Acts 5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Falsehood is particularly a sin against the Holy Spirit. It is a sin against — I. HIS NATURE. One of His titles is "the Spirit of Truth." It is essentially inherent in Him. He cannot Himself be false, and falsehood cannot dwell in His presence. II. HIS WORD. Christ prayed "Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word is truth." This is the instrument by which He accomplishes all His purposes; and He will use no other. He tells all the truth as it regards God, man, sin, and salvation, time and eternity. Of such Jesus says, "Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." A lie is the rejection of the truth, and a direct resistance to the testimony and word of the Spirit. III. HIS WORK IN THE HEART. "Thou desirest truth in the inward parts." When God writes His law upon the heart it is as a standard of truth which He sets up there. Establishing it within us, He entwines around it all our principles, affections and practices, He makes us "true men." IV. THE CHARACTER WHICH HE FORMS IN HIS PEOPLE. They are "of the truth," "do the truth," "speak the truth in their heart," and are "girt about with truth." (J. Morgan. D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? |
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