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Tithing — giving a tenth of one's income — has deep roots in Scripture, appearing first in Genesis and codified in the Mosaic Law. The New Testament expands the concept beyond a legal requirement into a posture of cheerful, generous, Spirit-led giving.
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices — mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."
"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 praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand. Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything."
"Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
The tithe was a specific command under the Mosaic Law for Israel. Christians are not under the Mosaic Law (Galatians 3:24-25). However, Jesus affirmed tithing while calling for something deeper (Matthew 23:23), and the New Testament calls believers to give generously and cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:6-8). Many Christians use the tithe as a helpful starting point.
The Bible does not specify gross vs. net. The principle is firstfruits giving — honoring God with the first and best of what you receive (Proverbs 3:9-10). Most Bible teachers recommend giving based on gross income as an expression of trusting God with all He provides.
Malachi 3:10 instructs bringing the tithe to the storehouse — the local temple in its context, which most apply to the local church today. The New Testament also commends giving to the poor (Galatians 2:10) and missionaries (Philippians 4:15-18). Giving should be intentional and Spirit-led.