Acts 5:1-11
Acts 5:1-11
4:36-37 BARNABUS – Describe the quality of his faith.
5:1-11 Read
What was the sin of Ananias and Sapphira?
Godly options: (v. 4)
1. Keep the property for self.
2. Give a partial donation of your choosing.
What was the cause of their sin?
“The devil made me do it?”
v. 3 They followed the temptation of Satan.
Resistance isn’t futile – it’s effective! James 4:7 and 1 Corinthians 10:13
James 1:12-19
12 – Blessing and rewards
13 – God is not the source of temptation.
14 – The source: being drawn away by our lusts
15 – Conception that leads to death
16 – Warning!
17 – Reminder of God’s provision
18 – The Word of Truth
19 – Listening, speaking and doing. The right order and speed.
Although the powers of darkness can influence health, loved ones, material passions and peace, moral decisions are strictly the responsibility of the individual. Satan can deceive us, but he cannot make our moral choices for us.
v. 3-4 How did Peter know that Ananias was lying?
Prophetic word was given – 1 Corinthians 14:24-25
v. 5-6 Why death? (Also v. 9)
God decided.
God hates hypocrisy.
Job 27:8
Matthew 23:27-29
v. 7-8 Sapphira’s choice
What does it mean to ‘test the Spirit of the Lord’?
v. 9-10 Sapphira’s conclusion
v. 11 The church’s response
‘great fear’ – a wholesome and beneficial fear
“The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was, that they were ambitious of being thought eminent disciples, when they were not true disciples. Hypocrites may deny themselves, may forego their worldly advantage in one instance, with a prospect of finding their account in something else. They were covetous of the wealth of the world, and distrustful of God and his providence. They thought they might serve both God and mammon. They thought to deceive the apostles. The Spirit of God in Peter discerned the principle of unbelief reigning in the heart of Ananias. But whatever Satan might suggest, he could not have filled the heart of Ananias with this wickedness had he not been consenting. The falsehood was an attempt to deceive the Spirit of truth, who so manifestly spoke and acted by the apostles. The crime of Ananias was not his retaining part of the price of the land; he might have kept it all, had he pleased; but his endeavouring to impose upon the apostles with an awful lie, from a desire to make a vain show, joined with covetousness. But if we think to put a cheat upon God, we shall put a fatal cheat upon our own souls. How sad to see those relations who should quicken one another to that which is good, hardening one another in that which is evil! And this punishment was in reality mercy to vast numbers. It would cause strict self-examination, prayer, and dread of hypocrisy, covetousness, and vain-glory, and it should still do so. It would prevent the increase of false professors. Let us learn hence how hateful falsehood is to the God of truth, and not only shun a direct lie, but all advantages from the use of doubtful expressions, and double meaning in our speech.”
Matthew Henry Commentary
4:36-37 BARNABUS – Describe the quality of his faith.
5:1-11 Read
What was the sin of Ananias and Sapphira?
Godly options: (v. 4)
1. Keep the property for self.
2. Give a partial donation of your choosing.
What was the cause of their sin?
“The devil made me do it?”
v. 3 They followed the temptation of Satan.
Resistance isn’t futile – it’s effective! James 4:7 and 1 Corinthians 10:13
James 1:12-19
12 – Blessing and rewards
13 – God is not the source of temptation.
14 – The source: being drawn away by our lusts
15 – Conception that leads to death
16 – Warning!
17 – Reminder of God’s provision
18 – The Word of Truth
19 – Listening, speaking and doing. The right order and speed.
Although the powers of darkness can influence health, loved ones, material passions and peace, moral decisions are strictly the responsibility of the individual. Satan can deceive us, but he cannot make our moral choices for us.
v. 3-4 How did Peter know that Ananias was lying?
Prophetic word was given – 1 Corinthians 14:24-25
v. 5-6 Why death? (Also v. 9)
God decided.
God hates hypocrisy.
Job 27:8
Matthew 23:27-29
v. 7-8 Sapphira’s choice
What does it mean to ‘test the Spirit of the Lord’?
v. 9-10 Sapphira’s conclusion
v. 11 The church’s response
‘great fear’ – a wholesome and beneficial fear
“The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was, that they were ambitious of being thought eminent disciples, when they were not true disciples. Hypocrites may deny themselves, may forego their worldly advantage in one instance, with a prospect of finding their account in something else. They were covetous of the wealth of the world, and distrustful of God and his providence. They thought they might serve both God and mammon. They thought to deceive the apostles. The Spirit of God in Peter discerned the principle of unbelief reigning in the heart of Ananias. But whatever Satan might suggest, he could not have filled the heart of Ananias with this wickedness had he not been consenting. The falsehood was an attempt to deceive the Spirit of truth, who so manifestly spoke and acted by the apostles. The crime of Ananias was not his retaining part of the price of the land; he might have kept it all, had he pleased; but his endeavouring to impose upon the apostles with an awful lie, from a desire to make a vain show, joined with covetousness. But if we think to put a cheat upon God, we shall put a fatal cheat upon our own souls. How sad to see those relations who should quicken one another to that which is good, hardening one another in that which is evil! And this punishment was in reality mercy to vast numbers. It would cause strict self-examination, prayer, and dread of hypocrisy, covetousness, and vain-glory, and it should still do so. It would prevent the increase of false professors. Let us learn hence how hateful falsehood is to the God of truth, and not only shun a direct lie, but all advantages from the use of doubtful expressions, and double meaning in our speech.”
Matthew Henry Commentary
posted by Doug Love at 8:50 AM
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