18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. (Acts 8:18-21 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Here observe, 1. How infinitely mistaken this wretch was in thinking that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost could be purchased with money.
2. In supposing that the apostles had a power to dispense these gifts, when and where, and to whom they pleased.
3. And that they could enable others to impart this also; which were all very gross conceits. From this deed of Simon’s it is called simony, to seek to buy spiritual gifts or offices with money.
Observe, 2. What it was that put Simon upon purchasing this power; doubtless it was covetousness and vain-glory. He hoped make a penny of this privilege, and to render himself famous among his followers by this prerogative.
Learn thence, That cunning and close hypocrites, corrupt and hypocritical professors, do seek to make a gain of godliness and a merchandize of Christianity. Simon had never bid so freely for Holy Ghost, if he had not expected to receive as freely of others for the Holy Ghost: which he desired to buy, but not to keep; and intended to sell, not to give.
Observe, 3. How St. Peter scorns the vile motion made by Simon, and rejects it with the greatest detestation: Thy money perish with thee.
Learn thence, That wicked (though gainful) motions are to be scorned and refused by the godly with the greatest detestation and abhorrence. Our hearts can never rise too high in a just indignation against sin, and against all temptation unto sin; Thy money perish with thee; thou and thy money perish together.
Observe, 4. How plainly St. Peter deals with him; he searches him to the quick, to the heart, sounds the depths of sin: lays open the core of his hypocrisy before his face, and tells him to his teeth, that his heart was rotten and unsound; Thy heart is not right in the sight of God. The baptismal water had washed his outside, but his inwards were unclean. The heart is the worst part of man till it be mended, and then it is best: Where most evil lies, there we must first begin to be good; all will be good, if the heart, which the seat, the sink and seed-plot of all evil, be made good. The life would not be so bad, if the heart were not worse: All the obliquity of our lives proceeds from the impurity of our hearts and nature, as the muddiness of the stream form the foulness of the fountain.