Acts 5:1-11
Ananias and Sapphira Lie to the Ruach
5 On the other hand, a man named Ananias together with his wife, Sapphira, sold a property. 2 He kept back some of the proceeds, with his wife’s full knowledge, and brought part of it and set it at the feet of the emissaries.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has satan filled your heart to lie to the Ruach ha-Kodesh [Holy Spirit] and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, it was your own, wasn’t it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? How did this deed get into your heart? You haven’t lied to men but to God.”
5 As soon as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and died. Great fear came upon all who heard about it. 6 The young men got up and wrapped him in a shroud, then carried him out and buried him.
7 After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter responded to her, “Tell me if you sold the land for this much.”
She said, “Yes, for that much.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “How did you agree to test the Ruach Adonai?Look, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door—they will carry you out, too!”
10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came back in, they found her dead and carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came over the whole community and all who heard these things.
It is easy to read this story in scripture and decide that Ananias and Sapphira were knuckleheads.
But what is so different about them and ourselves?
Have I ever lied? Yes, absolutely.
Have you ever lied?
This married couple was in the midst of doing a good thing.
They sold property and donated some of the proceeds to help others, their collective new church.
So where did they go wrong?
While doing good, they committed evil. They lied about how much money they received for the property. They kept some of the proceeds, but lied about donating all of it.
Sapphira followed the same deceit as Ananias, and paid the same price for it. They could have openly admitted to holding some back, and donating the rest. It belonged to them, and they were not obligated to do this good thing.
They chose not to give all, but they wanted others to think they had.
Have we ever deceived anyone?
Have we ever kept a secret, and given a false impression to others?
Have we ever tried to make ourselves look good in front of other men and women through deceit?
I know I have.
I did not pay for this mistake with my life, though.
And I am grateful for it!!
Are you grateful?
Do you thank Messiah for the things He has forgiven in your life?
Maybe even things you don’t recall, because there are too many to remember?
Here are a few scriptures to keep in mind…
Leviticus 19:11
11 “You are not to steal. You are not to lie. You are not to deceive one another.
Proverbs 12:22
Lying lips are detestable to Yehova,
but those who act faithfully are His delight.
Proverbs 13:5
A righteous person hates lying,
but the wicked acts in shameful disgrace.
Colossians 3:9-10
Do not lie to one another. After all, you have taken off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self that is being renewed in knowledge, according to the image of the One who created him.
And this one is a big deal, because it tells us who is not in the Kingdom:
Revelation 22:15
Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the sexually immoral and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices a lie.
Here is the thing to remember, though…
You may think you are just lying to other people.
But every lie and every deceit is a crime against the esteem and glory of Yehova…