The Blessed Life: Poor in Spirit
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Matthew 5:3 (NASB95PARA)
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Beatitudes comes from the Latin term beatus which means blessed
Beatitudes comes from the Latin term beatus which means blessed
Rooted in Old Testament wisdom (Psalms), often as woes and blessings
Rooted in Old Testament wisdom (Psalms), often as woes and blessings
The Bible Exposition Commentary (Chapter Four: The King’s Principles: True Righteousness (Matthew 5))
He began with a positive emphasis on righteous character and the blessings that it brings to the life of the believer.
The Pharisees taught that righteousness was an external thing, a matter of obeying rules and regulations; righteousness could be measured by praying, giving, fasting, etc.
In the Beatitudes and the pictures of the believer, Jesus described Christian character that flowed from within
Each “blessing”—barring the last—comes in a series of cause and effect lines.
Each “blessing”—barring the last—comes in a series of cause and effect lines.
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew, Mark, Luke (1) The Beatitudes (5:3–10))
The Beatitudes (Lat. beatus, “blessed”), otherwise called macarisms (from Gr. makarios, “blessed”)
Blessed, makarios (μακάριος)
Blessed, makarios (μακάριος)
to regard someone as happy or fortunate in view of favorable circumstances
μακαρίζω fut. μακαριῶ; as an evaluation of someone as happy because of favorable circumstances regard as happy, think of as blessed, consider fortunate (LU 1:48)
We translate the term as happy, but that really just doesn’t cut it.
We translate the term as happy, but that really just doesn’t cut it.
The Bible Exposition Commentary (Chapter Four: The King’s Principles: True Righteousness (Matthew 5))
This was a powerful word to those who heard Jesus that day. To them it meant “divine joy and perfect happiness.” The word was not used for humans; it described the kind of joy experienced only by the gods or the dead.
The irony here is that the qualities that Jesus sets forth in Matthew 5 are not usually the qualities listed on Forbe’s Essential Qualities That Define Great Leadership
The irony here is that the qualities that Jesus sets forth in Matthew 5 are not usually the qualities listed on Forbe’s Essential Qualities That Define Great Leadership
Poor in Spirit
Poor in Spirit
It’s not poor, but poor in spirit, but there is a connection to being “poor”
Poor in spirit means to be humble, contrite; to have a correct estimate of oneself
Poor in spirit means to be humble, contrite; to have a correct estimate of oneself
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew, Mark, Luke 1) The Beatitudes (5:3–10)
To be poor in spirit is not to lack courage but to acknowledge spiritual bankruptcy. It confesses one’s unworthiness before God and utter dependence on him.
The Bible Exposition Commentary (Chapter Four: The King’s Principles: True Righteousness (Matthew 5))
It does not mean to be “poor spirited” and have no backbone at all! “Poor in spirit” is the opposite of the world’s attitudes of self-praise and self-assertion. It is not a false humility that says, “I am not worth anything, I can’t do anything!” It is honesty with ourselves: we know ourselves, accept ourselves, and try to be ourselves to the glory of God.
The concept is visible in poverty.
When you are poor, you are dependent upon outside help. Those suffering from economic distress trust only in God
The poor in spirit are not weak; they just trust in God above all else.
The poor in spirit are not weak; they just trust in God above all else.
Theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Eschatological - “end times”
Both now and later
The…full blessedness of those described in these beatitudes awaits the consummated kingdom, they already share in the kingdom’s blessedness so far as it has been inaugurated. - D. A. Carson, “Matthew,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 132.
Conclusion
Conclusion
At the root of these “beatitudes” is righteous behavior, conduct appropriate for God’s people
At the root of these “beatitudes” is righteous behavior, conduct appropriate for God’s people
The “blessings” that come are primarily eschatological in nature. In other words, these are rewards in future life
The “blessings” that come are primarily eschatological in nature. In other words, these are rewards in future life