Most people hear the word “tithing” and think of money. They have been taught that God commands Christians to give ten percent of every paycheck to a church. Some have even been told they are robbing God if they give less.

But the Bible never commands anyone to tithe money or wages.

There is also no command in the New Testament telling Christians to tithe. Not one. Christians are commanded to give, but they are never commanded to give exactly ten percent.

Under the Old Testament law, tithing was part of God’s covenant with Israel. The tithe came from what the land produced.

“Now all the tithe of the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:30).

“You shall certainly tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes from the field every year” (Deuteronomy 14:22).

The Israelites also tithed from their herds and flocks.

“For every tenth part of herd or flock, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:32).

The biblical tithe consisted of crops, fruit, herds, and flocks. It was food, not money. These tithes supported the Levites, who received no inheritance of land. Other tithes were connected with Israel’s feasts and with caring for foreigners, orphans, and widows.

Money is mentioned in connection with the tithe, but money itself was not the tithe. An Israelite could redeem part of his tithe by paying its value and adding one-fifth to it (Leviticus 27:31). If the appointed place was too far away, produce could be exchanged for money for the journey. Upon arrival, the person used that money to purchase food and drink (Deuteronomy 14:24–26).

The money was used to redeem or transport the value of the tithe. The tithe itself came from the land, herds, and flocks.

Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils of battle to Melchizedek before the law was given (Genesis 14:18–20). Jacob also promised God a tenth (Genesis 28:20–22). Neither account commands other people to tithe. These were individual acts, not instructions requiring Christians to give ten percent of their income.

Malachi 3:10 is often used to tell Christians that they are robbing God if they do not give ten percent of their money to a church.

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house” (Malachi 3:10).

Notice that God said there would be “food” in His house. He was speaking to Israel under the law. The storehouse was not a church bank account. It held the produce that supported the Levites and others whom God had commanded Israel to provide for.

We should not take a warning given to Israel under the Old Covenant and use it to frighten Christians into giving money.

Jesus mentioned tithing when speaking to people who were still living under the law. He rebuked the scribes and Pharisees because they carefully tithed even their smallest herbs while neglecting “the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23).

Jesus was exposing their hypocrisy. He was not commanding the future church to tithe money.

The New Testament teaches Christians to give, but Christian giving comes from the heart.

“Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

That is not a command to give ten percent. Each believer decides before God what to give. Christian giving must not be forced through pressure, guilt, fear, or false promises of wealth.

Paul also wrote:

“For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12).

Some believers can give more than ten percent. Others may need to give less. God does not command a poor widow and a wealthy businessman to give the same percentage. He looks at the heart, the willingness, and what each person has.

This does not give Christians an excuse to be selfish. Believers should help people in need, support faithful ministry, and give generously as God provides. Giving money is biblical. However, tithing money is not commanded anywhere in the Bible.

Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

The heart comes first. When our hearts belong to Christ, we will want to use what God has given us for His purposes. We do not give to earn God’s favor. We give because we have already received His grace.

Giving is biblical. Generous giving is biblical. Supporting faithful ministry is biblical. But telling Christians that God commands them to give ten percent of their money is not biblical.

If we are going to tell people that God requires something, we had better be certain that God actually said it.