“Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit”

Bulletins

Michael Hickox
03/17/24 - General

Matthew’s record of Jesus’ “sermon on the mount” begins with the words “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3). Like each of the beatitudes, this statement shows the stark contrast between those who seem blessed in the world’s eyes and those who are truly blessed according to God.

Thayer’s definition of the word translated “poor” in Matthew 5:3 includes “destitute of wealth, influence, position, honour” and “helpless, powerless to accomplish an end” (see G4434). When we consider these definitions, it helps us understand that the one who is poor in spirit recognizes his or her hopelessness without God. Those who are poor in spirit don’t claim to be spiritually self-sufficient, but understand and internalize our dependence on God.

The tax collector of Luke 18:10-14 exemplified this. Unlike the Pharisee who boasted about how great he was and treated God as though He were fortunate to have him, the tax collector “would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner” (verse 13).

While the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable exalted himself, the tax collector recognized that without God’s mercy, he was nothing more than an utterly destitute slave of sin.

The Bible is full of examples of men who had a heart more like that of the Pharisee, and were proven foolish for failing to see their own wretchedness (cf. Rev. 3:17).

When Moses was sent by God to tell Pharaoh to release Israel from bondage, Pharaoh responded “Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go” (Exod. 5:2). However high and mighty Pharaoh may have seemed in the eyes of the people, he was proven delusional by God when the ten plagues came on Egypt.

Pharaoh’s pride led to his downfall, while the meekest man on earth led Israel out of bondage (cf. Num. 12:3). Such turning of the tables is common in Scripture. God repeatedly humbles those who exalt themselves, and exalts those who humble themselves.

Those who are faithful citizens in God’s kingdom are not the “self-sufficient” Pharaohs, but those who share the mindset exemplified by David when he said, “Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy” (Psalm 86:1).

None of us would have anything we need without God. The poor in spirit’s recognition of this leads to full surrender to His will (cf. Matt. 5:4-12).

Being poor in spirit leads to far greater blessings than being among the wealthiest, healthiest, most prestigious, most liked people on earth, for Jesus said of the poor in spirit, “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The poor in spirit are truly the rich ones (cf. Rev. 2:9).