Now there was a man named Simon, who formerly was
practicing magic in the city and astonishing the people of Samaria, claiming to
be someone great; and they all, from smallest to greatest, were giving
attention to him, saying, “This man is what is called the Great Power of God.”
And they were giving him attention because he had for a long time astonished
them with his magic arts. But when they believed Philip preaching the good news
about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized,
men and women alike. Even Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he
continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking
place, he was constantly amazed.
Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that
Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came
down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had
not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of
the Lord Jesus. Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were
receiving the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed
through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying,
“Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may
receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with
you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have
no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. (Acts
8:9-21)
Only two or three years have passed since our Lord was
crucified, when here we meet up with Simon the Sorcerer. Simon’s sin was so
outlandish it has created a whole category of sin, Simony: the act of selling
Church offices or rules, the ecclesiastical privileges, or even pardons for
sin.
And yet, do we not see this in action officially in many
churches today?
Peter dealt with Simon is very strong words
Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with
you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! (Acts
8:20)
I once read a commentator who suggested that what Peter said
was akin to an exclamation, “Your money be damned along with you!”
Peter then identifies a need for him to repent and ask God to
release him from such iniquity.
The bond of iniquity comes with the gall of bitterness.
Sin may be sweet at the first but it is bitter in the end.
Simon's sin was sorcery and such sin causes one to seek to manipulate all
possible circumstances, to one's benefit. In the old King James Version it was
called witchcraft. And this 'craft' has little to do with potions or
cauldrons or spells. Its root is to control people and circumstances to your
own benefit. This was Simon's chief sin. All the 'magic arts' he performed was
to this end, that Simon get power – either a higher station in life or a
better reputation. He was called by all the great power of God. So his
bondage to this way of life led him to ask the blasphemous question, “Give me
this power also…”
Power is the great end of sorcery, that one may control the
outcome.
May we never fall to this line of reasoning, but – putting
God in His proper place – may we humble ourselves and let him lift us up.
(James 4:10)
No comments:
Post a Comment