Biblical Teaching on Tithing: What Scripture Says for 2026
Few questions follow believers into a new year like the tithing question. Should I give 10 percent of my income to the church? Does the Old Testament command still apply to followers of Jesus? Is the biblical teaching on tithing the same in 2026 as it was in the days of ancient Israel? How a believer answers these questions shapes budgets, worship, and daily trust in God. Scripture gives a clear and sometimes surprising answer, and it deserves a careful look before another year of giving begins.
The Old Testament Command to Tithe
The most familiar verse about tithing comes from the prophet Malachi. In Malachi 3:10 God says, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in my house.” For the people of Israel, this command carried real weight. The tithe supplied food for the house of God, and the storehouse was the place where that provision was gathered and distributed.
Still, the Old Testament tithe was not a universal rule for every nation or era. It was strictly a practice for the nation of Israel under the Old Covenant. The command was tied to the temple, the priesthood, the land, and the rhythms of Israel’s worship. Tithing is biblical, in other words, because the Bible records it as a genuine command from God to His covenant people.
The Old Testament also reveals a side of tithing that surprises modern readers. At the appointed feasts, God instructed the people to sell that tithe for money and to spend it on whatever they desired, including oxen, sheep, wine, or strong drink. God designed the tithe to include joyful celebration before Him, not only cold obligation.
What the New Testament Says About Tithing
When readers turn to the New Testament, they often expect to find the tithe repeated as a church rule. The text does something different. The New Testament nowhere designates a percentage of income a person should give, and Christians are not obligated to give a 10-percent tithe.
Tithing is mentioned three times in the New Testament, but it is never prescribed. The references appear in Matthew 23:23, Luke 18:12, and Hebrews 7:1. In every case the mention is only incidental to other teachings. The apostles did not build a church doctrine around a required tenth of income, and they never commanded believers to bring a set percentage into a storehouse.
This silence stands out because the New Testament speaks often about money, generosity, and care for others. If the 10 percent tithe were meant to continue as a binding rule for the church, readers would expect to find it stated clearly in the teaching of Jesus or the apostles. Instead, the fixed percentage is absent, leaving believers free to follow a different pattern.
Is Tithing Biblical but Not Christian?
Some Bible teachers summarize the evidence with a striking sentence: while tithing is biblical it is not Christian. By this they mean tithing was given to the nation of Israel under the Old Covenant, and the New Testament never transfers the 10 percent system to the church. The practice is biblical in the sense that Scripture records it. It is not a Christian requirement in the sense that the New Testament never commands it.
This distinction can feel unsettling because many believers have heard the tithe presented as an eternal law. For the majority of Christians, the doctrine and practice of tithing is considered to be biblically a given, and this is understandable. The tithe appears throughout the story of Israel, it is connected to powerful promises in Malachi, and it demonstrates a visible commitment to put God first. None of that, however, changes the fact that the New Testament never reissues the command.
Recognizing this truth leads to a healthier approach. Believers can honor the tithe as a valuable spiritual discipline without treating it as a law that makes them more accepted by God. The New Testament sets a different standard of faithfulness in giving, one that flows from the heart.
The New Testament Pattern for Giving
The New Testament does not leave believers without direction. A major section of New Testament teaching on giving is found in 2 Corinthians 8-9, where Paul gives a compelling example and crystal-clear teaching. Paul points to that example and explains the attitude that makes giving pleasing to God. This passage, more than any other, shapes how the church understands generosity.
Paul also gives a practical instruction in 1 Corinthians 16:2, where he says that on the first day of every week, each believer should set aside a gift. The pattern is regular, deliberate, and personal. Believers are not told to calculate a mandatory percentage. They are told to make giving a consistent part of their weekly rhythm.
Giving in the New Testament is not smaller just because the percentage is gone. Without a fixed number, every believer can give with the whole heart, whether that is a tenth, more than a tenth, or a different amount set by faith and circumstances.
Tithing as a Heart Issue
Tithing carries a meaning that reaches beyond the Old Testament economy. Tithing to God shows that this person recognizes God as the source of his strength, knowledge, income, security and everything he has. That recognition is the root of all faithful giving.
Believers who practice tithing often speak of it as a way to keep God first. When the first portion of income is set apart for the Lord, money takes its proper place. The person who gives is not trying to earn God’s favor. Instead, that person is responding to God’s goodness and confessing that every resource comes from Him.
The Old Testament gave Israel a specific way to express this truth. The New Testament gives believers an even broader invitation. Because no percentage is named, every believer must decide what faithful giving looks like in his or her own life, guided by Scripture, prayer, and the Holy Spirit.
A Practical Plan for Giving in 2026
What should a believer do with this biblical teaching on tithing as the new year begins? Start by letting Scripture set the foundation, then build a giving plan that fits the New Testament pattern:
- Give regularly. In 1 Corinthians 16:2 Paul describes setting aside a gift on the first day of each week, so giving becomes a dependable habit rather than an afterthought.
- Give to the house of God. The Old Testament storehouse command shows that God wanted food in His house, and believers today support the ministry that feeds them, whether a local church or a trusted ministry.
- Honor God as the source. Remember that God is the source of strength, knowledge, income, and security, and let the first portion of every paycheck reflect that confession.
- Study the New Testament passages. Read 1 Corinthians 16:2 and 2 Corinthians 8-9 carefully and allow these chapters, rather than tradition alone, to shape the way you give.
- Follow the Spirit’s leading. Since the New Testament does not fix a percentage, believers are free to give as the Lord directs, which makes each gift an act of faith rather than a payment of a debt.
This approach honors the Old Testament without misapplying it. It also honors the New Testament without weakening it. The biblical teaching on tithing is not a way to earn blessings. It is a way to acknowledge what the tither already believes: that God is the source of strength, knowledge, income, security, and everything else in life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are brief answers to common questions about tithing and giving.
Is tithing required for Christians today?
According to the New Testament, Christians are not obligated to give a 10-percent tithe. The New Testament nowhere designates a percentage of income a person should give. Tithing is mentioned three times in the New Testament, and none of those mentions prescribes the practice for followers of Jesus. Giving remains a clear command, but the specific Old Covenant percentage is not carried over.
What did God say about tithing in Malachi 3:10?
In Malachi 3:10 God says, “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be food in my house.” The verse connects tithing to provision for the house of God under the Old Covenant. This remains one of the most quoted tithing passages in Scripture, and it helps readers understand why giving mattered so deeply to God’s people in ancient Israel.
Why do some teachers say tithing is biblical but not Christian?
They are drawing a careful distinction. Tithing is biblical because it is genuinely recorded in Scripture as a command to the nation of Israel under the Old Covenant. It is not Christian in the sense that the New Testament never commands the 10 percent tithe for the church. The phrase is used to keep the two testaments in their proper place.
What is the New Testament pattern for giving?
The New Testament pattern appears clearly in 1 Corinthians 16:2 and 2 Corinthians 8-9. Paul tells believers to set aside a gift on the first day of every week, and he presents a compelling example of generous giving along with clear teaching about the heart behind it. The pattern is regular, personal, and guided by the Spirit.
Should believers still practice tithing in 2026?
Yes, if tithing helps a believer honor God and recognize Him as the source of strength, knowledge, income, and security. For many Christians, the practice of tithing is a biblically sound discipline even though it is not a New Covenant requirement. The goal is not to fulfill a law but to worship God with the first and best of what He provides.
Next: Financial Blessing Testimonies: Real Stories of Tithing Obedience
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