This question about Jesus and tithing is engaging and thought-provoking for two reasons. First, as God, Jesus was the author of the Bible, which taught God’s people to tithe in the Old Testament. His authorship is stated in 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
His command on tithing is expressed in 2 Chronicles 31:4-5, “Also he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the law of the Lord. As soon as the order spread, the sons of Israel provided in abundance the first fruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of all.” Scripture also states in Proverbs 3:9, “Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase.”
Second, Jesus worked as a carpenter before He began His public ministry, potentially earning wages subject to tithing. It says of Jesus in Mark 6:3, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon?” However, no “chapter and verse” exists in the New Testament that says Jesus earned wages as a carpenter, even though it is assumed. Neither does it record Jesus paying tithes.
Therefore, the only way to assess whether Jesus would have tithed is to look at some known facts in God’s Word:
The Old Covenant required God’s people to tithe a tenth of their increase, whether crops, produce, oil, livestock, spices, or wages. (See Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26; Deuteronomy 14:24; 2 Chronicles 31:4-5.)
Failing to tithe under the Old Covenant was sinful. (See Malachi 3:8-9.)
Jesus was without sin—including hypocrisy. (See 2 Corinthians 5:21; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:21-24; 1 John 3:5.)
Based on these biblical facts, it seems apparent that Jesus would have tithed off any increase or wage He obtained because He practiced what He preached. He said in Matthew 5:19, “Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” It also says of Jesus in 1 Peter 2:22 that “no deceit was found in his mouth.”
I hope this information sheds some light on this interesting topic. However, we cannot be dogmatic about the issue since Scripture is silent on whether Jesus tithed.
