“Truth and Consequences” (Ananias & Sapphira) Acts 5:1-11 Pastor Bob Leroe, Cliftondale Congregational Church, Saugus, Massachusetts (Stewardship Sunday)
Have you ever kept a gift that you intended to give away? You maybe had second thoughts and said to yourself, “Hey, this is pretty good; I think I’m going to keep it!” Acts 5 tells of such a gift. This incident shows that even in the earliest days of the Church, believers were not a society of perfect people. We tend to elevate the “Early Church”, to put it on a pedestal as if it were especially holy; yet it consisted of folks pretty much like us. There has never been a perfect church, not in Jerusalem…not even in Saugus. And I can assure you that our church will remain far from perfect, so long as I am your Pastor!
The early church, just like today, depended on financial assistance. The Bible word “offering” means, “to carry to”. The word was used to describe the blood offerings in the Hebrew Temple. The blood of the sacrifice was “carried to” the altar. We carry our gifts to God, placing them before Him, for His use. At our church ushers collect the offering, then bring it forward, but in some churches, the congregation walks up to the front with their offerings. Verse 2 states that Ananias placed his offering at the feet of the Apostles. In context, the previous chapter records the generosity of other believers, particularly a man named Barnabus. In light of Jesus predicting the destruction of Jerusalem, many believers were cashing in their material assets and contributing to the church. This became a source of envy for Ananias and Sapphira, who yearned for the praise of others.
This couple had some valuable real estate, which they sold. But their offering was tainted by deception. Ananias and Sapphira wanted to be acknowledged as spiritual people. George Macdonald wrote, “Half the misery in the world comes from trying to look, instead of trying to be, what one is not.” Churches need support, and the Bible teaches that 10% of our income is an appropriate amount to contribute. However, our attitude in giving is just as important as the amount. If we’re giving out of pride, to impress others, God isn’t impressed.
On the surface, this incident is about giving, but it’s mainly about pride and hypocrisy. We need to examine our motives for giving. The best attitude is one of near anonymity. This is a good reason for using the envelope system—you not only get info for tax preparation but no one needs to know how much you’ve given. We shouldn’t make a big deal of our generosity, or any acts of Christian service. We simply give and serve, without any fuss. If you teach Sunday School, sing in the choir, serve on a board, or visit people in the hospital, you’re simply grateful for the opportunity to help. You’re not expecting a medal. If giving God a tithe is just part of your budget, it becomes a non-issue. You simply do it, without any fanfare, without any hidden agendas. The Pharisees made a big show of their giving and were criticized by Jesus for calling attention to themselves. God may well reward our generosity, but that should never be our motive for giving.
Money can assume a god-like quality in our lives. Some philanthropic acts are attempts to achieve immortality, to perpetuate one’s name. I drove by an impressive church in New Jersey where the primary donor’s name was inscribed in huge letters over the entrance. How much reward in heaven might such a benefactor receive? It’s tempting to seek a higher reputation than we deserve. Low-profile generosity usually keeps us from pride. God knows our hearts. He understands our motives. He knows how much we should give (of money, time, talents, and resources), what we’re actually giving, and why we’re giving.
Bible scholar Dr. Bruce Lockerbie urges ministers to “stop saying ‘I’m OK, you’re OK’ and start preaching why giving is not optional.” Church giving is not an admission or membership fee; it is an act of love. We might do well to ask ourselves in what ways do we tend to hold back from the Lord, and why.
It’s very important to understand that no one made Ananias and Sapphira contribute to the Church--there was no coercion, no pressure; they were under no obligation. And they had every right to retain part, even all of the price for their land, for their own use. Their sin was in presenting the balance as though it were the total purchase-price they’d received. It was a deliberate deception. They didn’t give as much as the sales price, but they pretended they did, to make people think they were extra-spiritual. They hoped to give a little but get credit for a lot. They were right to equate giving with spirituality, but wrong to think giving was a substitute for spirituality.
Peter responds with a stern rebuke. He says in verse 3, “How is it that Satan has so filled your heart?” If Satan can’t attack the Church from the outside, he will try to work from the inside. And while Satan influenced this unfortunate couple, the devil doesn’t “make” Christians sin; we chose this course of action. The word “filled” could be translated “maimed”. Greed can maim and wound our souls. Pride, along the desire for fame and power can equally injure us. We can be tempted to do whatever it takes for the high regard of and influence over others. We might walk over people to gain a promotion; we might engage in unethical business practices in order to achieve success; as supervisors we may work our people past exhaustion to make us look good; and we may associate with unholy people--we may even start looking up to them.
We aren’t told how Peter knew of this deceit, but it appears the Holy Spirit revealed it to him. Peter then bluntly reveals the truth and consequences. Some people criticize Peter, yet Peter did not kill Ananias and Sapphira. It was God who brought about their sudden death. We may wonder why God was so harsh. A higher standard ought to prevail among the followers of Jesus. We expect governmental leaders to live by a higher standard (and we’re disillusioned when they don’t), yet even more we should expect moral behavior from God’s people. Believers are not sinless, but neither should their lives be characterized by sin. A wrong use of material possessions is a serious sin in God’s sight. Ananias and Sapphira interrupted the early progress of God’s people. And they were disciplined.
Church discipline is an unpleasant subject. Nonetheless, there are times in the life of a church when members must be counseled about exceptionally sinful practices. I use the word “exceptionally” because we are all sinners saved by grace. This sober judgment in Acts likely left many within the community thinking, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” If this were how God dealt with all sinners, there wouldn’t be anyone left; our churches would all be empty!
It’s been said, “You can’t fool God”, yet this unfortunate couple tried to. Peter bluntly tells them, “You weren’t lying to us but to God” (vs 4). Sin is always against God. How do people lie to God? Sometimes by failing to be honest with themselves; by forgetting that God knows us better than we know ourselves. Also we lie to God by making promises and resolutions we know we don’t really intend to keep. We lie when we promise God that we will pray and read our Bibles more consistently, or be more faithful in going to church, more generous in our giving, but then slip back into our old habits.
When Sapphira returned 3 hours later (vs 8), she had an opportunity to tell the truth. Vs 1 states that her husband worked his deceit with her “full knowledge.” She stuck to her cover story, and joined her husband in death. This time Peter declared (vs 9), “How could you conspire together to test the Spirit of the Lord?” The Bible describes God as patient, yet in this case, early on in the life of the Church, it appears an example needed to be made to warn against hypocritical giving. If God had not intervened, Ananias and Sapphira might have become influential leaders in the early church.
Were Ananias and Sapphira true, genuine believers? The closest answer I can uncover is from II Timothy 2:19, “The Lord knows those who are His, and everyone who confesses the Name of the Lord must turn from wickedness.” The name Ananias means “God is gracious”, but he learned that God is also holy. Sapphira means “beautiful”, but her heart was deformed by sin.
In verse 11 we learn the general reaction to this severe incident: FEAR. We have a love/fear relationship with God. On one hand, He is our loving Father; on the other hand, He is not to be trifled with. The “ones He loves, He chastens” (Heb 12:5-6)...sometimes to the point where He may take a wayward believer home. The Apostle John warns, “There is a sin that leads to death” (I Jn 5:16). That doesn’t mean that God will blast us for the slightest offense. In this same epistle, John explains that true Christians do not habitually, continuously, or characteristically commit sin (3:9). God is both gracious and a “consuming fire” (Heb 12:29). Have you experienced “the fear of the Lord”? The book of Proverbs tells us that such fear is “the beginning of wisdom” (1:7). How has that fear changed your life? Acts 5 was part of a transition point, a new period of salvation history. God used this act of judgment as a sober warning to His Church.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to give--not to impress others, but to build up Your Kingdom. Help us to understand that for believers giving is not an option, but a privilege and responsibility. Grant us pure motives as we give our offerings and as we serve. Thank You for the greatest Gift of all—One we could never repay—the Gift of Your Son, Whose blood was shed for our sins, Whose rich mercy is available to all who will look to Him, and live. Amen.
