What really happened to Ananias and Sapphira? Looking at Acts 5:1-11

“ We have received a number of complaints ” It doesn ’ t fit the narrative … Everything is fine in chapter 4 It doesn ’ t fit the character of Peter It doesn ’ t fit the character of God It ’ s too severe, judgemental, negative! Doesn ’ t God love everyone? Not even the chance to repent?

And yet … The narrative is historical, not romantic or idealistic There are always enemies outside (ch4) and inside (ch 6) What satan can ’ t do by force he attempts by guile Peter is not responsible for what God does

So what about the character of God? God is at work among his people and yet he will not be mocked by human sin! He is holy and he is good, but he will not be trifled with …

What about the character of A & S? The theologian John Stott writes that Ananias and Sapphira were not so much misers as they were thieves. “ They wanted the credit and the prestige for sacrificial generosity, without the inconvenience of it. So, in order to gain a reputation to which they had no right, they told a brazen lie. Their motive in giving was not to relieve the poor, but to fatten their own ego. ”

Lying to God “ You have not lied to men but to God. ” Here we come already to the heart of the matter. The real crime in this text is not that this man and his wife kept back some of the money. Their crime is that they have lied to God. Hypocrisy is a destructive force within the community of God ’ s people. If Satan cannot destroy the church from without, he will attempt to destroy it from within.

Spotting the hypocrites … The Greek word means “ performer ” We perform for our teachers (in exams) for our friends (to receive praise) and we even attempt to perform for God We compare ourselves to others and are jealous of their success. We may even revel in their failure … We are ALL hypocrites

So what is the lesson? It ’ s a lesson of grace We cannot make ourselves good enough for God And we certainly can ’ t blag our way into heaven We can only enter by the gracious gift of the Owner of the house

It ’ s a lesson of honesty You cannot be who you are not So learn to be who you truly are Don ’ t compare yourself to anyone else God made you you … it ’ s enough Explore the possibilities of being YOU.

Church is not a business but a family In a business you may have “ performance targets ” But at home you can just relax Church should be “ messy ” when people confront reality and get their own hypocrisy sorted out. Just get real, for God ’ s sake … it ’ s a lesson of love

OK, OK, but what about A & S? Does God still zap people who upset him? Ever heard about JUDGEMENT? “ Fear of God ” is a healthy reverence for one who holds all things in his hands. We “ all shall come before the judgement seat of Christ ” Think about it … don ’ t get cocky Don ’ t get anxious