The story of Ananias and Sapphira has been told time and time again as a tragedy of early Christian history and as a warning to be genuine before God. Just like the scenes of Cain and Abel’s sacrifice, one made the correct sacrifice, while the other was enraged to jealousy over his exposure of hypocrisy. The story involves envy on the part of one who sees another’s commitment and feels the conviction in his own life, but instead of allowing the conviction to spur him on to good deeds, he fills the empty void with pride and rage, the very sins that caused Satan to become puffed up and to try to be like the most high God.
In Acts 5:1-11, there is stark a contrast in giving from what is described immediately preceding in Acts 4:36-37. Barnabas, one of the church leaders with some personal wealth, brought his money from some land he had sold and gave it to the apostles to be put into the common missions fund. Perhaps Barnabas expected no recognition at all, because many other men and women were doing the same thing (4:34). But we read of this faithful man’s deeds right before we enter into the account of Ananias’ and Sapphira’s deceit.
This is, of course, a passage on the subject of giving; Ananias and Sapphira were giving but just not giving their all. But upon further inspection, we see that this is really a passage on sinning unto death, because Ananias and Sapphira were snuffed out as a result of their sin. However, even further consideration reveals that in this passage is the message of hypocrisy’s judgment. For far too long, we in the church have also been hypocrites or mere actors at times in our giving and our service to the Lord. In public we appear in the right stage light, while God sees our real inner condition. Ananias and Sapphira didn’t just commit the sin of theft or embezzlement; the real sin they committed is a deep-seeded heart of disingenuousness before God and His people. Seriously, a godly fear should overtake us and make us aware of our own need to stand before God open and transparent today. We must become scared to death to pretend. [Exit stage left.]
Have you ever been a hypocrite? The original Greek word means “actor” or “professor of something you’re not.” Do what others see tell who the real “you” is? Some of us have become so adept at fooling others that we’ve fooled ourselves into thinking that we can fool God. As I read this passage in Acts, I have to ask myself these questions: Am I being the real me right now? Am I dealing with the real me right now?
The text is straightforward:
- Ananias’ hypocrisy was exposed (vv. 1-6)
The guy brought part of the money from a piece of land he sold, but he made out like he was giving the whole thing. He wanted to have the credit of complete sacrifice, and yet he kept back a portion for himself. I like the way one guy said it: “He was professing cream and practicing skim milk.” Maybe some of us are doing the same thing. Like a discounted belt or purse, we look like genuine leather, maybe even have the word genuine stamped somewhere on us, but we’re really manmade on the inside.
This teaches us two things:
a. Not being genuine closes our heart to the Holy Spirit’s leading and opens our heart to Satan’s direction (see vs. 3). How many times have you prayed “Lord, lead me” or “Lord, show me,” only to find your spiritual viewfinder clouded by your hypocrisy? Sometimes we don’t even know it’s happening. If we are not genuine with the Holy Spirit, how can expect Him to lead us?
b. Not being genuine makes us think we’re saving something when in essence we’re losing everything (vv. 4-5). How many times have we kept back things from God, perhaps money, perhaps time, perhaps talent, perhaps commitment- all because we think we can’t afford to pay the price- only to find out later that we lost it? Ananias was filled in his heart with a satanic passion for self, and he kept back what he thought he couldn’t afford to give. He wasn’t genuine. He was a hypocrite. But he was exposed. Sooner or later we will all be exposed.
- Sapphira’s lie was revealed (vv. 7-11).
Sapphira followed suit. Not knowing her husband had just fallen dead because of his hypocrisy, Sapphira comes walking into the church to revel in what she assumed would be laud and honor for such a sacrificial gift. When they asked her straight out if this was the price she got for the land, she answered with a deadly lie. The attempt to be an imposter cost her more than what the land sold for.
Interestingly, Sapphira’s name meant “beautiful,” but before she allowed the beauty to be revealed, she sold out her real beauty for a fake community posture, an imitation beauty. So, we are left with a couple of serious questions: Are you allowing the real beauty that God created in you to come out? Or are you covering it up with a synthetic version that you think looks better to those around you?
The Bible says, “Don’t be deceived, God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, that is what he will also reap.” Don’t think you can mock God. Maybe you’re thinking, “I wouldn’t ever try to mock God,” but let me ask you: isn’t the very act of sitting in a pew on Sundays without dealing with discipleship Monday through Saturday in reality a mockery? Sometimes we say, “Not right now. I’ll do that later. I’ll give more later.” These are the very seeds of hypocrisy.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to live a lie. Like everyone else, I’ll admit there are things I don’t want everyone to see or know, but I don’t want to sell out God’s touch for a better standing before men. May this cause each of us to pray: God, make me real before you and true before others today.
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