³⁰ “‘A tithe^(A) of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy^(B) to the Lord.

¹⁰ Bring the whole tithe^(A) into the storehouse,^(B) that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates^(C) of heaven and pour out^(D) so much blessing^(E) that there will not be room enough to store it.^(F)

⁴² “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth^(A) of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God.^(B) You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.^(C)

The Widow’s Offering^(A)

21 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.^{(B) 2} He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ³ “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ⁴ All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”^(C)

Generosity Encouraged

⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.^(A)

¹³ Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. ¹⁴ At the present time your plenty will supply what they need,^(A) so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, ¹⁵ as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”^[a](B)

⁹ For you know the grace^(A) of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(B) that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,^(C) so that you through his poverty might become rich.^(D)

¹⁰ And here is my judgment^(E) about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.^{(F) 11} Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness^(G) to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.