Hypocrites
If you look up the word 'Hypocrites' in the NIV you find 1 reference in the Psalms to this word and a few outside of the Gospels. The majority of uses of this word were made by Jesus.
Jesus grew up in Nazareth... which was an hours walk from Sepphoris. Sepphoris was Herod Antipas' center of government, was perched on a 400 foot hill that overlooked lower Galilee including towns like Cana and Galilee. Sepphoris boasted an amphitheater which hosted many plays by actors called 'hypocrites'. These actors wore masks representing the various characters that they were playing.
Interesting that Jesus never called the woman caught in adultery a hypocrite, nor did he call Zacchaeus a hypocrite... not even Peter after his denial of Christ.
Hypocrite was reserved for the religious leaders who 'put on a show for people.'
This is exactly what Ananias and Sapphira were guilty of.
The money was theirs to do with as they saw fit. (vs 4)
They chose to declare that they would sell it all and give all as a gift to God... but they withheld some for themselves.
If they had told people that they wanted to keep some back... no problem... but they wanted to look impressive to others.
God hates this!
When we come to God... lets just be real. He knows our weakness, failures and short comings... and He is ok with that.
But when we put on a mask...
Being real positions oneself for blessing (Matthew 5:3)
It can be hard to be real, to reveal your brokenness and failure to God and others... but there is great freedom in this.
For more detailed info on Sepphoris see http://www.ancientsandals.com/overviews/sepphoris.htm
Jesus grew up in Nazareth... which was an hours walk from Sepphoris. Sepphoris was Herod Antipas' center of government, was perched on a 400 foot hill that overlooked lower Galilee including towns like Cana and Galilee. Sepphoris boasted an amphitheater which hosted many plays by actors called 'hypocrites'. These actors wore masks representing the various characters that they were playing.
Interesting that Jesus never called the woman caught in adultery a hypocrite, nor did he call Zacchaeus a hypocrite... not even Peter after his denial of Christ.
Hypocrite was reserved for the religious leaders who 'put on a show for people.'
This is exactly what Ananias and Sapphira were guilty of.
The money was theirs to do with as they saw fit. (vs 4)
They chose to declare that they would sell it all and give all as a gift to God... but they withheld some for themselves.
If they had told people that they wanted to keep some back... no problem... but they wanted to look impressive to others.
God hates this!
When we come to God... lets just be real. He knows our weakness, failures and short comings... and He is ok with that.
But when we put on a mask...
Being real positions oneself for blessing (Matthew 5:3)
It can be hard to be real, to reveal your brokenness and failure to God and others... but there is great freedom in this.
For more detailed info on Sepphoris see http://www.ancientsandals.com/overviews/sepphoris.htm
