The Danger of Being the Temple - Ananias and Sapphira

The Danger of Being the Temple - Ananias and Sapphira

In a compelling Bible Teachings delivered at Founded in Truth Fellowship, Matthew Vander Els explored the profound significance of participating in the community of God and the serious consequences of approaching this sacred connection with anything less than complete honesty and commitment. Drawing extensively from both the Old and New Testaments, the teaching centered on the cautionary tale of Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts, illuminating the dangers of hypocrisy within the fellowship of believers.

The speaker began by establishing a foundational understanding of God's relationship with humanity, referencing the Old Testament and the boundaries God set for Israel to be a people set apart. These boundaries, encompassing distinctions between clean and unclean, holy and profane, were intended to honor God, even extending to practices like abstaining from pork. While some of these regulations were tied to the physical Tabernacle, they represented a commitment to honoring God's holiness. The state of being unclean, though not inherently sinful, restricted access to God's presence in the Tabernacle, acting as a separation from the intimate dwelling of the divine. Examples such as childbirth, bodily discharges, certain diseases, and contact with dead animals or bodies led to this temporary state of uncleanness.

However, as time progressed in Israelite culture, these practices, initially rooted in respect for God's presence, gradually transformed into a checklist for affirming one's identity within the Covenant. This shift intensified after the Babylonian exile and the Maccabean Revolt, when adherence to these commandments became markers of Judean identity, a way to distinguish themselves from the surrounding cultures. The speaker highlighted how Yeshua, or Jesus, strongly criticized the Pharisees for this very mindset. Their emphasis on outward displays of holiness led them to judge others based on their adherence to these self-imposed checklists, neglecting the crucial aspect of inner transformation and the heart of God. Yeshua condemned their hypocrisy, comparing them to beautiful cups filled with decay and whitewashed tombs concealing death. Turning faith into a means of self-exaltation and judgment of others, according to the teaching, amounts to idolatry, placing one's own perceived value above God's true intentions.

The teaching then transitioned to the concept of God's dwelling place throughout history. Initially, God's presence was associated with the holy mountain, Mount Sinai. This presence then moved to the Tabernacle, a tent, and later to the Temple in Jerusalem. In each case, the holiness of the location stemmed not from its physical structure but from God's dwelling within it. The New Testament introduces a radical shift in this understanding. Yeshua proclaimed that he himself was the new Temple, as seen in John chapter 2 when he spoke of destroying the temple and raising it again in three days, referring to his own body. This marked a transition where God's presence would no longer be confined to a physical building but would reside within individuals.

The speaker elaborated on this New Testament understanding, citing passages from Ephesians, 1 Peter, and 1 Corinthians. Believers are described as being built together as a spiritual house, with Christ Jesus as the chief cornerstone. Individually, the body of a believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit. This indwelling of the Holy Spirit signifies that believers have become sacred, set apart not through their own merit but because of God's presence within them. This new reality brings immense privilege but also carries significant responsibility.

To illustrate the seriousness of this new covenant relationship, the teaching focused on the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts chapter 5. The early Christian community was characterized by a remarkable unity and generosity, with believers sharing their possessions and ensuring that no one was in need. Barnabas is presented as a positive example, selling a field and laying the proceeds at the apostles' feet. In stark contrast, Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property but secretly kept back a portion of the money for themselves while presenting the rest as the full amount. Peter, recognizing their deceit, confronted Ananias, stating that he had not lied to humans but to God, to the Holy Spirit. The immediate and severe consequence was Ananias's death, followed shortly by Sapphira's when she corroborated the lie.

The speaker emphasized that the harshness of this event underscores a crucial point: participating in the community of God is not a trivial matter. With the gift of the Holy Spirit comes the ability to manifest God's presence in the world, demanding reverence, respect, and honor. Ananias and Sapphira's temptation was to appear loyal to the community and receive honor while also being deceptive for their own gain. Their sin was not merely withholding money but bringing a divisive and deceptive spirit into the holy community. It was a form of partial commitment, offering some to God and some to their own selfish desires. This act devalued the significance of being part of God's dwelling place and the power of the Holy Spirit within them.

Drawing a parallel to the Old Testament, the speaker referenced the story of Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, who offered unauthorized or "strange" fire before the Lord in Leviticus chapter 10. Their transgression, though not explicitly detailed, appeared to be an encroachment on the holiness of God's dwelling place, resulting in their immediate death. Just as Nadab and Abihu approached God with incorrect protocol, Ananias and Sapphira approached the new temple, the community of believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit, with deception and partial loyalty.

The teaching highlighted that being the temple of God is an incredible privilege and opportunity to participate in God's plan. However, there is a danger in attempting to manipulate this sacred reality or treat it as commonplace. True participation requires a transformed heart, evident not in outward displays of a checklist of rules but in how one responds to others, the extent of their generosity, forgiveness, and mercy. The world often operates on principles of withholding forgiveness, limiting grace, and prioritizing selfish gain. In contrast, followers of Yeshua are called to embody the character of God, offering forgiveness, extending grace, showing mercy, and practicing radical generosity.

Application for Everyday Life:

• Examine your motives: Regularly assess your reasons for participating in your faith community. Are they rooted in genuine love for God and others, or are there elements of self-seeking or a desire for outward approval?
• Embrace wholehearted commitment: Avoid partial loyalty in your relationship with God and your faith community. Strive for complete dedication and honesty in your actions and intentions.
• Practice radical generosity: Look for opportunities to give generously of your time, resources, and talents, following the example of the early believers.
• Extend forgiveness and mercy: In your interactions with others, even those who may seem undeserving, choose to offer forgiveness and mercy, mirroring God's character.
• Cultivate inner transformation: Focus on the condition of your heart rather than solely on outward religious practices. Allow God's Spirit to transform you from the inside out.
• Recognize the sacredness of the community: Understand that as believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit, you and your faith community are the temple of God, deserving of reverence and respect.
• Be honest and transparent: Avoid hypocrisy and deception in your dealings with God and your fellow believers.
• Bear the weight of responsibility: Recognize the privilege and responsibility that comes with being a dwelling place for God's Spirit and actively participate in God's mission in the world.

Note: This article contains affiliate links.