Peter as Purifyer (Post 16)

As we continue walking through Peter's life and observing him, remember that we are still in those first, "heady" days of the church.  The apostles were preaching and healing ... people were believing and joining their numbers ... the electricity and energy must have been palpable.

Read Acts 4: 34 - 5:11

If you have been in Bible study for awhile, you may already be very familiar with this encounter.  Disturbing, isn't it?  There are a few things that I believe to be important for us, as believers in our day. 

First, the sin of Ananias and Sapphira was lying and deception.  Have you ever secretly in your inner self thought, "Really, God?"  We live in a culture and a time where honesty and integrity are rare.  Lying is just not considered that big a deal.  And we are foolish to think our culture does not permeate our own thinking.  All products are marketed with a "spin".  As a retired school teacher, I can tell you that cheating is as common as paper and pencils.  And the only thing that disturbs students is getting caught - not the act itself.  Of course not all students.  But so many ... 

The New Bible Dictionary defines lying as:  a statement of what is known to be false with the intent to deceive.  That is exactly what our couple in Acts 5 did - made a false statement with the intent to deceive.  Is it really that big a deal? 

Honesty is big deal to God. 

Leviticus 19:11 "You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another."

Proverbs 6: 16 - 17  "There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him:  haughty eyes, a lying tongue ..."

Psalm 5:6  "You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful."

Proverbs 20:23  "Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good."

Paul brings this principle of God into the New Testament when he instructed believers on how to behave.  He writes in Colossians 3:9 - 10:  "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator."

It was indeed serious.  It was indeed sin.  And sin is death. 

So time for a self-check.  Are you honest?  In your speech?  In your dealings at work?  Are you a person of integrity?  Can your word be trusted?  Do you use deception and manipulation to get your way?  We must learn from Ananias and Sapphira.  It matters tremendously because it matters to God. 

Forgive us LORD, for the times we have been deceitful.  Through Your Spirit, ring a bell in our heads when we speak deceptively. 

My second observation has to do with motive.  We can't know for sure the motives that drove Ananias and Sapphira to this deception.  But we can surmise.  Perhaps they were hungry for praise from the others.  We are introduced to Barnabas in Acts 4:36.  The way he is mentioned allows us to imagine the respect and honor he received from the community of believers ... and from the apostles.  I think our couple wanted some of that!  It is a dangerous thing to desire praise from others.  That desire can lead one into some very foolish decisions.

Paul wrote about this desire in Romans 2:29

Rather, a person in a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart - it is spiritual and not literal.  Such a person receives praise not from others but from God.

Our Father, we desire to be pleasing to you.  Guard our hearts and minds from the poison of being people-pleasers.  Help us desire no praise except from You. 

Lastly,  this passage does not indicate any shock or surprise from Peter.  He had grown up in a religious world that had long ago lost touch with the truth of God and His law.  It had been twisted to fit the desires of the leaders.  Jesus had pointedly and carefully led Peter to that understanding.  Perhaps Peter was not shocked because he understood his position as 'shepherd' to this newly birthed church.  And having walked and been shaped by Jesus, he also understood the absolute necessity of integrity and honesty before God.  Do we understand that?  I pray so ...

Lord, strengthen us to be people of integrity in our communities of faith.  Our hearts desire is to walk steadfast before You and as we interact with each other.  We cannot do it on our own.  But ... through Your Spirit ... we can!