The Lie of Ananias and Sapphira. Acts 5 One Thru Eleven

1. What Ananias And Sapphira Did (Verses 1-2)

• Deception And Misappropriation: Ananias And Sapphira Sold A Possession And Deceitfully Kept Back A Portion Of The Proceeds While Presenting The Remainder As If It Were The Full Amount.

  • Desire For Recognition: They Wanted To Appear As Generous As Others, Like Barnabas, Who Had Given All The Proceeds From His Sale To The Church (Acts 4:36-37).

  • Partnership In Deceit: Both Husband And Wife Conspired Together In This Deception, Aiming For Public Admiration Without Genuine Sacrifice.

2. Peter Confronts Ananias (Verses 3-4)

• Peter Exposes The Sin: Through A Supernatural Revelation, Peter Confronted Ananias, Asking Why Satan Had Filled His Heart To Lie To The Holy Spirit By Withholding Part Of The Price.

  • Sin Against The Holy Spirit: Peter Clarified That Ananias's Sin Was Not Merely Against The Church Or The Apostles But Against God Himself.

  • Free Will In Giving: Peter Emphasized That Ananias Was Under No Obligation To Give Any Specific Amount; The Problem Was The Lie And The Pretense Of Giving All.

3. The Death Of Ananias (Verses 5-6)

• Sudden Death: Upon Hearing Peter’s Words, Ananias Fell Down And Died. This Immediate Judgment By God Caused Great Fear Among Those Who Heard About It.

  • God’s Judgment: Ananias's Death Was Not Caused By Peter’s Pronouncement But By God’s Direct Intervention To Maintain The Purity Of The Early Church.

  • Importance Of Integrity: The Dramatic Consequence Highlighted The Seriousness Of Sin Within The Church, Especially Deceit And Hypocrisy.

4. Peter Confronts Sapphira (Verses 7-9)

• Opportunity For Confession: About Three Hours Later, Sapphira Arrived, Unaware Of Her Husband's Fate. Peter Gave Her A Chance To Tell The Truth By Asking If The Sale Price Was The Amount They Had Donated. She Confirmed The Lie.

  • Testing The Spirit Of The Lord: Peter Accused Sapphira Of Conspiring To Test The Spirit Of The Lord. As She Had Agreed With Her Husband's Deceit, She Faced The Same Judgment.

5. The Death Of Sapphira (Verses 10-11)

• Immediate Judgment: Like Her Husband, Sapphira Fell Down And Died. The Young Men Who Had Buried Ananias Carried Her Out And Buried Her Next To Him.

  • Fear In The Church: This Incident Caused Great Fear To Come Upon The Entire Church And All Who Heard About It, Reinforcing The Importance Of Honesty And Integrity Before God.

THE LIE OF ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA

KEY POINTS AND REFLECTIONS

1. The Seriousness Of Deceit: Ananias And Sapphira's Actions Were Not Merely About Keeping Money; Their Sin Was In Deceitfully Presenting Themselves As More Generous And Spiritually Devoted Than They Were. The Church Is To Be Marked By Truth And Transparency.

2. The Role Of Satan And Human Responsibility: While Satan Influenced Ananias And Sapphira, Peter Pointed Out That They Still Conceived The Plan In Their Hearts. Satan Can Tempt And Influence, But Humans Are Responsible For Their Choices.

3. Public Sin, Public Consequence: The Public Nature Of Their Sin Required A Public Response. God Used This Incident To Teach The Early Church The Importance Of Holiness And Integrity.

4. God’s Judgment And Mercy: While This Was A Harsh Judgment, It Served To Protect The Purity Of The Church At A Critical Time. This Does Not Mean That God Will Always Act In This Manner, But It Shows The Seriousness Of Sin, Especially When It Involves Deceit Within The Church.

5. A Warning Against Hypocrisy: Ananias And Sapphira Wanted The Reputation Of Sacrificial Giving Without The Reality Of It. Their Story Serves As A Warning Against Hypocrisy In The Church, Where Appearances May Be Valued Over Genuine Faith And Action.

6. God's Sovereignty Over Life And Death: The Deaths Of Ananias And Sapphira Were A Reminder That God Is Sovereign And Can Choose To Act In Ways That Uphold His Holiness, Especially Within The Community Of Believers.

7. Lessons For The Modern Church: This Passage Teaches That Sin In The Church, Particularly Deceit And Hypocrisy, Should Be Taken Seriously. It Also Emphasizes The Need For Humility, Honesty, And Sincerity In Our Relationships With God And Others.

The Story Of Ananias And Sapphira Underscores That God Desires His Church To Be A Place Of Genuine Faith And Integrity, Warning Believers About The Dangers Of Hypocrisy, Deceit, And Pride.

 

Wise Men From The East Come To Honor Jesus Matthew 2 1-12

 WISE MEN FROM THE EAST COME TO HONOR JESUS

MATTHEW 2:1-12

The Journey Of The Wise Men (or Magi) From The East Who Came To Honor The Newborn Jesus.

Their Story Is Rich With Symbolism And Significant Insights Into The Nature Of Jesus' Birth And The Reactions It Provoked.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Wise Men And Their Journey:

   • The Wise Men Were Not Kings But Scholars Or Astronomers, Possibly From Regions Like Persia Or Babylon. Their Journey To Find The "King Of The Jews" Was Likely Inspired By Their Knowledge Of Jewish Prophecies, As Well As Celestial Phenomena They Interpreted As A Sign.

   • Their Journey Emphasizes The Idea That Jesus' Birth Had A Global Impact, Drawing People From Distant Lands To Recognize His Significance.

2. Herod's Reaction:

   • Herod The Great, A Ruler Known For His Cruelty, Was Deeply Troubled By The News Of A Newborn "King Of The Jews." His Reaction Was One Of Fear And Paranoia, As He Saw This As A Threat To His Power.

   • The Fact That "all Jerusalem" Was Troubled With Him Suggests The City's Awareness Of Herod's Violent Tendencies And The Potential Chaos His Insecurity Could Cause.

3. The Star And The Prophecy:

   • The Star That Guided The Wise Men Is A Subject Of Much Speculation. It Could Have Been A Natural Astronomical Event Or A Supernatural Sign Specifically Created By God.

   • The Prophecy From Micah 5:2, Quoted By The Chief Priests And Scribes, Pointed To Bethlehem As The Birthplace Of The Messiah. This Shows The Fulfillment Of Old Testament Prophecies In Jesus' Birth.

4. The Gifts Of The Wise Men:

   • The Gifts Of Gold, Frankincense, And Myrrh Are Deeply Symbolic. Gold Represents Royalty, Frankincense Divinity, And Myrrh Is Often Associated With Suffering And Death. These Gifts Hint At Jesus' Future Roles As King, God, And Sacrificial Savior.

   • The Act Of Worship By The Wise Men, Including The Presentation Of These Gifts, Signifies Their Recognition Of Jesus' Divine Authority, Even As A Young Child.

5. Herod's Deception And The Wise Men's Obedience:

   • Herod's Request For The Wise Men To Return To Him With Information About Jesus' Location Was Deceitful, As He Intended To Kill The Child.

   • However, The Wise Men Were Divinely Warned In A Dream To Avoid Herod And Return Home By Another Route. This Demonstrates Their Obedience To God And The Protection Of Jesus From Those Who Sought To Harm Him.

Reflections:

• The Contrast Of Responses: The Passage Contrasts Three Different Reactions To Jesus' Birth—Herod's Hostility, The Religious Leaders' Indifference, And The Wise Men's Worship. This Invites Reflection On How People Today Respond To Jesus.

• God's Sovereignty: The Story Highlights God's Control Over Events, Guiding The Wise Men To Jesus And Protecting Him From Herod's Schemes. It Emphasizes That God's Purposes Will Be Fulfilled, Regardless Of Human Opposition.

This Passage Invites Readers To Consider Their Own Response To Jesus And The Lengths They Are Willing To Go To Seek And Honor Him.

Details Of The Miraculous Birth Of Jesus Christ Matthew 1 18-25

 DETAILS OF THE MIRACULOUS BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST

FOCUSING ON THE EXPERIENCES OF MARY AND JOSEPH.

MATTHEW 1:18-25

Here’s A Summary And Analysis Of The Key Points:

1. The Miraculous Conception (Matthew 1:18)

• Summary: Mary, While Engaged To Joseph, Is Found To Be Pregnant Through The Holy Spirit, Before They Are Married.

• Analysis: Matthew Emphasizes The Miraculous Nature Of Jesus' Conception, Highlighting The Role Of The Holy Spirit. This Event Fulfills Prophecies And Demonstrates God's Direct Intervention In Human History.

2. Joseph's Dilemma And Decision (Matthew 1:19)

• Summary: Joseph, Described As A Just Man, Plans To Quietly Divorce Mary To Avoid Shaming Her.

• Analysis: Joseph's Actions Reveal His Righteousness And Compassion. Although He Initially Decides To Divorce Mary, His Intent To Do So Quietly Shows His Desire To Protect Her Dignity.

3. Divine Intervention Through A Dream (Matthew 1:20-21)

• Summary: An Angel Appears To Joseph In A Dream, Reassuring Him And Explaining That Mary's Child Is Conceived By The Holy Spirit. The Angel Instructs Joseph To Name The Child Jesus, Who Will Save People From Their Sins.

• Analysis: The Dream Is A Critical Turning Point For Joseph. The Angel's Message Not Only Calms Joseph's Fears But Also Reveals The Divine Purpose Behind The Miraculous Conception. The Name "Jesus" (meaning "The Salvation Of Yahweh") Underscores The Child's Future Role As The Savior.

4. Fulfillment Of Prophecy (Matthew 1:22-23)

• Summary: The Virgin Birth Fulfills The Prophecy In Isaiah 7:14, Which Speaks Of A Virgin Bearing A Son Named Immanuel, Meaning "God With Us."

• Analysis: Matthew Connects Jesus' Birth With Old Testament Prophecy, Establishing Jesus As The Long-Awaited Messiah. The Name "Immanuel" Highlights Both Jesus' Divinity And His Presence Among Humanity.

5. Joseph’s Obedience (Matthew 1:24-25)

• Summary: Joseph Obeys The Angel's Command, Takes Mary As His Wife, And Names The Child Jesus. He Refrains From Marital Relations With Mary Until After Jesus' Birth.

• Analysis: Joseph's Immediate Obedience Reflects His Faith And Righteousness. The Detail That Joseph Did Not Consummate The Marriage Until After Jesus' Birth Reinforces The Doctrine Of The Virgin Birth And Challenges Later Doctrines Such As The Perpetual Virginity Of Mary.

THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST MATTHEW 1 1-17

THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS CHRIST

MATTHEW 1:1-17

A Profound Introduction To The New Testament, Setting The Stage For Understanding Jesus As The Fulfillment Of Old Testament Prophecy And The Expectations Of Iqsrael. Here's A Breakdown Of The Key Points From This Passage:

1. Matthew's Theme: The Opening Verse Introduces Jesus As "the Son Of David, The Son Of Abraham," Highlighting His Royal Lineage And His Connection To God's Covenant With Israel. Matthew Presents Jesus As The Messiah Who Fulfills The Promises Made To Both David And Abraham.

2. Jesus' Legal Lineage: The Genealogy Traces Jesus' Legal Right To The Throne Of David Through His Adoptive Father, Joseph. This Lineage Is Crucial In Establishing Jesus' Credentials As The Messiah According To Jewish Expectations.

3. Inclusion Of Women: The Genealogy Includes Four Women—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, And "the Wife Of Uriah" (Bathsheba)—who Were Not Typically Mentioned In Ancient Genealogies. Their Inclusion Emphasizes God's Grace And His Ability To Use Unlikely Individuals In His Divine Plan.

4. Matthew's Structure: The Genealogy Is Organized Into Three Groups Of Fourteen Generations, From Abraham To David, From David To The Babylonian Exile, And From The Exile To Jesus. This Structure Serves As A Mnemonic Device, Making It Easier To Remember And Emphasizing The Continuity Of God's Plan Throughout Israel's History.

5. The Significance Of Jesus' Lineage: Jesus Is Presented As The Culmination Of Israel's History, Rooted In The Promises Made To Abraham And David. However, His Mission Extends Beyond The Jewish People, As Matthew's Gospel Ends With The Great Commission, Calling For The Disciples To Make Followers Of All Nations.

6. Jesus' Unique Position: While Legally Descending From David Through Joseph, Jesus' Bloodline Is Traced Through Mary, Bypassing The Curse On Jehoakim's Descendants. This Unique Situation Highlights Jesus' Divine Origin And His Fulfillment Of Both Legal And Prophetic Requirements To Be The Messiah.

In Summary:

Matthew 1:1-17 Is Not Just A List Of Names; It's A Theological Statement That Establishes Jesus' Identity And Mission, Connecting Him To Israel's Past And Pointing Toward His Role In The Redemption Of All Humanity.