| Subject: Ananias and Sapphira |
Author:
Chubber
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Date Posted: 01:43:12 12/15/03 Mon
Here’s a little study I did. Maybe it will be useful for somebody.
Let us examine the book of Acts, chapter 4 verse 36 through chapter 5 verse 11. This is the story of Ananias and Sapphira.
At first we read about the Levite Joseph who sold some land and laid the money for it at the disciples feet. This event occurred without incident. It is important for us to understand what he did right in order to observe what Ananias and Sapphira did wrong. We aren’t given to much information about him. First we are told that he is a Levite. This is noteworthy. The fact that he presented or laid the money at the apostles feet shows submission and humility. Humility was not a common attitude for Levites of the time. Refer to the tale of the good Samaritan. This is also important because most of the apostles were not Levites. In laying the money at their feet a higher socially classed individual displayed submission to a lower social class. Yet he was not erroneous in this act, his submission was in reverence to God, not only in reverence to the men.
We are not told specifically that he presented the entire some of money nor are we told that he claimed too.
Ananias and Sapphira also sold a piece of property and brought the money to the Apostles. They however kept some of the money for themselves. Peter asked Ananias why he had tried to trick them and then Ananias fell over dead. What is the dynamic? Let us examine the action sequence of Ananias. First he sold some land. Then he decided to keep some of the money. Next, he took the rest and laid it at the disciples feet. He apparently told the disciples that he had given them all the money. Peter then spoke to him and then he was dead. This is the physical action sequence. Let us examine the spiritual happenings behind the physical. If Ananias sold land he either was directed by God or made up his own mind to do it. He then decided to keep some of the money. This was not an offense punishable by death as Peter states. He had a right to keep as much as he wanted. Spiritually, the Lord could have directed him to keep or give any percentage of the money he made. We do not know. The only offense made clear by Peter is the fact that Ananias “lied to the holy spirit”. What is it to lie to the holy spirit. In speaking of the infinite being, part of a triune God, it would be impossible to lie to him. He is all knowing and cannot be fooled. Obviously no man can hope to fool him. It is therefore reasonably safe to assume that Ananias had not tried to lie directly to God. Ananias did however try to fool Peter. A little research on Peter will show that he was the leader of the disciples at this point. Examine Matthew 16:17-19 and John 21:15-19. In attempting to trick Peter, Ananias had tried to trick the Church as a whole. In doing this he had tried to trick the Body of Christ and the ministry of the holy spirit. Let us remember that God reacted similarly in the old testament when Hebrews attempted to undermine Moses. We can therefore plainly say that Ananias and Sapphira were not put to death for lying, but for trying to fool God’s anointed. Peter was the spiritual authority. Ananias hoped to gain some level of respect or admiration for his gift. His motivation was pride. Not only pride, but greed for a case for pride. Not only did he do evil, but he hoped to do more under the approval or admiration of Peter. He sought to use God against himself through tricking Peter. For God all things are arranged to glorify himself. Ananias sought to fool Peter. If he had succeeded he would have taken God’s lead man and used him to glorify himself rather than God. Therefore we can see that Ananias, knowingly or unknowingly, attempted to steal the entire church from God by fooling the head. Obviously, God would not allow this. That is why he killed them.
We should learn learn from this passage. First, we should realize the unity of God with his earthly leaders. Secondly we should realize the seriousness of trying to manipulate them for our benefit. When we try to "fool" the Lords annointed, we really try to fool God.
Write me with your questions or comments on this passage.
Word to your mother,
Chubber
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