The Bible warns against false teachers who pose as prophets of God in order to profit from their members.

Personally, I have witnessed abuse and manipulation in some churches, particularly by modern pastors who preach the prosperity gospel without truly knowing God’s word.

In theory, the church was intended to serve as a place for believers to seek salvation. Instead, it has evolved into a business hub, with hustlers of all types looking for ways to improve their situation. 

No matter how upsetting it is, we cannot let their actions prevent us from assisting those in need. Instead of relying on their interpretations, let us look to the Bible for the truth about tithing.

This article explains the meaning of tithing using Bible verses.

How Did People Pay Tithes in Biblical Times?

Many churches teach that giving 10% of your income as a tithe is a biblical requirement. But is this truly what God instructed?

Tithes were not paid with money in biblical times. Instead, people donated edible items such as livestock, farm produce, and other food. The only exception was if someone was unable to transport their goods to the feast, in which case they could sell them and use the proceeds to buy food when they arrived. This practice was mentioned in Deuteronomy 14:24-26.

24 Now when the Lord your God blesses you with a good harvest, the place of worship he chooses for his name to be honoured might be too far for you to bring the tithe. 25 If so, you may sell the tithe portion of your crops and herds, put the money in a pouch, and go to the place the Lord your God has decided. 26 When you arrive, you may use the money to buy any kind of food you want—cattle, sheep, goats, wine, or other alcoholic drink. Then feast there in the presence of the Lord your God and celebrate with your household. 

Deuteronomy 14 : 24-26

In the tabernacle, tithes were a major part of celebrating holidays like Pentecost and Passover. The Ancient Israelites would offer their best harvest or use money to buy food and beverages to celebrate with their families, giving God their all. Fundamentally, tithing was a way for them to give back to God a tenth of the blessings that He had given them from their land (Leviticus 27:30).

30 One-tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord and must be set apart for him as holy.

Leviticus 27:30

God originally intended for tithes to be given in the form of food from the land or the results of one’s labour. Surprisingly, the New Testament also mentions this type of tithing. In Luke 11:42, Yahusha says:

42 What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

Luke 11:42

Even the Pharisees, despite their dubious reputation, were meticulous in tithing from their herb gardens, which consisted of the land’s bounty rather than cash. According to Leviticus 27:32, tithes could also be paid in livestock in addition to produce.

32 Count off every tenth animal from your herds and flocks and set them apart for the Lord as holy. 

Leviticus 27:32

God commanded the Israelites to tithe a tenth of their animals in the book of Leviticus. This meant that, for example, giving nine cows was not considered a holy tithe. Only the tenth animal in the herd was to be designated as an offering.

During biblical times, a tenth of the animals taken from the land was consistently tithed. Interestingly, the Bible also mentions the possibility of redeeming or purchasing one’s tithe. However, this would require paying its full value plus an additional 20% (Leviticus 27:31).

31 If you wish to buy back the Lord’s tenth of the grain or fruit, you must pay its value, plus 20 percent.

Leviticus 27:31

Tithes were often distributed to the Levites, descendants of the Tribe of Levi, one of Israel’s twelve tribes. This was because the Levites were the only tribe without an inherited land of their own.

As stated in Joshua 13:14 and 33, the Levites were excluded from land allotment for cultic reasons. Instead, they received a unique inheritance – the blessing of the Most High God, which made land unnecessary.

14 But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the food offerings presented to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them.

Joshua 13:14

33 But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them.

Joshua 13:33

The Levites received tithes as compensation for their unique situation: they had no land to farm or raise livestock, and they dedicated their labour to maintaining the tabernacle, as stated in Numbers 18:21. Interestingly, God also instructed the Levites to give back a tenth of the tithe they received from the Israelites as a sacred offering to Him (Numbers 18:26).

The point where the matter becomes interesting is that the Levites weren’t the only ones who were to receive tithes. The Bible also mentions that God, in accordance with his compassionate nature, commanded the offering of tithes to the following people (Deuteronomy 14:28-29):

1. Foreigners
2. Those who don’t have a father or a place to live
3. The widows
4. Orphans

The Bible teaches that a special tithe was to be given to the vulnerable every third year, recognizing that the less fortunate might struggle to provide for themselves. This highlights that the tithe served not only as a way to commemorate sacred occasions, but also to support the marginalized communities.

The Significance of Tithing in Scripture

In the Biblical era, tithing was a cornerstone of church doctrine, serving to worship God, support the Levites, and care for the vulnerable. Tithing was also considered a sacred sacrifice offered to sustaining the ministry in the temple. However, following the destruction of the Temple by the Roman army in 70 CE, the context and practice of tithing changed dramatically.

The destruction of the Temple coincided with the demise of Solomon’s Temple on the Jewish calendar, indicating a significant shift in the religious landscape.

Read more: Exposed: Speaking in Tongues is Satanic and does not Mean You are Filled with the Holy Spirit

The Levites, responsible for maintaining the temple’s sanctity and collecting tithes, were among the Jews who suffered under Roman oppression. As a result of this persecution, many Levites chose to go into exile, effectively rendering the traditional practice of tithing obsolete.

Now that we’re in a different era, the question remains: should we give 10% of our offerings to pastors claiming to serve God? This boils down to two key questions:

1. If your reason for paying tithes is to support a pastor’s personal finances, and their ministry solely promotes the prosperity gospel, then the answer is No.
2. However, if your intention is to contribute to a ministry that preaches salvation, provides financial assistance, and supports the vulnerable, such as orphans and widows, then the answer is Yes.

The principle of tithing is founded on providing for those in need and supporting those in our community who are committed to spreading God’s word. Giving to support causes, whether referred to as “tithes,” is what matters most.

Since it is challenging to find the descendants of the Levite tribe in the modern era, it makes sense to give our tithes to the poor, widows, and orphans instead of pastors.

Read more: Sunday is not the real Sabbath Day, and We Must Stop Celebrating it

I’m not opposed to pastors receiving tithes, but no pastor should pretend that tithing has anything to do with them. In a sane world, Pastors should be prioritizing the kingdom of God, not the kingdom of material wealth.

You can also support genuine pastors who are committed to spreading the Gospel and winning people to Christ if you have to. A significant number of them also require assistance to maintain their ministries, and our assistance can assist them in fulfilling their divine calling. The apostle Paul said this in 1 Corinthians 9:13–14:

13 Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. 14 In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it. 

1 Corinthians 9:13-14

Conclusion

Finally, keep in mind the following when it comes to tithe giving:

1. If you know a widow struggling, offer assistance by contributing your tithes to her.
2. Donate to reputable organizations providing support to orphans, enabling them to continue their vital work.
3. Consider helping a foreigner in need of help.

This is the correct way to explain tithing. Remember that tithing is about more than just giving; it’s about significantly improving the lives of those who are less fortunate.

If you found this article to be helpful in understanding the real biblical meaning of tithing, please consider sharing it with your family and friends. Do not let pastors mislead you about something that you can easily find in the Bible.

Through the disclosure contained within this article, you have been forewarned.

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash