Sometimes Christians wrongly believe that tithing is simply an Old Testament doctrine leftover from the law. This is not a Biblical view. The tithe is a biblical principle found throughout the Bible. Abraham tithed before the law, it was included in the law and Jesus affirmed it after he replaced the law. Jesus confirmed the Old Testament principle of tithing in Matthew 23:23. However, He does not want us to tithe religously with the attitude of the scribes and Pharisees. Let’s read it.

The Lord sharply rebuked their attitudes about tithing. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. 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.

The religious Pharisees appeared spiritual and godly, but they were not in right standing with God. They tithed right down to the last tiny mint leaf, but their hearts were full of selfish ambition. Jesus specifically affirmed we should tithe today, but He is concerned about our attitudes as we give to Him. Since the New Testament, we should tithe because the Lord has changed our hearts. It is a privilege to return the tithe back to Him. We tithe as an act of love for our God and also from a place of faith. Tithe in faith that God will open the windows of heaven as he promised in Malachi.

My wife and I have tithed in faith all of our adult life. God’s finacial blessing has been on us. However occasionally it has seemed like the windows of heaven were not open and I have had to open the Bible to Malachi 3:8-12 and take up the Lord on his request to “test me in this”. So there I am with my Bible open, activating my faith in this Biblical principle of tithing, and praying “Father you said in your word we should test you in this, so here I am believing your word and expecting our tithes to open the windows of heaven as you have promised.” And sure enough the breakthrough soon follows in our finances. True story.