What Is Tithe?

“What is tithe, and why does God ask for it?”

Picture a young father sitting at the kitchen table. His salary has arrived, but so have the bills. Rent. Groceries. Electricity. Something for the children. He moves the calculator closer and exhales.

He wants to be faithful. Yet tonight, the word tithe feels heavier than it did when he heard it at church.

“If God knows what my family needs,” he wonders, “why should I set aside a tenth?”

Perhaps you have asked the same question. You love God, but you also know what it feels like to stretch a paycheck. You need understanding, not simply another instruction.

The father opens his Bible to Leviticus 27:30. The passage describes the tithe of the land as belonging to the Lord and being holy to Him. A few verses later, every tenth animal passing under the rod is identified as holy to God (King James Bible, 1611, Leviticus 27:30–32).

A tenth. Ten percent.

For a simple illustration, a tenth of $100 is $10: $100 multiplied by 0.10. The calculation is straightforward. The question of trust reaches deeper.

He pauses over the thought that the tithe belongs to God.

“What if I have been thinking only about what leaves my hands,” he wonders, “without considering what God has placed in them?”

He reads Numbers 18:21. God assigns Israel’s tithes to the Levites in connection with their service. Tithe had a purpose within the community’s worship: provision for those serving in its religious life (King James Bible, 1611, Numbers 18:21).

Then another question comes.

“But what does the New Testament say?”

In Matthew 23:23, Jesus addresses scribes and Pharisees who carefully tithe herbs while neglecting judgment, mercy, and faith. He tells them to practice the weightier responsibilities without leaving the others undone. His correction exposes a serious problem: precise tithing cannot substitute for a faithful, merciful life (King James Bible, 1611, Matthew 23:23).

The father looks toward the room where his children are sleeping.

His giving deserves attention. So does the way he treats his family.

He continues to 1 Corinthians 9:13–14. Paul draws a comparison with temple service and teaches that those proclaiming the gospel should receive their livelihood from it. The passage affirms ministry support, though it does not specify a percentage (King James Bible, 1611, 1 Corinthians 9:13–14).

In 2 Corinthians 9:7, Paul also emphasizes purposeful, cheerful giving without compulsion. That passage concerns assistance for believers in need, rather than an explicitly named tithe collection (King James Bible, 1611, 2 Corinthians 9:1–7).

The father begins to understand why the passages must be read carefully. They speak about worship, ministry, generosity, and the heart. They should not be reduced to a promise that giving will make someone wealthy.

He calls his wife to sit beside him. Together, they open the notebook and begin discussing their responsibilities.

The bills remain. But now there is room for prayer alongside the questions.

“Lord, teach us to honor You with what You have entrusted to us.”

I invite you to begin there, too. Open your Bible. Ask honest questions. Consider both your giving and your daily conduct. Let your study lead toward informed faithfulness, generosity, and love.