Jesus spoke about tithing only a few times, and each time he emphasized the heart behind giving more than the percentage itself.
Direct statements on tithing
Jesus explicitly mentions tithing when rebuking the religious leaders: they were meticulous about giving a tenth of small garden herbs but were neglecting “weightier” matters like justice, mercy, faithfulness, and the love of God. He says they should practice those weightier matters “without neglecting” tithing, showing that under the Old Testament law he affirmed their obligation to tithe while insisting their priorities were wrong.
In a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector, Jesus portrays the Pharisee boasting that he tithes on all he gets, yet Jesus declares that the humble, repentant tax collector—not the tither—went home justified, warning against trusting in tithing as a basis for righteousness.
What Jesus stressed about giving
In accounts like the poor widow putting two small coins into the temple treasury, Jesus praises her because she gave sacrificially out of her poverty, while the rich gave only out of their surplus. This shows that for Jesus, sacrificial, wholehearted generosity matters more than the exact amount or legal requirement.
Overall, Jesus situates tithing within the Old Covenant law for Israel, but his teaching for his followers highlights generous, cheerful, and justice- oriented giving rather than a simple ten-percent rule. Many Christian teachers therefore understand his words as affirming tithing for those under the Mosaic law while calling New Testament believers to a broader, grace-driven generosity that may go beyond a tithe.
