Acts 5:1-11 | HypocrisySample

What is the church like? What does it do? The church sins.

Acts 5 is an account of what happens when people of God, motivated by ego and jealousy, walk into lies and hypocrisy.

We don’t know all the details of what motivated Ananias and Sapphira, but given that this story comes right on the heels of the believers selling land and houses to give to those in need, and how one particular Levite, called Barnabas, is even named, it seems Ananias and Sapphira got swept up in the hype.

Some question if their sin was withholding a portion of their land sale. That is, only giving a part of the proceeds instead of it all. That doesn’t seem to be the case. Peter tells them they didn’t have to give anything – that their land was theirs to do with as they wished. No. It seems the issue was lying. It seems they lied because they wanted the same fame, attention, or praise the other believers were getting who were giving more sacrificially. Their desire for the praise of others, the attention of men, or to appear as part of “that group” led them to lie about their gift to God.

The church is filled with liars and hypocrites. Because people are liars and hypocrites. And churches are places where liars and hypocrites are welcome.

Don’t be surprised if you come across liars and hypocrites in the church. But don’t be one either. Ask yourself, am I ever guilty of being like Ananias and Sapphira too? And if you are, what will you do about it? What should God do about it? And what should the church do about it when it becomes evident?