4-week Series – Freedom in Giving – from Tithing to Grace

Men’s Bible Study Series: Freedom in Giving – From Tithing to Grace
A 4-Part Series for Men

Series Goal: To equip men as leaders, providers, and stewards to understand the true history of tithing under the Old Covenant, see how Jesus fulfilled the Law, embrace the New Testament’s call to cheerful, heart-led generosity, and reject manipulation and shame. Christians are not under any command to tithe. We are free in Christ to give generously according to the Spirit, without compulsion, percentages, or guilt.

For the Leader: Each 60–75 minute session includes an icebreaker, teaching, full key verses, discussion questions, and prayer/application. Print or project verses. Encourage honest talk about financial pressures men face as husbands, fathers, and providers.

Emphasize: Jesus cares about your heart far more than your wallet. No shame, only freedom and joy in Christ.

Memory Verse for the Series:
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV)

Part 1: The Old Covenant Tithe – What It Really Was

(Focus: History, multiple tithes, Levites only, agricultural produce—not money, exemptions)

Icebreaker (5–8 min):
As a man providing for your family, what’s one financial burden or decision that has tested your trust in God lately?

Teaching (15–20 min):
Tithing (a “tenth”) appears before the Law but became mandatory only for ancient Israel under the Old Covenant at Mount Sinai. It was never a universal command for all people and ended at the cross (Galatians 3:23-25; Romans 6:14).

• Abraham and Jacob gave voluntarily—one-time acts of gratitude (Genesis 14:18-20; 28:20-22).
• Under the Law, there were three distinct tithes totaling roughly 23.33% annually:
  1. Levitical Tithe (10% yearly) – Supported Levites/priests who had no land inheritance (Numbers 18:21-24; Leviticus 27:30-33).
  2. Festival Tithe (10% yearly) – For rejoicing at feasts (Deuteronomy 14:22-27).
  3. Poor Tithe (10% every third year) – For the needy, widows, orphans (Deuteronomy 14:28-29).

Key Facts from Scripture

• Only Levites could receive the tithe—it was their inheritance for tabernacle/temple service (Numbers 18:21-26). No New Testament gospel minister is authorized to receive a tithe.
• Only agricultural produce and livestock—never money (silver, gold, shekels). God forbids currency as tithe (Leviticus 27:30-34).
  • Any money involved was either a redemption penalty (+20%) or a temporary conversion for travel, never the tithe itself.
  • Deuteronomy 14:24-26 Temporary Conversion for Travel, only applied to Festival Tithe
  • Festival Tithe only: The giver ate his own tithe (with family) as part of joyful worship
• Only certain Israelites were required to tithe: those raising crops or animals. Exempt: carpenters, fishermen, bakers, wine makers, servants, potters, builders, metal workers, tax collectors, writers, etc. (Leviticus 27:3-34; Deuteronomy 14:22). Jesus (carpenter, wine maker, then preacher/teacher) was exempt and did not tithe.

Temple Tax was separate: a flat half-shekel per adult male for upkeep (Exodus 30:11-16; Matthew 17:24-27)—not a tithe.
Alms (charity to the poor) were always voluntary and separate.

Key Verses (read aloud):
Numbers 18:21-24; Leviticus 27:30-34; Deuteronomy 14:22-29.

Discussion Questions (15 min):

1. If we were still under the full Old Testament system, how would a 23%+ tithe affect your family budget?
2. Why do you think God limited tithing to produce/animals and specific people under the Old Covenant?
3. What surprises you most about who was exempt from tithing?

Application & Prayer Challenge (10 min):
This week, thank God for freedom from the Old Covenant Law. Pray for wisdom in stewarding what He has entrusted to you.

Part 2: Jesus and the Fulfillment of the Law

(Focus: Heart over rules, widow’s mite, “render to Caesar,” Jesus did not tithe)

Icebreaker (5–8 min):
Share one way money or financial pressure has revealed what controls your heart.

Teaching (15–20 min):
Jesus never commanded tithing for His followers. He fulfilled the Law and focused relentlessly on the heart (Matthew 5:17; Hebrews 8:13).

• To the Pharisees (Matthew 23:23): They tithed spices meticulously but neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Jesus said practice the weightier matters, without neglecting the former under the Law. He was speaking to Jewish leaders that were under the law before the fulfillment of the law.
• The Widow’s Mite (Mark 12:41-44): She gave everything she had. Jesus praised her sacrifice and heart, not the amount.
• “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s” (Matthew 22:15-22): Taxes are civic duty. What is God’s? Your whole heart and life, not a percentage.

Additional Insights:
Jesus (carpenter/wine maker/preacher) was from an exempt occupation and did not tithe. He taught almsgiving should be secret, for God’s eyes only, not for human praise (see Part 4). Early Christians shared freely (one time event, as necessary), but no percentage was mandated (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35).

Key Verses (read aloud):
Matthew 23:23; Mark 12:41-44; Matthew 22:15-22; Matthew 10:8 (“Freely you received; freely give”).

Discussion Questions (15 min):

1. How does the widow’s story challenge modern “percentage” thinking?
2. In what areas of life (finances, time, family) does Jesus want your whole heart?
3. How does “render to Caesar” free us from turning money into a religious trap?

Application & Prayer Challenge (10 min):
Examine your heart this week: Is money lord over you, or is Jesus? Pray for a heart that gives freely in all ways, not just money.

Part 3: New Testament Giving – Freedom and Cheerfulness

(Focus: No compulsion, no percentage, Spirit-led generosity, priorities)

Icebreaker (5–8 min):
When have you experienced joy in giving without any pressure?

Teaching (15–20 min):
The New Testament never repeats a 10% command. The Old Covenant system (temple, Levites, sacrifices) ended at Calvary. We live under grace.

Core Principles (verses from How the Bible Wants Us to Give and Giving and Tithing in Scripture):

• Give “as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
• “According to what a person has, not according to what he does not have” (2 Corinthians 8:12).
• “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside… as he may prosper” (1 Corinthians 16:2). This was a collection for churches in Jerusalem.
• Macedonian example: They gave “of their own accord,” even beyond their means (2 Corinthians 8:3-4).

Biblical Priorities for Giving:

1. Provide for your own family first (1 Timothy 5:8 – “worse than an unbeliever”).
2. Household of faith (Galatians 6:10).
3. Poor and needy believers (Acts 4:32-37; Romans 15:26).
4. Support for those laboring in teaching/preaching (1 Timothy 5:17-18; Galatians 6:6).

Time, hospitality, service, and encouragement are also vital gifts. Paul worked with his hands so the gospel would remain free (Acts 20:33-35; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9).

Key Verses (read aloud):
2 Corinthians 9:6-7; 2 Corinthians 8:3-4, 8, 12; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 5:3-4 (Ananias—your money was yours until you gave it).

Discussion Questions (15 min):

1. What would “cheerful, decided-in-your-heart” giving look like for your family right now?
2. How do the NT priorities (family first, etc.) differ from common church teaching?
3. How can we support gospel workers generously without falling into legalism?

Application & Prayer Challenge (10 min):
Prayerfully decide this week what generous giving looks like—no guilt, just joy.

Part 4: Guarding Our Hearts – Manipulation, Motives, and True Generosity

(Focus: Pastoral misuse of Malachi/1 Cor 9, biblical greed, secret almsgiving, practical freedom)

Icebreaker (5–8 min):
Have you ever felt pressured or shamed about giving in church? How did it affect you?

Teaching (15–20 min):
Warning on Manipulation: Some pastors misuse Malachi 3:8-10 (“robbing God”)—written to Old Covenant Israel, not New Testament believers. They twist 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 (temple workers ate from offerings) to imply tithing supports ministers. Paul simply says laborers are worthy of support, not by mandatory tithe or money from the altar. Such tactics replace “decided in your heart” with fear/shame, turning grace into compulsion and contradicting 2 Corinthians 9:7 and Acts 5:4. Stopping tithing may reveal true motives.

Biblical View of Greed: Greed/covetousness (pleonexia) is desiring what belongs to another (Colossians 3:5; Exodus 20:17). Honest earning, saving, investing, and enjoying the fruit of your labor is good stewardship, not greed (Proverbs 10:4; Ecclesiastes 5:18-19; Luke 19:11-27). Secret Almsgiving: Matthew 6:1-4 – Give to the needy quietly, for God’s reward alone. Motive matters more than visibility. Good works can glorify God publicly (Matthew 5:16) when the heart is right.

Bottom Line: Your money is your responsibility to steward well until you cheerfully decide to give it. No pastor or church has the right to shame or mandate giving under compulsion or obligation. Don’t give blindly or shamefully.

Key Verses (read aloud):
Malachi 3:8-10 (context: Old Covenant priests); 2 Corinthians 9:5; Matthew 6:1-4; Colossians 3:5; 1 Timothy 6:6-10.

Discussion Questions (15–20 min):

1. How has “tithing guilt” affected your view of giving?
2. Using the biblical definition of greed, how can men guard against covetousness while being generous?
3. How will you model heart-first, shame-free generosity to your wife and kids?
4. What practical step will you take this week to give cheerfully and secretly?

Application & Prayer Challenge (10 min):
Commit to Spirit-led giving. Pray for freedom from fear or manipulation and courage to lead your family in joyful stewardship.

Series Close: You are free in Christ. Give generously—from the heart—for His glory. Lead courageously. Recommended Reading: Review all attached documents and 2 Corinthians 8–9; Galatians 3; 1 Timothy 5–6.