Lev 27:30-33 (NIV) "'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. 31 If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth of the value to it. 32 The entire tithe of the herd and flock — every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd's rod — will be holy to the Lord. 33 He must not pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If he does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.'"
NOTE: This verse does a good job explaining the tithe. It is one-tenth of all the grain and fruit the man produces, and one-tenth of his entire flock and herd. So, it is ten percent of that year's produce, but ten percent of the entire flock. Also, there are three different tithes, which most people conveniently forget. There are two tithes given every year (or 19 percent -- 10 percent plus another ten percent (9 percent) of the remainder (90 percent)). Finally every third year there is a special tithe for the poor, so a person who tithes would give over three years, 19 percent, 19 percent, and 27.1 percent. In the end, a tithe works out to 22-23 percent a year as an average.
In the new convenant, the tithe is never repeated. Paul makes it clear that giving is regular and important but not prescribed. "God is not mocked, a man reaps what he sows." "Each one should give as he has made up his mind to, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful give."
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