Five Things We Will Learn
- How Abraham modeled giving before the Law ever existed.
- Why tithing is rooted in promise, not legalism.
- How Moses, Malachi, and Paul connect the tithe to faith.
- Why giving is about trusting God’s promise, not paying dues.
- How Jesus calls us beyond the tithe to total surrender of heart and life.
Abraham: The First Tither
The story of giving doesn’t begin at Sinai but in Genesis. In Genesis 14:20, Abraham—fresh from victory—meets Melchizedek, priest of God Most High, and offers him a tenth of everything. No commandment required. No obligation imposed. Abraham’s tithe was an act of faith, a natural reflex of obedience born out of trust in God’s promise. This moment set a pattern of giving that preceded the Law and pointed to the covenant yet to be revealed.
The Law Confirms, Not Creates, the Tithe
When the Law arrives, it doesn’t invent tithing. Leviticus 27:30 sanctifies it: “A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.” Deuteronomy 14 expands it further, showing the tithe as a way to feast with God and provide for widows and orphans. Far from a tax or payroll deduction, the tithe was already sacred. The Law only acknowledged what Abraham had already declared: giving is an act of faith.
Malachi: The Dare to Trust God
Malachi 3 confronts Israel’s failure: “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me… in tithes and offerings.” The issue isn’t taxation but dishonor—holding back from the Lord what belongs to Him. Then comes the divine challenge: “Bring the whole tithe… Test me… See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out so much blessing you will not have room enough to store it.” Notice, the danger lies not in giving too much but too little. Why? Because withholding is unbelief; giving is Abraham’s faith in action.
Related:
- New Testament Giving: The Tithe, the Promise, and the Heart of a Disciple
- Should You Tithe? Promise Before Law, Faith Afterward
- The Argument for Not Just Tithing, But for Giving All
- The Lesser Gives to the Greater: Tithing in the Faith of Abraham
- What Does Jesus Say About Tithing?
Paul: The Promise Still Stands
The Apostle Paul makes it clear: the promise to Abraham was never revoked. Galatians 3:17 declares, “The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.” Romans 4:16 adds, “The promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring… He is the father of us all.” Abraham’s pattern—faith first, giving second—remains the model for every believer. The tithe isn’t legalism when practiced by Abraham’s children. It’s family practice.
Jesus: The Heart Behind Giving
Jesus takes the discussion further in Matthew 6. “You cannot serve both God and money. You will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” He is after our hearts, not our wallets. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Everything already belongs to God—the earth and everything in it. Under the new covenant, it’s not about giving ten percent but surrendering one hundred percent. In Luke 14:33, Jesus says, “Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.”
We are stewards, not owners. Our tithe and our offerings are outward signs of inward trust. Abraham gave before law. Israel gave under law. Malachi called the people back to honor God through giving. Paul anchored giving in promise, not performance. Jesus calls us to give our whole lives—finances included—to the One who gave His life for us.
Conclusion
New Testament giving isn’t about checking boxes or earning God’s blessing. It’s about living in Abraham’s pattern: faith first, giving second. When we give like Abraham—freely, willingly, faithfully—we declare that God is our provider and our promise-keeper. And when we surrender everything as Jesus commanded, we find the true treasure: Him.