p. 13 | The Sunday School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 21, 1897

The Sunday School

International Series.

LESSON VI.—SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1897.

TRUE AND FALSE GIVING.

NOTE.—As we are to see in the progress of these lessons the progress of the church of God, it will be well for both teacher and student to keep well in mind the leading points of the past lessons, that the thread of the general theme may not be lost. We have seen, in the previous lesson, the opposition to which the work of the early church was subjected, and how it profited thereby. We will study in this lesson the effect of evil influences from within the church; and as we study we should apply to our own lives the principles of truth inculcated, that we may bring into the fold of Christ that unity which exists between the Father and the Son.

Lesson Scripture, Acts 4:32 to 5:11, R. V.

32 “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul: and not one of them said that aught of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles their witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 For neither was there among them any that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and distribution was made unto each, according as any one had need. 36 And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas (which is, being interpreted, Son of exhortation), a Levite, a man of Cyprus by race, having a field, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whilst it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 But Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out. 10 And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.”

Golden Text.—“Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” I Sam. 16:7.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) What was the condition of the church at this time? Verse 32, first clause. Note 1. (2) What is said of property ownership? Ib., last part. (3) To what did the apostles bear witness? Verse 33, first clause. (4) With what was their testimony accompanied? Ib. (5) What is said of their individual experience? Ib., last clause. Note 2. (6) What was the condition of their temporal affairs? Verse 34, first clause. (7) What course on the part of the church members brought about this condition? Verses 34–37. (8) What was done with the money thus obtained? Verse 35. Note 3. (9) What was the rule governing the distribution? Ib., last clause. (10) What exception to this course is noted in chapter 5, verses 1 and 2? Note 4. (11) What question did Peter ask of Ananias? Verse 3. Note 5. (12) By what question did Peter show the unreasonableness of Ananias’ course? Verse 4, first part. (13) Of what terrible sin was Ananias accused? Verse 4, last clause. (14) What followed Peter’s accusation? Verse 5, first clause. (15) How were those affected who witnessed the result of Ananias’ sin? Ib., last clause. (16) How was the body disposed of? Verse 6. (17) How long a time elapsed before the appearance of Sapphira? Verse 7. Note 6. (18) What question did Peter ask her? Verse 8. (19) What reply did she make? Ib. (20) Of what did Peter accuse her? Verse 9, first part. (21) What statement did he then make? Ib., last clause. (22) What followed? Verse 10. (23) What statement of the effect of these things is repeated in verse 11? Note 7.

NOTES.

1. Of one heart.—The opposition to which the early church was subjected tended to draw them closer to God and consequently closer together. One writer in speaking of this early church says, “Altho they had increased to five thousand, they were still a unity, not necessarily in opinions, but in love, in affection, in purpose, in devotion. They all moved as one river of life.” This is shown by them in a practical way by not only devoting themselves to the cause but their entire substance also.

2. Great grace was upon them all.—The blessing here recorded is dependent upon what precedes and leads up to it in these two verses. The oneness of heart and soul made it possible for God to endow them with power, and the consistent and faithful use of this power brought great grace upon them all.

3. At the apostles’ feet.—It was customary in eastern life for an offering or a gift to be laid at the feet of the one for whom it was intended, instead of being placed in the hand, as is customary with us. This would seem to signify that the giver considered the gift unworthy of the attention or acceptance of the one to whom it was given—an example for us in giving ourselves to Christ, laying ourselves at his feet, willing that he should do with us as it may seem to him good; and we have the blessed assurance that, having done this, we shall be graven upon the palms of his hands.

4. But a certain man.—What a significance there is in the monosyllable with which this chapter opens! The good deed of Barnabas, which was indeed praiseworthy, was known to the entire company, and there is no doubt that he was looked up to by all. Here was a temptation for those who desired the praise of men. Ananias and Sapphira yielded to it, were desirous of becoming popular; and by the little word “but” is indicated the impassable gulf between such an act and God’s acceptance of it. By that word also is the comparison made between the motives, personified in the two men, prompting the acts of Barnabas and Ananias. In bringing a part of the price and representing it to be the whole, Ananias and Sapphira did what the hypocrites of all ages have done and will do. They claim to have given themselves to God, but the great “part of the price,” self, is not included in the gift; and the profession which they make is no more acceptable to God than the misrepresented gift of Ananias and Sapphira.

5. Why hath Satan filled thine heart?—What a contrast is here exhibited between the spirit actuating those who had given truly and the spirit by which Ananias was controlled! Here was the work of God’s Spirit and the spirit of the enemy of all truth manifested in the church in its very beginning. The apostles and true believers were filled with the Holy Ghost. Here were two whose heart Satan had filled to lie against the Holy Ghost.

6. Three hours after.—The fact that Sapphira remained for three hours without the knowledge of her husband’s death, would seem to indicate that the fear of God in the early church had driven out the spirit of “news-carrying.”

7. Great fear fell upon . . . as many as heard these things.—Satan’s plan to bring corruption into the early church had signally failed. Fierce opposition could not destroy it, and the power of God in it made hypocrites afraid to join it. Satan’s schemes gave the church a chance to manifest the power with which God had endowed it. The opposition was successful because the power was there in the church itself. They had no need to seek the strength contained in the arm of the law, for they had at their command a strength, a power, greater and more effective than all human power contained in human law. They flourished not only without the aid of human law, but in spite of it, for it was often against them. A church which seeks human power for its upbuilding and protection confesses its own lack of the power of God; and by such confession proves itself and its work unworthy of even the help of human law; for when it is shorn of the power of Him who founded it, it is shorn also of His authority; and being deprived of these prerequisites, it has no right to seek other assistance to accomplish the end for which its original Founder designed it.