The-Lie-11-col The deaths of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) are often misunderstood. The lesson to learn from their tragic end is often misapplied.

In fact, Ananias and Sapphira themselves did not understand the full ramifications of their actions, and that’s what killed them!

The background to the event is found at the end of Acts 4:

Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 4:34-37

Brethren in the early church shared and gave and supported one another without any selfish desire or possessive tendency. They were a family and helped each other as such.

At the end of the chapter there is a great contribution being offered. One brother, named Joses, sold some land and gave the money to the Apostles to distribute as needed…

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 5:1-2

What was the thought process of Ananias and his wife? They sold land and donated money, but they kept some of the money for themselves.

THIS IS NOT SINFUL!

Over and over the Bible speaks of giving, not according to a set-amount, but from the heart.

If Ananias had donated half the money from a God-fearing, brethren-serving heart, he could have gone on his merry way. No, Ananias’ problem was that he left the impression that he was donating all of the money.

He wanted people to think he was giving a great sum, when in reality he was only giving a portion.

Notice that Peter points out that the money Ananias gave was his to give as much as his heart desired:

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Acts 5:3-4

The sin on display is not greed, it’s pride. They loved their reputation more than they loved God. The sin was not holding back some of the money; the sin was their reason for holding it back.

Ananias was thinking “what’s the harm? It’s just one little sin. So what if they think I gave more than I did. I still gave; everybody wins!”

But that one “little” sin made a mockery of Christian fellowship and the Apostles’ Spirit-given authority. It cost him his life, and the life of his lying wife, who encountered Peter a few hours later:

And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

Acts 5:7-10

What’s the lesson?

And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

Acts 5:11

The lesson is that “one little sin” is only “little” to you. It’s only “little” to the one looking to justify their wrong doing. To God there are no big sins or small sins; there are only actions that offend His holiness.

And if we offend God we will be punished.

 

Next week we begin another week-long series. That one will be entitled: “When at the Cross…”

Have a great day!