I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      Of the seven things that God hates and considers as abominations in Proverbs 6:16-19, two of them involve the sin of lying (a lying tongue, a false witness who utters lies).

B.      Never was this more severely demonstrated than in the case of Ananias and Sapphira, who lied to God and received the penalty of death as their wages (Acts 5:1-11).

II.      ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA LIED TO GOD

A.      This episode involving Ananias and Sapphira presents a drastic contrast to the many wonderful events that had happened since the beginning of the church.

                                                             1.      Immediately after the establishment of the church on the Day of Pentecost, we read of the members of the church devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, prayer, and worship while the apostles were performing wonderful miracles among them (Acts 2:42-47).

                                                             2.      Even when the apostles began to be persecuted, the rest of the church continued on and multiplied (Acts 4:4).  They even shared their belongings together in love for one another and for the Lord (Acts 4:32-37).

B.      Within this idyllic setting, Ananias and Sapphira committed their evil deed and suffered the consequences of their wickedness.

                                                             1.      They sold a piece of property and brought a portion of the proceeds to the apostles.  However, they presented their gift as if they were giving the full price from the property, thus misrepresenting the depth of their charity (Acts 5:1-2).

                                                             2.      Being guided by the Holy Spirit, Peter pronounced their guilt and the sentence of death, which was executed by the miraculous power of God (Acts 5:3-10).

a.       Their offense was that of lying to God.  Notice Peter’s words to them.

i.         "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit…?” (v. 3)

ii.        "You have not lied to men but to God.” (v. 4)

iii.      "Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test?” (v. 9)

b.       The consequences of their sin were severe, for each of them fell dead instantly because of their sin.  Each of them was equally guilty, and each suffered the same penalty.

                                                             3.      As a result, the Scripture says that "great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things” (Acts 5:11).  The church had experienced joyful awe as it began, and now it experienced dreadful fear.

C.      The penalty for Ananias and Sapphira may seem too severe to us, but it was just in the eyes of God.

                                                             1.      It is unlikely that men would consider Ananias and Sapphira’s sin to be an offense worthy of death.  After all, were they not doing a good thing by offering a gift of charity for the relief of their fellow believers?  Could not much good be done with the money they offered?  Was anyone harmed by their seemingly minor deception?

                                                             2.      Truly, this is an excellent example of that which God said in Isaiah 55:8-9, which is that His ways and thoughts are higher than ours.

a.       God does not think as men think, and Peter proclaimed to Ananias, "You have not lied to men, but to God.”  The offense was against God rather than men, and the punishment was according to God rather than according to men.

b.       Whereas men may consider that this deed by Ananias and Sapphira was harmless, God considered it to be an abomination.  Whereas men may consider that this act of charity did much more good than evil, God considered it to be worthy of death.

D.      Let us understand the spiritual truth about the wicked deed of Ananias and Sapphira.

                                                             1.      This was not an issue about the gift or its value.  Peter made this clear when he said, "While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own?  And after it was sold, was it not under your control?” (Acts 5:4)

                                                             2.      Truly, this was a matter of irreverence and deception toward God.

a.       The gift was offered for the glory of Ananias and Sapphira and not for the glory of God.

b.       They believed that they could perpetrate this deception before men, but they failed to recognize the truth of Galatians 6:7, "God is not mocked.”  They could not treat God as unholy and escape punishment.

III.   LESSONS LEARNED

A.      Let us recognize that God hates lies and has reserved punishment for all liars.

                                                             1.      Liars have a place reserved for them in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Rev. 21:8).

                                                             2.      It is especially disrespectful toward God when anyone attempts to deceive Him in any way, for this betrays a heart that disbelieves God’s complete wisdom and power.

                                                             3.      For this reason, it is vitally important that we pay any vows we volunteer unto God.

a.       This passage from Moses’ Law is a good description of what God expects when men make vows to Him – "When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the LORD your God will surely require it of you.  However, if you refrain from vowing, it would not be sin in you.  You shall be careful to perform what goes out from your lips, just as you have voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God, what you have promised.” (Deut. 23:21-23)

b.       A similar instruction is given in Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 – "When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools.  Pay what you vow!  It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.”

B.      We should also learn that the value of our gifts back to God is not in the quantity that we give, but rather it is in the humility, gratitude, and submission of our hearts.

                                                             1.      Our contributions to the Lord and our gifts of charity are not about raising large quantities of money, but they are about expressing our reverence for God.

                                                             2.      This was the lesson of the Lord’s teaching regarding a widow’s contribution.

a.       Notice Mark 12:42-44 – "And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums.  A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent.  Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.’”

b.       The widow’s gift was the greatest of all because it was a genuine sacrifice that showed true faith in God.  She gave it without pretense or desire for her own glory.

                                                             3.      Do not be mistaken – this is not a mandate for giving small quantities.  Instead, this is a mandate for giving in sincerity and love toward God.  Notice 2Corinthians 9:6-8 – "Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.”

C.      Moreover, we must realize that not everything that men consider to be good is truly good in God’s sight.

                                                             1.      If a work of charity can arouse the wrath of God, then we must be careful to revere Him and obey Him in all that we do.

                                                             2.      Many times, the wisdom of men is exactly the opposite of the wisdom of God so that what is called good by men is truly evil.  Notice Isaiah 5:20 – "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

IV.    CONCLUSION

A.      When we consider the story of Ananias and Sapphira, we certainly see the "kindness and severity of God” (Rom. 11:22).

                                                             1.      In the midst of God’s many kind blessings upon the early church came this act of God’s severe wrath, which was provoked by the sin of Ananias and Sapphira.

                                                             2.      By our reasoning, we may consider their punishment to be too harsh, yet it was right according to the righteous judgment of our God.  This example stands as a warning to us to never put God to the test.

B.      Therefore, let us be honest and sincere in all of our dealings with God and man so that we may always receive His kindness and not His severity.