What Does The Bible Really Say About Tithing? | Cornerstone Church

Abraham and Melchizedek

Priest King Who worshiped YAHWEH

Genesis 14:18-20

18 Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine; he was a priest to God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said: Abram is blessed by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 20 and blessed be God Most High who has handed over your enemies to you. And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
TITHE = TENTH
OT = 3 Tithes

An annual tithe, to be paid towards the support of the Levites
A separate annual feast tithe, for the working of the Temple, its upkeep, and the various feasts and sacrifices surrounding it
A third-year tithe for the poor of the land, and again for the Levite

Tithes were both a Spiritual act of Worship but also a practical system

Supported the temple system
Supported the Levites
Supported the poor

OT Tithes were MANDATORY

People had ways to get around it

Malachi 3:8

8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing me!” “How do we rob you?” you ask. “By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions. 9 You are suffering under a curse, yet you—the whole nation—are still robbing me.

TITHING IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
First Common Objection:

Tithing is not in the New Testament

Matthew 5:17

“Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.
OT Law served to distinguish the People of God from other Nations

A Nation of Priests
But many became hypocrites

Jesus often pointed to the “HEART” of the law, and not just the “LETTER”
Matthew 5:27-28

27 “You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. 28 But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matthew 23:23-24

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others. 24 Blind guides! You strain out a gnat, but gulp down a camel!
After the Death and the resurrection of Jesus = NOT UNDER THE LAW
Galatians 5:18

18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Since we are NOT obligated to pay a “TITHE,” Why has the church taught that?
What did giving in the early church look like?

Acts 2:42-45

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Giving was RADICAL in the early church

far above “10%”

Paul teaches us this…

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

6 The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.
So to conclude:

Is tithing specifically taught in the NT?

Are We obligated to give regularly?

How much should you give?

Generously

A TENTH should he our floor, not our ceiling

Next Objection:

Is tithing just a scam for pastors to make money?

It can be

Doctors

Are some “pill pushers” just trying to make more money?

YES
We find trustworthy doctors

Marriage

Do some people marry for money/status

Yes
That doesn’t mean marriage is a scam… Just people take advantage

Personal Trainers

Do some push for unnecessary supplements and sessions

Yes
We need discernment on who we trust

Same with Pastors/Churches

Do some use it as a way to get rich
Absolutely
“Know a tree by its fruit”

Say it this way…

If you don’t trust the church you attend enough to tithe, then find a church that you can trust

Three important reasons for regular giving:

1: We Give Because We Believe

Giving is an act of faith

It reminds the giver that all comes from God and the Lord can be trusted with (and is honored by) what we give back to Him

Here’s God’s Challenge…

Malachi 3:10

Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.

2: We Give Because We Get To Be A Part

Matthew 6:9-10

9 “Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Giving supports the Kingdom’s work
For believers, giving is not a have to; IT’S A GET TO

Indeed, it is an honor to be counted worthy to join Him in His work.
Examples of the Spread of the gospel because of Christian Generosity

Christian Healthcare

Started by the church over 1700 years ago
The Catholic church operates 26% of the world’s leading Facilities
Nursing started by Christians

Education

Almost ALL top institutions started as Christian schools

Mission

Literacy rates
Living standards rise
Better lives for women and children

If the “CHURCH” stopped giving tomorrow, we would wake up to a world we don’t recognize the next day…
Our church is a part of that Mission of God in our community

3: We Give Because We Get

Acts 20:35

In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Notre Dame Study

Those who are regularly generous are “measurably happier, healthier, and more resilient than less generous counterparts.”
National Marriage Project Survey…

Those with the highest generosity levels were “at least 32 percentage points more likely to report being very happy in their marriage.”
The 85-year Harvard Study

That positive relationships—fostered by generosity—were the strongest predictor of happiness and longevity, stronger than career achievement or income.
Those who give, receive

God has hardwired you to be generous because He is generous

Proverbs 11

24 One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.