Understanding the Bible This post is part of our Understanding the Bible series—short, clear explanations of common questions, phrases, images, and themes found in Scripture. The goal is simple: to help you read the Bible more clearly by explaining what the text says, what it meant in its original context, and why it still matters... Continue Reading →
Investing in Eternity: The Goal of Christian Stewardship
Should Christians Tithe Today? Series Investing in Eternity: The Goal of Christian Stewardship After exploring the Old Testament tithe, the words of Jesus, the teaching of the apostles, and the development of church history, we now come to the bigger issue behind all of it: what is the goal of Christian stewardship? This final article... Continue Reading →
How the Early Church and Church History Handled Tithing
Should Christians Tithe Today? Series How the Early Church and Church History Handled Tithing If the apostles never directly commanded Christians to tithe, why has tithing become such a normal Christian expectation? Church history helps answer that question. This article traces how Christian giving developed from the early church, through the post-Constantine era, the medieval... Continue Reading →
Why the Apostles Never Command Christians to Tithe
Should Christians Tithe Today? Series Why the Apostles Never Command Christians to Tithe If tithing was such an important part of life under the Old Testament, why do the apostles never simply tell the church, “Christians must tithe”? That question sits near the center of the modern debate. In this article, we will look at... Continue Reading →
What Jesus Actually Said About Tithing
Should Christians Tithe Today? Series What Jesus Actually Said About Tithing Jesus did speak about tithing—but not often, and not in the way many people assume. When we look carefully at the Gospels, we find that Jesus mentions tithing in contexts tied to the Mosaic Law, the Pharisees, and the still-standing temple system. At the... Continue Reading →
Who Actually Paid the Tithe in Israel?
Should Christians Tithe Today? Series Who Actually Paid the Tithe in Israel? If the Old Testament tithe was more than a simple 10% rule, the next question naturally follows: who was actually required to pay it? Did every Israelite tithe in the same way? What about fishermen, craftsmen, hired workers, and merchants? This article helps... Continue Reading →
Was the Tithe really just 10%?
Should Christians Tithe Today? Series Was the Tithe Really Just 10%? Many Christians hear the word tithe and immediately think “10%.” But when we read the Old Testament carefully, the picture is more layered than that. Israel’s giving system included multiple tithes and obligations that supported worship, the priesthood, national celebrations, and care for the... Continue Reading →
The Tithe in the Bible: What It Actually Was
Should Christians Tithe Today? Series The Tithe in the Bible: What It Actually Was Before asking whether Christians should tithe today, we need to answer a simpler question first: what was the tithe in the Bible? This article resets common assumptions by walking through the meaning of the word, the earliest biblical example, the Mosaic... Continue Reading →
Luke 12:22-34 Commentary: Freedom From Anxiety For Pursuit Of The Kingdom
How to Use This Commentary Luke 12:22–34 follows directly after the parable of the rich fool. Jesus now turns to His disciples and answers a natural question: If we are not to live for possessions, then how do we live without anxiety? This passage is not merely about managing stress. It is about replacing worry... Continue Reading →