Jesus mentioned tithing directly once in his teaching, and it appears in a rebuke to religious leaders. In that rebuke, he affirmed that they tithed but warned that they had neglected the more important matters of the law.
Jesus’ direct mention
The New Testament records Jesus speaking about tithing explicitly in a confrontation with the Pharisees. His words acknowledge their careful attention to tithing—even down to small garden herbs—while exposing a serious imbalance in what they emphasized.
The key rebuke
Jesus’ rebuke centers on the contrast between meticulous religious practice and neglected moral priorities. He says the Pharisees were exacting in what they gave, but they had failed to practice what he called the “weightier matters of the law.”
Matthew 23:23 — “you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law.”
Alongside that rebuke, Jesus identified those neglected matters specifically as “justice, mercy, and faith.” His criticism was not that tithing existed, but that their focus on it did not match the moral weight of what they were leaving “undone.”
Not either-or
In the same teaching, Jesus made his point more precise: the problem was not that they tithed, but that they treated tithing as if it could substitute for justice and mercy. He said they should have practiced the weightier matters “without leaving the other undone.” That statement keeps the practices joined together rather than setting them against each other.
Put simply, Jesus’ point was not to abolish giving, but to keep giving joined to justice and mercy. The rebuke assumes that careful giving can exist while deeper obligations are ignored—and it calls out that mismatch.
How Christians read it
Christians commonly point to this passage to emphasize the relationship Jesus draws between outward religious practice and inward, weightier moral commitments. The text itself highlights two realities at once: (1) the Pharisees tithed even small things, and (2) they neglected justice, mercy, and faith. Jesus’ phrase about practicing the weightier matters “without leaving the other undone” is often understood as holding those responsibilities together rather than treating them as a trade-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Jesus talk about tithing often?
In the New Testament record summarized here, Jesus mentioned tithing directly once in his teaching, and it was in the context of rebuking religious leaders.
What exactly did Jesus criticize about tithing?
He did not criticize the act of tithing itself. He rebuked the Pharisees for tithing even “mint, dill, and cumin” while having “left undone the weightier matters of the law,” which he identified as justice, mercy, and faith.
What are the “weightier matters of the law” Jesus named?
In this rebuke, Jesus named the weightier matters as “justice, mercy, and faith.” His concern was that these were being neglected.
Did Jesus say to stop tithing?
No. In the same teaching, he said they should have practiced the weightier matters “without leaving the other undone.” His point was not to abolish giving but to keep it joined to justice and mercy.
Where is Jesus’ statement about tithing found?
It is found in Matthew 23:23, where Jesus says, “you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law.”