NT:ACT:CH5:VV1-11

NIV Scripture
1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. 3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God." 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." 9 Peter said to her, "How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Explaination
The thing to keep in mind here is that the apostles and their followers all agreed in ACTS 4:32-37 as a group that they wanted to help out those in need by selling off their land. When they sold their land, it was the desire each time that all the profit would then be donated at the 'apostle's feet' with the desire that it would help the families that were in immediate need. Ananias was clearly seeking the prestige of being part of this group because he did indeed sell his land but he horded some of the profit for himself yet claimed that he donated all of his profits. Here he is being caught in this lie. When the apostle Peter asked if he had owned the land he was referring to any creditor that Ananias may have paid off. Peter however knew that Ananias did own all his land. This was a rhetorical question. In the Bible written in Greek Peter confirms here by answering his own question, "Yes." When he asked if Ananias had the money at his disposal he is asking if perhaps Ananias had a brother that had partial ownership or some other partial owner. Yet, Peter again knew that Ananias did not share this property with any other owner and again answered his own question in the Greek Bible saying, "Yes." So, this question was rhetorical as well. Peter points out then that this lie is not only to human beings but to God.

Oftentimes a church may refer to Acts 5 and say that these deaths were a result Ananias and his wife refusing to give all their tithing. This is far from the truth. Ananias and his wife were caught lying to God! It wasn't about how much they were giving, it was about the lie about how much they could give so that they could selfishly and secretly keep or hide some money away from God. God wants us to give joyously. He wants us to give with love, not to acquire prestige.

The more important thing, however, that this scripture is trying to say is, Yaway is merciful and motivating yourself for sinful or selfish reasons is punishable by death! Every time you lie to God, you deserve being struck down by God, you should be struck dead like Ananias and his wife. BUT! God does not do this because he is Merciful! People need to take this scripture very seriously, take their faith seriously. Just because God is merciful, doesn't mean the consequences he keeps you from are any less dire. God wants you to know how important it is to be genuine and have integrity with how you fallow Jesus.

You will not be struck down for not paying your tithes. You may not even be struck down for lack of integrity, but integrity and genuine service to God with an open and loving heart, a true desire to give what you can, will save you from death.