I remember when my wife and I first got married that she would tell me stories about the Christian camp she attended as a child, because camp meant so much to her growing up. One of the songs they sang at camp was called, “God Loves a Cheerful Giver,” which was about Ananias and Sapphira; and I want to share the lyrics of this song to get us started and to lighten the mood a little before we dig into a very serious passage:
Ananias and Sapphira got together to conspire
a plot…to cheat…the church and get ahead,
But they did not know the power that the Holy Spirit had,
They lied to Simon Peter and they both dropped dead!
God loves a cheerful giver,
Give it all you’ve got;
When you’re down and out, without a doubt,
You’re in an awful spot.
When the odds add up against you and you cannot do a thing.
Praise God, to serve Him is a joyous thing.
This song is a way to address a very “difficult to understand” passage of Scripture in a light-hearted fashion. It’s such a difficult passage, that two of my go-to commentaries just skim right through it without saying anything of worth. And it’s a passage that many pastors won’t touch, because the nature of God that’s portrayed within is just hard for church members to swallow. The LogosTalk website, states, “The account of Ananias and Sapphira strikes many readers as harsh; a return to Old Testament retribution. ‘Why this swift act of judgment?’ No amount of commentary” the website says, “will ever take the edge off this passage – and that may be the point.”(1)
The Account of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
Wow! We read here that a couple named Ananias and Sapphira died for withholding what they said they were giving to the church. This passage is shocking to many of us! The reason why is because here we are in the New Testament, and two people have apparently been struck dead by God! Most of us are probably under the impression that this kind of judgment was seen “only” in the Old Testament, and that it was pre-grace and pre-Jesus. I mean, all we have to do now, when we sin, is ask God to forgive us and it’s done, right? We can pretty much do whatever we like and just get a slap on the wrist! Well, not exactly.
In the shock and awe of this couple’s fate, it’s easy to forget the first word in the account: “But” (v. 1). The chapter division breaks up some important details that happened before the word “but.” So, let’s back up and see what precedes this account. We read in Acts chapter 4, verses 32-37:
32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. 36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Ananias and Sapphira’s deceit and greed stand in contrast to the sincerity and generosity of the community of faith. We read of the early church that they had “one heart and one soul,” “they had all things in common,” “nor was there anyone among them who lacked” (4:32). “But a certain man named Ananias . . .” A dark cloud invades the scene here. Greed and deceit enter the community. It’s been suggested that when they saw how Barnabas was held in high esteem for giving the church all the proceeds of the sale, that they became jealous and wanted similar praise, and that “while they sought the credit for giving all, they did not wish to pay the full price. Consequently, the two agreed to sell their land and keep a portion of the money for themselves. Ananias brought a part of the money to the apostles under the guise that it was the entire sum.”(2)
In verse 4, Peter indicates that the two could have freely kept back a portion of the sale for themselves; it was theirs to do with as they pleased. But instead, they presented it as “all the money from the sale.” The phrase “laid it at the apostles’ feet” in verse 2 makes this clear. They wanted to receive praise for their extreme generosity; but in their deception, they lied to God (v. 4) and tested the Holy Spirit (v. 9). The Broadman Bible Commentary states, “Many Christians face the temptation to give their possessions from wrong motives. Like Ananias they court the praise and applause of others. From this incident we ought to learn that God requires absolute honesty in our relationship with Him and complete integrity in the fellowship.”(3) Not to mention, we must give freely and generously.
When we come before God to give an offering we must do so willingly. Listen, as I read 2 Corinthians 9:5-7: “Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” The main point I wish to draw from this passage is how verse 7 says that a person should give as a “matter of generosity” and “as he purposes in his heart.” I have always understood the expression “purposes in his heart” to mean that we should give as the Holy Spirit convicts us to give.
So, let’s apply this understanding; but before we do, I must ask, “What is the purpose of giving tithes and gifts (or offerings) to the church? What are they used for?” I need to let you know that I have Scripture reference’s in my notes for everything I’m about to share. In the Old Testament the “tithe” was used to support the priests (Numbers 18:21; 2 Chronicles 31:4-5; Nehemiah 10:37); to help the stranger, the fatherless, the widow, and to support the singers and gatekeepers in God’s house (Deuteronomy 26:12-13; Nehemiah 10:39 and 13:10-12); and to make repairs to the temple, including paying for supplies and labor. In the New Testament, the “gifts” were used to help the widows, the orphans and the needy (Acts 6:1; James 1:27); and to support the leadership and mission work of the apostles (2 Corinthians 9:12-15; Philippians 4:14-19; 1 Corinthians 9:1-14).
In the verses I referenced from the Scripture, the “tithe” is mandatory and it must go to the church; and much of what we “give” should go to the church, such as what we see in the example of the New Testament believers. However, there is some license with the principle of giving to personally give money (or use money) to help a needy neighbor, a beggar, or even a widow.
Here’s where the application comes into play. Let’s first think about the “tithe.” I have heard more times than I can count, a Christian saying something to this effect: “Well, this month I am taking my tithe and giving it to the Lottie Moon Offering; or to the local pregnancy center; or to the drug rehab facility; or to pay for the food that I’m giving to feed the kids at Vacation Bible School.” I’ve even heard professing Christians go so far as to say, “I don’t give to the church, because I think my money can be better used by the local Humane Society.” God commands that the tithe go to the church, and – after taking care of supporting the priests (or the staff) and paying the bills – the church is then led by the Holy Spirit concerning how use the remainder to do such things as help the widows and the needy, and to support both local and distant mission work.
We need to understand that the “tithe” is not our money; it’s God’s. Listen to Haggai 2:8: “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, says the LORD of hosts.” The tithe belongs to God and we are supposed to trust the church and its leaders to do what’s best and to be led by the Holy Spirit. But too many of us are saying that we know what’s best; that we are the authority. We are trying to take control of what belongs to God. This is contempt for God and His Spirit, and we are treading on dangerous ground!
Let’s now think about “giving.” Randy Alcorn, in his book The Treasure Principle, says, “The tithe is God’s historical method to get us on the path to giving . . . It’s unhealthy to view tithing as a place to stop.” He says, “Tithing isn’t the ceiling of giving; it’s the floor. It’s not the finish line of giving; it’s just the starting blocks. Tithes can be the training wheels to launch us into the mindset, skills, and habits of grace giving.”(4)
The tithe is expected and mandatory, and giving is what goes above and beyond the tithe. And the Holy Spirit will convict us of the amount we need to give; but in the examples I find in the Scripture, it is usually just a portion that the Spirit will convict us to give to the church. We have a good measure of personal discretion in what we choose to give above and beyond the tithe – and so did Ananias and Sapphira. But, they lied about “giving it all,” and therein lay the problem.
So, what happens when we fail to give that portion to the church that the Spirit told us to give? Or, like Ananias and Sapphira, we put on a show and lie to the church and to God, saying that we are giving all that’s in our possession when it’s not true? Will God overlook our sin, because we are living in an age of grace? Or, will God judge us in a similar way as He did Ananias and Sapphira?
Some speculate that these two deaths were from natural causes; that God had nothing to do with it. Perhaps Ananias died from shock or guilt. Let me give you an example from The Broadman Bible Commentary, which tells us this: “When Ananias realized his deed was no longer a secret, he died . . . Probably his death came as a result of an awareness that he was exposed. In ancient times when a person unknowingly violated a taboo, the shock was so great that sometimes it brought death . . . Added to the shock of being exposed, Sapphira had the additional news of her husband’s death.”(5) People must have been pretty weak back in that day and time to die from a heart attack after having a lie exposed! If that happened today, there would be a whole lot of dead people! It can be easy to gloss over the holiness of God; to forget that He is righteous and pure and that He hates sin wholeheartedly.
In America, it seems as though we’ve twisted the meaning of love. God is love, according to 1 John 4:16, but we often view love as tolerant and permissive; but Hebrews 12:6 says, “For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” One aspect of love is discipline; and a father will discipline his child if he really loves him. So, when we receive God’s chastening and discipline – even though we don’t like it – it’s actually a demonstration of His mercy and grace; and we had better hope for his discipline instead of His justice. You see, God is more than being just a Father to us. We seem to forget that He is also Lord. We get so focused on our sappy view of a loving God that we forget He is also a God of judgment.
Let me refresh our memories on what Paul said in reference to eating the Lord’s Supper. In 1 Corinthians 11:27-37, he said, “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.” So, Paul said that believers are actually “judged” by God if they partake of the Lord’s Supper in deceit, still having unconfessed sin in their heart – and some even die from that judgement. Others, however, are chastened, which keeps them from being condemned with the world.
We know that Ananias and Sapphira were believers, because their account is told in the context of the actions of “the multitude of those who believed,” according to Acts 4:32. And the reason why God judged Ananias and Sapphira so severely is so that the “church” would not be condemned with the world. He did not want the church to lose its reverence and respect for the Lord and slide back into the ways of the world. You see, in Acts 4:33, the church started with “great power” and “great grace.” But in Acts 5:11, the church felt “great fear” – a fear of the Lord, that is. In Acts 9:31, we read, “Then the churches . . . walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.” If a church is not following the guidance of the Spirit, and if a church is lacking the fear of the Lord, then that church will not survive.
It seems reasonable to suspect that one reason for God’s swift judgment here is to guard the holiness of His people and their growing community. In verse 3, Peter said “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?” Satan is trying to get a foothold because he sees how powerfully the Spirit is moving. Whereas the community was “filled” with the Holy Spirit (4:30), Ananias was “filled” with Satan. As John Stott put it, “If the devil’s first tactic was to destroy the Church by force from without, his second was to destroy it by falsehood from within.” And so this is not simply an account of greed in the early Church. It’s about an attack on the church from within – an enemy scared and trying to stop the great momentum of the gospel.
The case of Ananias and Sapphira illustrates the fact that even believers can be led into bold, flagrant sin. It was Satan that had filled their hearts to lie in this way (v. 3), and “to test the Spirit of the Lord” (v. 9). Covetousness, hypocrisy, and a desire for the praise of men all played a part in their demise. The sudden, dramatic deaths of Ananias and Sapphira served to purify and warn the church. “Great fear came upon all church,” according to verse 11. Right away, in the church’s infancy, God made it plain that hypocrisy was not going to be tolerated, and His judgment of Ananias and Sapphira helped guard the church against future pretense. [One commentary says that] God laid the bodies of Ananias and Sapphira in the path of every hypocrite who would seek to enter the church.(6)
The sad account of Ananias and Sapphira is not some obscure incident from the Old Testament regarding a violation of Mosaic Law. This occurred in the first-century church to believers in Jesus Christ. The account of Ananias and Sapphira is a reminder to us today that God sees the heart (1 Samuel 16:7), that He hates sin, and that He is concerned for the purity of His church. As Jesus told the compromising church in Thyatira, “All the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works” (Revelation 2:23).(7)
Time of Reflection
In the end, we are left with some questions, such as, “Why did God strike down Ananias and Sapphira, rather than give them a chance to repent? How is it that Satan filled Ananias’ heart to lie” when he was a believer? And “Why didn’t Peter show the same grace toward Ananias and Sapphira that he was shown for his deceit and denial of the Lord (Matthew 26:69-75)? We don’t know. The text doesn’t speak to these questions. Ultimately, though, it’s the text that demands an answer from [us].”(8) So, the question that each of us must deeply consider is this: “Do I fear God?”
Did you know that Jesus had a fear of the Lord? In a prophecy about the Messiah, Isaiah 11:2 declares, “The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him . . . [and] the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” In the book of Proverbs we learn some things about the fear of the Lord. Listen closely. Proverbs 9:10: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” Proverbs 2:5: “You will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 14:27: “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,” and Proverbs 16:6: “In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.”
What Proverbs just shared with us is that “the fear of the Lord” leads to the knowledge of God; and the knowledge of God becomes a fountain of life through which we find atonement for our sins and we depart from evil. There’s a prophecy of the Messiah in Zechariah 13:1, which declares, “In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.” The fear of the Lord is what leads us to that fountain, and that fountain is Jesus. Jesus said in John 4:14, “Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” So, once again ask yourself, “Do I fear God?” and “Has the fear of the Lord led me to taste of the water of life in Jesus; to have my sins forgiven and to receive eternal life?”
NOTES
(1) Matthew Boffey, “5 Insights for Interpreting the Deaths of Ananias and Sapphira,” LogosTalk (May 1, 2019): https://blog.logos.com/2019/05/5-insights-for-interpreting-the-deaths-of-ananias-and-sapphira/.
(2) Clifton J. Allen, ed., “Acts, 1 Corinthians” The Broadman Bible Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1970), p. 42.
(3) Ibid., p. 43.
(4) Randy Alcorn, The Treasure Principle (Sisters: OR, Multnomah, 2001), p. 62.
(5) “Acts, 1 Corinthians,” The Broadman Bible Commentary, p. 43.
(6) “Why Did God Kill Ananias and Sapphira for Lying?” Got Questions: https://www.gotquestions.org/Ananias-and-Sapphira.html.
(7) Ibid.
(8) Matthew Boffey.
