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What would you say to someone that says if you don’t tithe, you are robbing God?

That’s a strong statement. And it comes directly from Malachi 3:8–10, where God says to Israel, “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me… in tithes and offerings.”

So what do we do with that?

First, we need to understand the context.

Malachi is speaking to Israel under the Old Covenant. The tithe was part of the covenant law given to the nation. It supported the temple, the priests, and the care of the community. It wasn’t optional generosity; it was covenant faithfulness. It wasn’t that they were “supposed” to tithe.  They were absolutely, unquestionably required to do it. 

When Israel withheld the tithe, it revealed something deeper than a budgeting issue. Their worship had drifted. Their trust in God had weakened. Their hearts were divided.  

That’s why the language is strong.

But the coming of Jesus changes the covenant framework.

As followers of Christ, we are not under the Old Testament law in the same way Israel was. The New Testament does not command believers to give under threat. Instead, we are invited to give as an expression of grace, love, and worship (2 Corinthians 9:7).

That does not mean generosity is optional. The New Testament assumes that believers will give to support the work of the church and to care for those in need. Regularly, sacrificially, and faithfully. Many Christians still practice tithing as a wise and biblical starting point for generosity.

But the motivation has shifted.

In the Old Covenant, withholding the tithe was described as robbing God because it was breaking the covenant obligation.

In the New Covenant, the deeper issue isn’t first about percentage; it’s about the heart.

We don’t “rob God” of money as though He is in need. Scripture tells us the earth is already His. But we can "rob God" if we withhold our trust. If we withhold our worship. If we close off areas of our lives from His lordship. And sometimes that can show up in how we handle our finances.

So what would we say?

If someone refuses to give because their heart is resistant to God, then that is something worth examining.

But if someone is growing, learning, and seeking to trust God more deeply, we would never use Malachi’s language as a threat.

In When Love Calculates, we looked at the difference between calculating obligation and pouring out love. Mary wasn’t measuring percentages. She was responding to Jesus.

The New Covenant invitation is not: “Pay what you owe.” It’s: “Give Him your heart.”

Because when He has your heart, generosity follows; not from fear, not from pressure, but from love.

If you have a question that you’d like to explore, we’d love to hear from you. Healthy faith makes room for honest questions. And we’re glad to walk that journey together.