Fearful Generosity (Acts 4:32 - 5:16)

A married couple does not tithe, and God strikes them dead! OK, not really. The last part is true, but why did God judge them so intensely? This scene is about generosity, but the sin in question is that of curated, purposeful, first-degree hypocrisy and deception. Having said that, the judgment here is not usual, but like examples God has made throughout history is carried out in order to make a point that will echo through the ages. The church must be defined by peace, purity, and generosity. The lying and hypocrisy of Ananias and Sapphira has the potential to let cancer enter into the true temple of the Holy Spirit. God will have none of it and He wants us to feel the same.