Ulterior Motives

June 7

2 Samuel 22-24

Psalm 69:13-18

Proverbs 15:13-14

Acts 5:1-16

Ulterior Motives

“But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge.  And bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostle’s feet.”  Acts 5:1-2 LSB

Ananias and Sapphira were members of the early church.  They were attracted by what was going on in the church and wanted to be a part of it.  But they wanted something else as well.  they wanted recognition.  In Acts 4:36-37 we are told about Barnabas who sold a field and brought the money to the apostles.  Ananias and Sapphira saw the respect Barnabas received for his unselfish act of generosity.  Barnabas saw a need and he had the means to meet it so he gave something he had to meet that need.  He was not seeking recognition or respect.  He was seeking to glorify God and he gave out of love.  Ananias and Sapphira wanted the praise they saw Barnabas get, but they weren’t willing to make the sacrifice.  They didn’t totally trust God to provide for their needs so instead of selling their property and giving all of it to the church, they kept part of it for themselves.  No one told them that they had to give everything to the church.  They were not expected to sell their property and give the money to the apostles.  They chose to sell it because they wanted the others to be impressed with their gift.  Like the rich people who gave money at the temple for all to see, Ananias and Sapphira wanted their gift to be seen. 

Ananias brought part of the money and gave it to the apostles and hid the rest of the money.  Verse 2 explains that Sapphira knew what he was doing, they planned it together.  Ananias wanted the church leaders to believe that he was giving them all of the proceeds and not that He had kept part of it for himself.  When Ananias gave the money to Peter, God supernaturally informed Peter that they had kept part of the money for themselves.  Peter confronted Ananias and God struck him dead immediately.  Everyone in the church was filled with fear and then wrapped up his body in a blanket and buried it.  Three hours later, Sapphira came in, not knowing what had happened.  Peter asked her if the amount they donated was the full price they got for the land.  She lied and said that it was.  Peter told her, “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”  Just like her husband, God struck her dead and they carried her body out and buried it.  The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was not withholding part of the money for themselves, but their sin was deceitfully lying about it in order to make others think they were more generous than they really were.  God had blessed Ananias and Sapphira with wealth and they responded to His generosity by being deceitful and trying to look “holy” to get the approval of men.  God sees our hearts and knows our motives.  We cannot fool Him.