THE BOOK OF ACTS - LESSON #9
“The Wheat and the Tares”
Acts 5:1-11
The devil saw the church was growing too fast and he got on the warpath. The judgment that came upon Ananias and Sapphira may seem harsh but the life of the church and souls were in the balance.
Vs. 1 & 2
This couple did not need to sell their property. The tragedy is in
deceiving the Apostles into believing that they gave everything. The church
only has two problems:
1.) Pressures from the outside.
2.) Pressures from the inside.
I Cor. 10:13 - “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not permit you to be tempted above that which you are able, but with the temptation, also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
Proverbs 28:13 - “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
I John l:9 - “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Vs. 3 & 4 - This is the first reference to Satan influencing someone in the Book of Acts. It is well to note that the man was first to lie. It was the sin of hypocrisy, of deception, of insincerity and of lying. It was premeditated, deliberate, intentional and planned. He lied to the Holy Spirit - not to the Apostles.
Vs. 5 - Peter was not responsible for the judgment that fell on Ananias and
Sapphira. It was God’s doing. The result was fear came on all who heard what had happened. God was dividing the wheat from the tares. Perhaps this was the result of what took place in Acts 4:29,
“And now, Lord, behold their threatings; and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word.”
Peter being filled with the Holy Ghost was exercising the gift found in I Cor. 12:10, “...to another discerning of spirits...” This gift was given to him by the Holy Spirit.
Vs. 6 - No one had to wait for the undertaker. This was done in haste to remove the haste and that was the reason for using the young men.
The Bible:
1.) Warns us.
2.) Leads us.
3.) Commands us to walk carefully and humbly before the Lord.
Vs. 7 - Evidently word never got out to Ananias’s wife.
Vs. 8 & 9 - She had agreed with her husband to do this sin. Peter takes the initiative to question the woman. The word “tempt” means to “test”. The Holy Spirit had already spoke to Peter or he would have said nothing. The pall bearers were still standing by.
Vs. 10 - Judgment fell on her just as it did with her husband. The act of both Ananias and Sapphira was severe. It was the results of dishonesty, greed
and covetousness. All of these factors can destroy a church.
Vs. 11 - The death of these two people produced a great fear among the believers. God takes the Church very seriously.
Ephesians 4:31 - “Let all bitterness and wrath, and anger and clamor (Greek - krague which means outcry) and evil speaking, be put away from you with malice.”
Conclusion:
1.) God’s Word always warns us.
2.) We should seek God with a sense of awe.
3.) Blessing always follows judgment.
4.) We should always choose to cherish all things that are good.
5.) The Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of Truth.
6.) The Church of today needs the Gift of Discernment operating in it.
