachers with a critical eye. Some point the finger and claim that they are getting fat, greedy, and overindulgent off the backs of the congregation. This is a serious accusation, and it's important to address this if it is true.
While it’s true that some preachers and ministries may have misused funds, the biblical principle of supporting those who preach the gospel is not about greed or self-indulgence. In fact, God established a system to ensure that those who dedicate their lives to ministering the word of God would be provided for through the tithes brought by the people.
However, the gospel ministry is not about personal gain or material wealth for the preacher. It's about enabling those who have given their lives to preach the gospel to be fully supported so they can focus on spreading the truth of God’s word without the burden of financial stress. In this sermon, we’ll examine the biblical foundation for supporting gospel ministers and how this tithe system is a command from God—not a manipulative tactic for personal gain.
Let us understand that the tithe is a biblical principle, rooted in Scripture, meant to ensure that the work of the gospel ministry continues, and the preachers who dedicate their lives to it are properly supported.
1. The Old Testament Tithing System: God’s Command for Supporting Ministers
The tithe system in the Old Testament was established as a means of supporting those in ministry. The Levites were chosen by God to serve in the temple, but they did not have their own inheritance of land like the other tribes of Israel. Thus, the people were commanded to bring a tithe to the temple so that the Levites could focus on the work of ministry.
Numbers 18:21-24:
“To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel as their inheritance in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.”
The Levites received the tithe because they were dedicated to God’s service and did not own land to provide for themselves. This was God’s way of ensuring that the work of the temple continued, and those serving in the temple were cared for.
Deuteronomy 14:22-29:
“Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. … Then the Lord your God will bless you in all the work of your hands and your joy will be complete.”
The tithe was not just for the Levites but also to assist the poor, widows, and orphans, showing God’s intention to care for the entire community through this system.
The Old Testament tithing system was a God-ordained method for the people of Israel to support the ministry of God’s work, specifically the priests and Levites who were set apart to serve in the temple.
2. The New Testament: The Principle of Support for Gospel Ministers
The principle of supporting gospel ministers remains in the New Testament, and Paul clearly links this support to the tithe system of the Old Testament. In 1 Corinthians 9:13-14, Paul explicitly says that those who proclaim the gospel should be supported in the same way that the Levites were supported by the tithes of the people.
1 Corinthians 9:13-14:
“Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.”
Paul’s statement “in the same way” refers directly to the tithe system used in the Old Testament. Just as the Levites were supported through the tithe of the people, those who preach the gospel should be supported in the same manner.
This is not just a principle of voluntary giving or random offerings, but rather a clear mandate from God that gospel ministers are to be supported by the tithes brought to the church.
The Original Greek Language:
“In the Same Way” Means “In the Exact Same Manner”
It is important to understand that when Paul used the phrase “in the same way” in 1 Corinthians 9:14, he was not speaking metaphorically or symbolically. In the original Greek language, the phrase “in the same way” (Greek: "ὡς καὶ") means “in the exact same manner”—nothing is to be changed. Paul was affirming that gospel ministers are to be supported in the exact same manner as the Levites were supported under the Old Testament tithe system.
The Greek word “ὡς” (pronounced “hōs”) is a clear comparative term meaning “in the same way” or “exactly as.” It is a strong expression denoting that nothing should be altered in the support system, meaning just as the Levites received a tenth of the income from the people to support their ministry, so too should gospel ministers today be supported by the tithes of believers.
Therefore, Paul’s use of this phrase explicitly links the Old Testament tithe system for supporting ministry with the New Testament system for supporting gospel preachers. Just as the Levites were dependent on the tithe for their support, so are gospel ministers today entitled to be supported in the exact same way by the tithes brought into the church.
3. The Difference Between Tithes and Offerings
While the tithe system is a biblical command for supporting gospel ministers, the New Testament also makes a distinction between tithing and offerings. Offerings are voluntary gifts given above and beyond the tithe, and they are to be given out of the generosity of one’s heart. This is emphasized in several New Testament passages, particularly in 2 Corinthians 9.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8:
“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Here, Paul is talking about offerings—not the tithe. Offerings are to be given freely, according to the individual’s heart, and they are not a set percentage like the tithe.
The distinction is clear: The tithe is a mandatory 10% of one’s income, meant to support the gospel ministers and the work of the church, while offerings are extra contributions made out of generosity and love for the work of God.
Offerings are not tied to a specific percentage but are meant to be cheerful, spontaneous, and based on a person’s own heart and ability. These offerings accompany the tithe but are not a substitute for it. The tithe is still the foundation of our financial support for the church, while offerings are a way to give beyond the required support, showing generosity and love for the work of God.
4. Tithing for the Support of Gospel Ministers: A Biblical Mandate
There is a direct command in both the Old and New Testament that gospel ministers should be supported by the tithes of God’s people. The Old Testament set the precedent, and the New Testament confirms it, with Paul using the phrase “in the same way” to ensure that the church follows this principle today.
Malachi 3:10:
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
The tithe was commanded to be brought to the storehouse (the temple), and by analogy, today’s storehouse is the church, where the ministry of the gospel is supported through the tithes of believers.
Luke 10:7:
“Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages.”
Jesus affirms the principle that those who work in the gospel ministry are entitled to be supported for their work, a principle consistent with the Old Testament tithe system.
5. The Shift from Agricultural Tithing to Monetary Tithing
It is true that in the Old Testament, the Israelites were commanded to tithe from their crops, livestock, and produce because they did not live in a monetary system. Their income came primarily from what the land provided—grain, wine, oil, and animals. This was because Israel was dependent upon God for their needs, and their society was agrarian, not built on a currency-based system like ours today.
However, as time passed, Israel’s society became more connected with the surrounding nations, which were built on a monetary system. This shift in society naturally led to a change in how people were able to give. While Israel initially tithed from crops and livestock, this was merely due to the economic structure of their time. The fundamental principle, however, was still that the tithe was 10% of their income—and in their case, that income came from the land and livestock.
In the New Testament, especially in 1 Corinthians 16:2, Paul encourages the Galatian church (and other churches) to set aside money in keeping with their income. This shift reflects the monetary system that we now live in today. The apostle Paul does not abolish the principle of tithing but instead adapts it to a monetary economy, showing that gospel ministers should still be supported by the tithes, though now that tithe is expressed as a percentage of income in monetary form.
1 Corinthians 16:2:
“On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.”
This demonstrates a shift to a monetary system of giving, where believers set aside their tithe in the form of money, in keeping with their income. This is Paul’s way of saying that the principle of tithing remains, but now it aligns with our modern monetary system.
6. Tithing Predates the Law of Moses
A common argument against tithing today is that it was part of the Mosaic Law, and since we are no longer under the law, we are no longer required to tithe. However, tithing predates the Mosaic Law and was practiced long before the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai.
In Genesis 14:18-20, we see the first instance of tithing, where Abraham gave a tenth of his spoils to Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of God Most High. This occurred hundreds of years before the Law was given to Moses. Melchizedek was not part of the Levitical priesthood, and this act of tithing was not tied to any law—it was simply an act of honoring God and acknowledging His blessing.
In Hebrews 7:1-10, the writer of Hebrews points out that Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek is a significant foreshadowing of the eternal priesthood of Christ. The writer emphasizes that Melchizedek's priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood, which further ties the principle of tithing to the eternal and spiritual priesthood of Christ.
This shows that tithing is not just part of the Old Testament Law, but a principle that predates the Law and continues beyond it. Just as capital punishment (Genesis 9:6) and other moral principles existed before the law and were reaffirmed in the New Testament, so too tithing remains a principle for today.
7. Old Testament as a Shadow of What Was to Come
The Old Testament system, including tithing, was a shadow of the substance that was to come in Christ. The Levitical priesthood, the tabernacle, and even the tithing system all pointed forward to the eternal priesthood of Jesus and the new covenant He established. As Colossians 2:17 states:
“These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”
The Old Testament tithing system was not just a physical act but pointed to the spiritual reality of honoring God with our firstfruits, a principle that continues in the New Testament. The 10% tithe is a spiritual act of worship that honors God, acknowledges His provision, and supports the work of His kingdom through ministers of the gospel.
8. How Should We Apply This Today?
It’s clear from the Scriptures that the tithe system was not abolished in the New Testament but rather continued as the primary means for supporting gospel ministers. Today, the tithe remains a biblical mandate for providing for the work of the church and supporting those who dedicate their lives to the ministry of the gospel.