Bible Verses about Tithing

Scripture addresses tithing in various contexts, portraying it as a significant aspect of honoring God and supporting the community of faith. The practice is presented as a way to acknowledge God’s provision and to contribute to the sustenance and flourishing of the religious community. While often associated with financial contributions to the local church for its ongoing work, the underlying essence of tithing, as emphasized in scripture, is rooted in an individual’s devotion and love for God, reflecting a heart of generosity and recognition of God’s blessings.

Exploring the scriptures reveals numerous passages addressing the practice of tithing and the giving of offerings, highlighting their significance in the relationship between humanity and God. These verses offer diverse perspectives on the principles, purposes, and blessings associated with these acts of worship and generosity.

Table of Contents

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIV

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 provides principles of giving, stating, “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. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” This passage emphasizes the connection between the measure of giving and the measure of receiving, encouraging individuals to give according to their heartfelt decision, willingly and joyfully, with the assurance that God is able to bless them abundantly, equipping them for every good deed.

Read 2 Corinthians 9

Luke 6:38 NIV

Luke 6:38 encourages generosity with the promise of reciprocal abundance, stating, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” This verse suggests that the act of giving will result in a generous return, using the imagery of a full and overflowing measure being given back to the giver. It also highlights the principle that the standard one uses in giving will be the standard by which one receives.

Read Luke 6

Proverbs 3:9 NIV

Proverbs 3:9 advises, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” This verse calls for the recognition of God’s provision by dedicating a portion of one’s material possessions, specifically the initial and best part of their harvest, to Him. This act of giving is presented as a way to honor God, acknowledging His ownership and expressing gratitude for His blessings.

Read Proverbs 3

Matthew 23:23 NIV

Matthew 23:23 records Jesus’ strong rebuke to the teachers of the law and Pharisees, whom he calls hypocrites. He points out that they meticulously tithe even small quantities of spices like mint, dill, and cumin, yet they have disregarded the weightier aspects of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Jesus emphasizes that they should have indeed practiced these more critical virtues, while not neglecting the practice of tithing. This statement highlights the importance of both outward acts of obedience and the inner essence of God’s commands, suggesting that neither should be disregarded at the expense of the other.

Mark 12:41-44 recounts an observation made by Jesus at the temple treasury. He watched as people deposited their offerings, noting that many wealthy individuals contributed large sums of money. However, a poor widow approached and put in two small copper coins, which had very little monetary value. Calling his disciples to attention, Jesus declared that this poor widow had actually given more than all the rich people. He explained that while the wealthy gave only a portion of their abundance, the widow, out of her extreme poverty, had given everything she possessed, her entire livelihood. This account emphasizes that the value of a gift in God’s eyes is not determined by its monetary amount but by the measure of sacrifice and the heart of the giver.

Read Mark 12

Leviticus 27:30 NIV

30 ” ‘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.

Read Leviticus 27

Matthew 6:1-4 NIV

1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Read Matthew 6

Acts 20:35 NIV

Drawing from my actions and conduct amongst you, I have consistently demonstrated that through diligent and earnest labor, we are called to extend support and aid to those who are vulnerable and in need, mindful always of the profound truth articulated by the Lord Jesus himself, who declared, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Read Acts 20

Deuteronomy 14:22-29 NIV

You are instructed to meticulously reserve a tenth of the entirety of your annual agricultural yield; furthermore, you are to consume this tithed portion, encompassing your grain, newly pressed wine, olive oil, and the firstborn of your cattle and sheep, in the sacred presence of the Lord your God, at the specific location He will designate as the abode for His name, with the express purpose of cultivating within yourselves a perpetual reverence for the Lord your God; however, should this divinely chosen place be situated at a considerable distance, rendering the transportation of your tithe impractical despite the blessings bestowed upon you by the Lord your God, due to the remoteness of His designated dwelling, you are permitted to convert your tithe into silver, subsequently carrying this silver to the aforementioned place selected by the Lord your God; upon arrival, you are authorized to utilize this silver to procure goods of your choosing, whether cattle, sheep, wine, other fermented beverages, or any other desired items, whereupon you and your household shall partake of these provisions in the presence of the Lord your God, experiencing joy and celebration; moreover, it is imperative that you do not overlook the Levites residing within your settlements, recognizing that they possess no land allocation or inheritance of their own; additionally, at the culmination of every three-year cycle, you are to gather the entirety of the tithes from that year’s harvest and store them within your towns, with the intent that the Levites, who lack any personal land or inheritance, alongside the foreign residents, the fatherless, and the widows within your communities, may come and partake of these provisions to their satisfaction, thereby ensuring that the Lord your God may bestow His blessings upon all the endeavors of your hands.

Read Deuteronomy 14

Romans 13:7 NIV

It is incumbent upon you to render unto each individual that which is rightfully theirs; specifically, if you are obligated to pay taxes, then you must fulfill that fiscal duty, and likewise, if revenue is due, then that financial obligation must be met; furthermore, you are called to bestow respect upon those deserving of it, and to accord honor to whom honor is due.

Read Romans 13

Genesis 28:22 NIV

And this very stone, which I have erected as a pillar, shall serve as the house of God, and from everything that you bestow upon me, I shall without fail return to you a tenth part.

Read Genesis 28

1 Corinthians 16:2 NIV

Upon the commencement of each week, it is expected that every individual among you will privately allocate and reserve a portion of their earnings, ensuring that these funds are diligently accumulated, with the express purpose of obviating the necessity for any fundraising activities upon my arrival.

Read 1 Corinthians 16