“Blessed Are The Poor In Spirit”

Aaron Beard

            Matthew 5:3 reads, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  With these words Jesus begins what is known by most people as “The Sermon on the Mount.” 

            “Blessed” – Who is there that does not want this word to describe you?  Everyone has the desire to be blessed. There are some who would render the meaning of this word “happy.” It seems to me that the word “happy,” at least as it has come be used today, does not set forth what Jesus was saying.  While living the Christian life does bring happiness, one is not guaranteed this to always be the case.  In fact, a Christian is told that he will undergo persecution, temptations, and trials. This blessedness is not so much how you feel about yourself, but rather about how God views you. 

            Jesus is not teaching us in this passage that the only way for one to be blessed it to be physically dirt poor.  God has never wanted His children to have to live in poverty.  As a matter of fact, some of the richest men ever were children of God.  Speaking of the wealth and wisdom of King Solomon, the queen of Sheba said, “…and indeed the half was not told me” (I Kings 10:7).  The physical status of one is not what Jesus addresses but rather He is concerned with the heart of the individual.  It is completely possible that a rich man can be extremely humble and a poor man be very proud.  While it is true that due to the dependant state of the poor they generally have an easier time with humility than the rich who are more independent. The economic state of wealth one finds himself in has no direct bearing on his spiritual state.

            In saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” Jesus sets forth that one must become a spiritual beggar. In the meaning of the word poor there is the picture of one who is crouching or cringing.  The same word is used to describe Lazarus (here translated “beggar”) who sat at the gate begging for the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table (Luke 16:20).  It is this picture that Jesus is painting with a view toward those who are spiritual beggars.  Being poor in spirit occurs when one comes to the realization that he is nothing without God. It is no wonder that Jesus began the “Beatitudes” with such a statement on humility.  Without this first foundational principle, all of the others would not be possible.

            One who is poor in spirit has spiritually emptied himself.  He has removed all pride and self reliance from his heart and rests his hope solely upon God.  One who is poor in spirit knows he is spiritually bankrupt.  He makes personal application of Romans 3:23 to himself – “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”  He realizes that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and this is exactly what he deserves.  In the state of being poor in spirit, one becomes brokenhearted over his sin and the pain he has caused the Lord and others.  It is not until one empties himself of all pride and independency that he can be useful to the Lord in His kingdom. 

            Recall the account of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14).  When the Pharisee prayed he said, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men…”, then lists several categories of people he saw as sinners.  Included in the list is this tax collector that appears to be standing next to the Pharisee praying. The tax collector then prays, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!”  In that short parable Jesus shows the difference between one who is proud and one who is spiritually poor.  The Pharisee’s prayer was full of deeds which he had accomplished.  He was attempting to please God with great accomplishments while the tax collector came humbled by the realization that he was a sinner.  Which one was approved of by the Lord?  Jesus continues and says, “…Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14).

            Speaking of the poor in spirit, Jesus says, “For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”  There is no place found in the kingdom of Heaven for individuals who refuse to humble themselves before the Lord.  There is first no place found for them because they do not seek after it.  Psalms 10:4 says, “The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.”  There is also no place for the proud because “God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).   Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4).