Your ShelfYour Projects

The Sabbath-School

14%

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 10, 1883

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 9, No. 18.

Read the full edition

The Sabbath-School.

Lesson for the Pacific Coast—May 19.

ACTS, CHAPTER 5.

Daily Reading in Connection with the Lesson. SUNDAY—Mal. 3 : 1-12. MONDAY—Joshua 7. TUESDAY—Daniel 3. WEDNESDAY—Daniel 6. THURSDAY—Ps. 124; 125. FRIDAY—Ps. 27. SABBATH—Matt. 5 : 10-12; Mark 10 : 29, 30; John 15 : 18-21; Rom. 4 : 16-18; 1 Thess. 3 : 3, 4; 2 Tim. 3 : 10-17; 4 : 1-5

Notes on the Lesson.

There are probably very few who really comprehend the crime for which Ananias and Sapphira were punished. It has been customary to refer to them and to their punishment as an example of what an awful thing it is to lie, and of the terrible consequences of lying. Now while it is impossible to exaggerate or even to fully comprehend how heinous a sin lying is, it is a fact that simply lying was not the sin for which these unfortunate persons suffered. Their sin was hypocrisy of the worst kind. They wished to have a reputation for generosity and benevolence, without the necessary self-denial. In the high priest's palace, Peter himself had told an open lie, and had added profanity to his lying. In his case it was unpremeditated; he fell under the temptation almost before he was aware of it.
But in this case there was design; Ananias and his wife had agreed together to practice this deception, and they dared to persist in it even in the place of solemn prayer. They lied to the Holy Ghost. If Peter had not questioned them, they would have simply handed in a part of the money and said nothing; but their sin would have been the same. Their lying words to Peter were wicked, but the enormity of their crime consisted in their desire to appear better than they really were. From this we may learn how God regards the hypocrite. There are many ways in which we may act the same part. God does not punish every case of this sin as he did in this instance, but he takes notice of it none the less, and at the last day, "will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts." 1 Cor. 4:5.