How often have you heard a sermon about tithing based on Acts 20:35: “It is more blessed to give than to receive”?
This is another example of a text ripped horribly out of context.
In the passage, Paul is providing instructions to a group of elders from Ephesus. In the preceding verses, (Acts 20:33-34), Paul reminds them that he has not been paid with gold and silver, or even with clothing, but has provided for his own needs, as well as those who travelled with him. He did this so that he and his companions would not have to accept payment from anybody in Ephesus.
Paul Provided for his own Needs
From statements Paul makes elsewhere, this seems to be his normal approach to ministry. He made tents for a living, to provide for his needs while he traveled and taught in the churches (cf. Acts 18:1-3; Php 4:14-16). And notice again that in verse 34, Paul not only provided for his own needs, but also for the needs of those who travelled with him! Though we often hear of “Tentmaking pastors,” I have yet to hear of one who not only provides for himself, but also for the other members on his team!
After his description of his own ministry, Paul instructs the Ephesian elders to follow his example. He tells them that they also should labor with their hands as he has, so that they can support the weak (Acts 20:35). While some believe that the weak are those who do not understand why an elder should get paid to teach the Scriptures, it is also likely that the weak are those who are unable to provide for themselves.
By working with their hands, the elders can not only provide for their own needs without depending on the financial support of others, but also help provide for the physical needs of those who are unable to work, people like orphans, widows, and the sick, or even those who minister with them, but who are not able to work.
Who Gives to Whom?
The closing statement of Paul is a quotation from Jesus: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” This does not mean, as many pastors preach, that the people in the pews are more blessed when they give to the church than when they receive from the church. Quite to the contrary, Paul is telling the spiritual leaders of the Ephesian church that it is more blessed for them to give to the needy in the church, than it is for the elders to receive.
A proper understanding of the context reveals that pastors cannot use this verse to encourage greater generosity in tithing, but instead, the pastor should give sacrificially from his own income to help the poor and needy in the church, as well as those who partner with him in the ministry.
So ironically, the very passage that pastors use to encourage their people to give, is actually saying that he himself should be the one to give. When pastors preach “It is more blessed to give then to receive” the people in the pews should stand up and shout, “You first!” for that is the instruction Paul is providing in Acts 20:35.
This is one of the best explanations I have seen on this passage! Of course that may be because we understand it similarly.
Every time I’ve heard the passage used in a sermon the idea was to give more to the church, and of course the preacher would be getting part of that. I agree that the idea is to give to the poor and needy, and that the elders should lead in doing that.
My understanding of elders is that they should be the more spiritually mature believers who should lead by example rather than control, exert power and tell others what to believe, how to live and what to do. The idea of working with their own hands and leading by giving to the poor and needy seems to have been all but forgotten by all.
Sam,
Leading by example, rather than by coercion or guilt trips is definitely the way to be an elder, according to Scripture.
Anthony,
You are right. Even if someone wanted to a bi-vocational pastor today, the responsibilities that many churches lay on the pastor often make bi-vocational ministry next to impossible.
One church I pastored at, the senior pastor was a teacher and never held office hours (but his assistant pastors did), untl the denomination’s main office told him he had to 🙂
“Even if someone wanted to a bi-vocational pastor today, the responsibilities that many churches lay on the pastor often make bi-vocational ministry next to impossible. ”
Then the current church model is broken and should be changed. Just like Politicians, they will never do that. The Evangelical “Family Business” has taken over.
Mormon pastors and teachers are all bi-vocational. None of their offerings go to salaries of their clergy. I can’t help noting that.
It’s another guilt-based method of instruction, which Paul himself NEVER used. I was a tent making pastor, primarily because I never made enough as a pastor, but I was never a senior pastor..I left during my “promotion”. However, I don’t think I would have had the time to be a tent-maker w/ all the responsibilities of a senior pastor.
Not denying that elders should lead by example, reading some of his letters, one finds that he also depended on gifts from some of churches he established, in fact he even commends them for doing that. Now Paul here quoted the words of Jesus, could it be the same context?
Interesting post.
I think pastors should definitely lead by example when it comes to giving as they should do in all areas of Christian living
@Ant Writes if you check out 2 Cor 8 & 9 I think you will find Paul had absolutely no hesitation in using what we readily call guilt & manipulation in getting the Corinthians to fulfill their financial commitment to the poor saints in Jerusalem. He has no qualms about bringing the generous Macedonians to the Greeks & saying “don’t embarrass me or yourselves with your stinginess” – this is ultra strong leadership by the church planter! What would be the reaction today if we used ethnicity as a means of pressuring people to fulfill their pledge to the poor?
John,
Do you really think it was guilt and manipulation? I guess I’ve never read it that way.
Even if so, it probably wasn’t guilt and manipulation the way we think of it today. They lived in a honor/shame culture, which operated under different values and ways of encouraging proper behavior. Maybe Paul was appealing to their honor in order to keep them from shame.
Ours is not an honor/shame culture in the same sense, and so the same methods don’t carry over too well.
Yes you’re right Jeremy the culture of the day was strongly honor/shame & it’s interesting to see Paul use it unequivocally.
I’m on a sidebar here, away from your original post, but there is a connection I think.
It’s Paul’s willingness to be provocative about money while writing a reconciliatory letter that I find most challenging.
2 Cor follows his harsh letter (now lost) that he fretted had broken his relationship with the Corinithians, yet here he isin a follow up letter unabashedly asking for the money they pledged & using ethnicity as a basis for motivation!
I think there’s a underlying leadership value of courage here especially when it comes to raising money for the needs of the church in other nations, as Paul was doing.
John,
You are absolutely right about the leadership value of raising funds for the needs of other churches, especially those in other countries, but possibly even for those in our same town that are fulfilling a function of the body of Christ which we are not. Rather than compete with them and start our own ministry, maybe we can joyfully support their mission and ministry by sending them aid in the form of people and money.
@John: Would you take a look at that! Thanks for the tip
Also, he may have just used old Jewish guilt. You need to be a Jewish mother to properly utilize that method 🙂
Finally, someone thinks the same way i do, good 4 u Jeremy.
Margaret, there are more of us out there than it seems. Every time I get the courage to speak up about what I think, I find people who agree! So there is hope!
I really agree wholeheartedly with the little post and that is what the scripture says to me. But, I have a big kicker for you, I am a Pastor and have been pastoring for six years, I’m also 4th generation owner of a business that has allowed me to pay for all of the ministry and pay for staff as well. And, I’m not saying this because it’s begrudging at all, I will continue to give as God has allowed me. God has allowed me to build and pay for a new 9,000sqft Church building on a major Interstate and I am continally blessed by God, he knows my heart intenetion. We have had wonderful revival with many salvations and Baptisims. But, I do notice this there seems to be no committiment within the people. Congregational numbers will range from 45-100 and then fall for a couple of weeks to 25-30. I have a great core on top of the paid staff of that are real workers for Christ, that I’m continually blessed by seeing there zeal and heart felt desire to work for God. I’m now beginning to see ,However; that even beyond connection which is vital for people groups to grow, they must also have a stake in ownership not just of their ministries but for their own committment levels to improve. I agree with the translation but disagree after six hard years that the shepherd is the one who gives all never expecting from the sheep.
Anthony, No wonder you have so little commitment from your congregation. Have you forgotten Christ’s own words recorded in Matthew 6: 19 -21? ( For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Mt 6:21) You have pretty much made it abundantly evident to them that their treasure is not needed. What you have is “your” church YOU paid for, “your” staff that YOU pay for, and my suspicion is that you probably call the shots too. What would you do if they came to you and said, ” We want you to keep paying all our bills, but we want a different man as our pastor”? I’m sorry, but you remind me in a way of the rich young man who came to Christ and asked what he must do to be saved. If Christ had told him to give away half of what he owned, my guess would be that he would have done it gladly, but Jesus basically told him to rely only on Him. He told him to give away ALL he owned and follow him, but the rich young man turned away and left. I wonder just how committed you really are. The really sad thing is that your church doesn’t depend on your faith or the faith of members who are willing to sacrifice, it depends on you keeping your good paying job. I don’t really question your desire to serve the Lord, only your methods and your lack of understanding. By the way, I’m not a pastor; although, I have served at times over the years as an elder. I live on a limited income, but from that I give approximately 15 percent in tithes and missionary offerings. God has never once failed to meet the needs of my wife and I. We love Him, we worship Him, we try to follow His leading as closely as we can, and we give of what we have to support His work worldwide. We prefer to build up treasure in Heaven, not here on Earth. Your congregation has been crippled.
Jeremy, I wanted to address your first post. I truly feel sorry for your inability to look at the entirety of what the scriptures say about giving. You take part in paying the salaries of our country’s leaders, because man’s laws say you have to but you stiff the man who shares God’s word with you. I am not going to make a judgement about where your heart is, your faith, nor how God views your position; it’s not mine to make, but as far as your position, I believe you are wrong.
Leon,
What exactly about this position do you think is wrong? I advocate people giving money to those who labor at preaching and teaching, but as free-will gifts, not as mandatory tithes, as gifts of appreciation to supplement their income, not as the sole source of receiving a salary.
Actually, I don’t know how Paul did tent making and everything else But he also wrote (1 Cor 9:7-12 see Below) I have recently graduated from seminary, which is $50,000 in tuition alone, not including books and expenses during those years and time away from a good job. Also, I worked 17 years as an engineer. So, if I was in this for the money, I would have stayed in the engineering field. But I see that many people want it both ways. Some people think it is horrible to pay a salary to a pastor. The pastors should get a “real job” and at the same time we need to deliver great sermons, visit homes regularly, care for problems in the church community, etc. etc. (so many things) I work primarily with refugees and that is extremely time consuming with the language and cultural differences. If I didn’t sleep, I might be able to do it, but I need at least 6 hours of sleep a night. Everyone has an opinion – God Bless
1 Corinthians 9:7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? 8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
Todd,
I agree with pretty much everything you said(except the spending $50k to become a pastor, but that is another issue. I have went the last several years working in ministry to the very poor in an urban inner city, and have owned a small business to support myself and my family. I am now an ordained pastor (without seminary or the insane debt that accompanies it), and I am pretty sure the people I work with will never be able to support me. I am now working on raising support partners and finding new ways to do tent making and I know how difficult this is.
That being said, I do think that most pastors get it wrong when they teach on giving. They either focus on giving as an obligation to God, or as a means of getting something from God. I believe that the bible teaches us that God wants us to be generous and cultivate an additude of giving as we are led by His Spirit. God wants us to give out of love and a desire to help the work of His kingdom continue, not because we are afraid of “stealing from God” or because we want to plant a seed so we can get more back from God.
I could go on for pages on this, but I agree that Pastors have a right to receive support from their ministry, but God calls us to give up our rights, all of them, to bring others to Him. I think there is a line between having the right to be supported and expecting a certain level of suppprt. I think all pastors and full time ministers should be mind full that we are called to give up our lives for the sheep, not to enrich our lives at the expense of the sheep.
Pastor FedEx,
Set Free Ministries,
Colorado Springs, CO
Great job for Jesus keep it up/ opinions are like arm pits they all stink/ the rule I follow is simple follow Christ and the high calling and get that great reward/ keep your hands to the plow and don’t look back/ 27 yrs never asked for a dime, own my own business, drive the kids bus my company bought, preach 4 times on Sunday, built the Church I pastor with GOD,S lead and loving it every moment. Paul said follow me as I follow Christ/ brother follow Christ to much mama called and daddy called ministers what America needs are some GOD called Preachers who are not looking for a free ride and are not lazy/ don’t pay the average preacher on Friday come next Sunday the church will be looking for a preacher/ wonder how much the 12 disciples paid to learn how to preach O they sat at the feet of Jesus and turned the world up side down
I’m a tent-making pastor and I provide for the members of my team as well. So now you’ve heard of one guy who’s doing it. Yay!
Awesome! That is so rare! How do you make sure that they don’t take advantage of the situation, and that you don’t “Lord it over them” to get them to do what you want?
Haha I guess it never occurred to us that those were viable options. All money is God’s anyway; we’re just stewards of it.
I love giving… it brings joy to my heart to be able to serve… but receiving is another thing altogether. Remember when Jesus washed the feet of His disciple? They were somewhat taken aback if I recall the passage correctly. To receive what Jesus gave could be a humbling experience. I think the verse has to do with human nature…. to give feels a whole lot better than to get.
Your exposition is wonderful except for some observations I have to make. Tithing is not the only thing to give in church. In fact the New Testament teaches giving all. So if a pastor limits this passage to tithing alone, it may be an error on his side. Besides, even if the passage says only the pastor should give, why do you teach the church to shout at their pastor in the course of worship? Or is God an author of disorder? Then are saying that the pastor is wrong to teach members on giving? If so, why would “the Lord love a cheerful giver”?
This article is pretty limited in it’s scope, creating tunnel vision that leads to a wrong conclusion. If you want to make a point, you can get really close to one scripture and then leave out alot of other stuff, and make a point, but it is a deceived point. That is what is happening here. Like when Satan grabs a scripture and tells Jesus to jump off a building. It was scripture, but it was wrong. The very thing the writer is warning is what he’s done, albeit by accident I’m sure. It’s far better to just share both sides of a scripture so that we rightly divide. For instance, in Matt 5 Jesus tells us to do good deeds so that men see them and praise God. Then a few paragraphs later he says to not do good deeds to be seen by men or we lose our reward. So which is it? Jesus was teaching us to rightly divide. We must share both sides and then let the Holy Spirit bring truth. There are many relevant things the writer left out that would clean up the conclusion; (just a few off hand) Paul did the tent making gig for a short stint in Corinth and Ephesus, but not even close to his entire ministry. So maybe you could say “It would be good for ministers to find ways to support their ministry, and their team, so it isn’t always a burden. He could build a business or try to get some passive income going.” True. The article makes you feel like he kept tenting the whole time he traveled and ministered. That’s not true. The minister work will have seasons where you can’t work. My tent making is book writing. It helps. But there are seasons at church when there is not extra time to make a tent. Maybe some staff quit. There is a rush of need in the community. An event. Ministry comes in waves at times, and if you gotta be at the job, then the whole “crown of life” crown is gonna take a hit cause your shepherding got rescheduled to hit that last tent deadline. Paul spent a lot of time off of tent making so he could study and get prepared. Read Galations 1. Maybe read it again. He did not do the tent gig throughout his ministry. Further, he was not a pastor at a church, and there is a difference. If we are to use Paul here, we must admit that Paul believed in pastors getting paid. Obviously. He talked about the ox and muzzle deal to make sure we wouldn’t get that one wrong. His point was, sure, I didn’t take any money from you, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay a pastor! So why not include that in the article? I’m guessing it got overlooked in the research, which is easy to do. It’s a big bible for certain. Paul said to let the person working the field eat some! Now then, in regards to having a real job, Jesus didn’t have a tent making job. And Jesus taught on giving. Extensively. And, um, admittedly, mentioned tithing once as something to continue. Then, ugh, I know, but in Hebrews Jesus is “STILL” collecting the tithe (remember, he is Melchezidek.). I really don’t understand why we work so hard to not tithe. It’s dedicating 4 hours out of 40 hours to God. It doesn’t secure my salvation, but sure seems reasonable to do. Back to tent making…There are other fulltimer minister non tent makers. John the Baptist made no tents. And noone was linging up for his designer clothing line. No tents. Or Moses. Or Aaron. Or Peter. Or James. Or Titus. Or Timothy. They didn’t make tents, and what I mean is that they didn’t work real jobs, but some reason were allowed to call full-time-doing-God’s-work a real job. We also left out that Paul received a ton of offerings from churches for all different sorts, some to take to Jerusalem, some for his ministry, and he totally wrote II Corinthians, including 9, 10, (God multiplies your store of seed) So if God multiplies your store of seed, and Paul teaches that, then we should too. I mean, seed does multiply. I’m not sure why that would be a questionable topic. The entire book of Philipians is a response to an offering given to Paul. Just to him specifically. He said “I’m not interested in the money so much, but I desire the gift would be credited to your account.” When they gave to his ministry they came into partnership in the benefits and rewards of all that Paul was doing. It’s okay to be generous to others, including pastors. One of the most difficult thing a pastor teaches on is giving.
I have addressed all of your questions elsewhere on this site. Here, for example: Do Not Muzzle an Ox. I have written extensively about tithing and addressed many of the passages in Scripture which talk about this practice.
every thing that you said is gods truth.when you study is hard as you do you well fine the truth jeremy.i been stugglen with preach geting paid for a long time intill i started studing like you.you help me a lot thanks.ps.the wolf slayer.
pj your studying is very sloppy.
I am a servant of God. I teach and hold meetings in my home and play on a worship team and pastor some of our flock. My wife and I work without pay in a home for girls rescued from human trafficking. I do not get paid for any of it. The idea that Paul did tent making as He travelled is incorrect. It was for a short season while he stayed with friends that made tents. What seems to be missing are any scriptural references to The Levites who served in the temple. Not just the High priests but every levite, that means those that carried stuff in the wilderness to those that butchered meat for sacrafices and singers all received tithes and gave tithes of what they received. It is difficult to miss Gods intention. The idea that only travelling apostles get paid is without evidence. It seems that you use scripture to back up what you prefer to believe rather than approaching it with out preconceived ideas. So in Israel God wanted to make sure that all His servants were paid. But somehow He is less generous today. Levites could not own land as they did not receive any by way of inheritance. It was because God wanted His servants to be taken care of by people who did own land and plant vineyards and grow food and keep animals. It is the spirit of the law that gives life. The letter kills. Why do you make up (spiritual) laws that prevent people who serve God from being paid. Do you receive money from book sales or receive donations. Is that rather convenient for you that you are not a pastor. Are you a self proclaimed apostle? How very convenient.
It is impossible to say everything in one blog post. I wrote a post about Levitical pay in this blog post: https://redeeminggod.com/pastoral-pay-levitical-priesthood/ and will also include more about this in my forthcoming book, Cruciform Pastoral Leadership.
Something just does not seem right to me in all that you are saying. If every person in Israel was to bring in 10% of all their increase where did all of that grain and the herds etc go? Why did Paul also exhort that everyone who gives spiritual things to you deserves financial things in return. I have pastoral responsibilities for a portion of our congregation and I am also responsible for teaching and training in various types of ministry. I do not get paid so it is not as though I am defending my right to these things nor do I do them so that I might get paid some day. I do however believe that it is appropriate to give generously to Gods work and Paul is also very clear about giving. Why do you charge for all books and courses. Is it not a priestly ministry to teach and to lead worship? Why do you deny others that priveledge? It is convenient that grace extends to your circumstance but cuts others off that you do not deem qualified to receive people’s gifts. Is your ministry accompanied by physical healings and other demonstrations of power?
My views have changed a bit since this post was published, but I still think pastors should be careful about taking a salary from a church. I cannot say everything in one post, and so many of your objections and questions are answered elsewhere on this blog or in some of my books.
Beautiful write up on this most misleading verse. Pastors in Bhutan use this verse to preach tithing in conjunction with Malachi 3:10.
Thank you for the explanation. Wish pastors in Bhutan understand this verse and stop bullying/exploiting members into unhealthy giving.
They forget the part “giving cheerfully “
Yes, this verse really is used to extort money out of people. It is very sad.
Paul and the recipients Paul ‘s letter likely thought the saying came from Jesus . The saying does not appear elsewhere in our scripture . . I suppose Jesus made many worthwhile comments which are not recorded .. It could be the case that a saying which was in common use was used by Jesus even though the saying was not original with him . It is the situation that if you are not in need of a contribution and possess funds you are considered better off than is the one on the receiving end .
Yes, this is probably a saying of Jesus that He did say, but which is not recorded in the Gospels.