Why is it that You have Contrived this Deed in your Heart? (Acts 5:4 NAS95)

Why is it that You have Contrived this Deed in your Heart? (Acts 5:4 NAS95)

I killed a mouse recently. I named him Ananias. I was pretty sure that he wasn’t working alone, so I re-set the trap for Sapphira. They played dirty in the wrong house. Both are now dead and gone.

In the fledgling days of the New Testament church it was essential to get off on the right foot and stay on the right track. The “right foot” would be the power of the Holy Spirit, and the “right track” would be to live in humility and holiness.

This was true in the Old Testament as well, as Israel entered into the Promised Land. They needed to follow God’s lead and do things God’s way. This is why Achan’s sin in stealing some of the spoil from the destruction of Jericho was so bad (Joshua 7). It was under God’s ban. And this is why Ananias’ and Sapphira’s sin was so serious (Acts 5), with serious consequences for all involved

At the beginning of the New Testament era, people were “all in.” Here is a statement from Acts 4:34, just prior to our story: 34 “For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need.”

Ananias and Sapphira, husband and wife, indeed sold land and claimed to have given all to the Lord, though they kept back part for themselves. I do not believe it would have been wrong to have kept back some. Their offense was to falsely claim they were giving all. What was involved in this sin?

First would be the word in our “critical question” in the title: they “contrived.” It was premeditated. It was not a mistake or an oversight. They wanted to look “sacrificially heroic” before others.

But Peter also implies a couple of other things in his cross-examination. He asks Ananias, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?” That is parallel to the human action of contriving or plotting. They were not walking in the Spirit, but were coopting with the devil. Later, to Sapphira, Peter asks, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test?” As if they could “pull one over” on Him. As if any of us could.

We would excuse such behavior. At least they gave something, right? But can Jesus’ church excuse those whose hearts have been filled with Satan rather than the Holy Spirit? Can we excuse putting the Spirit of the Lord to the test? I don’t think so. Ananias and Sapphira - they played dirty in the wrong house. Both are now dead and gone.