The Poor In Spirit
Bible Facts Newspaper Article (Ian C. Kurylyk)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Perhaps the best known sermon in all the world is Jesus’ sermon recorded in Matthew 5, 6, and 7, the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus came proclaiming a heavenly kingdom which was different from the kingdoms of this world. They would all pass away; His was eternal. The world’s kingdoms are all infected with sin and corruption. This King loved only righteousness. The glory of His kingdom to be manifested in the world to come carries a promise of unending happiness and satisfaction.

The very first part of this sermon focuses on this condition of true happiness by repeated pronouncements of blessedness (“Blessed are the ...”). We call these the Beatitudes and they are found in Matthew 5:3-16. These beatitudes each have a condition, or a statement of one of the principles whereby blessedness is realized. They help us understand about entrance into God’s kingdom and also prospering within that kingdom order. These two things are the supports of all true blessedness - to be in God’s kingdom and doing well there.

The first beatitude stands out immediately as distinct from ideas of happiness associated with earthly kingdoms. “Blessed are the rich...” would describe better the thinking of the administrations of this world. However God does not bestow His greatest blessings to those with the most money. In fact the Bible is full of warnings about riches because of their tendancy to take away interest in God and eternity. If we have lots of money it enhances our interest in temporal things and tends to make us trust money instead of God. “And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God” (Matthew 10:24).

However, this beatitude is not primarily referring to financial poverty. It pronounces blessedness for the “poor in spirit”. This is inward rather than outward. This is a consciousness of need - especially spiritual need. “Poor” suggests empty and the opposite of being poor in spirit is in effect being full of yourself.

The one poor in spirit has realized the falsehood of Satan’s original lie in the Garden of Eden when the devil said “ye shall be as gods” (Genesis 2:5c). Poverty of spirit is the brokenness that comes through a realization rather of what was lost through following Satan into sin. The Prophet Isaiah saw a vision of the holiness of God and it emptied him. “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaac 6:5).

The Apostle Peter also evidenced poverty of spirit after seeing the Lord’s miracle working power to fill his nets. “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:8). The very word “poor” in the original language suggests cowering like a beggar. This teaches us the appropriate sense of our sinfulness and need before God the Creator and Saviour.

It is to these who have been exercised with a proper brokenness in view of our fallen sinful condition that Jesus identifies as possessors of the kingdom. This is the person who rejoices by faith in the free gift of salvation through the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. God fills the life and heart of the one who looks to Him in faith with the gift of His own Son.