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. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 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, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. (Acts 4:32-35)
In a previous study, we learned that Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:44-47; see ACTS: Beginning of the "Church"; Clear Message Leads to Repentance) These new Jewish converts in Jerusalem were so zealous towards the Word of God, they willing gave and shared all that they had, as anyone had need.
And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. (Acts 4:36-37) But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 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. (Acts 5:1-2)
Initially, many of us may be tempted to think, what's the big deal? Joses sold his land and brought all the money he made from the sale and gave it to God, by giving it to the apostles to help take care of the needs of the believers. Didn't Ananias and his wife, Sapphira do the same thing? They just chose not to give all the money they made. God's response through Peter will make it very clear what the problem is.
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? 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.” Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. (Acts 5:3-7)
When Jesus had once taught to a multitude of followers, He said very clearly, “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." (Matthew 5:33-37)
We have to be people who keep our word. As the old phrase says, "our word is our bond"! God is very clear about that throughout scripture. O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongs— O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth! Rise up, O Judge of the earth; Render punishment to the proud. He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? He who formed the eye, shall He not see? He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, He who teaches man knowledge? (Psalm 94:1-2, 9-10) Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; For He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed— Better not to vow than to vow and not pay.(Ecclesiastes 5:2, 4-5)
We are supposed to be representatives of Christ to the world. “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19) We have to follow that same example. If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. (Numbers 30:2) When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. (Deuteronomy 23:21) We understand that ... it is impossible for God to lie... (Hebrews 6:18), and that it is very possible for us, mankind to lie. But, like with all sin, lying is a choice that we don't have to make. We can choose to make the right choice, and the more we practice doing it, the easier it will become.
So God spoke through Peter and explained to Ananias that he wasn't just lying to the apostles, but he had lied to the Holy Spirit; he had not lied to men but to God. And what is the penalty for sin? Death. Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. God sent Christ Jesus to die for our sins, For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NLT) But we have to accept the salvation that God offers through faith in His Son, Christ Jesus. Just going to church, or "being around the apostles" or other believers doesn't save us. We have to accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, and the sacrifice He made for us by dying for our sins, so that we could be saved.
As for Ananias' wife, Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” 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.” 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. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. (Acts 5:7-11)
This may offend some, but we should be thankful to God that He doesn't treat wives the way He treats husbands! God didn't give Ananias a chance to explain what he did and why. As soon as he brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet, Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit ..." But when Sapphira comes in, Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She was given the opportunity to "come clean", to admit the truth. Why was she given that opportunity and not her husband? Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. (Ephesians 5:22-24) If wives are submissive to their husbands and the husbands lead them to do something that is against God, God will give the wives a chance to repent.
The perfect example of this is when Eve believed the lies of the devil, but who did God question after the sin was committed? Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:1, 6, 9)
God makes this distinction between husbands and wives because each of their roles represents the relationship between Christ and the church. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”[Genesis 2:24] (Ephesians 5:25-31)
The morals of this lesson are: These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:7-8) This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you [husbands] in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:25-33) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear,... (I John 4:18)
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