No, it isn't. That is a pervasive and common error. Tithing is giving one-tenth of agricultural produce or every tenth animal, as prescribed in the Law of Moses. Under the Law, presenting the tithe at the tabernacle or temple was not optional in any sense. It was required, such that when it was not done as prescribed, God could legitimately accuse Israel of robbing Him.
However, as the requirement to bring tithes was an old covenant command, it was fulfilled in Christ along with the rest of the Law.
Giving is optional, in amount, time, and kind. We as Christians are encouraged to give in the New Testament, but nowhere are we required to "tithe".
Conflating "tithing" with "giving" only leads to confusion. They simply are not synonymous.
Lets see if seeing tithing as anything at all to do with giving, and giving generously, leads to confusion or to being set free by the truth..
The old covenant was in the letter, mans way without faith, without knowledge, ignoring all the things to believe in of spirit, because they are only flesh talking, as seen when people talk about tithes here, and why they insist it was for Israel only, proves they have no such faith as Abraham, as Abraham is the father of us all, Abraham received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of faith when he was still uncircumcised, which enables him to be the father of us all that believe this same way, walking in the SAME STEPS of that faith of our father Abraham.
Abraham brought back all the goods, and the promise for Abraham to be heir to the world, was not through any law(not through tithing that was a law) it was through tithing that was generous giving of Abraham. In Genesis 14, we see Abraham responded to the priest of the most high God, and gave Him tithes of all.
Looking through eyes of faith( as a Christian does) and not looking through the law in letters, we see it is relevant for Christians to be taught this, for it is contained in our new testament. The King of righteousness and peace met Abraham, at the exact time when Abraham was successful, and when Abraham had wealth gathered, He came to him. This was the blessing to Abraham and Abraham knew that, and not out of necessity, but generously gave a tenth of the spoils, because there was no law for Abraham, ALL WAS BY THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF FAITH, as Abraham is this example only to this entire world. The man was great it is recorded, to whom EVEN the Patriach Abraham gave(give generously) tenth(tithe) of the spoils. Levi had a commandment to take tithes of the people in the law. But He who is not decent from the Levis, received tithes of Abraham, as Abraham gave them by faith not within any requirements, demands, expectations, not by any law. This blessed Abraham who had the promises to be heir to us all through faith, so we know assuredly, Abraham gave generously through faith a tithe of all and we cannot have a different faith, especially as Christ has an everlasting and unchanging priesthood, to make intercession for us, to bless us, but not if we do differently from Abraham's example of faith, and harden our heart and through flesh excuse why we boast we can do a different way, but there is no other way in but the one walked in already and shown, as Levi payed tithes in Abraham, in faith that is, as we do too, or we have no like faith, which all goes together, to show, the greater matters of the law are FAITH..
Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Genesis 14:16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.
17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Hebrews 7:7 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Hebrews 7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he EVER LIVETH to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the WEIGHTIER MATTERS OF THE LAW, JUDGEMENT, MERCY, AND FAITH: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
So the one who claims that tithing and giving are not the same, claims Abraham did not give generously, which is a rediculus unfounded false claim, that bounty was made up for Abraham and for us all through faith, because of course Abraham gave and gave generously from the spoils, and this was a tenth, and this was tithing, this was Abraham's good work as it is ours too through faith in Christ which is our righteousness remaining forever.
2 Corinthians 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth FOR EVER.
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
