{"id":167725,"date":"2025-10-23T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carfundacion.roymo.info\/blog\/el-diezmo-que-es-el-diezmo-en-la-biblia-y-cual-es-su-significado\/"},"modified":"2025-10-23T12:59:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T10:59:18","slug":"el-diezmo-en-la-biblia-y-cual-es-su-significado","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fundacioncarf.org\/en\/el-diezmo-en-la-biblia-y-cual-es-su-significado\/","title":{"rendered":"Tithing: what is it and what is its meaning?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The purpose of the tithe was to fundraising<\/a> for the material support of the Church and those most in need, today Pope Francis tells us \"The enemy of generosity is consumerism\".<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Every Christian can contribute financially \"what he has decided in his heart and not reluctantly or by force, because God loves a cheerful giver\".\u00a0<\/strong>2 Corinthians 9:7<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What is tithing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The word tithe comes from the Latin\u00a0decimus<\/em>\u00a0and is linked to a tenth, the tenth part of something.\u00a0The concept was used to refer to the 10% fee to be paid<\/strong>\u00a0to a king, a ruler or a leader. Those who were to make the payment gave a tenth of their earnings or income to the creditor. It was a common ancient practice among the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks and Romans and among the Hebrews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The meaning of tithing in the Bible<\/a>is the tenth part of all the fruits acquired, which must be given to God as recognition of his supreme dominion. Cf. Leviticus 27:30-33. The tithe is offered to God, but it is transferred to his ministers. Cf. Num 28:21.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tithe and offering should be understood today, according to the Christian spirit of a heartfelt giving of love for helping the Church<\/a> and the most disadvantaged<\/strong> in their needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The generosity of the little things widens the heart, beware of consumerism\".<\/strong>. In his homily at morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta on November 26, 2018, Pope Francis urged us to ask ourselves how we can be more generous to the poor, the current tithe is in \"the little things.\" And he warned that\u00a0the enemy of generosity is consumerism, spending more than we need to spend<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How tithing is reflected in the Bible<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Old Testament speaks of the willingness of heart to tithe<\/strong>according to the phrase \"let each one give as he has decided in his heart, not giving with sorrow but with joy.\"<\/strong>. The meaning of the tithe in the bible appears for the first time when Abram, gives it to the priest Melchizedek in a token of gratitude (Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7:4<\/em>). Over time, it was instructed for all the priests<\/a> Levites and was even established as an obligation or law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then Jacob gives the tithe of all his possessions to the Lord. \"And this stone, which I have set up for a sign, shall be God's house; and of all that thou shalt give me, I will set apart for thee the tithe.\" (Genesis 28:22<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subsequently the Bible explains how each year, the Israelites set aside a tenth of what their land produced<\/strong> (Leviticus 27:30)<\/em>. If they decided to pay with money, then they had to add 20 % to its value (Leviticus 27:31)<\/em>. They also had to give \"tenths of the cattle and herd\" (Leviticus 27:32)<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To calculate the tithe of their livestock, the Israelites chose every tenth animal that came out of their pen.<\/strong> The Law said that they could not examine whether that animal was good or bad, nor exchange it for another. Furthermore, they could not pay that tithe with money (Leviticus 27:32, 33)<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the second tithe, the one used for the annual feasts, could be paid with money. This was very practical for the Israelites who came from far away to attend the feasts (Deuteronomy 14:25, 26)<\/em>. Israelite families used these offerings on their special feasts. And there were specific years in which these offerings were used to helping the very poor<\/a>. (Deuteronomy 14:28, 29; 26:12.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paying tithe was a moral obligation, the Mosaic law did not establish any punishment for those who did not comply with the law.<\/strong>. The Israelites had to declare before God that they had complied and then ask him to bless them for having done so (Deuteronomy 26:12-15<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Grupo
In the marketplace of ancient Judea, people came to give their tithes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Tithing in the Bible: the New Testament<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the days of Jesus<\/a>tithe was still paid. But, when he died on the cross, this was no longer a requirement.\u00a0Jesus does not reject it, but teaches a new reference: to give no longer the 10% but to give oneself totally as master.<\/strong>r, not counting the cost. Therefore, he condemned the religious leaders because they were very strict in collecting the tithe and at the same time, neglected \"the most important matters of the Law: justice, mercy and faithfulness\" (Matthew<\/a> 23:23<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus' death annulled the Mosaic Law, including \"the command to collect the tithe from the people\" (Hebrews 7:5, 18; Ephesians 2:13-15; Colossians 2:13, 14<\/em>). In none of the four times that the tithe appears in the New Testament are we taught to be guided by that measure. It is no longer limited to the law of 10 % but refers us to the example of Jesus Christ who gave himself unreservedly<\/a><\/strong>. Jesus lives a radical surrender and teaches us that we should do the same. That is why he transmitted to us the concept and the importance of the Works of mercy<\/a>Spiritual and corporal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Heart of Jesus<\/a> is the model of total surrender. He gave himself to death on Calvary. Jesus gives us His grace to know how to give and to give as He gave Himself.<\/strong>. Everything belongs to God and we are stewards of our resources according to the Holy Spirit who enlightens our conscience. San Pablo<\/a> teaches and lives the same self-giving, \"For you know the generosity of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, though he was rich, yet for your sakes became poor, that you might be enriched by his poverty.\" (II Corinthians 8,9<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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