“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys the field.”

Matthew 13:44

Imagine stumbling across a treasure hidden in a field, so valuable that you would joyfully sell everything you have to own it. In Matthew 13:44, Jesus describes God’s kingdom as this kind of treasure—worth more than we could ever possess. This parable is not about earning heaven through giving, but rather it is about recognizing the surpassing value of eternity with Christ. When we grasp this mentality—giving back a portion of our resources to God, becomes a joyful act of worship, and a way to invest in His eternal kingdom with a heart full of gratitude.

WHAT IS A TITHE?

A tithe is one-tenth of what we earn or produce, set apart as holy to God. The Bible states, “Every tithe of the land…is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord” (Leviticus 27:30). It is intentional act of stewardship that acknowledges God as the source of all that we have. In the Old Testament, we clearly see that the tithe was used to support both the priests and the needy, which helped ensure God’s work thrived (Numbers 18:21; Deuteronomy 14:28-29). When Israel obyed, scriptures record that they gave abundantly, which reflected hearts of worship (2 Chronicles 31:5-6). For us today, tithing helps fund the local church, helps those in need and gives us a practical way to worship, honor and trust God.

wHAT IS THE EVOLUTION OF TITHING?

Tithing’s roots run deep, even before the Mosaic Law. While Cain and Abel’s offerings demonstrated an early practice of worship through giving (Genesis 4:3-5), tithing as a “tenth” began with Abraham, who gave 10% to Melchizedek, a priest of God (Genesis 14:18-20). Jacob followed in that pattern, pledging a tenth to God (Genesis 28:20-22). These early examples were done prior to any establishment of a law. Later, tithing was established into the Mosaic Law at Sinai (Leviticus 27:30-32: “Every tithe of the land…is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord”). In Israels history, God rebukes His people for neglecting tithing, saying they had robbed Him (Malachi 3:8-9).

When Jesus entered the world, tithing was still a common practice of Jewish follwers living under the law. In an interaction with some Pharisees,  Jesus makes a comment related to their tithing.  He in fact rebukes them, noting they tithed but had neglected justice and mercy. He concluded, “These you ought to have done, without negleceting the others” (Matthew 23:23), thus affirming tithings value. After Jesus resurrection and accencion, the early church took giving further. They sold their possessions to care for the needy among them (Acts 4:32-35). Acts such as this demonstrated that tithing really was more of a baseline for worshipful giving. Their giving exceeded the requirement of the law, reflecting a heart transformed by grace.

are christians required to tithe today?

Here’s where it gets nuanced. Jesus fulfilled the Law, freeing us from its legal demands (Romans 10:4: “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness”). Therefore, there’s no New Testament command to tithe. Yet, we see that Christ upheld its worth (Luke 11:42: “These you ought to have done”), and Paul encouraged supporting gospel ministers, echoing the Old Testament tithe’s purpose (1 Corinthians 9:13–14). The New Testament raises the bar, calling for generous, sacrificial giving (2 Corinthians 8:1–3). For example, the Macedonians gave “beyond their means” in poverty, overflowing with joy (2 Corinthians 8:2). Tithing isn’t mandatory, but it’s a faithful starting point based on God’s pattern, seen even before the Law (Genesis 14:18–20). Christians today can tithe not out of legal demand, but from a heart of gratitude, reflecting trust in God’s provision (Philippians 4:19).

how should we approach giving?

As Christians, transformed by God’s grace, our giving should reflect a different approach. Believers with a transformed heart can respond by:

·        Giving Joyfully: God loves a “cheerful giver” (2 Corintians 9:7), who gives not out of guilt but from the delight in the grace Chirst has given us.

·        Giving Proportionally: Set aside gifts “as you may prosper” (1 Corinthians 16:2), reflecting what God has provided, whether much or little.

·        Giving Sacrificially: The poor widow gave all she had (Mark 12:44), showing that sacrifice matters more than the amount.

·        Giving with Eternity in Mind: Store up “treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20), investing in God’s eternal kingdom.

·        Giving Thoughtfully: Start with with a 10% tithe to the church (Proverbs 3:9), and give more as God leads (2 Corinthians 8:3).

·        Giving Dependently: Give while trusting God to meet your needs (Philippians 4:19).

In his book, “The Treasure Principle”, author Randy Alcorn reminds believers of a biblical truth tied to Matthew 6:19-20. He writes, “You can’t take it with you (our money)- but you can send it on ahead.” So lets give with generous, fully devoted hearts, tursting our faithful God to meet our every need.