Where in the Bible does it say “give 10”? This question has intrigued many Christians and Bible scholars over the years. The concept of giving 10 percent of one’s income, often referred to as the “tithe,” is a topic that has been debated and discussed extensively. In this article, we will explore the origins of the tithe and its significance in the Bible, as well as the verses that directly address the act of giving 10 percent.
The idea of giving 10 percent of one’s income can be traced back to the Old Testament, where the Israelites were commanded to tithe their possessions to support the Levites, who were responsible for religious duties. The book of Leviticus, specifically Leviticus 27:30-31, provides one of the earliest references to the tithe:
And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy to the Lord. And if a man wishes at all to redeem any of his tithe, he shall add one-fifth to it.
This verse clearly states that the tithe is the Lord’s, and it is to be given to support the religious and communal needs of the Israelites. The tithe was not only a way to support the Levites but also to ensure that the poor and needy were cared for within the community.
In the New Testament, the concept of giving 10 percent is still present, although it is not as explicitly mentioned as in the Old Testament. The book of Malachi, written during the Babylonian exile, serves as a reminder of the importance of tithing:
Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In that you say, ‘The tithe and the offering come from us,’
This verse implies that the Israelites were not giving their full tithe, and as a result, they were robbing God. The New Testament also encourages believers to give generously, although it does not specifically mention the 10 percent rule:
And He said to them, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.’
This passage from the Gospel of Matthew encourages believers to trust in God’s provision and to give generously, without specifying the exact percentage to be given.
In conclusion, while the Bible does not explicitly state “give 10” in the New Testament, the concept of giving 10 percent of one’s income is rooted in the Old Testament and has been a long-standing tradition within the Christian faith. The verses from Leviticus and Malachi provide a clear basis for the tithe, and the New Testament encourages believers to give generously, trusting in God’s provision. The act of giving 10 percent is a way to express gratitude and obedience to God, as well as to support the needs of others within the community.
