The Beatitudes: Poor in Spirit

Matthew 4:23-25 (NIV) Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and He healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed Him.

Matthew 5:1-12 (NIV) Now when Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on a mountainside and sat down.  His disciples came to Him, 2 and He began to teach them.  He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

Blessed — “supremely blessed, fortunate, and happy.”  

AMP describes a blessed person as:  ”spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired, forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace, inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect, joyful, nourished by God’s goodness, content, sheltered by God’s promises, anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature, spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor, comforted by inner peace and God’s love, morally courageous and spiritually alive with life-joy in God’s goodness.” 

Matthew 5:3 (NIV) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Who are the poor in spirit?

Do we recognize our need?

Revelation 3:17 (AMP) Because you say, “I am rich, and have prospered and grown wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked [without hope and in great need]… 

1.  Poor in spirit for salvation 

(NLT) “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him…”

(GW) “Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless…”

(NCV) “They are blessed who realize their spiritual poverty…”

Luke 18:9-14 (NLT) Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer:  ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers.  I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed.  Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God.  For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” 

2.  Poor in spirit for transformation

“In Jesus, we are not a victim of our circumstances.” 

Galatians 5:1 (AMP) It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

3.  Poor in spirit for godly living

Micah 6:8 (AMP) He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you except to be just, and to love [and diligently practice] kindness (compassion), and to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?

“Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you.”  —Andrew Murray

4.  Poor in spirit for usefulness in the Kingdom 

Luke 14:7-11 (NLT) When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, He gave them this advice: 8 “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor.  What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? 9 The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’  Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table! 10 Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table.  Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’  Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. 11 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”