How many Bible verses about offerings do you believe are in the Good Book? I’ve often heard that Jesus talked about money more than any other subject. Is that correct? There are many verses about money, riches, and gold. However, they’re often misused or taken out of context. There are fewer Bible verses about offerings than I expected.
Giving offerings, Biblically, is an honorable discipline. It’s important for us to study all of the Bible verses about offerings so that we ensure our actions are aligned with scripture. God can and does reject offerings. God doesn’t need our money. The act of giving an offering is actually for us, not Him.
The first offering recorded in the Bible led to a murder. Not a great start for the human race.
The modern church treats God like an errand boy. We’re persuaded that a half-cocked offering will impress Him.
God, in His holiness, has been known to reject offerings.
Offerings Rejected By God
Genesis 4:3-5 And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. Abel also brought the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.
Amos 5:21-22 I hate, I despise, your feasts! I can’t stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. Even if you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; I will have no regard for your fellowship offerings of fattened cattle.
Acts 5:35 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.” And as he heard these words, Ananias collapsed and died; and great fear came over all who heard about it.
Malachi 1:10 I wish one of you would shut the temple doors so that you would no longer kindle a useless fire on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord of Armies, “and I will accept no offering from your hands.
What Did Jesus Say About Giving Offerings
Matthew 6:2 Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
Mark 10:21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Acts 20:35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Bible Verses About Offerings — Minor Prophets
The minor prophets were bad to the bone. They did not mince words.
Micah 6:7-8 Would the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousand streams of oil? Should I give my firstborn for my transgression, the offspring of my body for my own sin? Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.
Hosea 6:6 For I desire faithful love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Joel 1:13 Dress in sackcloth and lament, you priests; wail, you ministers of the altar. Come and spend the night in sackcloth, you ministers of my God, because grain and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God.
Hosea 8:13 The people love to offer sacrifices to me, feasting on the meat, but I do not accept their sacrifices. I will hold my people accountable for their sins, and I will punish them. They will return to Egypt.
Jonah 1:15-16 Then they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. The men were seized by great fear of the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.
Bible Verses About Offerings — Freewill Offerings
Giving offerings freely and from the heart is fully supported by the Bible. Here’s a link to an article that I wrote about Giving To The Church.
Exodus 25:2 Tell the Israelites to take an offering for me. You are to take my offering from everyone who is willing to give.
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion since God loves a cheerful giver.
Exodus 35:5 Take up an offering among you for the Lord. Let everyone whose heart is willing bring this as the Lord’s offering: gold, silver, and bronze…
Ezra 2:68 After they arrived at the Lord’s house in Jerusalem, some of the family heads gave freewill offerings for the house of God in order to have it rebuilt on its original site.
Bible Verses About The Temple Tax
The temple tax seems to have disappeared along with the temple. I’m actually surprised that some enterprising preacher hasn’t attempted to resurrect the offering of the temple tax.
The temple tax is covered quite well in this article from GotQuestions.
Exodus 30:13-15 Everyone who is registered must pay half a shekel according to the sanctuary shekel (twenty gerahs to the shekel). This half shekel is a contribution to the Lord. Each man who is registered, twenty years old or more, must give this contribution to the Lord. The wealthy may not give more and the poor may not give less than half a shekel when giving the contribution to the Lord to atone for your lives.
Matthew 17:24 When they came to Capernaum, those who collected the temple tax approached Peter and said, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?”
Nehemiah 10:32-33 In addition, we promise to obey the command to pay the annual Temple tax of one-eighth of an ounce of silver for the care of the Temple of our God.
Scriptures About Sacrificial Giving
Sacrificial giving is a part of Christianity. It’s the exception, however, and not the rule. The Bible mentions sacrificial giving a few times. Our lives should be in constant sacrifice mode. However, pastors and preachers shouldn’t always be asking for people to give until it hurts.
Luke 21:2-4 He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
Jesus was not admiring this lady. He simply was stating the obvious.
The Gift of Giving
2 Corinthians 8:2 During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
The church in Macedonia had giving in the bones!
Exodus 36:6-7 So Moses gave a command, and the word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more.
Close to A Year’s Wages
John 12:3 Mary, therefore, took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Acts 4:34-35 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
The church is not expected to create an entire movement or doctrine around this Bible verse. Jesus had warned the Church about pending persecution and a scattering. Staying behind was certain death.
Giving offerings is a huge component of Christianity. However, we must be sure to give offerings Biblically and hold fast to the Word.
Bonus Bible Verse About Giving
Acts 10:3-4 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.
Can you imagine getting noticed by God because of your giving?